Basic Odds For Betting On Football

by Chris Allen

This article will just go over the basics, which everyone should know if they plan on betting on football. It amazes me how many people are not aware of what the payoffs are on a bet they are planning to make, or even after the bet has been made. It is a fast way to get cheated out of money owed to you. I know some recent college graduates from major universities make bets during college / pro football and ask me how much their bet pays, and when I tell them it pays two to one, they still ask me how much they will win if they bet a hundred bucks. This sometimes worries me about the future of the human race. Two to one is pretty basic math.

The odds are almost always posted on a big board in each sports book (in Vegas), there are usually typed up sheets available for each sport printed up daily with the lines. The home team is always on the bottom and the times are where you are unless specifically stated. In Las Vegas it would be Pacific Time. There will also be a number associated with each team. It is always appropriate to say the number of the team you are betting on, not the team name when making a wager.

A point spread transaction would be listed like:

567 Cowboys –7

568 Redskins +7

When using a point spread the team with the minus is the favorite. You can bet on the Cowboys to win by more than seven points or the Redskins not to lose by more than seven points. If the Cowboys win by, and the Redskins lose by exactly seven points it is called a “push” and the entire amount of money you wagered will be returned to you. This point spread bet requires a bet of $11 to win $10 and a $21 return. This is known as a flat bet.

Example:

567 Cowboys –7 Bet $110 to win $100 equals $210 back

568 Redskins +7 Bet $110 to win $100 equals $210 back

You will also see a total number you can bet on. Lets say the total number is 45, this means you can bet on the combined total scores of both teams to be over 45, or under 45 for the final score of the game. This bet also is a flat bet of $11 to $10 with a $21 return. If the final score of the game adds up to exactly 45 this is also a push, and your money will be returned to you.

Example:

567 Cowboys 45 Over - Bet $110 to win $100 equals $210 back

568 Redskins Under - Bet $110 to win $100 equals $210 back

Now lets look at a money line wager. For instance if the line for the Cowboys said –300 and the line for the Redskins said +250, money lines are always listed by hundreds meaning the minus is what you have to bet to win one hundred dollars, and the plus is what you win by betting one hundred dollars. When playing the money line your team simply has to win the game, it does not matter by how many points.

Example:

567 Cowboys –300 Bet $300 to win $100 equals $400 back

568 Redskins +250 Bet $100 to win $250 equals $350 back

Always remember to check the lines and understand the returns on the amount of money you wager on any sport. All of the above examples relate to football at the professional and college level.