The NFL draft is the first stop on the road in a professional football player’s career. It’s then that they find out which team wants them to be a part of their organization the most. When a player’s name is called, it’s not only exciting for them, but for the fans as well, making the draft one of the most anticipated nights on the NFL calendar.
However, some fans enjoy adding a sports betting element to the mix to make it more exciting. Bettors can wager on different markets from who’ll be selected with the top-3 picks to how many tight ends will be taken in the first round. If this sounds like something you’d want to be a part of, continue reading on to see how you can get in on some NFL draft betting.
First, you’ll want to sign up to a sportsbook.
NFL Draft Betting at BetOnline
If you’re looking for a safe sportsbook that’s easy to operate, look no further than BetOnline. They have several NFL draft-related markets that you can take part in, from choosing who’ll be the first name off the board to predicting the exact pick that will be used to draft a player. BetOnline’s options are truly versatile and you should find what you’re looking for without an issue.
If you don’t have an account with them, you can take advantage of one of BetOnline’s promotions. A 1st-time cryptocurrency deposit will match 100% of your first crypto deposit, whether you use something like Bitcoin or Stellar. If cryptocurrencies aren’t your thing, a 50% welcome bonus will match half of your initial cash deposit up to $1,000.
NFL Draft Betting at Bovada
Bovada may look a bit different than BetOnline, but it’s just as trusted and user-friendly. Once you make an account and find the football section, you’ll see all of the different NFL draft odds and markets that are available. For example, they have over 50 markets for the 2021 NFL Draft, ranging from ones that have to do with spreads to others that are over/under-based.
Regardless of what you want to bet on, Bovada has promotions that can help you win more money early on. A 50% welcome bonus matches half of your first deposit up to $250. There’s also a Bitcoin welcome bonus, which is similar, however, you’ll see 25% of your first crypto deposit match, capping the limit at $750.
NFL Draft Betting at Sportsbetting.ag
If you’ve already visited BetOnline, you’ll notice that it and Sportsbetting.ag look similar. Like most sportsbooks, you can use Sportsbetting.ag on your computer or phone, making it simple for you to follow along with your bets while watching the NFL draft. You can also enjoy a variety of markets, whether you’re into futures, props or moneyline bets.
Sportsbetting.ag offers similar promotions as BetOnline does, meaning you can take advantage of the same ones as above and more. They’re offering their popular sports reload bonus, which you can use any time you make a deposit. When you use the promo while adding at least $50 to your account, Sportsbetting.ag will match 25% of it up to $250!
How to Bet on the NFL Draft
Once you’re ready to start betting on the NFL draft, you’re going to need to sign up for a sportsbook. The process usually doesn’t take long and you should be ready to bet within minutes. However, if you’re new to sports betting, you may not know how to wager on any sporting events.
The first thing you have to do is find the football markets on whatever sportsbooks you’re using. With how popular the sport is, football is usually in most sportsbooks’ main tab, either at the top or side of the page. Once you’re in, you can select whichever market you desire and start making picks. Although you may find some terminology or markets you’re unfamiliar with, so here’s a look at some of them along with examples.
Futures
A future bet is simple: you’re picking the outcome of an event, days, weeks or months in advance. For the NFL draft, one of the more popular future markets is predicting who’ll be taken first overall. It’s really one of the most favored markets because of how easy it is to get into for first-timers.
Total (Over/Under)
When it comes to this market, a total number of something is given and you have to choose whether that total will be surpassed (Over) or if it won’t (Under). An example of a total market for the NFL draft would be if a sportsbook said there will be five quarterbacks taken in Round 1, and you have to choose if there will be more or less selected.
It might look like this:
Quarterbacks picked in the first round of the NFL Draft:
- Over 5 (-110)
- Under 5 (-110)
Moneyline
Another straightforward market. You’re usually given at least two options and you have to choose which will come out on top. For example, at the draft, you may be given two quarterbacks and then you have to choose which gets drafted first.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are unique markets that sometimes don’t have to do with the outright outcome of an event. An NFL draft prop bet might be having to guess the color of the first overall pick’s suit or to predict which position will be taken with the No. 4 pick.
All markets come with odds that indicate how much you can win. If a number shows a positive sign (+), that’s how much you can win if you bet $100 (Ex. +500 = you win $500 if you bet $100). Meanwhile, a negative sign (-100) shows how much you need to bet to win $100 (Ex. -255 = you bet $255 to win $100).
NFL Draft Betting Strategy
When it comes to any betting, the key to being successful is simple: research. It may sound like too much extra work, but even betting experts do research. It’s even more important at an event like the NFL draft. Different teams have different needs, which is why you want to research them to know who they might draft. You don’t need to do a background report on every team and player, but at least spend five minutes Googling whichever market interests you.
You’ll also need a financial strategy. If it’s your first-time sports betting, start off with a small amount like $50 or $100 or whatever makes you comfortable. No matter the odds, nothing is a guarantee and you should only bet what you’re willing to lose. Once you start getting the hang of things, feel free to increase your limit.