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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 through 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 any winning football bettor. UFA means you’re betting using one football game. In the event that you bet on multiple game on the same ticket, it is a parlay, and we’ll discuss that in a minute.

When you make a straight football bet, you could be betting on a side or total. Simply put, when you bet a side, you “pick a side” in the game. For example, let’s say the New England Patriots are playing the Seattle Seahawks. If you are going to bet a side, you’d bet on either the Patriots or the Seahawks.

Every game has a point total (except NCAA football, which is most games). This is actually the level of points scored between both teams. When you bet a complete, you’re betting under or higher 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 even more points (47 will be a push, which means you get your bet back).

Football Betting – Parlays

Okay, so you find out about straight bets, that is where you bet on just one 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 would be a 2-team parlay (even though technically there’s only one team on it).

The more items you put on the ticket, the additional money you’ll win should they all hit. Naturally, the more items on the ticket, the harder it 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 might have a look at “teasers,” which are parlay tickets with added points for you personally. For instance, instead of taking the Packers -10, you might get them at -3. Needless to say, the payouts certainly are a less because the risk is minimized.

Football betting is a blast and there’s nothing much 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.