How Does Betting in the NBA Work Compared to the NFL?

NBA vs NFL Betting Differences

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Regardless of which sport you like to bet on, many of them work very differently from one another in terms of sports betting. Take the NBA and the NFL​​​​​​, for example. There are plenty of similarities between these sports when it comes to betting, but also some clear differences.

Our guide has broken down several of the betting differences between the NBA and the NFL, which mainly cover the variety of betting markets you will find. Further, we will also briefly touch on betting strategies that could apply to both of these sports independently.

Common Betting Market Differences

Below, we have listed and explained the biggest betting differences between the NBA and the NFL as it applies to the most common betting markets, such as the point spread and totals.

Point Spread

For point spreads, the main difference between the NBA and the NFL is that in the NBA, there is less likely to be line movement. This is because NBA point spreads almost always release the night before a game, whereas in the NFL, point spreads are typically released a full week in advance.

Having more defined line movements in the NFL can both hurt and help you depending on the situation.

  • For example, if Team A was a +10.5-point underdog in an NFL game because the status of their starting quarterback was in doubt, you could take this line at the beginning of the week. 
  • Now, say the player in question is able to recover before the weekend. In this case, the spread might drop down to something like +6.5, but because you took the bet early, you would still keep the +10.5-point bet.

Total Points

Another major betting difference between the NBA and the NFL is how the total points market works. On a surface level, making a total points bet works the same in the NBA and the NFL, as you will need the two teams involved to go over or under the number listed. 

However, scoring works much differently in the NFL compared to the NBA, thus making them very different bets. 

In the NFL, for example, you will likely never see a total above 60 points. Teams score touchdowns (6 points), extra points (1 point), field goals (3 points), and safeties (2 points). On top of that, football is a much slower-paced sport, and with many teams playing in outdoor stadiums, the weather can directly affect scoring.

As for the NBA, especially today’s NBA, scoring is much more prominent, which leads to the possibility of totals being set as high as 240 or more. In the NBA, baskets are worth two and three points, while free throws are worth one point. 

The pace of play is one of the main factors in the NBA as it pertains to what the total will be set at.

For example, if two defensive-minded teams are playing against each other, the total will be set lower, while a game with two teams that are known for their offensive efficiency will have a much higher total.  

Prop Market Differences

Prop markets are another type of bet that are vastly different between NBA betting and NFL betting. Below, we have explained some of these differences.

Player Props

When betting on player props, you are essentially betting on a player to perform or not perform in a given area. The difference in NBA player props and NFL player props lies in what props are actually available to bet on.

In the NBA, player props revolve around points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and three-pointers made. Whereas, in the NFL, player props would be statistics such as passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns (first, anytime, last), rushing attempts, passing attempts, passing touchdowns, as well as many others. 

So, while you are betting on a player’s performance in both sports, the win conditions for each sport's player props make them very different bets. 

Game Props

Game props are those that require something to take place during the course of any given game or event. In the NBA, a game prop might include the “Race to X Points” market, while in the NFL, a game prop could be whether or not a Field Goal from a specific distance will be made, whether there will be overtime, or if the total points will be odd or even.

Team Props

As the name suggests, team props are bets that require an action from a given team as a whole. In the NBA, an example of a team prop could be the number of three-pointers they will make, while in the NFL, a team prop could be the number of touchdowns scored.

Future Bet Differences

When it comes to future markets in the NBA and the NFL, one of the biggest differences has to do with the win totals. In the NFL, teams play 17 regular-season games, meaning when betting a win total, you will likely see numbers ranging from 4.5 to 14.5.

Whereas, in the NBA, teams play 82 games in the regular-season; therefore, they will have win totals ranging from 25 to 60, give or take. 

Strategies for Betting the NBA vs. the NFL

A lot of betting strategies can apply to any sport, including the NBA and the NFL. That said, one strategy for the NBA would be to consider the schedule. Many times, a team will play games on back-to-back nights. This can lead to extra fatigue and less time to recover, especially from minor injuries, making fading these teams a legitimate option depending on the situation. 

Conversely, a betting strategy that is specifically for the NFL would be to consider the weather.  Given that many teams play their games outside and during the winter months, checking the forecast for that city beforehand can help you hone in on what bets to make.

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