NFL Betting

American Football is the biggest sport across the Atlantic, and you can make your NFL betting picks here throughout the season.

With plenty of markets and competitive odds, Virgin Bet is perfect for gameday and NFL outright betting. Let’s give you the lowdown on everything you need to know to make better selections at our trusted and fully licensed sports betting platform.

How to Bet on NFL Games

The NFL features 32 teams split into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), with four divisions in each one.

Every season is split into three parts: the pre-season, the regular season, running from September to early January, and the Playoffs in January and February. The Playoffs determine which AFC and NFC teams face off in the Super Bowl to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Matchups consist of a 60-minute clock split into four quarters. But because the clock stops after each play, games will last over three hours, making them a brilliant spectacle.

While there’s normally a match winner, you can have ties in the regular season, even after the allowed single ten minutes of overtime. During the season’s Playoffs phase, there are multiple overtime periods until someone gets the winning points.

With so many games throughout the regular season and Playoffs, there are plenty of NFL betting opportunities to explore.

Explaining Point Spreads, Moneylines, and Totals

NFL betting differs from bets on UK football, with three markets in particular being most common.

The Point Spread

In the NFL, matchups are not always even, with one team often a clear favourite. The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, usually dominate the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC West Division. Rather than getting slim odds on the Chiefs winning, you can go for a point spread instead.

The spread levels the playing field, with the Chiefs having to overcome a 5-7-point deficit on their way to winning the game. If they win, but fail to do so by at least the spread margin, you lose your bet.

This is a solid way to get better odds while still backing the team you think will win.

The Moneyline

The moneyline is similar to the match bets you’ll know from UK football. You’re predicting which of the two teams you think will win the game, and there’s no need for your winner to win by a spread. Note that this is a win-or-lose bet; ties are a rarity in NFL games. If the scores are level after regulation time, there’s a 10-minute overtime clock, which usually settles things.

At Virgin Bet, in the unusual event that a match ends in a tie, your bet will be void, and your stake returned.

Total Points

This bet is like the total goals in a football game; your job is to forecast how many points will be scored in total during a match. On average, about 45 points are scored each game, and so the line set by Virgin Bet will usually be around that number. You must predict whether the final points total will be over or under that line.

Like the point spread, total points is a good way to source better NFL betting odds on a match rather than on a moneyline bet where one team is the clear favourite.

In all of these bets, form and statistics are important. If a team is on a run of big-scoring games, then look for opportunities in totals and point spreads in their next matchup.

NFL Outright Betting and Season Markets

While we’ve explained gameday betting so far, NFL outright betting is another big market. With outrights, you’re backing which team you think will win a division or the final Super Bowl showpiece.

You’ll get the best odds pre-season, because as game weeks come and go, the odds for the teams doing best will fall. You can still place outright bets throughout the regular season, but there’s a risk-reward element to it: the earlier you are, the higher the odds will be, but the outcome is more uncertain.

Betting on the Super Bowl and Conference Winners

The Postseason is where the action really heats up. Seven teams from each conference (the four division winners and the three best wild-card teams) come together for a new competition.

It’s a straight elimination bracket format split between the AFC and the NFC groups. The top seed from each conference gets a bye for one round, followed by a wild card round, divisional round, and then a final conference round. This determines which team from each conference progresses to the coveted Super Bowl showdown.

In NFL outright betting, you can back the Super Bowl winner before even the regular season starts. You can also back a team to win a division, or to make it through to the postseason stages. As the Super Bowl approaches, you’re likely to see special Virgin Bet offers to give you a boost, so keep an eye on our promotions page.

Live In-Play NFL Betting

Nothing beats placing bets on a game while you watch it on TV. Virgin Bet gives you loads of in-play NFL markets, with the NFL football betting odds changing dynamically with each play, touchdown, or turnover. You need to be quick off the mark to make the most of NFL in-play betting. At least look at the odds and spot opportunities during game timeouts, commercial breaks or the 12-minute half-time period.

To make your in-play NFL betting super easy, our markets and odds are crystal clear, and we make adding your selection to your betting slip a breeze.

Key Factors to Analyse Before Placing an NFL Bet

Successful online NFL betting always comes from doing some basic research (the more the better), and studying form.

Here are three essential NFL betting tips that you should factor into your strategy this season:

• Starting Quarterback and Roster Health: In NFL betting, the quarterback position is vital because this player is involved in practically every offensive play. If the star quarterback is injured, this will reduce the points scored and affect the match outcome. Other players missing with injury niggles or illness will also alter how the game plays out.
• Stadium Weather Conditions: High winds make it harder to control the football, so expect fewer points. Rain can also punish players struggling with handling. And while extreme heat can slow things down, extreme cold and snow lead to mistakes. Astute bettors will keep an eye on the weather forecast and be aware that in-play NFL betting odds will shift if a front moves in.
• Schedules and Rest Advantages: A team with a longer break between games has a double advantage: players have more time to recover from fatigue and injury, and the coach has more time to drill them. A good tip is that teams coming off a bye week traditionally perform better against the point spread. Having said that, odds-setters for NFL online betting are now wise to this.

Registering and Setting Limits on Virgin Bet

If you’re new to US Open tennis betting, getting started at Virgin Bet is easy. Here’s your simple step-by-step process:

1. Begin by tapping the Join button at the top of this page
2. Complete the form with your personal details
3. Set your deposit limits so you always remain in control
4. Check to see our latest welcome offer (terms and conditions apply)
5. Visit the cashier to make your first real-money deposit
6. Select your payment method and the size of your deposit

You’re then all set to review our online NFL betting markets and odds, and compile your bets using our modern digital bet slip. Completing your slip is fast and simple on your mobile app.

We’ve got lots more help online if you need any further guidance about creating and funding your Virgin Bet account.

Explore Other American Football Markets

While the NFL represents the cream of American football, it’s not the only big competition we cover. Check out our odds on the CFL, the Canadian version of the NFL. We also set lines on all the exciting NCAAF action, showcasing the highly competitive college football action in the US.