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Sports Betting
Introduction
I have a ton of stuff on this website about sports betting. Way to much to fit on one page. If you're already familiar with the basics of how to make a sports bet, I invite you to go to skip this page and jump to one of my pages on a specific sport, as follows:
If you're new to sports betting, this page will endeavor to teach you the major types of bets. We'll use the photo above as a reference for some of them. In particular, we'll focus on the Rams/Vikings game, which looks like this:
Oct. 11, 2009 — Vikings Vs. Rams
401 | Vikings | -10 | -600 |
402 | Rams | 41 | +400 |
In all sports betting, the odds are on a "to one" basis. In other words, you always get your bet back, plus winnings, if you win. So, for example, if you must bet $11 to win $10, then you would present $11 at the window and the writer will give you a ticket worth $21 if it wins.
Money Line
Money Line bets are simply on whom will win. No point spreads or any other nonsense.
Most of the time, one team will be favored over the other. So, if you bet the underdog, then you're rewarded with more than even money if they win. If you want to bet the favorite, then you will have to risk more than what you stand to win.
Consider game numbers 401 and 402 in the example above. The +400 for the Rams means that a bet on the Rams would pay 4 to 1. The -600 on the Vikings means that if you bet them, then you have to lay 6 to 1.
Examples:
- A $100 on the Rams would win $400.
- A $600 bet on the Vikings would win $100.
Point Spread
The most common way to bet football and basketball is with a point spread. Most sports bettors like a wager that has about a 50% chance to win. Less than that and you'll probably lose. More than that and you won't win much if you do win.
Compare Online NBA Odds
![championship_winner_2021_2022_logo.png](https://wizardofodds.com/media/modules/odds_sport/logo_images/5983/championship_winner_2021_2022_logo.png)
Sat May 31st 6pm | Competitor/Team | Quote |
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Boston Celtics |
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Oklahoma City Thunder |
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Philadelphia 76ers |
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Denver Nuggets |
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New York Knicks |
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Minnesota Timberwolves |
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Dallas Mavericks |
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Milwaukee Bucks |
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Los Angeles Lakers |
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Memphis Grizzlies |
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Phoenix Suns |
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Golden State Warriors |
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Miami Heat |
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New Orleans Pelicans |
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Cleveland Cavaliers |
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Indiana Pacers |
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Orlando Magic |
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Los Angeles Clippers |
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Sacramento Kings |
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Houston Rockets |
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San Antonio Spurs |
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Atlanta Hawks |
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Chicago Bulls |
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Washington Wizards |
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Utah Jazz |
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Toronto Raptors |
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Portland Trail Blazers |
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Detroit Pistons |
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Charlotte Hornets |
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Brooklyn Nets |
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To achieve about a 50/50 chance of winning a bet on a lopsided game, like the Rams vs. Vikings above, the sports books have come up with the "point spread."
Before I go on, let me clarify some terminology. Despite it being probably the most popular way to bet, there is no particular term for a bet against the spread. Many people call this a "straight bet." However, this term can also be used, and is printed on tickets for, money line bets, total bets, and any other bet involving just one game. For purposes of this page, I call such bets a "point spread" bet, and invite the rest of the world to adopt this terminology.
A point spread is simply a handicap you give the weaker team, or deduct from the stronger one, depending on how you look at it. For example, if my average scoring in bowling is 120 and I play somebody with an average of 140, then to make a wager fair, I might be given a free 20 points. In this case you would say my point spread is +20.
In the example above you can see a -10 next to the Vikings. That means that the Vikings are favored to win by 10 points. So, if you bet the Vikings you give up ten points and if you bet the Rams you get 10 points.
Usually with point spread bets you risk $11 for every $10 you stand to win.
Examples:
- A $110 bet on the Rams would win $100 if they win the game or lose by less than 10.
- A $110 bet on the Vikings would win $100 if the Vikings win by more than 10.
Both bets will push if the Vikings win by exactly 10.
Total
Total Bets are similar to point spread bets, except the bettor bets on the total points scored. In the example above the bettor bets whether the total points combined between the Vikings and Rams will be over or under 41. Like point spread bets the bettor must generally risk $11 to win $10, for a house edge of 4.54%.
Examples:
- A $55 bet on the under would win $50 if the total points in the game were 40 or less.
- A $55 bet on the over would win $50 if the total points in the game were 42 or less.
- Any bet on the over or under would push if the total points in the game were exactly 41.
Parlays
Parlay bets are a good and popular way to potentially win big with a small wager. The way they work is the bettor picks two or more events, which all must win or push to win the bet. One or more loss will cause the whole parlay bet to lose. In the event of a push, that "leg" of the parlay bet will be ignored and the win will be reduced to whatever it would pay if that selection were never made.
The way the win on parlay bets is calculated is as follows:
- If the player made two or more picks that are at -110 odds, then a parlay table will be used to determine to determine the win for just those events. These tables offer stingy odds, except for the two-leg parlay.
- After that, a mathematical calculation will be used for the other legs, as if the player made each bet independently.
As an example, consider the following parlay bet I made at the Golden Nugget, for the purposes of example only.
Note the parlay above contains four legs at -110 odds and one at +210. The Golden Nugget pays 11 to 1 for a four-leg parlay. The total return of a parlay, including the return of the original bet, is the product of what every bet would be on a for one basis. In this case, $10 × 12 × 3.1 = $372.20.
My advice on parlays is to never include more than two legs at -110 odds.
For more information on parlays, please see my section on parlay bets the NFL. You can also find a survey of Las Vegas parlay tables at Wizard of Vegas.
Compare Online NFL Odds
![nfl_icon.png](https://wizardofodds.com/media/modules/odds_sport/logo_images/6039/nfl_icon.png)
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Chicago Bears - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - washington-commanders |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Buffalo Bills - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Cincinnati Bengals - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - houston-texans |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | Miami Dolphins - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Sep 8th 1pm | New York Giants - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Sep 8th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Sep 8th 4pm | Cleveland Browns - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Sep 8th 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - denver-broncos |
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Sun Sep 8th 7pm | Detroit Lions - los-angeles-rams |
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Mon Sep 9th 8pm | San Francisco 49ers - new-york-jets |
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Thu Sep 12th 8pm | Miami Dolphins - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Baltimore Ravens - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Carolina Panthers - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Dallas Cowboys - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Detroit Lions - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Green Bay Packers - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | New England Patriots - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Washington Commanders - new-york-giants |
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Sun Sep 15th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - new-york-jets |
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Sun Sep 15th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Sep 15th 4pm | Kansas City Chiefs - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Sep 15th 4pm | Denver Broncos - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Sep 15th 8pm | Houston Texans - chicago-bears |
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Mon Sep 16th 8pm | Philadelphia Eagles - atlanta-falcons |
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Thu Sep 19th 8pm | New York Jets - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - chicago-bears |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Cleveland Browns - new-york-giants |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - denver-broncos |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Tennessee Titans - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - houston-texans |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Sep 22nd 1pm | New Orleans Saints - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Sep 22nd 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Sep 22nd 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Sep 22nd 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - detroit-lions |
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Sun Sep 22nd 4pm | Dallas Cowboys - baltimore-ravens |
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Sun Sep 22nd 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Sep 22nd 8pm | Atlanta Falcons - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Mon Sep 23rd 7pm | Buffalo Bills - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Mon Sep 23rd 8pm | Cincinnati Bengals - washington-commanders |
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Thu Sep 26th 8pm | New York Giants - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Carolina Panthers - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Chicago Bears - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | New York Jets - denver-broncos |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Green Bay Packers - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Houston Texans - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Sep 29th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Sep 29th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - washington-commanders |
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Sun Sep 29th 4pm | San Francisco 49ers - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Sep 29th 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Sep 29th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Sep 29th 8pm | Baltimore Ravens - buffalo-bills |
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Mon Sep 30th 7pm | Miami Dolphins - tennessee-titans |
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Mon Sep 30th 8pm | Detroit Lions - seattle-seahawks |
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Thu Oct 3rd 8pm | Atlanta Falcons - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Oct 6th 8am | Minnesota Vikings - new-york-jets |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | Cincinnati Bengals - baltimore-ravens |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | Houston Texans - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | Chicago Bears - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | Washington Commanders - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Oct 6th 1pm | New England Patriots - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Oct 6th 4pm | San Francisco 49ers - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Oct 6th 4pm | Denver Broncos - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Oct 6th 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Oct 6th 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - new-york-giants |
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Sun Oct 6th 8pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - dallas-cowboys |
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Mon Oct 7th 8pm | Kansas City Chiefs - new-orleans-saints |
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Thu Oct 10th 8pm | Seattle Seahawks - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Oct 13th 8am | Chicago Bears - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | Green Bay Packers - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | Baltimore Ravens - washington-commanders |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | Philadelphia Eagles - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | New England Patriots - houston-texans |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Oct 13th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Oct 13th 4pm | Denver Broncos - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Oct 13th 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Oct 13th 4pm | Dallas Cowboys - detroit-lions |
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Sun Oct 13th 4pm | Carolina Panthers - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Oct 13th 8pm | New York Giants - cincinnati-bengals |
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Mon Oct 14th 8pm | New York Jets - buffalo-bills |
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Thu Oct 17th 8pm | New Orleans Saints - denver-broncos |
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Sun Oct 20th 8am | Jacksonville Jaguars - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Buffalo Bills - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Cleveland Browns - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - detroit-lions |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Green Bay Packers - houston-texans |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Oct 20th 1pm | New York Giants - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Oct 20th 3pm | San Francisco 49ers - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Oct 20th 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Oct 20th 4pm | Washington Commanders - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Oct 20th 8pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - new-york-jets |
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Mon Oct 21st 8pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - baltimore-ravens |
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Mon Oct 21st 9pm | Arizona Cardinals - los-angeles-chargers |
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Thu Oct 24th 8pm | Los Angeles Rams - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Cleveland Browns - baltimore-ravens |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Detroit Lions - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Miami Dolphins - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Washington Commanders - chicago-bears |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | Houston Texans - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Oct 27th 1pm | New England Patriots - new-york-jets |
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Sun Oct 27th 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Oct 27th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Oct 27th 4pm | Denver Broncos - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Oct 27th 4pm | Cincinnati Bengals - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Oct 27th 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Oct 27th 8pm | San Francisco 49ers - dallas-cowboys |
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Mon Oct 28th 8pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - new-york-giants |
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Thu Oct 31st 8pm | New York Jets - houston-texans |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Baltimore Ravens - denver-broncos |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Buffalo Bills - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Carolina Panthers - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Cincinnati Bengals - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Cleveland Browns - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | Tennessee Titans - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Nov 3rd 1pm | New York Giants - washington-commanders |
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Sun Nov 3rd 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - chicago-bears |
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Sun Nov 3rd 4pm | Green Bay Packers - detroit-lions |
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Sun Nov 3rd 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Nov 3rd 8pm | Philadelphia Eagles - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Mon Nov 4th 8pm | Kansas City Chiefs - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Thu Nov 7th 8pm | Baltimore Ravens - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Nov 10th 7am | Carolina Panthers - new-york-giants |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Chicago Bears - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Kansas City Chiefs - denver-broncos |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Washington Commanders - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Nov 10th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Nov 10th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Nov 10th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - new-york-jets |
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Sun Nov 10th 4pm | Dallas Cowboys - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Nov 10th 8pm | Houston Texans - detroit-lions |
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Mon Nov 11th 8pm | Los Angeles Rams - miami-dolphins |
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Thu Nov 14th 8pm | Philadelphia Eagles - washington-commanders |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - baltimore-ravens |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | Chicago Bears - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | Detroit Lions - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | Miami Dolphins - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | New England Patriots - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Nov 17th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Nov 17th 4pm | Denver Broncos - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Nov 17th 4pm | San Francisco 49ers - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Nov 17th 4pm | Buffalo Bills - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Nov 17th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Nov 17th 8pm | New York Jets - indianapolis-colts |
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Mon Nov 18th 8pm | Dallas Cowboys - houston-texans |
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Thu Nov 21st 8pm | Cleveland Browns - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Carolina Panthers - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Chicago Bears - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Washington Commanders - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - detroit-lions |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Houston Texans - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | Miami Dolphins - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Nov 24th 1pm | New York Giants - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Nov 24th 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - denver-broncos |
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Sun Nov 24th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Nov 24th 4pm | Green Bay Packers - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Nov 24th 8pm | Los Angeles Rams - philadelphia-eagles |
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Mon Nov 25th 8pm | Los Angeles Chargers - baltimore-ravens |
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Thu Nov 28th 12pm | Detroit Lions - chicago-bears |
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Thu Nov 28th 4pm | Dallas Cowboys - new-york-giants |
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Thu Nov 28th 8pm | Green Bay Packers - miami-dolphins |
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Fri Nov 29th 3pm | Kansas City Chiefs - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | Cincinnati Bengals - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - houston-texans |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | New England Patriots - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | New York Jets - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Dec 1st 1pm | Washington Commanders - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Dec 1st 4pm | Carolina Panthers - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Dec 1st 4pm | New Orleans Saints - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Dec 1st 4pm | Baltimore Ravens - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Dec 1st 8pm | Buffalo Bills - san-francisco-49ers |
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Mon Dec 2nd 7pm | Denver Broncos - cleveland-browns |
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Thu Dec 5th 8pm | Detroit Lions - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Philadelphia Eagles - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | Miami Dolphins - new-york-jets |
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Sun Dec 8th 1pm | New York Giants - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Dec 8th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Dec 8th 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Dec 8th 4pm | San Francisco 49ers - chicago-bears |
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Sun Dec 8th 8pm | Kansas City Chiefs - los-angeles-chargers |
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Mon Dec 9th 8pm | Dallas Cowboys - cincinnati-bengals |
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Thu Dec 12th 8pm | San Francisco 49ers - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | Carolina Panthers - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | Cleveland Browns - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | New York Giants - baltimore-ravens |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | Houston Texans - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - new-york-jets |
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Sun Dec 15th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - washington-commanders |
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Sun Dec 15th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Dec 15th 4pm | Detroit Lions - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Dec 15th 4pm | Denver Broncos - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Dec 15th 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Sun Dec 15th 4pm | Philadelphia Eagles - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Dec 15th 8pm | Seattle Seahawks - green-bay-packers |
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Mon Dec 16th 7pm | Minnesota Vikings - chicago-bears |
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Mon Dec 16th 7pm | Las Vegas Raiders - atlanta-falcons |
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Thu Dec 19th 8pm | Cincinnati Bengals - cleveland-browns |
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Sat Dec 21st 1pm | Kansas City Chiefs - houston-texans |
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Sat Dec 21st 4pm | Baltimore Ravens - pittsburgh-steelers |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Carolina Panthers - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - new-york-giants |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Buffalo Bills - new-england-patriots |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Chicago Bears - detroit-lions |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | New York Jets - los-angeles-rams |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm | Washington Commanders - philadelphia-eagles |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm | Los Angeles Chargers - denver-broncos |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm | Seattle Seahawks - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm | Miami Dolphins - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Dec 22nd 8pm | Dallas Cowboys - tampa-bay-buccaneers |
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Mon Dec 23rd 8pm | Green Bay Packers - new-orleans-saints |
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Wed Dec 25th 4pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Wed Dec 25th 8pm | Houston Texans - baltimore-ravens |
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Thu Dec 26th 8pm | Chicago Bears - seattle-seahawks |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Buffalo Bills - new-york-jets |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Minnesota Vikings - green-bay-packers |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Jacksonville Jaguars - tennessee-titans |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | New Orleans Saints - las-vegas-raiders |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Washington Commanders - atlanta-falcons |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | Cincinnati Bengals - denver-broncos |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | New York Giants - indianapolis-colts |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm | New England Patriots - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Dec 29th 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - arizona-cardinals |
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Sun Dec 29th 4pm | Philadelphia Eagles - dallas-cowboys |
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Sun Dec 29th 8pm | Cleveland Browns - miami-dolphins |
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Mon Dec 30th 8pm | San Francisco 49ers - detroit-lions |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Atlanta Falcons - carolina-panthers |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Baltimore Ravens - cleveland-browns |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | New England Patriots - buffalo-bills |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Green Bay Packers - chicago-bears |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Pittsburgh Steelers - cincinnati-bengals |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Dallas Cowboys - washington-commanders |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Detroit Lions - minnesota-vikings |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Tennessee Titans - houston-texans |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Indianapolis Colts - jacksonville-jaguars |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | New York Jets - miami-dolphins |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - new-orleans-saints |
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Sun Jan 5th 1pm | Philadelphia Eagles - new-york-giants |
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Sun Jan 5th 4pm | Arizona Cardinals - san-francisco-49ers |
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Sun Jan 5th 4pm | Denver Broncos - kansas-city-chiefs |
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Sun Jan 5th 4pm | Las Vegas Raiders - los-angeles-chargers |
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Sun Jan 5th 4pm | Los Angeles Rams - seattle-seahawks |
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![nfl_preseason.png](https://wizardofodds.com/media/modules/odds_sport/logo_images/6052/nfl_preseason.png)
Upcoming matches | Game | Money Line | Spread | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thu Aug 1st 8pm | Chicago Bears - houston-texans |
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![]() New customers only. T&C's apply. 18+.This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario. New Customer Offer. T&C’s Apply. 19+. Minimum deposit: $50. |
Teasers
Teasers are similar to parlays except the point spread on each game moves a certain number of points in the player's favor. In football the player gets 6 to 7 points, and in basketball, 4 to 5 points. The player pays for this in the form of much lower winnings. For example, if the Vikings were part of a 6-point teaser, then they would only need to win by more than 4 points to cover. If the Rams were part of a teaser, they could win, or lose by less than 16, and cover.
More information:
- Teaser bets in the NFL.
- Vegas sports book comparison for the teaser odds at all the Vegas sports book groups.
Buying Half a Point
In football and basketball, the straight bet player has the option to move the point spread 1/2 point to his advantage. The cost of this half point is laying 120, as opposed to 110. Not all sports books allow this, and if they do, they usually don't let you buy off of the common three-point margin of victory in football.
Futures
Futures are a bet on who will win the championship when there are still more than two possible teams to bet on. The house edge on futures varies substantially from one sports book to another. However, in general, they are a sucker bet.
More information:
- For information on who does offer the best futures in Las Vegas visit my sports betting appendix 5.
- You can also use my sports futures calculator to calculate the overall house edge of a set of futures bets.
Propositions
Often big games will have "proposition" bets on things not directly related to the final score of the game. These are usually abbreviated to "prop" bets. For example, in football whether or not the first score will be a touchdown. In baseball whether a run will be scored in the first inning. In hockey/soccer, whether anybody will score a hat trick. The odds on these are expressed like point spread bets. For example, as I write this the Golden Nugget has the following proposition bet on Super Bowl 49:
Will there be a safety in the game?
Yes: +500
No: -700
This means a bet on the "yes" pays 5 to 1, and on the "no" pays 1 to 7.
More information:
Basic Strategy
I could talk all day about betting sports but I know some of my readers just want it simplified to nice sound bites. For them, here is my basic strategy for sports betting:
- Money lines: Bet underdogs.
- Point spread bets: Bet underdogs.
- Totals: Bet unders.
- Parlays: Bet off the board as opposed to the cards. Either do a three-team parlay or mix in one event that doesn't pay -110 odds.
- Teasers: Unless you know to cross the key numbers (namely 3 and 7 in football), avoid teasers completely.
- Futures: Avoid them, as they carry a high house edge of about 30%. If you must bet them, for entertainment reasons, do so in strict moderation.
- Propositions: Bet unders and things not to happen.
- All bets: Shop around. Lines can vary from one sports book to another. It pays to compare lines for extra points or better odds.
Internal Links
- Betting the NFL In-depth look at betting professional football.
- Betting College Football In-depth look at betting college football.
- Parlay Bets in the NFL
- Teaser Bets in the NFL
- Pleaser Bets in the NFL
- Betting the MLB In-depth look at betting professional baseball.
- Betting the NBA In-depth look at betting professional basketball.
- Appendix 1 Comparative study on who has the best lines in Vegas.
- Appendix 2 Various topics in sports betting.
- Appendix 3 List of Las Vegas sports book families.
- Appendix 4 Fair prices to buy and sell points in the NFL.
- Appendix 5 Explores sports futures in greater depth.
- Appendix 6 Lost and expired tickets.
- Appendix 7 Companion to appendix 1, showing NFL money line pairs from several Internet sportbooks.
- Appendix 8 Comparative study on who has the best lines offshore.
- Appendix 9 Companion to appendix 8, showing NFL money line pairs from offshore sportbooks.
- Appendix 11 College football money lines.
- Total number of kickoffs in Super Bowl 43. Were there 9 or 10?
- Vegas sports book comparison at WizardOfVegas.com. Who offers what odds on parlays and teasers, as well as rebate percentages.
Calculators
- NFL proposition bet calculator: The fair line on lots of common props, given the spread the total.
- Sports parlay calculator: To see what an off-the-board parlay pays, that isn't all -110 legs.
- Straight bet calculator: Calculate the house edge of any straight (two outcome) bet.
- Sports futures calculator: Calculate the house edge of a set of futures bets.
Sports Book Reviews
Outside Links
- For a simplified explanation of sports betting, please visit my companion site Wizard of Vegas.
- My sports betting advice in Spanish at LasApuestas.mx.
Written by: Michael Shackleford