As with Baseball, Soccer and Ice Hockey betting, there are pre-tournament and pre-game betting markets based on the performance of the teams and individuals regarding the number of points scored and of course the final results.
There are also markets not generally available in other sports betting markets based on the “tie” (draw) and on the statistics of both teams and their individual players.
In addition to the points, scores and handicap and spreads markets, the statistics markets are huge because American Football places a lot of importance on statistics like “How far a player has run” or “how many yards the ball was thrown”.
Markets may be divided into “pre-game betting” markets, 1st and 2nd half markets and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter betting markets.
The markets are usually divided into many different markets, these include – Pre-tournament market bets, the “Match” market” which includes handicaps or “spreads”, statistic markets which includes the “totals” markets, the touchdown scorer markets and totals, first and second half betting markets and quarter betting, scoring and of course specials.
Here is a list of the most common bets available at any good on-line bookmaker for a typical American Football season and game in the NFL, the NCAAF (American college football) and the Canadian Football League.
Pre-Tournament market bets
These can be placed before the season begins and during the season right up until the final playoff games have been played.
To win the Super Bowl
Super Bowl MVP – Who will be the most valuable player in the Super Bowl
To reach the Super Bowl final
To reach the AFC final
To win the AFC
To reach the NFC final
To win the NFC
To reach the playoffs
Team A to win their division e.g. Pittsburgh Steelers to win AFC North
To win the NCAAF (College Football Championship) Outright (The Sugar Bowl)
To reach the NCAAF final
To win The Heisman Trophy
To win the Grey Cup (Canadian Football)
Match Markets
These markets are available before the games are played.
They are also often offered during “in-game” betting but the “odds” might swing significantly from quarter to quarter depending on what the game score is at the time of betting.
Most of the bets listed are very clear and obvious however if they are not please see the notes and explanations attached.
Money Line – Team A to win or lose the game
Match Spread – A standard “handicap” bet where the bookmaker gives one team a number of points
before the game begins. (For more details see “Handicap betting” guide)
Total Points – What will the total points of the two teams be?
Enhanced Odds –A standard “handicap” bet.
First Goal Wincast – Who will score the first goal and win the game.
Winning Margins – What will the difference in points be?
Double Result - – Choose between the following – Team A to win or Tie, Team B to win or tie, Team A or Team B to win
Match Spread + Total Points Double – Two bets combined – one is a handicap to win bet and the other is a total points bet
To Win + Total Points Double
Will There Be Overtime? – Yes / No
Touch Down Scorers
These bets are for punters who like to gamble on individual performances…
First Touchdown Scorer
Last Touchdown Scorer
Anytime Touchdown Scorer
Player To Score A Hat-Trick – Player to score 3 touchdowns
Player To Score 2 or More Touchdowns
First Home Touchdown Scorer
First Away Touchdown Scorer
First and Second Half Betting
These are similar to pre-match bets but focus on the result of each half rather than on the whole match result…
1st Half Result/2nd Half Result – Who will win the first half? Who will win the second half? The scores are separated by each half so the final result is NOT always the same as the second half result.
1st Half Betting – Bet on the first half only.
1st Half Money Line – A standard win / lose bet for the team to win or lose the first half only.
2nd Half Betting
2nd Half Money Line – A standard win / lose bet
1st Half Winning Margins - choose Team A to win by an amount of points e.g. 1-3, 3-6, 7-10 etc.
2nd Half Winning Margins - choose Team A to win by an amount of points e.g. 1-3, 3-6, 7-10 etc.
Home Team Halves Won – Will the home team win 0,1, or 2 halves?
Away Team Halves Won - Will the away team win 0,1, or 2 halves?
Highest Scoring Half – Will more points be scored in the first half or in the second half?
Handicaps (Spreads) - Team A to win or lose with the bookmakers pre-given points added or subtracted.
Alternative Handicaps - Choose under or over the total points listed by the bookmaker e.g. Over 60 11/8 Under 60 8/15
2nd Half Spread
First, Second, Third and Fourth Quarter Betting
Similar to pre-match betting and half betting but these bets focus on the results of each quarter…
1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th Quarter Betting
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Quarter Spread
Highest Scoring Quarter – Which quarter will see the most points scored?
Home Team Quarters Won – Will the home team win 0,1,2,3 or 4 quarters?
Away Team Quarters Won - Will the away team win 0,1,2,3 or 4 quarters?
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Quarter Money Line – Team A to win or lose the quarter you gamble on.
Score Betting
Total Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will be scored?
1st Scoring Play – How will the first points be scored? – Touchdown by Running the ball, Touchdown by Catch or Field Goal?
2nd Half - 1st Scoring Play
Score All Quarters?
First Team To Score – Which team will score first?
First Score Type – Touchdown or Field Goal?
Total 1st Half Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will there be in the first half?
Total 2nd Half Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will there be in the second half?
Total Home Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will the home team score in the game?
Total Away Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will the away team score in the game?
Home Team Defensive Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will be scored by the home defense?
Away Team Defensive Touchdowns – How many touchdowns will be scored by the home defense?
[These bets are basically – Will there be an “interception” and will that runner score a touchdown?]
1st Team Touchdown
2nd Half - 1st Team Touchdown
Quarter Of 1st Touchdown – Which quarter will the first touchdown be scored in?
Quarter Of 1st Field Goal - Which quarter will the first Field Goal be scored in?
Statistic Bets
There are many statistics bets and they vary from bookmaker to bookmaker so it is recommend that you check different bookmakers for different statistic type bets, here are just a few examples…
Total Match Turnovers – A “turnover” is when the ball is lost by the attacking team.
Team With Most Turnovers
1st Team to Turnover
Will There Be A Safety?
Will The Coin Toss Be Heads Or Tails?
Who Will Win The Coin Toss?
Who will throw the most yards?
Who will run the most yards?
How many penalties will there be?
How many flags will there be?
How many over-rules will there be?
How many “downs” will be achieved?
Total number of yards gained?
Totals
These bets focus on the “total” – that is the points added and accumulated by one or both teams during or after each quarter, half or the whole game.
Alternative Total Points
Total Match Points Odd/Even
1st Half Total Points
2nd Half Total Points
Total Home Points
Total Away Points
Total 1st Half Home Points
Total 1st Half Away Points
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Quarter Total Points
Some Super Bowl Specials
Some bookmaker offers the "Super Bowl Special" odds. Here are few examples on Super Bowl LI(2017).
Player A to Record 2 Catches or Fewer @6.00
Atlanta Falcons -4.5, Tom Brady & Matt Ryan Each Throw A Touchdown & Score Over 30 Points In The Game @3.80
Matt Ryan Over 400 Yards & Super Bowl MVP @6.50
Julio Jones & Chris Hogan to Score A TD, Each Team Over 2 TDs & Atlanta Points In All Quarters @19.00
Final word
As you can see, there are so many betting odds that bookmaker offers for American football.
These odds above are still a part of them, so you may be able to find more attractive one for you on online bookie website actually.
Both pre-match and in-play American football betting is quite interesting.
If you support a specific team in the NFL, then check the Super Bowl winner odds before the new season started firstly, and bet on the match betting odds in every week.
We hope you enjoy the American football betting and get profit! Good luck!
