Betting
lines on football games generally use pointspreads with the favorite
team giving points to the underdog. Money lines are also available.
The oddsmaker takes into account current form, home field advantage,
playing surface, injuries, weather conditions, team morale, public opinion
and a host of other factors. The first official line is issued Monday
morning and is adjusted during the week to reflect how the public is
betting, injury news and so forth.
Over
/ under betting is also offered, requiring bettors to forecast whether
the combined number of points scored by the two teams will be over or
under a specific number. In football, overtime does count in determining
the outcome of bets.
Example:
Buffalo Bills - 3 1/2 ... Miami Dolphins 38
Buffalo, the favorites, must win by 4 points or more to cover the
spread. You bet 11 to win 10 on either team. The over/under total
is 38 and you, again, bet 11 to win 10. In this example, if the final
score were Buffalo 21, Miami 18 then those betting Miami and those
betting over 38 would win.
Half-time
betting has become increasingly popular as have teasers where the bettor
may move the line in favor of either the favorite or underdog. Normally
6 and 7 point teasers are offered with fixed payouts being offered (see
chart at right).
Futures
betting is also available from the start of the season on who will win
the Conferences and the Super Bowl. These odds are adjusted throughout
the season; for example, the previous Super Bowl winner might start
the season at 3/1 but if it confirms its previous season form and reaches
the Conference final, the odds against it winning the Super Bowl might
then be as short as 4/5. You get the odds in effect at the time you
place the bet.
For
playoff games and the Super Bowl, more exotic wagering opportunities
are available, such as first team to score; first player to score a
touchdown; whether the first score is a touchdown, field goal or other;
number of sacks; and which quarterback will throw the most number of
passes. Such proposition bets, as they are called, are also available
on the Sunday Night and Monday Night games.
