NFL Game Props
What are NFL game props?
NFL game props (or proposition bets) are wagers placed on specific events within a football game that are not directly tied to the final outcome. These bets focus on various occurrences and statistical performances during the game.
Examples include betting on the total number of touchdowns, the first team to score, the total yards gained by a specific player or even the result of the coin toss. NFL game props offer a diverse and engaging way to bet on football by allowing bettors to focus on specific elements of the game rather than just the final score or the winners of games.
Popular Types of NFL Game Prop Bets
NFL game prop bets provide a wide range of wagering options beyond the traditional point spread, moneyline and totals. These types of bets focus on specific events within a game, offering unique opportunities to leverage your knowledge of teams and players. Explore the popular types of game prop betting markets below:
- First Team to Score: With this football prop bet, sports fans wager on which team will score first in the game. For instance, you might wager on the Kansas City Chiefs to score first against the Denver Broncos. Consider the team's offensive strategies, the opponent's defense and recent performance trends.
- Team to Score Last: Wager on which team will score the final points in the game. For example, with this prop line, you might bet on the New England Patriots to score the last points in their matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Analyze the game's context, the teams' scoring capabilities and late-game performance.
- Total Team Points: Predict the total number of points a team will score in a game. For instance, you might bet that the Dallas Cowboys will score over 24.5 points against the Philadelphia Eagles. Consider the team's offensive strength, the opponent's defense and recent scoring trends.
- First Half Points: For this team prop bet, you wager on the total points scored by both teams in the first half. With this common prop option, you might predict that the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings will combine for over 21.5 points in the first half. Analyze the teams' first-half performances, offensive strategies and defensive setups.
- First Quarter Points: With this popular prop bet, you wager on the total points scored by both teams in the first quarter. For instance, you might bet that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons will score over 9.5 points in the first quarter. Consider the teams' starting strategies, offensive potency and defensive resistance.
- Winning Margin: Bet on the margin of victory for either team. As an example, you might choose the Baltimore Ravens to win by 7-12 points against the Cleveland Browns. Analyze the teams' performance, scoring capabilities and recent game outcomes.
- First Touchdown Scorer: For this type of prop bet, you predict which player will score the first touchdown in the game. For instance, you might bet on Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans to score the first touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. Consider the player's scoring ability, the team's offensive strategies and recent trends.
- Longest Field Goal: With this prop bet market, you wager on which team will kick the longest field goal in the game. You might predict that the Los Angeles Rams will have the longest field goal against the San Francisco 49ers. Analyze the kickers' abilities, the teams' field goal strategies and recent performance.
These types of prop bets allow for a detailed analysis of specific game events, offering bettors a chance to focus on unique aspects of team performance. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your favorite teams and players, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of success with your overall online sports betting strategy.
Understanding Prop Betting Odds
Most online sportsbooks use the American odds format for NFL game props and other prop bets. American odds are presented using positive and negative numbers, indicating the underdog team and the favorite team. Positive betting odds represent the potential profit on a $100 bet, while negative odds indicate the amount you need to bet to win $100.
Let's consider a "margin of victory" prop bet for a regular season matchup with the following betting lines:
- Margin of Victory 7-12 points: +400
- Margin of Victory 1-6 points: -250
Margin of Victory 7-12 points: +400
If you place a bet of $100 on the margin of victory being between 7 and 12 points and the actual margin falls within this range, you have the potential to earn a profit of $400. Your total payout would be $500, consisting of your initial stake of $100 plus an additional $400 in profit.
Margin of Victory 1-6 points: -250
For this range, you would need to wager $250 to potentially win a profit of $100 if the margin of victory ends up being between 1 and 6 points. If the actual margin falls within this range, your total payout would be $350, comprising your initial $250 bet plus an additional $100 in profit.
Prop Betting at Online Sportsbooks
Placing NFL game prop bets involves a few straightforward steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Choose a Reputable Sportsbook: Select an online sportsbook that offers a variety of NFL game prop bets. Ensure the sportsbook is licensed and has good reviews for reliability and security.
- Create an Account: Sign up for an account if you don’t already have one. This typically involves providing personal information and verifying your identity.
- Deposit Funds: Add money to your sportsbook account using your preferred payment method. Most sportsbooks accept credit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard), debit cards, bank wire transfers, e-wallets and even crypto options (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum).
- Navigate to NFL Game Props: Find the NFL section on the sportsbook website or mobile sports betting app. Look for the game prop bets section, which is usually listed under NFL betting or prop bets in the sportsbook menu.
- Browse the Available Bets: Review the list of available prop bets for the specific game you are interested in. You can find player props, team props, scoring props, game props and novelty props at most online sportsbook operators for the entire football season.
- Select Your Bet: Click on the prop bet you want to place. This will add it to your betting slip.
- Enter Your Stake: Input the amount of money you want to wager on the selected prop bet. The betting slip will usually show the potential payout based on the football odds offered by the online sports betting site.
- Place the Bet: Review your bet and confirm that all details are correct. Once you’re satisfied, click the button to place your bet.
- Track Your Bet: After placing your bet, you can track its progress in the ‘My Bets’ section of the sportsbook. This allows you to see the status of your wagers and any potential winnings.
- Withdraw Winnings: If your bet wins, the winnings will be credited to your sportsbook account. You can then withdraw the funds using your preferred method.
By following these steps, you can successfully place NFL game prop bets and enjoy the additional excitement they bring to watching the game.
Sports Betting Strategies for NFL Props
There are endless game prop bets to choose from on any sports betting site. From common types to more exotic prop bets, there are a few things football bettors can do to maximize their success.
Here are our expert tips, for both regular season games and the biggest games of the NFL calendar:
- Research Team Performance: Analyze prop statistics, recent usage, historical performance and in-game interactions. Consider factors such as game setting, prop conditions and player behavior for upcoming games. Always stay updated on the most recent, relevant news leading up to game time.
- Evaluate Game Context: Consider a team's defensive strengths or performance in recent football games. Assess how they will fare in this matchup. Check for star player injuries or updates in coaching strategies.
- Check the Weather: The game environment can influence team performance. The weather conditions on game day, like wind and rain, can affect the likelihood of certain props, such as touchdown pass props.
- Review Historical Data: Examine a team's historical performance in similar matchups and venues. Some teams consistently perform well or struggle in certain game scenarios.
- Understand Betting Props: There is a wide range of betting options in the NFL props markets. Familiarize yourself with different types of game props. Choose props that align with your understanding of game dynamics and player preferences.
- Line Shopping: Compare prop odds across multiple online sports betting operators to find the best value. Different sportsbook oddsmakers may offer slightly different betting lines, which can have a direct impact on your potential returns. Fan-favorite sportsbooks among bettors include BookMaker Sportsbook and BetOnline Sportsbook.
- Utilize Sportsbook Bonuses & Betting Promos: Take advantage of online sports betting bonuses and promotions, including welcome bonuses, bonus bets, second-chance bets and enhanced football odds. These special offers can provide extra value and reduce your overall risk when placing prop bets. Remember to follow any wagering requirements for these sportsbook promos, as these can vary between online sports betting sites.
- Consider Live Betting: Live betting allows you to place bets during the game, adjusting your strategy based on real-time events. Live game lines can be especially profitable if you can quickly notice and capitalize on trends or changes that affect the actual outcome of props.
- Stay Informed: When it's prop research time, keep track of breaking trends, changes in team strategy and form or any last-minute updates regarding key players so that you can place more well-informed wagers. Late changes can significantly impact a wide range of outcomes for props and other bet types.
- Follow the Experts: Utilize expert opinions and analysis from reliable sources, including our team of industry experts. Expert insights can provide valuable information you might have missed.
- Avoid Emotional Attachment: Don't let personal biases cloud your judgment. Make informed decisions based on data and analysis. Consider utilizing one of our AI-driven sports betting picks, which removes all biases from the betting process.
- Be Patient: Success in betting often requires patience. Don't get discouraged by short-term setbacks; focus on long-term strategies.
- Maintain Thorough Records: Keep a record of your prop wagers and outcomes to adapt your strategy as you learn. Consider tracking your betting budget over time as well.
Remember that game props, like any form of online sports betting, involve a degree of risk. However, they can add a lot of excitement to the regular season and boost your profits once you master them.
Conclusion
NFL game prop betting offers an exciting way to engage with football beyond the final score of a single game. You can place more well-informed prop wagers by familiarizing yourself with the different types of NFL game props.
Following a structured approach to placing bets and applying effective betting tips can enhance your chances of success at online sports betting sites with this type of bet.
NFL Prop Bets FAQs
What is the most popular prop bet in the NFL?
The most popular game prop bet in the NFL is the over/under on the total points scored in a single game. Sportsbook oddsmakers often set these props conservatively, providing value for sharp bettors who can readily identify undervalued situations.
Are prop bets profitable?
Props, including NFL game prop bets, can provide value for sports bettors as sportsbooks often set the betting lines more conservatively. However, game props typically have more variables than player props or team props, so careful analysis is required to find value bets.
What are some Super Bowl prop bets?
Popular Super Bowl game prop bets include the coin toss outcome (heads/tails), the color of the Gatorade bath for the winning coach or whether the final score will be a "Scorigami" (unique final score). You can find a wide array of Super Bowl props at many popular sports betting sites.
Can you parlay Super Bowl prop bets?
You can parlay Super Bowl prop bets, but you cannot typically parlay them directly. Instead, some online sports betting operators allow you to create a Same Game Parlay (SGP) by combining game lines, totals and prop bets from the same Super Bowl game into a single bet slip.
What sportsbook has the best Super Bowl props?
The online sportsbook that most regard as offering the best selection of Super Bowl prop bets is BetOnline. BetOnline boasts a wide range of prop and futures bets, as well as a "props builder" feature for creating custom football prop bets.
