NFL live betting
Also referred to as “in-game betting”, NFL live betting is a bet on a game once it has already started. As soon as the opening kickoff occurs, oddsmakers at sportsbooks in Arizona begin adjusting the odds on a variety of in-game bet types.
If the Arizona Cardinals start as -6 point favorites against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Rams take the opening kickoff for a touchdown, you can expect the point spread to shift in their favor (i.e. Cardinals -3 or Rams -1).
The total is another bet type that you can get involved in for NFL live betting, moving up or down depending on how the game is flowing and how many points are being scored.
Since live betting became mainstream, more NFL live betting bet types have begun to pop up, with dozens now available for every NFL game after they start.
How to read NFL odds
Now that you know the most common types of wagers you can place on the NFL, let's dive into some hypothetical situations. Using betting on the Arizona Cardinals as an example, let’s look at how to read NFL odds on various types of bets.
Point Spread
Arizona Cardinals +7.5 (-110) vs. San Francisco 49ers -7.5 (-110)
In this game, the oddsmakers are suggesting that the 49ers will win by at least eight (8) points. If, for example, the 49ers won 28-20, backers of San Francisco would win their bet, as they won by more than 7.5 points.
Conversely, if the Cardinals added a field goal late, only losing 23-28, Arizona backers would win as their final score (for the bet) would be 30.5-28.
Moneyline
Arizona Cardinals (+160) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-180)
In this example of the moneyline, which is simply betting on which team will win, the Cardinals are listed as the underdog to the Eagles. For those who bet on the Cardinals, they will win 1.6x (160/100) the amount they risk.
For Eagles backers, they will win just .55x (100/180) the amount they risk if Philadelphia is another way.
Said another way and using a bet size of $100 risked, Cardinals backers would profit $160 and Eagles backers would profit $55, should their respective teams win.
Total
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks - Over 43.5 (-110) Under 43.5 (-110)
Using this NFC West rivalry as an example, oddsmakers are suggesting there will be between 42 and 44 points scored in this game.
If the Cardinals edge out the Seahawks 26-20, 46 total points have been scored, so the “over” would be a winner.
If it’s a low-scoring affair, say Seahawks 17 Cardinals 10, only 27 points would have been scored in total, making the “under” a winner.
Same Game Parlay
Arizona Cardinals (+135) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-150)
With a Same Game Parlay, you are betting on multiple outcomes within the game. Let’s say for example you place the following legs in your Same Game Parlay in a game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers: