If the sportsbook is busy with action, it must be football season. Be it the NFL or NCAA, football betting action is fast and furious during the season. For the newbie sports bettor, it could seem a little confusing, but football bets really come down to two types-straight bets and parlay bets.

Football Betting – Straight Bets

Here’s the workhorse for just about any winning football bettor. A straight bet simply means you’re betting on one football game. In the event that you bet on multiple game on the same ticket, it’s a parlay, and we’ll discuss that in a minute.

When you create a straight football bet, you will be betting on a side or total. Simply put, once you bet a side, you “pick a side” in the game. For instance, let’s say the New England Patriots are playing the Seattle Seahawks. If you’re likely to bet a side, you’d bet on either the Patriots or the Seahawks.

Every game includes a point total (except NCAA football, which is most games). This can be a quantity of points scored between both teams. When you bet a complete, you’re betting under or over that total. For instance, suppose the total is 47 and you also take the over. To win, both teams must combine for 48 or more points (47 would be a push, which means you get your bet back).

Football Betting – Parlays

Okay, so you know about straight bets, which is where you bet on just one single thing per ticket. When you wish to bet on more than one thing, it’s a parlay. Slot can bet on 2 – 20 things (depends on the sportsbook).

For instance, let’s say without a doubt on the Seahawks and over the total on your ticket. That might be a 2-team parlay (despite the fact that technically there’s only one team on it).

The more items you placed on the ticket, the more income you’ll win if they all hit. Naturally, the more items on the ticket, the harder it really is to win.

With parlay bets it’s an all or nothing thing. If one pick fails, the ticket is dead. Some sportsbooks will run specials for getting close, but that’s very rare.

If you get into making football bets via parlay tickets, you may have a look at “teasers,” which are parlay tickets with added points for you. For instance, instead of taking the Packers -10, you can find them at -3. Of course, the payouts certainly are a less since the risk is minimized.

Football betting is really a blast and there’s nothing better than hitting the sportsbook with a big winning ticket. I hit straight football bets and parlays all season long. I anticipate the NFL and NCAA football seasons.