In this article, I’ll break NFL betting down into a simple, easy-to-understand explanation. I’ve obviously come a long way since that day 30+ years ago, and unbelievably, I’m now a professional football handicapper who instructs people how to bet NFL point spreads and gives advice on which side they should bet to turn a profit. Between this guy being frustrated with me and the people behind me, I just wanted to take cover and get back to my seat! However, I went with it because there was a giant line behind me. He then put it in layman’s terms for me with something like, “Do you want Minnesota to win by 7 or more or just win the game straight up?” I was still confused why they’d have to win by 7. I could see that he was frustrated with me, so I explained that I had never placed a wager before. He also asked for a rotation number, which I also knew nothing about. The ticket writer (the guy behind the window) asked if I wanted to bet the spread, money line, or total. I was so excited to place a bet that I didn’t bother to learn how point spreads work (or what they were, for that matter!) I looked at the odds board (I didn’t understand anything other than recognizing a team’s name and the time the game started!) and blurted out that I wanted to bet on the Minnesota Vikings. My first trip to a Vegas Sportsbook was a disaster.
