Best NFL sportsbooks in 2026

When it comes to NFL betting spreads, this will be one of the most important things for you to take a look at before placing a wager, regardless of which NFL conference you decide to do research on for a bet. These spreads will indicate how much a team is favored for in a game, or on the flip side how many points a team is considered the underdog for in that same matchup.

An example of this would be if there's a Thursday Night Football meeting between the Cleveland Browns and the Seattle Seahawks. For this particular game, Seattle is listed at -6, while the Browns are at +6. This means Seattle is favored by six points, and the Browns are six-point underdogs.

Keep in mind, you'll also have the ability to bet on the moneyline for this game. That means you can pick either Seattle or Cleveland to win straight up. If you were to pick the Seahawks, you won't see a great payout because they're such high favorites. However, if you think the Browns would stun Seattle, then you'd surely see a great return on your bet since the oddsmakers don't have much confidence in Cleveland winning.

Now, if you decide to go with the spreads, that's another story. So, if you pick Seattle at -6, they'd have to win by at least seven points for you to win your bet. If they take down Cleveland by six points, you'd see a push, while a win by anything less than six points means you'd lose your bet.

The same is the case for the Browns in this scenario. If you take them to cover +6, they'd have to lose by five points or less for you to win your wager. If they lose by six points, it'd be a push, while a defeat of seven points or more means you'd lose your bet.

While the over/under bets and moneyline bets are popular ones, that won't be what you're limited too. Prop bets and futures bets are of course going to be enticing wagers to make as well.

In case you need a refresher, prop bets are among the most fun bets that you'll be able to find out there. A good example of a prop bet would be who would be the first player to score a touchdown in a game.

For an NFL futures bet, this is when you're predicting something to happen down the road.

The most common futures bet for the NFL would be picking the Super Bowl winner, which is one of the biggest events of sport, before the season starts. So, if you think the Patriots will win it all a month before the season even gets underway, that's a futures bet you can make. You can pick any team to win the Super Bowl as your futures pick. Because you're picking the winner so far in advance, you'll see an amazing payout if that team comes out to win, especially if they have 10-1 or 15-1 odds.

Every year, from August through February, NFL online sports betting takes center stage in North America and around the globe. With a compressed schedule offering games that are bunched together on weekends, the National Football League is one of the easiest pro sports to wager on. Having a week between NFL contests also gives handicappers plenty of research time. Top online sportsbooks cover every NFL regular season and playoff game, all the way up to Super Bowl Sunday.

NFL public betting refers to the percentage of bets placed on each side of a wager by the general betting public. Sportsbooks often release these percentages, which can be valuable information for bettors. Understanding public betting trends can help identify potential value bets, as the public tends to favor favorites and high-scoring games. Sharp bettors often look for opportunities to bet against the public, especially when there's a significant imbalance in betting percentages.

NFL live betting, also known as in-play betting, allows bettors to place wagers on games as they unfold. Odds are constantly updated based on the current score, time remaining, and other factors. This dynamic form of betting offers unique opportunities to capitalize on momentum shifts, injuries, or tactical changes during a game. Popular live betting markets include updated point spreads, over/under totals, and next scoring play props. Live betting requires quick decision-making and a good understanding of in-game dynamics.

NFL parlay betting involves combining multiple bets into a single wager. To win a parlay, all selected bets must be correct. While parlays offer higher potential payouts due to multiplied odds, they're also riskier than single bets. NFL bettors often use parlays to combine correlated outcomes or to increase potential returns on favorites. Common NFL parlay strategies include combining point spreads and totals from different games or linking moneyline favorites for better odds.

NFL preseason betting focuses on exhibition games played before the regular season starts. These games often feature less predictable outcomes as teams experiment with lineups and limit star player involvement. Successful preseason betting typically requires deep knowledge of team depth charts, coaching tendencies, and preseason objectives. Bettors often focus on team motivation, quarterback rotations, and rookie performances. While preseason games can be more volatile, they also offer opportunities for sharp bettors who can effectively analyze these unique factors.

While it may be difficult to think about, sometimes betting against your favorite team may be your best option if you want to hit on a wager. If that is too tough for you to consider, trust us when we say we understand your decision and appreciate your loyalty. With that being said, there's some NFL betting trends that will avoid that issue altogether.

Lately, one of the biggest NFL betting trends we've seen is bettors placing more and more bets on over/unders on Sundays. This is especially going to be the case when two high-flying offenses get ready to meet for a highly-anticipated showdown.

With Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the Kansas City Chiefs remain one of the league’s most explosive offenses. His record 10-year, $502 million extension, signed back in 2020, still shapes the franchise’s future, and five seasons later Mahomes continues to deliver highlight-reel touchdowns that keep the scoreboard operator busy every week.

That firepower makes the Chiefs a popular target for over/under bets. Imagine a Week 5 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, where the total is set at 51 points. Mahomes and company are capable of dropping 30 points on almost anyone, while Miami—led by stars like Tyreek Hill—can match them score for score with one of the league’s fastest offenses.

Games like these often draw bettors toward the “over.” But remember: the two teams must combine for at least 52 points to cash the ticket. If the total lands exactly at 51, it’s a push, and anything less leaves the over a losing wager.