Football Betting at LeoVegas
It's always Football season at LeoVegas with one of the world's greatest selections of online betting odds on your favourite sports. Make us a part of your tailgate tradition, by placing bets on teams to win, players to score, and many other markets.
Even though odds on Football are great to bet on from your desktop, LeoVegas brings the action even closer with our world-class mobile betting platform, allowing you to become a part of the action all the way through kickoff. In our high-paced sportsbook, the odds are always changing, so pay close attention to when you get the best odds.
Football Betting Markets
American Football is one of the most dynamic sports in the world. There are thousands of different plays, outcomes, and player profiles to consider, which makes it such an appealing sport for expert bettors to put their knowledge to the test.
Here are some of the markets that speak to the different facets of the American Football game:
- Touchdown Scorer: A bet on a specific player to score a touchdown during the game. This can be split into markets like First Touchdown Scorer, Anytime Touchdown Scorer, or Last Touchdown Scorer.
- Total Passing Yards by the Player: A bet on how many passing yards a quarterback will accumulate during the game. Usually offered as an over/under market (e.g., over/under 275.5 yards).
- Total Receiving Yards by the Player: A bet on the number of receiving yards a wide receiver, tight end, or running back will gain. Also typically presented as an over/under option.
- Total Touchdowns: A wager on the total number of touchdowns scored in the game by both teams combined. Offered as an over/under line or in specific ranges.
- Total Kicking Points by the Player: A bet on how many points a kicker will score, combining made field goals (3 points each) and extra points (1 point each). Often given as an over/under bet.
Football Rules
Football is the most popular sport in the United States, but it can be difficult to wrap your head around the game play, as a first-time viewer. But, fear not, we are here to break down everything you need to know about Football and how it works.
The first thing to establish is the scoring system. A touchdown is worth six points, and this occurs whenever a player catches, or runs the ball into the endzone. If the ball is run into the endzone, it’s a rushing touchdown, and if a pass is caught in the endzone, it’s a passing touchdown.
After a touchdown is scored, the kicker will have the opportunity to score a PAT (point after touchdown) which is worth one point. In addition, the kicker can also score his team a field goal which is worth three points, and this happens when a team is unable to gain ten-yards in three attempts.
Touchdowns are mainly scored by the offence, but the defence can score touchdowns too. The defence can intercept a pass intended for the other team, and if that player then runs into the opposing end zone, it’s a pick-six.
As well as interceptions, the defence can also sack the opposing quarterback. This happens when the opposing quarterback is tackled on or behind the line of scrimmage by the opposing team - before he completes a pass.
The team who has the most points, wins the game. If the final score of the game is a tie, there’s a ten-minute overtime period on a first-to-score to decide the winner. If there’s no winner after the additional ten minutes, the game is recorded as a draw.
Football Leagues
NFL
The NFL is the biggest Football league in the world. Beginning in early-September, and concluding with the NFL Finals in mid-February, the NFL takes centre stage on the footballing calendar.
The season begins with 32 teams in total, separated into two conferences, the NFC and the AFC. Both conferences contain four divisions (represented by North, South, East, and West), and each division contains four teams.
The winner of each division automatically makes it into the playoffs, while the other six spots are decided by the best record from non-division winners. The three best from the NFC and the three best from the AFC.
Both the AFC and the NFC go through three rounds of playoff matchups, finishing with one representative from the AFC and one from the NFC clashing in the NFL Finals.
You can learn how to place bets on NFL games in our NFL Betting Guide.
NFL Finals
The aforementioned NFL Finals is the biggest event in the Football calendar. After a month of preseason, a grueling 17-week regular season, and the playoffs, the two representatives from the AFC and NFC face-off to decide who lifts the Lombardi Trophy.
College Football (NCAAF)
Before players become household names within the NFL, the stars of the future belong at the college level. The NCAAF houses eleven conferences across the country in the United States, and the season lasts from late-August until mid-December.
While it may not have an NFL Finals, the college football season ends with a variety of Bowl games to get you excited. From the Orange Bowl to the Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl to the Cheez-It Bowl, the end of the college football season is like no other.
CFL
The Great White North has its own Football season to look forward to. The Canadian Football League (CFL) is a nine-team league, divided into an Eastern (four teams) and Western (five teams) division. The 21-week regular season bleeds into the six-team playoff series, culminating in the Grey Cup in late-November.
Football Odds
Football betting odds are displayed using a decimal point system. If the odds of a particular thing happening in the game is high, the odds displayed will be closer to 1.00. So, if a certain team is favored at 1.25, a $10 bet would return $12.50 if it was to come in. The further away from 1.00, means the odds are higher. A $10 wager at odds of 3.75 means a return of $37.50 if that outcome occurs. You can check the latest NFL Betting odds here.
Live Football Betting
Whether you are at the stadium, watching from home, or you are enjoying the game with friends, LeoVegas knows exactly what it takes to increase the entertainment. With live odds on Football, we promise a more exciting game for both you and your friends. Not only does it allow you the opportunity to win real money, it creates an opportunity for you to prove your in-game analysis skills to everyone around you. With our super rapid system, you can find your bet and place it within a few seconds. We know you will appreciate this when the game is on the line and you want to bet live on the next thing to happen.
Live Football betting is available to you both from desktop and mobile devices. Although superb on desktop, the LeoVegas live odds experience is designed to be the best on mobile. Stripped of non-essential features, you will get a high-paced and smooth experience when betting live on football either way.
Football Betting Markets
Moneyline
There’s numerous ways to bet on Football with LeoVegas. The most popular is the moneyline bet. This is selecting who you believe will win the game, for example, if you chose the Buffalo Bills to beat the New York Jets, that would be betting the moneyline.
Over/Under
Another way to bet on the NFL action is with over/under markets. Unlike the moneyline bets, this doesn't involve selecting a winner. Instead, you can choose a team or player to go over/under in certain aspects of the game. If the over/under on receiving yards for Minnesota Vikings receiver, Justin Jefferson, was at 149.5, you would choose whether he would go over or under that amount. Similarly, this is an option for the game itself.
Before the season begins, there are options to place bets on how teams will perform. Much like an over/under, you can select how many total wins a team will achieve or total points scored in the game. If a team has had a good offseason, the Buffalo Bills for example, they would have a certain win total, and you can choose whether they will do better or worse than that total suggests.
Point Spread
Another popular market is point spread betting. This is when you wager on how many points you think a team will win or lose by. Within the NFL, Point Spread is represented by a +/-, so if you wager that the Green Bay Packers were favoured by +6 over the New England Patriots, the Packers would have to win by seven or more points. Alternatively, the Patriots would be -6, and placing a bet on them means they can either win, or not lose by six or more.
Parlay
If you wanted to package some bets together, these would be known as parlays. A parlay is when you combine two or more bets together to increase the odds, for example, if you placed a bet on the Buffalo Bills to beat the Los Angeles Rams, with over 34.5 points in the game, and Josh Allen to throw two or more touchdown passes, this would be a parlay. All of the chosen wagers would have to be correct to receive a full payout.
Prop Bets
You can also place a prop bet on the NFL. A prop bet is wagering whether something will happen during the game. An example of a prop bet is selecting a certain player to score the first touchdown of a game, or a certain quarterback to throw an interception.
Teasers
LeoVegas also offers bets that are known as teasers. Teasers are similar to parlays, however, it involves combining two or more games and changing the point spread for both. If you believed both the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will both cover a three point spread, you can combine the two and it would become a teaser.
Futures
Finally, if you were to bet on who you believe will win a certain division, or who will win the NFL Finals, these would be known as outrights/futures. These phrases are interchangeable, so, wagering on a certain thing to occur in the future. Tom Brady to win the NFL MVP would be known as both an outright/future bet.
Strategies and Insights for Successful Betting
There is no magic ingredient to guaranteeing returns on every single bet. The odds are always stacked against the bettor and all bets should be made responsibly and within means.
However, there are steps bettors can take to give themselves the best shot of success.
How to Analyse Teams and Players
Considering key statistics across offence, defence, and special teams is paramount in coming up with a cogent analysis of the game.
Offensively, metrics like passing yards, rushing yards, third-down conversion rate, red zone efficiency, and quarterback rating offer insight into a team's scoring potential. Defensively, look at points allowed per game, sacks, interceptions, rushing and passing yards allowed, and third-down stops to assess a unit’s strength.
Special teams can be pivotal in close games, so consider field goal accuracy, punt return average, and kickoff coverage. Beyond stats, the impact of injuries and recent trades cannot be overstated—losing a starting quarterback or acquiring a star wide receiver can drastically shift a team's outlook.
Monitoring team news and injury reports is crucial, as depth and chemistry are often tested during the season. A well-rounded analysis blends data with contextual awareness to make informed predictions.
Understanding Home-Field Advantage
Teams playing at home benefit from familiar conditions, supportive crowds, and reduced travel fatigue, all of which can enhance performance. Stadium noise can also disrupt opposing offences, especially during critical third downs.
Historically, home teams win more often, particularly in tightly matched games. Weather and altitude (e.g., Denver) can further tilt the balance. Bettors should always weigh home-field impact, as it often influences point spreads and can be decisive in close matchups.
Betting with Emotion vs. Data
It sounds obvious, but betting with the heart over the head can cost you a lot of money over the years, especially if it comes down to an underperforming team you support.
Oftentimes, bettors will want to maximise the feel-good factor of their favourite team winning by coupling it up with a bet, especially if they are the underdog on the book. The problem is, they are usually the underdog for a reason.
Try to keep an analytical approach whenever possible - it ensures the best chance of success.
Advanced Football Betting Techniques
Handicapping involves analysing all available data to predict outcomes more accurately than the odds suggest. It means assessing teams, players, trends, and external factors to find value in betting markets.
Key resources for handicappers:
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) for advanced player grades and analytics
- Football Outsiders for DVOA (efficiency metrics)
- Injury reports from team sites or official NFL sources
- Betting consensus sites like Action Network or Vegas Insider
- Historical databases (e.g., Pro-Football-Reference)
Live Betting on American Football
Benefits and challenges of in-play betting:
Live betting allows you to wager during the game, offering opportunities to capitalise on momentum shifts or mispriced lines. It’s especially useful when reading a team’s in-game adjustments or exploiting early-game volatility.
Be wary of the emotion of the game, though. Come at it with a clear mind and analytics to back up any decisions.
Strategies for real-time decision-making:
- Watch the game live—don’t rely solely on stats
- Track injury developments as they happen
- Identify momentum changes, especially after turnovers or key stops
- Look for hedging opportunities to lock in profit or reduce risk
- Use pre-game research to guide your in-play logic
Futures Betting: Predicting Long-Term Outcomes
Futures bets involve wagering on long-term outcomes, like who will win the Super Bowl, MVP, or division titles. Odds are typically set before the season and shift based on team performance, injuries, or public sentiment. For example, a +1000 bet means a $100 wager would win $1,000 if correct.
The rewards of futures betting can be significant due to higher odds, especially early in the season. However, risks include tying up your money for months and unpredictability from injuries, trades, or late-season slumps. Successful futures bettors balance risk with value, often diversifying bets to cover multiple outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overconfidence in Favourites:
Many bettors blindly back big-name teams without considering matchup specifics or inflated odds. Public favorites often carry poor value, and upsets are more common than they seem.
Chasing Losses:
Trying to recover losses by increasing bet sizes or making impulsive wagers often leads to deeper financial trouble. Stick to a staking plan and avoid emotional decisions.
Ignoring Small Details:
Factors like weather conditions, travel fatigue (especially for teams crossing time zones), and short weeks (e.g., Thursday games) can have a huge impact. Overlooking these can skew your analysis.
The Role of Luck vs. Skill
Understanding Variance:
Even the best bets can lose due to fluke plays, officiating, or unpredictable performances. Recognizing that variance is a natural part of betting helps maintain perspective.
How to Stay Level-Headed:
Focus on making smart, value-driven bets rather than expecting constant wins. Track your bets, review your decisions—not just results—and avoid reacting emotionally to outcomes.
Play Responsible on Football
LeoVegas' intention is to be a safe and secure source of great entertainment. If you feel that odds on football are taking up too much time or you find yourself spending more than you are comfortable with, we will be there to support you. We provide tools and customer support available around the clock if you need us. If you want some tips and tricks on how to gamble responsibly, we suggest you visit LeoSafePlay.com.
FAQs
How do you bet on football?
Look out for the ‘Football’ section on either our Desktop or Mobile App and see if you can score a touchdown-worthy winning bet.
What does +1.5 mean in football betting?
+1.5 shows the handicap or spread for a team within the game. If the team is valued at +1 on the spread, they’d have to win the game or not lose by more than one point.
What is the best option to bet on football?
Point spread, moneyline, and totals are top options. Choose based on your experience, research, and risk preference.
How do you match a bet on football?
Place opposite bets on a bookmaker and exchange to cover all outcomes, often used with free bet offers.
How do odds work in football?
Odds show potential payout and implied probability. Positive = underdog, higher payout. Negative = favorite, lower payout.
What is the safest bet in football?
No bet is risk-free, but low spreads, unders in bad weather, or teasers can be lower risk.
Can you just bet on a team to win?
Yes, that’s a moneyline bet. You win if your chosen team wins the game outright.
What does +3 mean in football betting?
The underdog gets 3 points. Bet wins if they win or lose by less than 3. A 3-point loss = push.
What does +/- mean in football betting?
"+" means underdog; "-" means favorite. Applies to point spreads or moneyline odds depending on the market.
What happens if you bet $100 on a +140 money line?
You win $140 profit plus your $100 stake, totaling $240, if the bet wins.
What does +200 mean in football betting?
A $100 bet pays $200 profit. It’s a higher reward for an underdog outcome.
What is a minus spread in football?
The favorite must win by more than the spread (e.g., -7 = win by 8+).
Is it better to bet early or wait until game day?
Bet early for better lines; wait for late info like injuries or weather. Strategy depends on situation.
What’s the difference between betting on college vs. NFL games? Betting on college football and NFL games may appear similar on the surface, but there are several fundamental differences that impact strategy, risk, and potential reward. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Number of Teams and Games College Football: Features over 100 teams in the FBS alone, resulting in a much larger volume of games each week. This creates more betting opportunities but also requires bettors to track far more variables and matchups.
NFL: Consists of 32 teams, making it easier to follow teams and trends, and allowing sportsbooks to set tighter, more accurate lines.
Talent Disparity and Competitiveness College Football: There is a wide gap in talent between powerhouse programs and smaller schools. This often leads to lopsided matchups, large point spreads (sometimes 30+ points), and higher-scoring games.
NFL: Teams are more evenly matched due to the draft and salary cap, resulting in closer games and smaller point spreads (rarely above 14 points).
Volatility and Predictability College Football: Outcomes are more volatile due to the youth and inexperience of players, coaching variability, and emotional swings. Upsets and unpredictable performances are more common.
NFL: Games are generally more predictable, with professional athletes and consistent coaching. This leads to more stable betting environments.
Betting Lines and Market Dynamics College Football: Larger spreads and higher totals are common. The sheer number of games means sportsbooks may not have as much information or time to set perfect lines, sometimes creating value for savvy bettors.
NFL: Lines are tighter and more efficient due to higher betting volume, more public action, and extensive media coverage. Finding value is more challenging.
Information Availability College Football: Injury reports and depth charts are less regulated and less transparent, making it harder for bettors to get reliable information.
NFL: Injury reports and player statuses are mandatory and widely available, helping bettors make more informed decisions.
Popular Bet Types College Football: Parlays and betting on large spreads are more common, especially when mismatched teams play. Totals (over/under) are often higher due to higher scoring.
NFL: Moneyline and point spread bets are most popular, with tighter odds and lower spreads. Player props and in-depth markets are widely available.
Home Field Advantage College Football: Home field advantage can be more pronounced, with some teams dominating at home due to unique environments and passionate student crowds.
NFL: Home field advantage exists but is generally less significant than in college football