Football Betting

Football is one of America’s favorite sports and a staple of American culture. There are several recognized football federations across the globe, but the US is home to the two most popular leagues: the National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, American football fans can now bet on their favourite US sport. As legal US sports football betting is so new, it can be difficult to know where to start- but it doesn’t have to be. Compare.bet has everything you need to know about football betting, including betting markets and where you can make your wagers.

Looking to bet on football in New Jersey? We’ve got a line up of the best sports betting sites available to punters in the Garden State. Compare our expert reviews, scores and the bonuses on offer to pick out the bookie that suits you best. All of our featured sportsbooks are legal and regulated in the state of New Jersey. All that’s left for you to do is make your pick, sign up and start betting.

US States with Legal Football Betting

While football betting isn’t yet legal in all US states, there are a number of states that allow residents and visitors to place wagers on professional and college football games. These states are:

•    New Jersey
•    Pennsylvania
•    Delaware
•    Rhode Island
•    Mississippi
•    West Virginia
•    Nevada
•    New Mexico

Each of these states has separate regulation outlining where punters can bet on sports. While some allow residents to bet on football at legal betting sites, others only permit football betting at sportsbooks at commercial and tribal casinos.

Major Football Events

Between professional football and college football leagues, there are plenty of different football events for punters to bet on, but none are more popular than NFL games. With 32 teams each playing 16 games over a 17 week period, there are hundreds of football games to put money on throughout the season. On top of this, punters can look forward to the playoffs, Super Bowl and NCAA football games- and many top betting sites offer promotions, such as free bets bonuses, to promote these events. Want to get involved with football betting? Compare.bet gives you a run through of the biggest football betting events.

NFL playoffs

Held after the NFL’s regular season, the NFL playoffs work as an elimination tournament. The playoffs see 12 teams, (6 from the American Football Conference and 6 from the National Football Conference) face off in a single elimination format. These are some of the most exciting NFL games, and the final round of NFL playoffs determines which teams will go on to compete in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the NFL Championship game and sees the two surviving teams from the playoffs face off for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. This is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, attracting spectators from all corners of the globe, and American football fans can now join in on Super Bowl betting action.

NCAA playoffs

Given that US college football is a pretty big deal, the NCAA playoffs give plenty of betting opportunities to football bettors. These games see the two best teams from Division I’s subdivisions ( the Football Championship Subdivision and the Football Bowl Subdivision) compete. The NCAA playoffs are a knockout tournament, just like the NFL playoffs, to determine the victor. This is the highest level of college football in the US.

Picking a Winner

As with any other sport, picking a winner for an upcoming football game is easier said than done. There are plenty of football betting tipsters out there, but no advice can guarantee you a winning bet. While you might take advice from betting tipsters, it is essential that you do your own research to make an educated bet.

When deciding which team to bet on, we suggest looking at the latest statistics and figures. Football stats for NFL teams can typically be found on the official NFL statistics page, where the league breaks down a variety of stats for teams and individual players.  A quick look at different stats, such as points per game, number of successful passes and tackles and the team’s recent performance can indicate which team is stronger.

Football Betting Markets

US sportsbooks offer a variety of football betting markets on which football fans can make their bets. As the US sports betting market grows, we can expect to see an increase in the variety of markets on offer. In states with legal sports betting, you can place wagers on popular markets such as:

Match winner

This is a straight bet on the team you back to win an individual game, whether you’re betting on NFL or NCAA.

Outright winner

Another straight bet, but this is on the team you believe will win the league or tournament.

Over/under

Over/ Under bets are straightforward. These common bet types involve wagering on whether a football team will score more, or fewer, points than the sportsbook has predicted.

Spread betting

Also known as handicap betting, you’re putting money on a team to win and either maintain a points advantage or overcome a disadvantage. These advantages and disadvantages will be displayed with plus (+) and minus (-) symbols, meaning your team must win, or lose, according to this margin.

Proposition bets

Proposition bets, or prop bets, focus more on the outcome of a certain event during a football game. These bets might include, “which team will score the first touchdown?” or “how many field goals will team x score?”

Parlays

A parlay wager is a single bet that is linked with two or more wagers. In order to win a parlay bet, a bettor must win every wager in it; losing just one wager means you’ll lose the entire bet.

Football betting markets will vary between sportsbooks and betting sites, with some online sportsbooks offering in-play betting opportunities on live football events. It’s up to you to compare football betting odds between operators. Even so-called ‘safer’ bets carry an element of risk, so you should never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Football Betting Odds

Before you bet on football, it’s important to understand how betting odds work. While US sportsbooks and betting sites mostly use the American odds format, you might see them displayed in decimal or fractional format. You can read more about betting odds with our how to read odds guide.

Odds are used to demonstrate the sportsbooks’ prediction of what’s likely to happen in a football game. These can be a good indication of what would make a winning bet, but betting on the bookies’ favourite doesn’t, by any means, guarantee you a profit. Football betting odds can vary between sportsbooks, so we’d advise comparing operators to find the best price.

Let’s look at a real-world example of how odds work:

In an NFL game between the Chargers and the Patriots, a sportsbook sets odds of +170 for the Chargers to win. A $100 bet could give you a $270 return if Chargers won. You will win back your initial $100 stake and the $170 for the successful wager. When it comes to negative odds, a successful bet on the Patriots winning, at odds of -190,  your $100 would see a return of $152.65- a more modest, $52.65 profit.

Mobile Football Betting

A handful of states also offer online and mobile sports betting, giving bettors the chance to make their wagers anywhere within state lines. The US states that currently offer mobile sports betting are:

•    Nevada – Online betting is only available via mobile apps
•    New Jersey – Online betting available via apps and browser sites.
•    West Virginia – Online betting available via apps and browser sites

In these states you can use a mobile app or online platform to place bets from the comfort of your home, both pre-game and while the game in underway. Mobile sports betting apps are typically available for both Android and iOS devices. Online odds and offers usually mirror those on offer at a physical land-based sportsbook.

It’s important to understand state-specific gambling laws before you choose your sportsbook, as the sign-up process for online accounts can differ. For example, in Nevada, you can bet online via mobile apps, but you will need to visit a land-based sportsbook to verify your identity and complete the setup.

Check out our mobile sports betting apps guide for more information when it comes to picking the sports betting app that’s right for you.

Online Football Betting in New Jersey

Online Football Betting in Nevada

Bet on football online in West Virginia

With the rapid expansion of sports betting in the US, there’s an increasing number of ways for punters to bet on football. You can count on Compare.bet to keep you updated with the latest on US sports betting legislation, as well as the sportsbooks and betting sites available to American sports bettors.

FAQs

Can I bet on college football?

Yes, depending on the state you’re in. In most states with legal and regulated sports betting, you can place bets on college football games. However, in order to preserve the integrity of college football, some states, including New Jersey and Rhode Island, do not allow punters to wager on college football games held in the state or on games that involve the state’s college team.

Is there a winning formula for football betting?

No. There is no definitive method to making a winning bet on football. Just like any other form of gambling, there is a chance you could win and a chance you could lose, nothing is guaranteed. While some bets, such as straight bets, are ‘safer’ than a parlay, for example, they still carry risk. We’d recommend doing plenty of research before you bet, taking time to review team stats, past performance and understanding exactly how football betting works, to help you make the most educated bet possible.

Can I win money betting on college football?

Yes. Betting on NCAA football games works in exactly the same way as bets on professional football leagues. Your chances of winning real money on an NCAA playoffs bet are exactly the same as if the odds were for Super Bowl betting.

Can I bet on other sports at US sportsbooks?

Yes. Every US sportsbook and betting site will have its own selection of betting markets, but the best offer betting options on pretty much every sport, as well as daily fantasy sports games. This means that, whether you want to bet on hockey, baseball or basketball, there is plenty to sink your teeth into.