Peiyu Lin / Kitsap Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sports Betting 101: How to bet on NFL — NFL betting for beginners

Last updated Oct 12, 2022 12:43 PM ET

The NFL is the country's most-watched sports league, so it should come as no surprise that it's also one of the most bet-on. As more and more Americans get access to legal sportsbooks, the number of people looking to bet on the NFL for the first time continues to grow.

At Yardbarker and our betting partner OddsChecker, we've made it our mission to make it easy for fans to wager on their favorite sports, including the NFL. That's why we've put together this comprehensive, but easy-to-follow guide so you have all the information you need to help you get started.

So no matter whether you want to know the difference between a parlay and a prop bet or you're a little unsure what "betting against the spread" means, we've got you covered.

Here are some of the things we'll cover:

Betting against the spread
Moneylines
Over/under betting
Parlay bets
Prop bets
Futures

And all you have to do to get started is click right here.

Meanwhile, if you're new to betting on the NFL, here are some handy tips that can help you stay on the right track.

Be disciplined - Don't get carried away, set a budget and stick to it. Don't chase losses and just make small bets to start with until you're more familiar with how it all works
Track your bets - Make a note of all the bets you place and their outcomes. You may want to do this with a spreadsheet, a piece of paper or an app. Once you have enough data, it'll help you understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
Find picks - While you're getting to grips with how NFL betting works, you may want to take advantage of the experience, knowledge, and insight of professional handicappers who offer NFL picks and predictions that you can use when making your bets.
Find free bets - Free bets can help you get more for your money by taking away some of the risk. Most sportsbooks offer free bets to new customers, so check out our list of the latest free bets to find the ones that are right for you.
Compare odds - While most sportsbooks offer odds on most sports, they won't all be equal. Placing a bet with the best odds means you'll receive more if you're successful. At OddsChecker, we make this easy by comparing the NFL odds of all the leading bookies in the US, helping you to always get the best value from every wager you place.