NFL Betting Guide At NJ Online Sportsbooks

There’s no better rush than getting into the action of an NFL Sunday.

Placing bets on professional pigskin action is one of the most popular pastimes in the US. We want to walk you through everything you need to know about how to get started betting on the NFL in New Jersey. 

If you haven’t bet on the NFL before, then you’ll need to get familiar with a number of things before you start throwing your money around. This guide will show you what the betting lines look like, how to read them, and then explain exactly the types of bets that are available to you.

Our goal is to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the lines.

After that, we’ll talk about how the NFL works and even give you some betting tips to help you succeed. After all, it can be quite unpredictable, so the more you know about it, the more money you’ll win in the long run.

We’ll start this guide off with talking about the legality of betting on the NFL (it’s fully legal in New Jersey) and show you the best places to do it. 

What are the best NFL betting sites in NJ?

There are a number of quality places to bet on the NFL in New Jersey. Of the many sportsbook apps available in the Garden State, here are the best of the best:

NFL betting odds in New Jersey

Want to bet on the next Super Bowl winner? Winner of the AFC? Regular season win totals or MVP? Check our live feed of NFL Futures odds direct from NJ online sportsbooks. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook, claim your bonus and bet. Check back during the NFL season for live odds (point spreads, moneylines, totals) on every game!

Is NFL betting legal?

NFL betting is now legal after the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Betting Act (PASPA) in May 2018. This allowed each individual state to decide whether or not they want to legalize sports betting or not.

New Jersey was quick to launch legal sports betting a month later. While some states have allowed their residents to engage in sports betting, others have not. Also, keep in mind that different states have legalized it in different capacities.

For example, in New Jersey, bettors can wager on the NFL either in person at one of 10 retail sportsbooks, or they can bet online via mobile apps or computers.

Meanwhile, states such as North Carolina don’t allow online sports betting. NC recently legalized sports betting at tribal casinos.

The current list of states where sports betting has been legalized and is now active include:

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Nevada
• West Virginia
• Rhode Island
• Mississippi
• New Mexico
• New York
• Delaware
• Arkansas
• New Hampshire
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Indiana
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Colorado 
• Michigan 
• Montana 

The list of states that have legalized betting but are not yet operational include:

• Arizona 
• Maryland
• Florida 
• Wyoming 
• Connecticut
• Louisiana 
• North Carolina
• South Dakota

How does NFL betting work in New Jersey?

In the state of New Jersey, you’re able to bet on the NFL if you’re in the state and if you’re older than 21. If you fit into those categories, then you have a couple of different options for betting on the NFL.

You can go to one of 12 retail locations, all of which feature some combination of self-betting kiosks, stadium seating, or large LCD video screens.

• Fanduel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands
• William Hill Sportsbook at Monmouth Park
• Caesars Sportsbook at Tropicana
• William Hill Sports Book at Ocean Casino
• FanDuel Sportsbook at Bally’s
• Caesars Sportsbook at Wild Wild West 
• Golden Nugget Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s
• BetMGM Sportsbook & Bar
• Hard Rock AC sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts
• FanDuel Sportsbook at Bally’s 
• Parx Sportsbook at Freehold Raceway 

Or you’re able to choose from any of the 17 sportsbook apps listed above, download them, and play right from your phone. There is no limit to how many apps you bet with either as registering for an account is free.

Of course, the latter is much easier and gives you the flexibility to bet from wherever you are. However, sometimes it’s fun to go in person to place your bets and watch the games at a sportsbook with the crowds. 

Legal NFL betting sites vs. offshore

It’s important that when you’re looking for a sportsbook to bet with that you choose one of the legal ones. There’s a whole host of them in New Jersey, but whichever you choose, make sure you steer clear of the illegal offshore books.

The reason for this is simple: Legal sportsbooks are regulated, safe, and secure. You never have to worry about the safety of your money. With offshore books, it’s not only illegal to send money to them but risky too as they can just keep it and do not have to answer to state regulators if something goes wrong.

With no regulation, they don’t have to play by any rules.

In New Jersey, all sportsbooks (retail and online) are overseen by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

The NFL season: pre-season, regular season, and playoffs

The NFL season begins with the Hall of Fame Game, which is the official start of the preseason. Then, all 32 of the NFL teams will engage in four weeks of exhibition action before the regular season begins.

After the regular season gets underway, each team will play a 16-game schedule. However, each team gets one bye week to rest, so there are actually 17 weeks in the regular season.

Within that schedule, the teams will play each opponent in their division twice.

Once the 17 weeks are completed, the top six teams in each conference will make the playoffs. The top two seeds in each conference will earn bye weeks. From there, the teams in the two conferences play their way through the playoffs with the losing teams getting knocked out each week.

That’s what brings us to the Super Bowl, aka the NFL national championship, which is the final showdown of the last two teams left standing.

How to bet on football games

When you’re betting on the NFL, the most common lines you’ll see are the point spread, moneyline, over-under (total), and futures market.

Let’s go through each to explain what they are and what they mean:

Point spread

The point spread is simply a margin of victory. If you bet on a team, they have to clear that margin for you to cash your bet. Let’s take a look at an example:

New York Jets +3.5
New England Patriots -3.5

The first thing you that you want to notice here is the plus or minus sign. In this case, New England is -3.5, which means they need to win by four points or more to win on the spread (or cover the spread).

However, if you bet on the Jets at +3.5, they can lose by three, two, one, tie or win the game, and you win your bet.

Moneyline

The moneyline is a type of bet that focuses solely on who the outright winner will be. This allows you to avoid the point spread.

However, the odds for the game will look a bit different. Here’s an example:

Jets +200
Patriots -250

Once again, you want to take note of the plus or minus sign; a minus sign indicates that team is the favorite.

When it’s a plus sign, that indicates how much you’ll win if you bet $100. In this case, a $100 bet on the Jets would pay $200 if they won. On the other hand, the minus indicates how much you have to bet to win $100. In this case, a $250 bet on the Patriots would payout $100 if you won.

Of course, you don’t have to bet in those increments but this gives you an idea of how to calculate the odds if you want to bet the teams to win outright.

Over-Under

The over-under, which is also known as the total, allows you to bet on the game without picking a winner. This is a bet that asks you to project the final score of the game.

The sportsbook sets an over-under number, and you have to predict whether the combined final score will be over or under that number.

Let’s say the over-under for a game is 54.5. That means that scores of 60-20 or 33-22 will result in an over. However, scorelines like 30-17 or 27-26 will result in an under.

Futures

While the aforementioned three types of bets deal with games on a weekly basis, futures focus on games or events that happen further down the line.

For example, let’s say you wanted to bet on who will win the Super Bowl during Week Two of the NFL or predict which team will win a division before the season has started. Those bets take much longer to decide because the action has to play out.

The risk with futures bets is that they take a long time to be decided and a lot can change in the process. However, the payouts are usually quite large, so there is a risk-reward factor.

How to read NFL lines & odds

When you’re looking at the betting lines for an NFL game, the three most common lines that you’ll see will be the spread, moneyline, and total.

Let’s take a look at an example and explain all of the different numbers:

Spread

• New York Giants +9.5
• Philadelphia Eagles -9.5

Moneyline

• New York Giants +350
• Philadelphia Eagles -400

Total

• Giants at Eagles — Over-Under: 54.5

Let’s start with the point spread, otherwise known as the margin of victory.

If you bet on the spread, it’s not just the team that wins outright that wins the bet. In this case, the Eagles have to win by 10 or more to win for you if you bet on them. Meanwhile, the Giants can lose by nine or less, or win the game, and you’d win your bet.

If you’re looking to bet the straight-up winner of the game, that would be the moneyline as that strictly deals with the outright winner. However, the odds can change. (Read above under “Moneylines” to get a better idea of how to read those odds.)

Lastly, the over-under (also known as the total) is the combined final score of the two teams. In this case, you’d bet whether you think the Giants-Eagles game will have more than 55 points scored (over) or have 54 points or less (under).

Line shopping

If you’re looking to buy a TV online, and Amazon and Best Buy had different prices, if all else was equal, wouldn’t you go for the lower price?

That’s the same idea when it comes to shopping around for sports betting lines. Whatever you’re betting on, you want to have the best price on the line because that will increase your winnings in the long run.

Let’s take the following example”

New England Patriots Super Bowl Odds

• DraftKings +700
• FanDuel +800
• Fox Bet +1000

Let’s say you wanted to bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. Above you see three different outlets where you can do that with three different prices. BetStars pays the most for the same bet as they’ll pay 10/1 whereas the other two books pay less.

It only makes sense for you to bet at BetStars. And remember that having multiple sportsbooks accounts doesn’t cost you a thing. 

The same goes for the weekly action as sportsbooks move the lines according to what’s happening at a given time, so they could have different prices.

The lines might move because of how many bets they’ve taken on a side, a change in weather, or a possible injury. Whatever the case, if you have accounts at multiple sportsbooks, you can always take advantage of the best line and put yourself in the best position to win.

Other football betting options 

Some of the other bets you’ll find on a weekly basis are props, which are a type of bet that focuses on either a player or team performance.

For example, you might see a line on a wide receiver’s yardage total in a game and you predict whether he’ll have more or less than that number. Or you can bet on whether a team will or won’t score a touchdown, or which player will be the one to score.

Keep in mind that the Super Bowl is the peak season for props as you’ll find thousands of options for every single event and activity in the game.

Alternative NFL betting markets

Although the majority of bettors stick to betting on the full game, there are different options on the board for bettors to wager on quarters or halfs.

For example, you can predict who’ll cover the spread in the first half or who’ll be leading after the first quarter.
 
While these are merely variations of the full-game point spread, there are different strategies behind this. One example might be that you think a team will come out hot and get the early lead, so you might bet them in the first quarter rather than for the whole game.
 
You’ll find spreads, moneylines, and totals for each of these different segments.

Live betting

Live betting, or in-game betting, on the NFL is one of the best ways to get in the game.

The NFL is sometimes an unpredictable sport, so making your picks ahead of time can be tricky. Live, in-game betting allows you to watch some of the action transpire before making your decision.

How it works is the oddsmakers will update the lines as the action unfolds. After each play, the odds will shift slightly based on the down, the score, and the time left in the contest.

When you’re ready to make a bet, you’re able to jump in and place your wager. 

NFL betting tips

If you’re new to betting on the NFL, you might get stuck trying to figure out how to handicap games.

How do you determine what should weigh in on your decisions and how much should you bet? Here are three tips to get you off on the right foot:

1. Set up a budget

You have to start with a simple budget to figure out how much you’re going to be betting per game.

For example, let’s say you deposited $1,000 into your sportsbook account. You can’t bet $500 a game because two losses wipes you clean. 

Ideally, each bet is between 5%-10% of your bankroll – or maybe even less. Whatever your system, come up with one so that you’re not just flying by the seam of your pants.

2. Study the matchups

The beauty of the NFL is that there’s so much coverage on it that you can find analysis everywhere.

From the mainstream outlets on ESPN to podcasts to blogs to YouTube videos, everyone has something to say on the games. At the end of the day, you should make your own decision but soak in as much information as you can before placing your bet.

3. Follow others picks

It’s not a good idea to bet other people’s picks blindly, but the idea here is to study how they’re coming to their conclusions.

By following other people’s picks, you can get an idea of their methods. How much are they betting per game? What are they evaluating in terms of the matchup? When are they placing their bets (early in the week or just before game time)?

Betting mistakes to avoid

1. Chasing your bets

Losing always stings when it comes to sports betting, but you’ll often compound your problems if you go chasing your bets. For example, you lose your bets in the morning games and then decide to double-up to win your money back in the afternoon. 

Try not to make your bets when you’re emotional. You’ll make your best decisions when you have a clear mind.

2. Betting with “feelings” rather than data

A lot of amateur bettors have “feelings,” but the pros work with data. Which side do you want to be on?

Just because you woke up with a hunch that the Dallas Cowboys will win big this week doesn’t mean anything. Make your decisions based on the data.

Is it a good matchup for the Cowboys? Will they be motivated? Do the stats show that they are the better team? 

Those are the factors that you want to consider when you place your bets. Avoid basing your decisions on empty hunches and instincts.

3. Focusing too much on longshots

Everyone loves a big payday but you have to be realistic: Bets that pay a lot do so because they’re less likely to win. A lot of bettors love playing parlays because a $2 bet can return them hundreds or thousands.

While that’s true, the reality is that you’re really just throwing darts at the board to see what sticks.

Slow and steady is what wins this race. Betting longshots and hoping to hit unrealistic parlays is a recipe for disaster.

How to watch NFL games 

NFL games are on the major cable networks each week, so they are not hard to find.

You’ll find Thursday night games on NBC or NFL Network, Sunday games on both CBS and FOX, Sunday Night Football on NBC, and then Monday Night Football on ESPN.

If you have a cable package, you can catch most of the games. You can also get NFL Sunday Ticket on Direct TV, which gives you access to every single game each week.

Philadelphia Eagles 2021 Schedule

The Eagles are looking to turn things around following a disappointing 4-11-1 record during the 2020 season.  Jalen Hurts, the second-year QB, is now running the offense while Nick Sirianni enters his first season as an NFL head coach.

Date	Time	TV	Opponent	Home or Away?	Result
Sept. 12	1 p.m.	Fox	Falcons	Away
Sept. 19	1 p.m.	Fox	49ers	Home
Sept. 27	8:15 p.m.	ESPN	Cowboys	Away
Oct. 3	1 p.m.	CBS	Chiefs	Home
Oct. 10	1 p.m.	Fox	Panthers	Away
Oct. 14	8:20 p.m.	NFLN/AMZN	Bucs	Home
Oct. 24	4:05 p.m.	Fox	Raiders	Away
Oct. 31	1 p.m.	Fox	Lions	Away
Nov. 7	1 p.m.	CBS	Chargers	Home
Nov. 14	4:25	CBS	Broncos	Away
Nov. 21	1 p.m.	Fox	Saints	Home
Nov. 28	1 p.m.	Fox	Giants	Away
Dec. 5	1 p.m.	CBS	Jets	Away
TBD	TBD	Fox	Washington	Home
Dec. 26	1 p.m.	Fox	Giants	Home
Jan. 2	1 p.m.	Fox	Washington	Away
Jan.9	1 p.m.	Fox	Dallas	Home

New York Jets 2021 Schedule

The Jets enter the season in reset mode after selecting  QB Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.  After winning just two regular-season games last season, the 2021 focus is on improving as a team. 

Date	Time	TV	Opponent	Home or Away?	Result
Sept. 12	1 p.m.	CBS	Panthers	Away
Sept. 19	1 p.m.	CBS	Patriots	Home
Sept. 26	4:05 p.m.	CBS	Broncos	Away
Oct. 3	1 p.m.	CBS	Titans	Home
Oct. 10	9:30 a.m.	NFLN	Falcons	Away
Oct. 24	1 p.m.	CBS	Patriots	Away
Oct. 31	1 p.m.	CBS	Bengals	Home
Nov. 4	8:20 p.m.	Fox/NFLN/AMAZ	Colts	Away
Nov. 14	1 p.m.	CBS	Bills	Home
Nov. 21	1 p.m.	CBS	Dolphins	Home
Nov. 28	1 p.m.	CBS	Texans	Away
Dec. 5	1 p.m.	CBS	Eagles	Home
Dec. 12	1 p.m.	Fox	Saints	Home
Dec. 18 or 19	TBD	TBD	Dolphins	Away
Dec. 26	1 p.m.	CBS	Jaguars	Home
Jan. 2	1 p.m.	CBS	Bucs	Home
Jan. 9	1 p.m.	CBS	Bills	Away

New York Giants 2021 Schedule

The Giants enter the season with Daniel Jones as their returning starting quarterback. The G-Men are coming off a 6-10 season in which they missed the playoffs. 

Date	Time	TV	Opponent	Home or Away?	Result
Sept. 12	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Broncos	Home
Sept. 16	8:20 p.m.	NFLN	Washington	Away
Sept. 26	1 p.m.	Fox	Falcons	Home
Oct. 3	1 p.m.	Fox	Saints	Away
Oct. 10	4:25 p.m.	Fox	Cowboys	Away
Oct. 17	1 p.m.	Fox	Rams	Home
Oct. 24	1 p.m.	Fox	Panthers	Home
Nov. 1	8:15 p.m.	ESPN	Chiefs	Away
Nov. 7	1 p.m.	CBS	Raiders	Home
Nov. 22	8:15 p.m.	ESPN	Bucs	Away
Nov. 28	1 p.m.	Fox	Eagles	Home
Dec. 5	1 p.m.	Fox	Dolphins	Away
Dec. 12	4:05 p.m.	Fox	Chargers	Away
Dec. 19	1 p.m.	Fox	Cowboys	Home
Dec. 26	1 p.m.	Fox	Eagles	Away
Jan. 2	1 p.m.	CBS	Bears	Away
Jan. 9	1 p.m.	Fox	Washington	Home

Biggest upsets in NFL history

One of the best aspects of betting on the NFL is that anything can happen any given Sunday, Monday, or Thursday.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five biggest upsets in NFL history:

1995: Redskins 24, Cowboys 17

The Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith Cowboys were a three-score favorite over Washington. They started out well, getting up 7-0 early, but they would be outscored 24-10 the rest of the way as the Redskins show the Boys the door.

2018: Bills 27, Vikings 6

The Vikings were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender after making it to the NFC Championship Game the year before. However, the Buffalo Bills, who were led by a rookie quarterback making his first road start, stunned the sloppy Vikings.

1999: Browns 16, Steelers 15

The Browns returned to Cleveland in 1999. In their first meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers that year, the Browns were thumped 43-0. Nobody expected the Browns to go on the road to Pittsburgh just a couple of months later and earn a win. That’s exactly what they did, though, using a game-winning field goal by Phil Dawson as the clock expired.

2017: Giants 23, Broncos 10

The winless New York Giants visited the Denver Broncos in Week Five and were supposed to get wiped out. They were missing six starters, including star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. Instead, they shocked the Broncos, leading from wire-to-wire for the win.

2017: Dolphins 20, Falcons 17

The Dolphins were not only a sizable, two-touchdown underdog in this contest, they also trailed 17-0 at the half. You’d think the Falcons, who were playing at home, could just close this out. However, Jay Cutler led an improbable comeback and shocked the Falcons.

NFL betting FAQ