How to Read NFL Betting Odds: Spreads, Moneylines, Totals, and More

NFL betting odds are easier to read once you know what the numbers are actually telling you.

Most NFL bets fall into a few major categories, and each one answers a different question. Some ask who will win. Others ask by how much, how many points will be scored, or whether a player will hit a certain stat line.

If you understand how American odds work and what each market is measuring, the board gets much easier to read.

#How American odds work

American odds revolve around plus and minus numbers.

A minus number tells you how much you need to risk to win $100 in profit. If a team is listed at -150, you would need to risk $150 to win $100.

A plus number tells you how much profit you would win on a $100 bet. If a team is listed at +150, a $100 bet would win $150 in profit.

You do not have to bet in $100 units. The rate simply scales up or down with your wager.

A few quick examples:

• -110 means you risk $110 to win $100
• -200 means you risk $200 to win $100
• +150 means a $100 bet wins $150
• +250 means a $100 bet wins $250

That same odds format shows up across spreads, moneylines, totals, and many props.

#How point spread betting works

The spread is one of the most common NFL markets.

A point spread is designed to create a margin between the favorite and the underdog. If the Bills are -6.5 and the Colts are +6.5, Buffalo must win by seven or more points to cover the spread. Indianapolis can either lose by six or fewer points or win outright to cash.

A typical spread listing might look like this:

Bills -6.5 (-110)
Colts +6.5 (-110)

That -110 is the sportsbook’s price on the bet. In that example, a bettor would need to risk $110 to win $100 in profit.

If the Bills win 31-24, they covered because they won by seven. If they win 31-29, they won the game but did not cover the spread.

#How moneyline betting works

A moneyline bet is the simplest market on the board. You are just picking which team will win the game.

There is no point spread attached. The tradeoff is that the payout changes depending on the strength of each side.

If the Bills are -280 and the Colts are +220, Buffalo is the favorite and Indianapolis is the underdog.

That means:

• a $280 bet on the Bills would win $100 in profit
• a $100 bet on the Colts would win $220 in profit

Moneyline betting is attractive because it removes the margin question. The downside is that betting favorites can become expensive, while underdogs are harder to hit even though they pay more.

#How over/under totals work

Totals, also called over/unders, are bets on the combined number of points scored in the game.

If the total is 47.5, you can bet:

• Over 47.5
• Under 47.5

If the final score is 27-24, the teams combined for 51 points, so the over wins. If the final score is 24-20, the teams combined for 44 points, so the under wins.

When the total lands on a half-point like 47.5, there is no tie. When it lands on a whole number like 46, a final total of exactly 46 is usually graded as a push and the bet is refunded.

#How parlays work

A parlay is a combination of multiple bets tied together on one ticket.

Instead of betting each outcome separately, you bundle them into one wager. The upside is a larger payout. The downside is that every leg has to win.

For example, a parlay might include:

• Bills moneyline
• Chiefs -3.5
• Over 47.5 in another game

If two legs win and one loses, the whole parlay loses.

That is why parlays are so popular but so difficult to hit consistently. The payout can look great, but the margin for error is tiny.

#How prop bets work

Prop bets, short for proposition bets, focus on specific outcomes inside a game rather than the final result.

Common NFL prop examples include:

• a quarterback’s passing yards
• a running back’s rushing attempts
• whether a receiver scores a touchdown
• which team scores first
• whether a defense records an interception

A prop bet might be listed as:
Under 249.5 (-114)

Props are popular because they let bettors build opinions around matchups, roles, injuries, and player usage instead of just betting the game itself.

#How teasers work

A teaser is a type of parlay that lets you adjust the spread or total in your favor.

If you take a six-point teaser, the lines move by six points. For example:

• Colts +6.5 becomes +12.5
• Cowboys -4 becomes +2

That makes each leg easier to win, but the payout is reduced compared to a normal parlay.

Teasers are popular in football because moving through key numbers can matter a lot more than in some other sports. They are still combination bets, though, so multiple legs must still win.

#How futures bets work

Futures are long-term bets on outcomes that will be decided later in the season.

Examples include:

• Super Bowl winner
• conference winner
• division winner
• regular-season win totals
• awards like MVP or Offensive Rookie of the Year

A futures bet stays open for weeks or months, which makes it very different from betting a single game. The payout can be attractive, but your money is tied up much longer.

#How beginners should read an NFL odds board

If you are just starting out, focus on the first three markets:

• spread
• moneyline
• total

Those are the cleanest and easiest to understand. Once you are comfortable with those, props, parlays, teasers, and futures become much easier to evaluate.

The biggest mistake new bettors make is chasing big payouts before they understand what the market is asking. A big number does not automatically mean good value. You still need to understand the probability behind the price.

#Bottom line

Reading NFL betting odds gets much easier once you know the difference between the major bet types.

Spreads are about margin. Moneylines are about the winner. Totals are about scoring. Parlays combine bets for a bigger payout, props zoom in on specific outcomes, teasers adjust lines in your favor, and futures let you bet on long-term results.

Once you understand those basics, the odds board stops looking random and starts looking readable.

#FAQ

#What does -110 mean in NFL betting?

It means you need to risk $110 to win $100 in profit. If your bet wins, you also get your original stake back.

#What is the difference between a spread and a moneyline?

A spread bet is about margin of victory, while a moneyline bet is simply about who wins the game.

#What is a push in NFL betting?

A push happens when the result lands exactly on the betting number, and the sportsbook refunds the wager instead of grading it as a win or loss.

#Are parlays better than straight bets?

Not necessarily. Parlays offer larger payouts, but they are much harder to hit because every leg has to win.

#What is the easiest NFL bet for beginners?

Most beginners should start with moneylines, spreads, and totals before moving into props, teasers, and parlays.

#Key Terms

#Vig

The sportsbook’s price on a bet, often shown as odds like -110.

#Cover

When a team beats the point spread.

#Push

A refunded bet after the result lands exactly on the line.

#Moneyline

A bet on the team that will win outright.

#Total

A bet on whether the combined score goes over or under the listed number.