Football Betting Terms
Sports betting lingo can be confusing, especially those new to the industry. The glossary below contains many of the most commonly-used terms, concepts and strategies that you will see on this site and across sports betting as a whole. Acronym meaning against the Spread. ATS is betting on a selection that is giving away points/goals and opposing the perceived logic of the spread. Banker (see also Lock) Strongly favoured selection around which multiple bets are often built.
- Football Betting Terms Explained
- Coral Football Betting Terms And Conditions
- Football Betting Terms Explained
NFL Betting terminology can sound confusing – just ask any novice bettor who has spent time in a Las Vegas sportsbook or listened to a football talk show on the radio.
To the uninitiated, it can sound like the “handicappers” (outcome predictors), “sharps” (pro gamblers) and “touts” (NFL pick sellers) are speaking another language when they talk shop.
The good news is, they aren’t. Understanding NFL wagering terminology is actually quite simple when everything is explained properly. Here is a glossary of some common NFL Wagering terminology to help with your bets this season. For more information, click on the NFL wagering term in question or visit one of our recommended sportsbooks.
NFL terminology
POINT SPREAD
Commonly called ‘the spread’, the point spread is the number of points that the Vegas favorite has to win the game by in order to win the bet. For example, say the Patriots are 4.5 point favorites over the Dolphins – New England has to win the game by 5+ points to pay out, while a wager on Miami pays out with anything better than a 4 point loss. Point spreads are commonly used to even the playing field in sports with high scores, such as American football and basketball.
ATS – AGAINST THE SPREAD
One of the more common terms used by NFL bettors, ATS, or against the spread, refers to a team’s record measured against the spread. Instead of tracking wins and losses, ATS looks at a team’s propensity for covering the spread. For example, last season the Cleveland Browns failed to win a game at 0-16, but finished 4-12 ATS – this means that there were 4 games in which they lost by less than the point spread, and actually paid out for their backers that week.
STRAIGHT-UP
Straight up refers to a fixed price win-loss wager, with no point spread. When betting straight up, bettors get less return for betting on favored teams, but the bet becomes easier to win. A teams straight-up record is simply it’s win-loss record, ripped directly from the standings. Straight-up bets can pay out a lot when underdogs win, but typically are used in “pick-em” games or games with a small point spread.
[geot country=”US,CA” ]| Bookmaker | Bonus | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Bet £/€10 Get £/€10 Free T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| Bet £/€10 Get £/€10 Free T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| Bet £/€10 get £/€10 Free + 100% deposit bonus T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| €25 Risk-Free Bets T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply |
| Bookmaker | Bonus | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Bet £/€10 Get £/€10 Free T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| Bet £/€10 Get £/€10 Free T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| Bet £/€10 get £/€10 Free + 100% deposit bonus T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply | ||
| €25 Risk-Free Bets T&C's18+, New Customers only, T&Cs apply |
OVER AND UNDER
Over and under are signifiers attached to a specific point total, with the purpose being to predict which side the outcome will fall on. A typical over/under wager will consist of bettors predicting whether the combined score of a game exceeds a particular number. For example, if the total is set at 41.5, bettors must decide whether to bet the over (>42 points) or the under (<41 points). Over and under bets can also be applied to a single team point total, a single quarter point total, a player’s individual rushing yardage and so on.
FAVORITE
In NFL wagering terminology, as with other forms of betting, the favorite refers to the expected winner. In the NFL, the favorite is the team that lays points, meaning that they will have to cover a certain amount in order to pay out. For example, if you see Seahawks -3.5, Seattle is a 3.5 point favorite – not only will they have to win their game, but they will have to win by 4+ points. When looking at moneyline odds, the team with the negative number, or greatest negative number, is the favorite.
UNDERDOG
The underdog is the team considered least likely to win – the opponent of the favorite. In NFL wagering, the underdog will be given points, and will be listed with a positive number next to their name. An example of this would be Cowboys +4.5 – this means that the Cowboys pay out as long as they don’t lose by 5 points or more, even if they lose the game. In moneyline bets, underdogs typically have a positive number next to their name (Dallas +145, for example).
NFL HANDICAPPING
NFL handicapping can refer to two similar, yet distinct, practices, both related to predicting outcomes. There are NFL handicappers who are employed by Las Vegas sportsbooks and work as, or with, oddsmakers. In this version of NFL handicapping, advanced models and knowledge are used to predict the outcome of a game, and this information is then used to set the lines/point spread. Outside of Vegas, NFL handicapping is an attempt to predict results, then use the acquired information to find and exploit errors in the Las Vegas lines.
Internet sports betting will use a lot of gambling terms that you may not be familiar with as a lot of the language comes from the 'street' language of old school bookies. The following is a Glossary of Gambling Terms for: NFL betting, College Football betting, NCAA Football betting, Baseball Betting, MMA Betting, UFC betting, Boxing wagering, NHL betting, NBA betting, NCAA Basketball betting, College Basketball Betting and other major sports. You will find all the major terms that Internet sportsbooks use in posting their betting lines.Gambling Terminology
Slang for gambling is hard, but we’re here to help! Gambling terms vary far and wide, but we have assembled a gambling terminology glossary here. All the gambling terminology and gambler slang you could ever find will be made clear here. You’ll be speaking the gambling vocabulary after a quick review of this page in no time, including betting terms, and slang for gambling itself. Most of these are specific to sports betting, but still find their way to other areas online. Whether you’re into NCAA Football betting, NFL betting, NCAA Basketball betting, College Basketball Betting, College Football betting, Baseball Betting, MMA Betting, UFC betting, Boxing wagering, NHL betting, NBA betting, or all other major sports, you’ll be speaking gambler lingo in no time! This can be particularly challenging without help, as sports betting lingo, bet slang, betting jargon, betting lingo, betting acronyms, sports betting terminology, and specifically basketball betting terms all have very specific sports betting terms that need to be mastered to even make a bet! Football betting terms and football betting terminology in particular can be challenging, but we’ve got you covered there too:Action
- Any time you make a bet, this counts as an action.Added Game
- Any betting line not typically part of the usual pool of games to bet on in the Las Vegas rotation, but is included to benefit those making wagers with a bookie.ATS
- The ATS betting term means Against The Spread. This is when you’re betting on the underdog team to win by a wide margin, and along with it, ample winnings.Bet
- Any time you put down money on the outcome of a sporting event, you’re betting.Book
- Originally, bookies were the ones that took bets on sporting events. Book is short for any sportsbook or related group that takes these bets.Bookie
- The original term that started them all, a bookie is someone that takes bets on sporting events.Bookmaker
- Another term referencing a bookie that takes bets on sporting events.Buck
- A $100 bet, being an example of a sports betting slang term.Buy (Points)
- If you are willing to pay more for it, you can get a half point or more in your favor on any point spread you bet on.Canadian Line
- Alternatively called a Puck Line, this is a mixture of a Point Spread and Moneyline.Chalk
- Another slang term, this one meaning the favored side to win.Chalk Player
- Anyone that typically bets on the favored side and never on underdogs.Circled Game
- Events of this kind have lower betting limits and limitations on how many people can get so a bookie won’t carry as much risk. Sometimes called a Red Circle box. This happens when unintended circumstances may adversely effect the outcome of an event, such as player injuries, unusual weather conditions, and games being unexpectedly added. Doesn’t include parlays and teaser wagers.Cover
- Any time a point spread is won.Dime Bet
- Another betting slang term that means a $1000 bet is placed.Dimeline
- When the favored party and the underdog only differ on their moneyline by 10 cents, such as the Yankees and Red Socks. This is used in baseball to attract eager gamblings looking for a decent risk to reward ratio.Dog
- The underdog not favored to win in an event.Dog Player
- A gambler that typically bets on the underdog.Dollar Bet
- Another betting slang term, here meaning $100. It’s the same as “Buck,” and they are used interchangeably just like the terms are outside of gambling.Even Money
- Any wager with 1:1 odds, meaning there is no juice or vigorish.Exotic Wager
- Wagers that aren’t Straight Bets or Parlays count as exotic wagers, such as Teasers, Sweetheart Teasers, IF bet, Reverses, and Prop bets.Favorite
- Any side expected to win an event. The opposite of the dog or underdog.Fifth Inning Line (5 Inn.)
- Any bet placed on only the initial 5 innings of any baseball game.Fifty Cents
- Another betting slang term that means a $50 bet.First Half Bet (1H)
- Bets placed on a football or basketball game that only account for the score up to halftime.Future
- The betting odds calculated in advanced on future sporting events.Getting Value
- Gambling vocabulary for the best odds on betting line.Grand Salami
- The Total of goals scored in all hockey games played on the same day.Grading
- After you bet and the event has been decided, this is when the amount is put into your account.Half a Dollar
- Another piece of gambling slang for a $50 wager.Half Time Bet (2H)
- The opposite of a First Half Bet, this is any bet placed on the second half of a football or basketball game.Handicapper
- These are the people that look at all available information on a sporting event, and calculate the odds of the outcome.Handicapping
- This is the act of the above when calculating the outcome of an event.Handle
- The gross total of bets taken by a bookie on a sporting event.Hedging
- Betting on both sides of an event to keep losses at a minimum or guarantee a bare minimum amount of winnings. Considered to be a safe betting strategy that sacrifices maximum winnings for protection from losses.Hook
- When half a point is added to football or basketball betting through gamblers buying points. Also referred to as buying the “hook”.Hot Game
- Any game attracting the attention of many professional handicappers.Juice
- A bookie’s commission on the bets made, which is referred to as the “vigorish” as well. A standard juice is typically 10%.Laying the Points
- Betting on the favorite in any point spread betting line.Limit
- A hard limit placed on the total betting amount for any event.Line
- The present betting odds on any event. Lines like these are always updated in real time.Linemaker
- Someone at a bookmaker that establishes an original betting line and all subsequent betting lines stemming from it.Longshot
- Any side of a sporting event unlikely to win, similar to the underdog.Middle
- A strategy of betting on both sides of an event at different amounts. Called the “middle the game” someone wins, and similar to Hedging.MMA
- Stands for Mixed Martial Arts.Moneyline
- Any betting odds where the wager is settled when one side of an event wins. An example would be a -120 team requiring $120 to win $100 when that team won.Nickel Line
- This is when the commission a bookie receives on a betting line is 5%. Also called reduced juice.Nickel
- A betting slang term for a $500 wager.No Action
- When a bet is cancelled because the event did not happen (i.e. rain out in MLB). All money is returned to bettor.Odds
- How likely different outcomes of a sporting event are, which largely tends to determine the winnings potential.Off The Board
- When a bookie closes open betting for an event.Oddsmaker
- The one that determines the odds of a sporting event.One Dollar
- Another gambling betting slang term for wagering $100.Opening Line
- The initial betting line made public by a bookie for a sporting event.Over
- A bet placed on the total scores of both teams in a sporting event combined. Typically, bets are made that it will be above a specified total amount.Parlay
- Betting on two or more teams at a time. All teams must win in order to receive the highest payout. If one team loses, it is considered a loss.Pick ‘em
- An event where no side of a sporting event is favored to win. Sometimes called a ‘Pick’.Point Spread
- Using the handicap chosen by the bookmakers, this determines how much will be awarded to winning bets.Press
- Betting in an amount that is far higher than a typical wager.Price
- Determined by the point spread or the odds given on a moneyline.Prop (Proposition) Bet
Football Betting Terms Explained
- Betting on two or more outcomes that have nothing to do with an event’s final score or winning team. They tend to be placed on specific players, an entire sport, political occurrences, celebrity gossip, and related things.Push
- This occurs when no one wins a wager. Wagers in this case are returned.Quarter Line (1Q, 2Q, 3Q, 4Q)
- Any bet placed on a specific quarter in a basketball or football game.Reverse Bet
- This occurs when two IF bets are placed.