American football is the number one sport in the US, and it’s also becoming increasingly popular across the globe, with regular season games taking place in London’s Wembley Stadium every year, and the push for a London-based NFL franchise gaining momentum. Whichever side of the pond you’re on, you’ll find that the top sports betting sites now offer a range of exciting markets for American football – plenty of opportunities to land a touchdown at the bookies.
Wondering where to place your bets? Look no further- we’ve helped you out by rounding up the very best American football betting sites in our carefully selected list. From the top bonuses to live, in-play football betting, you’ll find it all at our recommended bookies. Let’s take a look at a few factors to help you get started betting on American football.
American Football Betting Basics
The National Football League (NFL) is the professional league for American football in the US. There’s also college football, the top level being the NCAA, which is a big deal in America, which you can bet on at the best online bookies.
The vast majority of NFL games take place across the States, though London a hosts a few games each year. The NFL regular season is shorter than most UK sports, such as football or rugby, spanning just 17 weeks from September to December. Don’t worry, though- they pack a massive 256 games into this period, so there are plenty of betting opportunities!
The league is made up of 32 teams split into two 16 team conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The two conferences are both made up of four divisions— East, West, North and South— each with four teams. Every team plays 16 games in total, 12 against teams from its own conference and four matches against franchises from the other conference.
Once the regular season finishes, the NFL playoffs take place. This is a single elimination tournament played out between six teams from each conference- the four division winners and two wild-card teams, which are the two remaining teams with the best record. There are three rounds to the playoffs, and the final round determines the champions of the NFC and AFC.
The season ends with the Super Bowl, which is contested between the NFC and AFC conference winners to determine the NFL league champion. The Super Bowl is the showpiece event of American football, so it’s a big date on the NFL betting calendar for bettors around the world.
American Football Betting Options
Picking a winning bet for an upcoming NFL game or tournament is easier said than done. The last ten Super Bowls have been won by nine different teams, so it’s safe to say the league is very competitive and that nothing is guaranteed. It’s a similar story in the two conferences, though the New England Patriots’ three consecutive AFC titles from 2016-18 have bucked the trend slightly.
The unpredictability of the NFL is partly due to the draft system, where NFL franchises recruit the best college players before the start of each new season. The team that finished last in the previous season gets the first pick, which helps prevent certain teams gaining too much of an advantage over others.
There are a few things you can do to help make well-informed bets on NFL and NCAA games, though. League standings and betting odds are always a good place to start, but checking out stats, recent form, home advantage, head to head history, suspensions and injuries is always useful. Of course, simply following the sport and watching NFL games is always one of the best ways to build up your knowledge and inform your betting.
American Football Betting Markets
You can find a huge range of American football betting markets at the UK’s top online sportsbooks. Let’s check out just a few of the exciting options on offer.
Match winner – The most straightforward and popular sports bet, this simply involves picking the winner of a match.
Outright – Outright bets are where you wager on the outcome of a league or tournament, such as an NFL conference or the Super Bowl.
Handicap – Also known as spread betting, this is where you wager on a team to win and either maintain a points advantage or overcome a disadvantage. So, if you bet on a team with -2 handicap, they’ll need to win by 3 points.
Under/over – Here you’re betting that the total number of points scored during a game will be under or over a set number, such as 57.
Odd/even – You’re wagering on the total points scored being an odd or even number.
First/last – The best NFL betting sites offer markets on the likes of first touchdown scorer and the first or last team to score.
Player props – There’s a whole range of player proposition bets on offer, such as number of passing yards, pass completion, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles and assists.
Highest scoring quarter – Take a punt on which quarter of a match will see the most points scored. You can also bet on the highest scoring half.
To go to overtime – Fancy a match up to go to the death? If so, you may want to wager on the match going into overtime.
MVP – This is where you bet on which player will receive the Most Valuable Player award in a match or tournament such as the Super Bowl.
Live betting – The best American football betting sites also offer live in-play betting markets, so you can bet live as you watch the action unfold. Odds change depending on how the match plays out, so make sure you’re paying close attention!
American Football Betting Bonuses
There are plenty of betting bonuses a on offer at online sportsbooks that you can use to bet on American football. Lots of top American football betting sites offer matched deposits, which boost your bankroll by giving you a bonus worth a certain percentage of your first deposit. Free bets are a similar offer, where you’re awarded some bonus bets when you make a qualifying bet or deposit. There’s also an array of regular promotions like reload bonuses and cash back offers to keep things ticking along.
Due to the popularity of American football, some sites also offer NFL-specific bonuses. For example, a bookie might offer early payouts if a team goes a certain number of points ahead. The best NFL betting sites also often have Super Bowl promotions, where you can expect to find handy offers, such as enhanced odds for selected markets.
Bet on American Football Using Your Mobile
Want to bet on American football while out and about? Good news- all the best online bookies have mobile-friendly websites. This means you can take a punt on the NFL on your commute, during your lunch break or whenever else you fancy trying your luck.
The top sports betting sites also have native mobile betting apps, which can enhance your mobile betting experience. As well as faster and more convenient NFL betting, mobile apps have added benefits, such as push notifications, so that you never miss out on the latest promotions or time-limited odds.
Bet on American Football
Now you’ve got to grips with the world of American football, it’s time to get out there and take a punt for yourself! Kick off your betting journey with our hand-picked list of the top online sports betting sites. Compare the best bonuses on offer, sign up and bet on American football today!