NFL betting lines explained

NFL games are usually quoted with three lines, a point spread, a moneyline and a total. They work the same way as in other sports, but NFL scoring in 3s and 7s makes some spreads behave differently, and regular-season games can end in a tie.

Last reviewed: November 8, 2026

Worked example

To start, the box below is filled in with KC -3 -110. In this starting line Kansas City (KC) is a 3-point favorite at a price of -110. Because 3 is a whole number, the scenarios include a push. The box is editable: type any line, or tap one under the card, and the explanation updates.

KC −3: KC must win by 4 points or more.

What it means

3 points are taken off KC's final score (the favorite gives up points). A win by exactly 3 points is a push and the stake is returned. The other side of this bet is the opponent at +3, which wins on any result other than a 4+ point win for KC.

Scenarios

If…	KC −3	Opponent +3
KC win by 6 points	Win	Loss
KC win by 3 points	Push (stake returned)	Push (stake returned)
KC win by 2 points	Loss	Win
KC lose by 2 points	Loss	Win

The numbers

KC −3 −110

Implied probability: 52.38%
Decimal: 1.91
American: −110
Per 100 staked: returns 190.91 (profit 90.91)

Watch out for

The spread isn't the price. In KC −3 −110, −3 is the points and −110 is the odds. A minus spread means that team is the favorite.

Learn more: Point spread guide

Common lines to try

Lines the NFL uses

Point spread: KC -3 means Kansas City has to win by more than 3. A 3-point win is a push. More in the point spread guide.
Moneyline: KC -150 / BUF +130 is a bet on who wins, with no head start. More in the moneyline guide.
Total (over/under): O/U 44.5 is about both teams’ points added together. More in the over/under guide.
Half and quarter lines: spreads and totals for part of the game, such as the first half (1H) or the first quarter (1Q). They’re read the same way, but only count points scored in that part.

The spread and the total usually come with a price on each side, often -110. The why −110 guide explains that number.

What’s unusual about the NFL

Points come in 3s and 7s

Most NFL scoring comes from field goals (3 points) and touchdowns with the extra point (7 points). Because of that, final margins of 3 and 7 come up often. They’re called key numbers.

So a half point either side of 3 or 7 changes the result of a lot of games. This table shows a Kansas City bet on three nearby spreads.

How nearby spreads settle

Kansas City result	KC −2.5	KC −3	KC −3.5
Win by 7	Win	Win	Win
Win by 4	Win	Win	Win
Win by 3	Win	Push	Loss
Win by 2	Loss	Loss	Loss
Tie	Loss	Loss	Loss
Lose by 1	Loss	Loss	Loss

Only the 3-point win changes between the three lines. In the NFL, that’s one of the most common results.

Overtime and ties

At most sportsbooks, points scored in overtime count toward the spread, the moneyline and the total. Check the house rules for the market you’re reading.

NFL regular-season games can end in a tie if nobody wins in overtime. Playoff games keep going until there’s a winner. If a game does end tied:

Spread: settled as a margin of 0. KC -3 loses, KC +3 wins, and a pick’em (pk) pushes.
Total: settled on the final combined score, like any other game.
Moneyline: a two-way moneyline is often refunded (settled as a push), but this varies by sportsbook. Some markets list the tie as a third outcome instead. The house rules say which.

Mini glossary

Hook: the half point on a spread or total. -3.5 is “3 and a hook”.
Key numbers: the margins that come up most often in the NFL, mainly 3 and 7.
Pick’em (pk): a spread of 0. Whoever wins, wins; a tie pushes.
1H / 2H: first-half / second-half lines.
OT: overtime.

Common misreadings

−3 and −3.5 are basically the same line.: They differ on a 3-point win: −3 pushes (stake returned) and −3.5 loses. In the NFL a 3-point margin is a common result, so the half point matters.
An NFL game can't end level, so ties don't matter.: Regular-season games can end in a tie after overtime. How each bet is settled then depends on the line and the house rules.
A first-half line covers the whole game.: A first-half line only counts points scored in the first two quarters. The final score doesn't matter for it.