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How to Bet on the NFL and Win: Betting Basics and Tips

Do you love the NFL? So, why just watch when you can be a part of the action? Gone are the days of merely cheering from the sidelines. With NFL crypto betting, you can bring the excitement of the game right into your living room. 

Forget the hassle of visiting a sportsbook or dealing with cash—now you can place your bets with just a few taps on your phone. Whether you're backing the Giants, the Patriots, or any other team, betting on NFL games lets you turn every touchdown, interception, and field goal into a chance to win.

Or maybe you’re new to the NFL and betting? Then, we have a lot of useful information for you to learn to place winning bets. And even if you know something about the NFL and betting, it never hurts to refresh your knowledge if it boosts your chances, right? 

The NFL: A guide for newbies

The best way to understand the importance of the NFL to fans and bettors is to learn its history. 

The NFL got its start way back in 1920 as a little league called the American Professional Football Association (APFA). By 1922, the league decided to go bigger, renaming it the National Football League to show it aimed to be a nationwide organization. Fast forward to today, and it’s grown into the biggest sports league in the U.S., with an average team cost of $5.1 billion.

The Super Bowl, the most famous NFL event, kicked off in 1967. It's not just about football – it's a full-blown spectacle with top teams, star-studded halftime shows, and millions of people watching it. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (with their six Super Bowl trophies), the Dallas Cowboys, and the New England Patriots are some of the most successful in NFL history.

When it comes to legendary players, we should mention Joe Montana, leading the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl wins in the 1980s. Then there's Tom Brady, the GOAT, with seven Super Bowl rings to his name, and Jerry Rice, who set records that still stand today with his incredible receiving stats.

The NFL is more than just a game now – it’s a part of American culture, bringing fans together every Sunday and culminating in the Super Bowl. 

But what exactly does the NFL offer, and why is it important to know for bettors?

The main NFL events

Before everything else, you need to learn what types of events the NFL offers to understand what games are the most favorable to bet on. Otherwise, you’ll be lost, as there are hundreds of matchups to watch. So, here are the main types of NFL games.

Preseason games

The preseason kicks off the NFL year, where teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers get a chance to test their rosters. While the scores don’t count toward the regular season, it’s where coaches evaluate players and decide who makes the final team.

Each team plays three preseason games (it used to be four before 2021), and it’s more about experimenting with lineups and giving younger players a shot. You won’t always see the star players like Mahomes play much, as teams focus on keeping them healthy for the real games ahead.

Regular season

The regular season is the heart of the NFL action. Each of the 32 teams, like the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots, plays 17 games over 18 weeks. Teams are ranked by their win-loss record, and the goal is to finish with the best record in your division.

The NFL uses a tie-breaking system to settle teams with identical records. These tiebreakers include head-to-head matchups, divisional records (how you did against teams in your division), and point differentials (how many points you scored versus allowed). For example, the Chiefs ended the 2023 regular season with a 14-3 record, winning the AFC West division.

Every win matters because it helps teams secure a higher playoff seeding or even a first-round bye in the playoffs, which means you skip the Wild Card round and automatically advance to the next round.

NFL playoffs

The playoffs are where the top 14 teams (7 from each conference, AFC and NFC) face off in a single-elimination tournament. Teams qualify by either winning their division (top 4 seeds per conference) or securing a wild card spot (the next 3 best records in each conference). 

The playoffs start with the Wild Card Round, where the No. 2 to No. 7 seeds face off, while the No. 1 seed in each conference gets a bye into the next round (Divisional Round).

Here’s an example: In the 2023 playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles were the No. 1 seed in the NFC after finishing with a 14-3 record, which gave them a first-round bye. 

The playoffs are incredibly intense because they are win-or-go-home—if you lose, you’re out. 

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the NFL championship game, played between the winners of the AFC and NFC conferences. To get to the Super Bowl, a team must win all of its playoff games, starting from the Wild Card or Divisional round, depending on their seed. For example, in 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship, and the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC Championship, setting up their Super Bowl LVII showdown.

The Super Bowl itself is a one-game championship. The rules are simple: the team that wins the game is crowned the NFL champion and gets the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. The game is played on neutral ground to ensure no team has a home-field advantage. Super Bowl LVII, for instance, was held in Glendale, Arizona, and the Chiefs won 38-35 in a nail-biting finish. 

The game attracts over 100 million viewers every season, making it the most-watched sports event in the U.S.

NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is crucial for shaping the future of teams. The draft order is set based on the previous season’s records, with the team with the worst record picking first. This is designed to help weaker teams get stronger talent. For instance, in 2023, the Carolina Panthers, after a poor season, were given the No. 1 overall pick and selected quarterback Bryce Young.

The draft consists of 7 rounds, and each team gets one pick per round, although trades can change this. 

Drafting well can transform a team’s fortune. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow in 2020, and two years later, they were in the Super Bowl, showing how important the draft is in building the champion team.

So, you have many chances to try your betting skills and luck throughout the year. Starting with a Super Bowl game or playoffs is better if you're new, as you have more information to base your bets on compared to the beginning of the season. But first, you need to learn how to read betting odds. 

NFL betting odds

NFL odds are a way to show how much you could win when placing a bet. They come in three main formats: fractional, American, and decimal. Let’s break each one down with examples.

Fractional odds

Fractional odds are common in the UK and Ireland. They look like fractions (e.g., 5/1 or 10/3) and show how much profit you’ll make on a bet relative to your stake. The first number (5) represents the profit you’ll make, while the second number (1) represents your stake. So, 5/1 means you’ll win five times your bet.

For example, if the odds are 5/1 on the Kansas City Chiefs to win a game, for your $10 bet, you’ll win $50 in profit if they win, plus you get your original $10 back. 

American odds

American odds, also called moneyline odds, are popular in the U.S. and can be positive or negative. Positive odds show how much you’d win on a $100 bet, while negative odds show how much you need to bet to win $100.

Let’s say the odds are +300 on the San Francisco 49ers. Then, you’ll win $300 on a $100 bet if they win. So, betting $100 would give you $400 back ($300 profit + $100 stake).

But if the odds are -150 on the Philadelphia Eagles in the same matchup, you’d need to bet $150 to win $100 if the Eagles win. So, a $150 bet would give you $250 back ($100 profit + $150 stake).

Decimal odds

Decimal odds are popular in Europe and Australia. These odds represent the total amount you’d win for every $1 you bet, including your original stake. So, to understand how much you win, you simply multiply your stake by the decimal odds.

For instance, if the odds are 2.50 on the Dallas Cowboys, you’d win $250 for your $100 bet ($150 profit + $100 stake).

When you learn to use these odds, you’ll be able to calculate your potential winnings in seconds. Or you can just use an online odds calculator and don’t bother with understanding them. In any case, your next step is to learn what types of NFL bets exist to choose the ones that suit a particular matchup. 

Popular NFL game bet types

Here’s a breakdown of some common types of NFL bets.

Moneyline bet

A moneyline bet is the simplest type of bet: you’re betting on which team will win the game outright. 

Let’s say the Kansas City Chiefs play against the New York Jets, and you bet on the Chiefs to win. You’ll win your bet if the Chiefs win the game, regardless of the score, and they will probably do as they are a strong team led by Patrick Mahomes, making them favorites in many matchups.

Point spread bet

A point spread bet is where you bet on how much a team will win or lose by. The favorite has to win by more than the spread, while the underdog has to lose by less than the spread or win outright.

For example, if -6.5 points against the Dallas Cowboys favor the Philadelphia Eagles, the Eagles need to win by 7 points or more for you to win your bet. Since the Eagles are a strong team, and their games often feature notable spreads, it might be a good idea to bet exactly this way. 

Over/under bet

In an over/under bet, you’re betting on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number of points. 

Suppose the over/under for a game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears is 45.5 points, and you bet on the "over.” Then, you’ll win if the game's combined score is 46 points or more. 

You can also make the same type of bet on the total score of one team. For example, bet that the Green Bay Packers score over 23.5, and if they score 24 or more points, you win.

Parlay bet

A parlay bet combines multiple bets into one, and you need to win all parts of the parlay to cash in. The payout is higher, but the risk is greater.

For instance, you could combine a bet on the Buffalo Bills to win, the New England Patriots to cover the spread, and the total points of a different game to go over. If all these bets win, you get a higher payout than if you had bet on them individually. 

Futures bet

A futures bet is placed on outcomes that will be determined in the future, like betting on a team to win the Super Bowl before the season starts. For example, betting on the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season can be a good idea, as they finished second last season. So, if they win, your bet pays out. 

Teaser bet

A teaser bet allows you to adjust the point spread or total in your favor on two or more games. The trade-off is that it lowers your potential payout.

For example, you might take a 6-point teaser and move the spread from Eagles -6.5 to Eagles -0.5 and the Packers -3 to Packers +3, making it easier for both bets to win. 

Live betting

Live betting allows you to place bets during the game as the odds change with the flow of play. It can be necessary if a key player gets injured or you just notice that one of the teams is on fire today. 

Sportsbooks offer different types of bets, so you might not be able to find some of the mentioned ones on sportbet.one particularly. Still, regardless of the bets you use, the following tips will help you improve your wagering skills. 

Strategies to bet on the NFL like a pro

Here are some tips you need to consider before placing your NFL wager.

Filter out the media hype

When the media hypes up a big matchup, it can inflate the point spread. Instead of getting caught up in the buzz, focus on the data. Suppose the Dallas Cowboys are heavily favored by -7 because of media hype, but you know their recent games have been closer. Then, you might want to take the underdog on the spread. This is especially useful when betting on teams with strong defenses that can keep games tight.

Study key player matchups

Focus on individual player matchups, like a top cornerback facing off against a star wide receiver. Let’s say the Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey is going to shadow the opposing team’s top receiver. This means the player’s production might be limited, affecting the game’s total points. Knowing how these player matchups could play out will give you an edge in bets like player props or total points.

Pay attention to injuries

Injuries can be game-changers. Always check injury updates before placing your bet, especially for key players like quarterbacks, star receivers, and standout defenders. For example, when Patrick Mahomes dislocated his kneecap in 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs odds dipped while he was out. However, once Mahomes returned, he led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory. Always assess how injuries impact short-term performance and determine if a team is still worth betting on in the long run.

Remember about home-field advantage

Playing on home turf often gives teams a significant edge due to familiar conditions and fan support. For instance, the Minnesota Vikings typically excel at home, while the Arizona Cardinals have struggled on the road. That trend could give the Vikings a strong advantage in a matchup between the two.

Check weather conditions

Rain, snow, or heavy winds can affect passing and kicking. Always check the weather forecast before betting. A great example is the "Snow Bowl" in 2013, where the Philadelphia Eagles outperformed the Detroit Lions in a blizzard by adapting better to the conditions.

Consider team styles

If two teams known for strong defenses, like the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, play, the game is more likely to go under the total points line. Conversely, if two high-scoring teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers face off in a dome, the over might be a better bet.

Learn about coaching

Coaching can be a game-changer, especially in tight matchups. Coaches with more experience are often better at making strategic adjustments and managing crucial moments in the game. Bill Belichick, for example, has six Super Bowl wins under his belt and has proven to be a game-changing factor for the New England Patriots.

Consider special teams play

Special teams—like kickers, punters, and return specialists—can have a major influence on the outcome of a game. Teams with strong special teams units can secure better field positions and score unexpected points, so it’s worth factoring them into your analysis.

That’s all. Use these tips to rely less on sheer luck and more on solid facts. And, of course, bet in cryptocurrency to take your winnings fully and without delays.

How can NFL betting and Bitcoin go hand in hand?

If you're still debating whether crypto betting on the NFL is better than traditional betting sites, here are three reasons that highlight the advantages:

No KYC procedures

Forget about the tedious Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. Crypto betting lets you remain anonymous, so you can place your wagers without sharing personal details. This keeps your privacy intact and your data secure.

No taxes or fees

Wave goodbye to taxes and fees that can eat into your earnings. With crypto betting, you get to keep more of what you win since there are no intermediaries like banks taking a cut of your profits.

Security with smart contracts

Smart contracts bring an extra layer of protection to your NFL bets. These self-executing contracts automatically enforce the rules of the wager, ensuring fair and accurate payouts every time.

So, crypto betting is convenient, private, and secure—everything you need for a smooth betting experience.

Now, let’s dive into how to place a bet using cryptocurrency.

How to bet on the NFL with Bitcoin and crypto on sportbet.one

You might be surprised how easily you can make your first NFL bet with cryptocurrency, especially if you use sportbet.one. Here are the steps for you to follow:  

  • Sign in to Sportbet: Go to sportbet.one and log into your account using your crypto wallet, email, Google, Facebook, X, or another social media login.  
  • Purchase EOS or other cryptocurrencies: If you don’t have any cryptocurrency in your wallet, you can buy Bitcoin or any other supported coins without leaving a site. Use fiat currencies like USD or EUR directly on the platform's MoonPay exchange.  
  • Browse NFL and Super Bowl betting options: After logging in and topping up your wallet, explore the NFL and Super Bowl betting markets to find the best available odds.  
  • Pick your betting market: Find the NFL game or Super Bowl betting market. Carefully study the options to select the one that gives you the best chance to win.  
  • Place your crypto wager on NFL games: Type in the amount you want to bet and submit your wager. Double-check everything beforehand: once you place your bet, it’s locked in, and you can’t cancel it. Avoid impulsive decisions to ensure you don’t regret your choices later.

Betting with cryptocurrency is super easy and also safe. Blockchain technology guarantees that all your information is hard to track, while smart contacts ensure that withdrawing is as easy as depositing. You’ll be able to appreciate these benefits fully after you win your first bet. 

NFL crypto betting: Your way to enjoy sports in full

NFL betting is one of the easiest ways to try wagering, as it offers many games and opportunities to bet. The crucial thing here is to learn how different types of bets work and research the team's chances before placing your stake. Of course, you can always rely on your intuition, but in this case, your chances of winning are pretty low. Follow the tips for responsible gambling and use crypto to make your betting anonymous and fee-free. 

Frequently Asked Questions

❓Who is predicted to win the Super Bowl in 2025?

The 2025 Super Bowl prediction is uncertain and depends on team performance during the season, but teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are often mentioned as favorites. Still, if you plan to bet on a Super Bowl winner, thoroughly research the teams' performance and chances before wagering.

❓What are NFL betting odds? 

NFL betting odds show the likelihood of a certain outcome in a game and determine how much you can win on a bet. Like any other odds, they come in different formats, such as fractional, decimal, and American (moneyline).

❓Can you explain how to read an NFL moneyline bet? 

A moneyline bet is betting on which team will win the game. If a team is listed at -150, you need to bet $150 to win $100. If the team is +150, you win $150 on a $100 bet.

❓ How does crypto betting work? 

You fund your betting account using cryptocurrency from your wallet and then place bets on NFL matchups. When you win, your earnings are directly sent to your account, and you can easily withdraw them.

❓ Is betting on the NFL legal? 

Yes, Bitcoin betting on NFL games is legal in many parts of the world. However, make sure to check the legal status of sports betting and cryptocurrencies in your area, as some U.S. states and countries still prohibit it.