NFL Spreads for Dummies: Your First-Time Guide

NFL Spreads for Dummies isn’t just a crash course—it’s your gateway to reading odds like a pro and turning every point into a betting edge.

Your First Bet Starts Here: Understanding NFL Spreads Like a Pro
Think You Know Football? Your Wallet Might Disagree—Until You Read This

Ready to Win? Understanding NFL Spreads is Your First Step!

When it comes to point spreads, NFL betting can feel like a foreign language.

But once you understand how spreads work, betting on football becomes a whole lot easier and will lead to more profit.

This article is your go-to NFL point spread betting guide.

We break down from what is a point spread to holding your hand to your first (hopefully winning!) bet.

By the end, you’ll be able to teach a course on NFL betting for beginners and ready to start scoring profit on your football bets.

What’s a Point Spread, Anyway? Demystifying the Basics

Let’s get straight to the point—literally.

A point spread is a type of bet used to level the playing field between two NFL teams.

The team that wins the game is moot.

It doesn’t matter.

What matters is which team wins or loses against the spread.

The team that covers the spread is the winner.

Say the Dallas Cowboys are playing the New York Giants.

The sportsbook odds are:

What’s a Point Spread, Anyway? Demystifying the Basics

Understanding NFL Point Spreads: Cowboys vs. Giants Example
Bet Type	What Has to Happen to Win
Cowboys -7	Cowboys win by 8+ points
Giants +7	Giants win outright or lose by 6 or fewer
Push	Cowboys win by exactly 7 – your bet is refunded

Tooltips
“The Spread is the Equalizer” – Levels the matchup between teams
It’s Not About Who Wins—It’s About Who Covers

This means the Cowboys are 7-point favorites.

For a bet on the Cowboys to win, they must win by more than 7 points.

If they win by exactly 7, the bet is a push and you get your money back.

A bet on the Giants wins if they lose by fewer than 7 points—or win the game outright.

Learning how to read NFL point spreads like this leads to understanding NFL odds.

It’s less about picking straight up winners and more about picking how close, or not close, the game will be.

Betting Against the Spread: Your First Winning Strategy

So how do you actually bet NFL spreads?

That’s where betting against the spread comes in.

“ATS” means record against the spread.

A team might be 6–10 overall, but 10–6 ATS—meaning they lost 10 games and won 6 straight up but won 10 versus the spread and lost only 6 straight up.

Here are some beginner-friendly NFL spread betting strategy tips:

Matchups Matter

A top offense going up against a weak defense?

That’s a spread-covering opportunity.

Look at Form

Some teams catch fire mid-season and outperform expectations.

Check the ATS trends NFL.

Don’t Fear the Underdog

If a team is getting +10 points and has been competitive lately, that cushion could be golden.

Knowing how to bet NFL spreads means understanding it’s not about who wins—it’s about who covers.

ATS = Against the Spread

Team A Record

Straight Up (SU): 6–10

ATS Record: 10–6 ✅

ATS shows how often a team beats the spread—not just the scoreboard.

Beginner NFL ATS Strategy Tips

Tip	Description
Matchups Matter	Back explosive offenses vs. weak defenses
Check Recent Form	Hot teams often beat the spread mid-season
Don’t Fear the Underdog	+10 dogs with momentum offer real value

^ Top

NFL Spreads Factors that Move the Line

Once you understand point spreads, the next step is learning how they develop and change.

It’s not always hype and big time Vegas money.

Matchup Analysis

Analyzing how two teams stack up—offense vs. defense, rushing vs. passing—can uncover huge value.

Smart bettors dive into NFL matchup analysis for spreads to uncover which team is better equipped to control the game.

Home Field Advantage

Typically worth 2 to 3 points in the spread, home field advantage betting NFL means factoring in the comfort (and noise) of a team’s home stadium.

Don’t overlook how much a home crowd can shift momentum—and the line.

Injury Reports

A starting quarterback’s ankle tweak or a key cornerback ruled out on game day?

That’s huge.

The injury impact on NFL spreads is real, and smart bettors stay on top of it.

Key Numbers

In key numbers NFL betting, 3 and 7 are crucial.

Most NFL games are decided by 3, 7, or 10 points.

So a spread of -2.5 vs. -3.5 is a big deal.

Getting the right side of a key number can be the difference between a win and a loss.

NFL BOOSTS

Football season is back and so is boost szn

➡️ https://t.co/qkAYhnp4nm

#BetWithTheBest pic.twitter.com/xADiL5Jnpu
— MyBookie – Bet With The Best (@MyBookie) August 6, 2025

^ Top

Avoiding Rookie Mistakes: What to Watch Out For

New bettors often stumble over some common traps.

Here’s what to avoid:

Betting With Your Heart

We get it—you love your team.

But when it comes to betting, emotion is the enemy.

Stick to facts, stats, and understanding NFL odds, not loyalty.

Chasing Big Wins Too Early

It’s tempting to place a five-team parlay and dream of a payout.

But when you’re just starting out, slow and steady wins the race.

Following the Crowd Blindly

Sometimes, when everyone’s betting one side, the sportsbook shifts the line to attract more bets on the other.

That’s when public vs sharp money NFL becomes critical.

“Sharp” bettors are professionals—when they go against the public, it’s often for good reason.

Be sharp.

Avoid These Rookie NFL Betting Mistakes

Pro Tip: Trust stats, not emotion.
Easy to digest. Great for social embeds or article sidebar.

^ Top

Taking Your First Step: Beyond Simple Spreads

Once you’ve gotten comfortable with straight spread bets, there are a few advanced options worth knowing:

Teaser Bets

An NFL teaser bets strategy lets you shift the spread in your favor—say from -6.5 to -0.5—but you have to pair it with at least one other game.

Lower risk, lower reward, but great for beginners looking to reduce volatility.

Prop Angle:
If teasing a favorite down to a pick’em, consider pairing with a player TD scorer prop from the same game to hedge against a close win.
Example:
Tease 49ers -6.5 to -0.5 and also bet Christian McCaffrey anytime TD.

Parlay NFL Spreads

Want to bet on multiple games at once?

Combine spread picks into a parlay for a higher payout—but be warned, all legs must hit to win.

Prop Angle:
Add QB passing yards over/under to a spread parlay. If you like a blowout, bet the over on the QB’s yardage.
Example:
Eagles -7 + Jalen Hurts over 245.5 yards = parlay with narrative synergy.

Live Betting NFL Spreads

As games unfold, lines adjust.

Advanced users can jump into live betting NFL spreads to catch value in real-time as momentum shifts.

Prop Angle:
Watch for live rushing or receiving yard props. If a team falls behind early, grab overs on receiving props for their RBs/TEs catching dump-offs.
Example:
If the Jets are down 14 early, consider live betting Breece Hall receiving yards over.

Buying Points NFL

You can also “buy” a better line—for example, moving from -3.5 to -2.5—by accepting slightly worse odds.

Smart if you’re hovering around a key number.

Prop Angle:
When buying points to beat a key number, pair it with alternative player props for boosted payout potential.
Example:
Buy Bengals from -3.5 to -2.5 and parlay with Joe Burrow 2+ passing TDs.

Avoid These Rookie NFL Betting Mistakes

Taking Your First Step: Beyond Simple Spreads

Pro Tip: Trust stats, not emotion.
Easy to digest. Great for social embeds or article sidebar.

^ Top

Final Thoughts: Your Journey to Becoming an NFL Betting Pro Starts Now!

You’ve made it to the end—and that means you’re no longer a rookie.

You understand what is a point spread, how to read NFL point spreads, and have a few betting against the spread tips in your back pocket.

Betting the NFL doesn’t have to be complicated.

Use this NFL point spread betting guide to start small, stay sharp, and trust the process.

Ready to put your new knowledge to the test and start winning against the bookie?

Head over to MyBookie.ag NFL page right now to find the latest NFL point spreads for every game.

Pick your team, apply your strategy, and make your first winning bet!

Bet Smarter This NFL Season

So whether you’re backing the favorites or spotting value underdogs, remember—understanding NFL spreads turns close games into covers and smart bets into real profits.

That’s before, during, and after every snap!

2025 NFL Season Betting Guide

What are you waiting for… Start learning today with MyBookie Betting!

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

MyBookie Online NFL Lines
MyBookie Odds for the Games

Elevate your NFL Season with MyBookie + Loyalty Rewards Program

Start to earn points with the Sportsbook and Casino Loyalty Program to level up, get exclusive bonuses and rakeback in every stage of the 2025/26 Season: Draft, Offseason, Preseason, Regular Season, Playoffs and Super Bowl.

Join the MyBookie program, subscribing will guarantee your share of $15,000 in free plays.

Bet On NFL top betting odds, anywhere, anytime

About the Author

D.S. Williamson
Since 2008, D.S. Williamson has written about sports and sports handicapping. His philosophy is value-based, meaning stats and other handicapping factors are only worth something in comparison to wagering odds. He believes money management and making value-based wagers is the single more important factor that distinguishes successful sports bettors from non-successful sports bettors.