đ NFL Betting 101: The Ultimate Beginnerâs Guide to Bet Types
- WinFact
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: May 24
NFL betting is massiveâand it can be overwhelming at first. With dozens of ways to bet on every game, understanding what youâre wagering on is the first step toward betting smarter, not harder.
In this guide, weâll walk you through every essential bet type youâll encounter during an NFL season. Whether you want to bet on who wins, how many yards a QB will throw, or if thereâll be a touchdown on the opening driveâweâve got it all covered.

Youâll learn the most common categories of NFL bet types:
Standard Game Bets
Same Game Parlays (SGP)
Quarter/Half Bets
Player Props
Team Props
Game Props
Drive/Play Props
Each section includes a table of bet types with clear meanings, and weâve added real-world examples so you can instantly see how it works.
Letâs dive in. đïž Standard Game Bets
These are your go-to bets for predicting game outcomes and scores.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Moneyline (To Win) | Bet on which team will win the game outright. |
Point Spread | Bet on a team to win or not lose by more than the set margin. |
Total Points (Over/Under) | Bet if total combined score will be over or under a set number. |
Alternate Spread / Total | Choose a custom spread or total with different odds. |
Double Result (Half/Full Time) | Bet who leads at half and who wins at full time. |
Winning Margin | Predict how many points a team wins by. |
Odd or Even Total Points | Bet if final score total is odd or even. |
Will Game Go to Overtime? | Yes/No wager. |
Race to X Points | Pick the team to reach a set point total first. |
Team to Score First / Last | Bet which team scores first or last. |
Score First & Win / Lose | Bet if a team scores first and wins or loses. |
Score in Every Quarter | Team must score in all 4 quarters. |
Exact Winning Margin | Predict exact point difference of winner. |
đ Examples:You bet Bills -3.5 vs. Dolphins. Final score: 28â20 â You bet "Race to 20 Points â Chargers." Final: 24â21 Raiders â
đ Quarter & Half Bets
Focused on smaller segments of the game for faster results.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Quarter Winner (Q1âQ4) | Predict which team wins a specific quarter. |
1st Half / 2nd Half Result | Pick winner of a half. Spread and totals may apply. |
Total Points Per Quarter | Predict total points in a given quarter. |
Team Points by Half or Quarter | Bet on how many points a team scores in each half or quarter. |
Odd/Even Points in Quarter | Odd or even total points for a specific quarter. |
Team to Win Each Half / Quarter | Bet a team wins both halves or all quarters. |
đ Example:You bet "1st Half Total Over 24.5" in Eagles vs. Giants. Halftime: 17â10 â You bet 2nd Quarter Winner: Cowboys. Quarter ends 3â3 â
đ” Team Props
These bets are all about team-level performance stats.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Total Team Points | O/U on one team's total points. |
Team Touchdowns | Predict number of touchdowns a team will score. |
Team Field Goals Made | Total field goals made by a team. |
Team to Win to Nil | Bet that a team wins and shuts out the opponent. |
Team to Score X+ Points | Bet a team scores over a specific number (e.g. 30+ points). |
Team to Score in Every Quarter | Team must score in all four quarters. |
đ Example:You bet "Chiefs 3+ Touchdowns" vs. Broncos. Final score: 24â10 â You bet "Jets to Score in Every Quarter." 0 points in Q3 â
đ€ Player Props â QB
Track quarterback stats and call the play before it happens.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Passing Yards | O/U on total yards thrown. |
Passing Touchdowns | Predict number of TDs thrown. |
Interceptions Thrown | How many INTs the QB throws. |
Pass Completions / Attempts | O/U on number of passes completed or attempted. |
Longest Completion | Bet on the distance of the longest pass completed. |
đ Example:"Mahomes Over 270.5 Passing Yards" â "Josh Allen Under 1.5 Passing TDs" â
đââïž Player Props â RB/WR/TE
Track yards, catches, and touchdowns from skill players.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Rushing Yards | O/U on rushing yards. |
Rushing Touchdowns | Number of rushing TDs. |
Receiving Yards | O/U on receiving yards. |
Receptions | O/U on number of receptions. |
Longest Reception | Distance of the longest catch. |
Combined Rushing + Receiving Yards | Total combined yards. |
đ Example:You bet "Christian McCaffrey Over 100.5 Total Yards" â You bet "Tyreek Hill Over 6.5 Receptions" ends with 5 â
đŻ Player Touchdown Props
Touchdown-focused betsâhigh risk, high reward.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Anytime Touchdown Scorer | Player scores at any point. |
First / Last Touchdown Scorer | Player scores first or last TD of the game. |
2+ / 3+ Touchdowns | Player scores 2 or more TDs. |
First TD for Team | First TD scorer for their team. |
đ Example:"Stefon Diggs Anytime TD Scorer" â "Nick Chubb First TD Scorer" but scores 2nd â
đČ Game Props
Bet on how the game unfolds beyond the score.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Total Touchdowns in Game | Combined TDs by both teams. |
Total Field Goals Made | Total FGs by both teams. |
First Scoring Play Type | TD, FG, or safety. |
Last Scoring Play | Type of last points scored. |
First Turnover Type | INT or fumble. |
Defensive/Special Teams TD? | Bet on a non-offensive TD. |
Safety to Occur? | Will a safety happen? |
2-Point Conversion Attempt/Success | Will a 2-point try be attempted/made? |
đ Example:You bet "Defensive TD: Yes" and a pick-six happens â You bet "Safety to Occur: Yes" and none happen â
đ Drive / Play Props
Incredibly specific bets for die-hard fans and live bettors.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Result of Opening Drive | TD, FG, punt, or turnover. |
Next Drive Result | How the next drive ends. |
First Play Type | Run or pass. |
4th Down Conversion Attempt/Made | Will a team go for it and succeed? |
đ Example:"Opening Drive Result: Punt" â "1st Play: Pass" but itâs a run â
đ§© Same Game Parlay (SGP)
Parlay multiple bets from the same game into one ticket.
Bet Type | Meaning |
Any mix of bets (spread, total, player props, etc.) | Combine multiple legs into one high-payout bet. All must hit. |
đ Example:
Bills -6.5 â
Allen Over 275.5 Yards â
Diggs Anytime TD â â SGP â (All legs hit)You miss even one? â
đ§ Pro Tip
If youâre new to NFL betting, donât overcomplicate it. Stick to the basics: Moneyline, Point Spread, and Over/Under are the easiest to understand and the most reliable when learning. These give you a clean view of how betting odds, team performance, and game flow work in real time.
Avoid jumping into exotic bets, parlays, or touchdown scorer props just because the payouts look juicy. Parlays require every leg to hit, and most beginners overestimate their accuracy. Instead, use your first few weeks to track your bets, note what worked, and build a routine. Treat it like a sportâtrain before going pro.

đ Final Thoughts
NFL betting becomes powerful when you mix knowledge, strategy, and discipline. Donât fall for hot takes or gut feelingsâbuild your picks around stats, trends, and logic. Every dollar you bet is a decision. Make sure it's an informed one.
Learn what each bet type means, review your outcomes, and never chase losses. Thatâs how people spiral. Stick to a unit system, set limits, and donât bet just to feel somethingâbet because you see value.
Betting isnât about being right all the time. Itâs about being right more often than the odds suggest. Play the long game, build confidence, and always respect the grind.
Youâre not just bettingâyouâre building a system.