As the summer approaches, so does the 2024 NFL season, and excitement is already reaching fever pitch. Just over two months ago, Patrick Mahomes etched his name into the history books as one of the all-time greats as he led his Kansas City Chiefs to a second consecutive Lombardi with a stunning overtime victory against the narrowly favored San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. When the new campaign gets underway, he and his Arrowhead teammates will have the opportunity to stand alone at the top of the mountaintop should they manage to complete the first threepeat in history.

With the new campaign a matter of months away, the bookies certainly fancy their chances. They have priced them as a short-priced +500 favorite, with the team they defeated in Sin City just behind them at +650. They are also expected to face stern challenges in the form of the Cincinnati Bengals – who should have quarterback Joe Burrow fully fit and firing on all cylinders – and the Baltimore Ravens. But it isn’t just the eventual Super Bowl Champion that punters can bet on in 2024.

Since betting has gone online, there are now hundreds of markets that punters can bet on. Player props have become increasingly popular, and you can even bet on the first song to be performed in the Big Game’s halftime show with some outlets. But with so much to sieve through, it can be hard to know where to start. Not to worry, however, we are here to outline the most popular NFL betting markets.

Moneyline:
Moneyline betting is the foundation upon which many bettors build their NFL wagering experience. At its core, it’s the simplest form of betting — you pick the team you believe will win the game outright. What makes it appealing is its straightforwardness; there are no point spreads or complex metrics involved. However, understanding how the odds work is crucial.

They are typically presented in American format, with a favorite and an underdog. For instance, the frontrunner may be listed at -150, meaning you would need to bet $150 to win $100. Conversely, a dog at +130 means a $100 bet could win you $130.

Nowadays, most establishments also offer live sports betting, where the odds can fluctuate drastically as the game unfolds. For example, the New York Giants were a +1100 outsider in their week two clash with the Arizona Cardinals when they found themselves down by 28 points to seven in the third quarter. However, they managed to overturn that deficit and they were suddenly -900 favorites when they led 34-31 late in the fourth. With the constant fluctuations, punters can take plenty of value in placing the right bet at the right time.

The Spread:

Spread betting, or betting against the spread, takes the excitement a notch higher. It’s designed to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams by applying a point handicap to the favored team. For example, if the New England Patriots are favored to beat the Miami Dolphins by 7 points, the spread would be listed as Pats -7. For a bet on the Gillette Stadium side to pay out, they must win by more than 7 points. Conversely, a bet on the Floridians would win if they either win the game outright or lose by fewer than 7 points.

Points Totals:
Also known as over/under betting, points totals involve betting on the combined score of both teams in a game. The sportsbook sets a total, and bettors decide if the actual combined score will be over or under that number. For instance, if the total for a match between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers is set at 48.5, betting the over means you believe the teams will combine for more than 48 points.

This market is particularly enticing for those who have a strong grasp of team offenses and defenses, as it requires predicting the overall flow and scoring of the game rather than picking a winner. And you don’t have to bet on the total of the overall game either, should you so wish. You can simply bet on the totals of one team or the other.

Futures:
Futures bets are long-term wagers placed on events that will happen at a later date, such as which team will win the Super Bowl, who will be the season MVP, or who will be drafted first overall. The 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner, and USC Trojans sensation Caleb Williams is highly anticipated to be the number-one pick by the Chicago Bears. The bookies currently have him priced at -20000, which shows just how sure the bookmakers are that he will head to Soldier Field.

These bets can be placed at almost any time before the event and offer the chance for significant payouts, especially if you have a keen eye for potential dark horses or underappreciated talent. Heading into last season, the Houston Texans were rank outsiders to win the AFC South and reach the postseason, but inspired by the brilliance of Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud they did that exactly.

There was even value to be found on the eventual champion Chiefs. Heading into the postseason off the back of a dismal run of five losses in their last ten, they were only considered fifth favorites for the Lombardi. As we all know, however, they ultimately reigned supreme once again.