On our home page you can find the latest NFL
odds, but for many who are new to betting, the real
question is how the NFL odds work. Here we will try
to explain the NFL odds in the easiest way possible,
so every visitor of ours can understand the basic
concept. We will also provide examples for the
variety of NFL odds available and how those work.
Let's
start with the basic - the NFL odds are betting
numbers posted by sportsbooks (also called
bookmakers) against which one can wager in return
for a price. Here we will take the U.S. odds, which
take the form of a plus or minus sign, followed by a
number, three digits or higher. An example of NFL
odds is "-110". And here is how you calculate those
odds:
1. If the sign in front of the number is "-"
(minus), the number shows how much money you have to
bet in order to win $100, if your bet is a winner.
For example, -110 odds on the Patriots to win means
that a bettor must wager $110 to win $100. If the
odds were -230, it means the bettor must wager $230
to win $100.
2. If the sign in front of the odds
is "+" (plus), the number behind it shows how much
you would win if you wager $100. Another example, if
the odds on the Cowboys are +210, it means that for
every $100 you bet, you will win $210.
3. EVEN or
PICK - even odds pay the same prize as your wager,
i.e. if you bet $200 you will win $200. Often the
even odds are shown as just "EV" or are noted as
"pick", i.e. any team you pick would pay the same as
the bet.
This is how you calculate the NFL
odds. Here are the three major types of football
bets and the odds: money line, point spread and
total.
The money line is a bet on the outcome of
the game, i.e. which team will win the game
outright. In U.S. football, there are only 2
possible outcome - win or lose (sometimes a draw is
possible, but only after regular time, which often
does not count, check with your sportsbook). For
each team, there is one set of odds, which show how
much you would win if that team wins the game. This
is also how favorite and underdog is determined.
The
point spread is handicap given to one team. A +6
point spread on the Eagles means the Eagles must
lose by no less than 6 points in order for your NFL
bet to be a winner. Almost all of the time the odds
on the point spread are set at -110. The same -110
odds are also the regular for the total bet, which
is a bet on whether the sum of the game's points
will go over or under the total posted by the
sportsbook.
