NFL betting glossary

The core bets

Point spread (ATS). A handicap that levels the field. If Dallas is -3.5, they must win by 4+ for a spread bet on them to cover. "ATS" means "against the spread."

Moneyline (ML). A straight bet on who wins, no spread. Priced with odds — favorites pay less than you risk, underdogs pay more.

Total (Over/Under). A bet on the combined points scored by both teams, over or under a posted number.

Parlay. Multiple bets combined into one; all legs must win. Bigger payout, much lower probability, and worse expected value.

Teaser. A parlay where you move the spread in your favor on each leg in exchange for a smaller payout. Common in the NFL around key numbers 3 and 7.

Prop bet. A wager on something other than the final result — a player's yards, a first-half total, etc.

Pricing & the book's edge

Juice / vig. The sportsbook's built-in commission. Standard NFL sides are priced at -110, meaning you risk $110 to win $100. That extra 10% is the vig.

Implied probability. The win rate a price implies. -110 implies about 52.4% — your break-even point. Convert any price with our odds calculator.

Hold. The book's theoretical profit margin on a market once both sides' vig is combined.

Outcomes

Cover. When a team beats the spread.

Push. A tie against the number (e.g., you bet -3 and the team wins by exactly 3). Your stake is returned — no win, no loss.

Backdoor cover. A late, garbage-time score that flips who covers the spread.

Line movement

Opening line. The first number a book posts for a game, usually early in the week.

Closing line. The final number right before kickoff — considered the market's sharpest estimate.

Closing line value (CLV). Whether you beat the closing number. Consistently getting CLV is the strongest sign you're betting +EV, even during a cold streak.

Steam. A sudden, sharp line move driven by heavy money on one side.

Key numbers. The most common NFL margins of victory — especially 3 and 7. Half a point around these matters enormously.

Strategy terms

Expected value (EV). The long-run average profit or loss of a bet. Positive EV is the entire goal. See our full explainer.

Unit. Your standard bet size, ideally 1–2% of your bankroll. Results are tracked in units so they're comparable regardless of stake.

Middle. Betting both sides of a game at different numbers so a result landing in between wins both.

Line shopping. Comparing prices across sportsbooks to always take the best available number.