If the sportsbook is busy with action, it should 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 can seem a bit 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 using one football game. If you bet on multiple game on a single ticket, it is 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 “select a side” in the game. For example, let’s say the New England Patriots are playing the Seattle Seahawks. If you’re going 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 is the amount of points scored between both teams. Once you bet a complete, you’re betting under or over that total. For instance, let’s say 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, that is where you bet on just one single thing per ticket. When you wish to bet on multiple thing, it’s a parlay. It is possible to bet on 2 – 20 things (depends upon the sportsbook).

For instance, let’s say without a doubt on the Seahawks and on 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 so you can get close, but that’s very rare.

If you enter making football bets via parlay tickets, you may have a look at “teasers,” which are parlay tickets with added points for you. For instance, rather than taking the Packers -10, you can find them at -3. Ufa to say, the payouts 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 look forward to the NFL and NCAA football seasons.