So you’re new here?
Most seasoned sports bettors will admit that starting out can be a little intimidating.
There are numerous sportsbook sites and sports betting apps in PA, each of them filled with odds on multiple sports.
And everywhere you look there are numbers, numbers, numbers.
In this article, we’ll help you make sense of them all with a rundown of the five best bets for beginners.
1: The Moneyline
This one is quite simple. Pick any team you want and all they have to do is win the game. And if your chosen team wins, your wager does too.
The moneyline wager is one of the most common PA sportsbook bets. The odds for each team’s moneyline price is based on $100.
For example, in next Saturday’s ACC Championship game, Pitt (a 3-point favorite) has a moneyline price of -145 at DraftKings Sportsbook. That means you would need to bet $145 on Pitt to win $100.
Meanwhile, Wake Forest (a 3-point underdog) has a moneyline price of +125, with a $100 bet on Wake Forest bringing $125 in return.
You can check out these lines at DraftKings PA.
2: The Point Spread
Using the ACC Championship game as an example yet again, you could also choose a point spread bet. With this wager, your team either gives points as a favorite, or receives points as an underdog.
For a point spread wager on Pitt to win, the Panthers would need to win by more than three points i.e. cover the spread.
Likewise, for a point spread bet on Wake Forest to win, the Demon Deacons would need to lose by less than three points.
If Pitt would win by exactly three points, the spread would become a “push,” meaning neither side would win and the bet would be refunded.
3: An Over/Under Wager
Another option is to wager on the total points scored in a game. In the ACC Championship Game, Pitt and Wake Forest are expected to combine for 72.5 points. If you think the teams will combine for more points, you can bet the Over. If you think the teams will score less, you can bet the Under.
Each side of the bet has a price of -110 (i.e. a wager or $110 wins $100)
4: Touchdown Scorers
If you prefer to bet on individual players rather than teams or games, football season offers some opportunities for that as well.
This wager is often only available for select games, such as national broadcasts like Monday Night Football.
You can typically bet on a player to score the first/last touchdown or simply a TD at any time. Odds vary for each option.
Here’s a sampling of the touchdown scorer odds from Monday night’s game between the Washington Football Team and the Seattle Seahawks:
First Touchdown Scorer Odds
(via DraftKings)
- D.K. Metcalf: +800
- Antonio Gibson: +850
- Terry McLaurin: +850
- Alex Collins: +900
- Tyler Lockett: +900
- Logan Thomas: +1400
- Curtis Samuel: +1600
- DeeJay Dallas: +1600
Last Touchdown Scorer Odds
(via DraftKings)
- D.K. Metcalf: +800
- Antonio Gibson: +850
- Terry McLaurin: +850
- Alex Collins: +900
- Tyler Lockett: +900
- Logan Thomas: +1400
- Curtis Samuel: +1600
- DeeJay Dallas: +1600
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Odds
(via DraftKings)
- D.K. Metcalf: +125
- Antonio Gibson: +130
- Terry McLaurin: +130
- Alex Collins: +130
- Tyler Lockett: +140
- Logan Thomas: +230
- Curtis Samuel: +275
- DeeJay Dallas: +250
5: Same Game Parlay
Perhaps you want to dive into the betting pool by chasing a bigger payday. If that’s the case, Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks and betting apps now offer parlays within a single game that raise the potential return.
Find a game you’d like to bet on and visit your favorite betting app. Then, look for the “Same Game Parlay” option inside the menu for your game. Most apps will allow you to combine spreads, totals, or even player prop bets within a single wager. Each item you add to the parlay bet makes it harder to win, but the potential return also increases with every choice.
So choose wisely and make your wagers. And if you need help along the way, every sportsbook and app has ample support features to keep you on track.
You might be new to betting, but it won’t take you long to figure it all out.
Perhaps you’ll even win some money.
And who doesn’t want that?