NFL Picks, Predictions and Lines

Looking for this week’s NFL betting lines, picks and predictions? Get this week’s NFL point spreads, money lines and over/unders and enjoy predictions and picks for selected games.

How to read NFL odds

NFL betting odds can be daunting. There are plusses and minuses all over the place, different numbers and jargon that doesn’t make immediate sense.

The first thing bettors are likely to see is the spread. This is effectively a way of levelling the betting market out between the two teams. For example, if there’s a point spread of five, the favorites will be listed as -5 and the underdogs will be +5.

It’s pretty straight forward from there. The favorites need to win by at least five points for the bet to cash in, while the dogs ‘win’ if they are within five points at the end of the game.

The other main markets – moneyline, total points – are more obvious. Betting the moneyline is a straight up bet on who wins the game, and the points market is a bet on the combined points of the two teams.

Moneyline NFL odds will vary depending on the teams involved. It’s not uncommon to see teams heavily favored on the moneyline. For example, a -200 moneyline price means a $10 bet would return a $5 profit.

NFL odds movement

​NFL game odds usually open several days before kick-off. The odds will alter during that period as information about the two teams comes out and money is wagered.

If a team starts as five-point favorites, and they get a lot of money behind them at that price, the point spread can increase to -6 or -7. Team news can, of course, produce major swings in the odds.

Possible odds changes are something for bettors to be wary of. It’s rare that the opening price will stay the same throughout the build up to a game – bettors should keep an eye on odds movement to find the best value

Super Bowl betting

​The NFL season is all about one thing: The Super Bowl. It’s one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar, a game watched around the world. Legends are made in the Super Bowl, and it naturally attracts a massive amount of betting attention.

NFL fans will place Super Bowl futures bets months before the big game. The majority of Super Bowl outright betting will be on the winner, but there are alternatives like backing a team to come out of their conference. As the game nears, many bettors will delve into the Super Bowl MVP market looking for betting value.

​Super Bowl odds will move throughout the season. Finding the best Super Bowl betting value does not necessarily mean backing a team at the start of the year. If they’ve got a tough start, maybe wait for them to lose a couple and back them when their odds lengthen.

NFL betting strategy

The strategy of betting on the NFL is similar to many other sports. Before placing a wager, keeping an eye out for injury news is obviously a priority, particularly quarterbacks. If Patrick Mahomes is playing through pain, his availability is a factor to consider as you weigh up your bets for the following week’s game.

​With the season taking place through the depths of winter, a glance at the weather forecast is useful, too. A high-scoring game is much less likely with rain pouring down or in freezing temperatures.

​Previous matchups between two teams and specific stats are important. How teams defend the run and pass can show weaknesses that their opponent can exploit. Sometimes it will suggest they can nullify their opposition’s greatest threat.

​Recent performances of each team should be considered, but a couple of losses to two of the best teams in the NFL is not necessarily an indicator of future performance. Bettors must look a wide range of information before placing their wagers.