American football is a massive sport in North America where intense physicality and good tactics blend into one. With its immense popularity, every top-tier tournament from the region like the annual Super Bowl has received constant attention and interest from the rest of the world.
It’s also why this sport is readily available in the online sports betting space. There are available markets even during pre-seasons where bettors can wager on draft picks and the like. From the various tournaments and leagues to the sport’s betting markets, find out everything you need to know with this American football betting guide.
What is American football?
American football is a team sport primarily played in the United States and Canada, where two teams of 11 players compete on a rectangular field with two goalposts at each end. The game structure is centred on having two phases called offence and defence.
The offensive players are looking to advance down the field while they possess the ball. They can do this by running with the ball or passing for other players to catch and carry it into the end zone, worth six points. The offence must advance at least 10 yards in four plays or downs because if they don’t, they have to turn over possession of the ball.
Another way to score is by kicking the ball through the opponent’s goalposts, called a field goal, worth three points. Naturally, the team with the most points wins. On the other hand, the defenders are looking to prevent the other team from scoring by using tackles or intercepting the ball and then going on the counter-attack.
Understanding American football tournaments
American football tournaments are competitive events or leagues where teams compete against each other in matches to determine the champion. Most tournaments have a specific level of play that ranges from amateur to professional leagues. Place your bets on any of these top-tier American football events:
Most famous American football tournaments
This sport is arguably the most popular choice in North America, which gives you plenty of competitions to bet on. Here are the most prominent American football tournaments you should be on the lookout for:
National Football League (NFL)
The biggest American football league in the world, the NFL is widely recognised as the pinnacle of the sport. It is deemed the highest level of professional football, where talented players are scattered throughout the 32 NFL teams.
The league is divided into two conferences of 16 teams: the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. Every conference is divided into four divisions with four teams apiece. These divisions are based on geographical regions.
The NFL has a regular season from September to December, with each team playing 17 games over 18 weeks. Each team has a bye week during the season when they do not play. Every team competes with opponents from within their conference and also from the opposite.
After the regular season, the top seven teams from each conference qualify for the Playoffs. All four teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket to make it to the season’s grand finale, called the Super Bowl.
The NFL has a significant impact on American culture because they regard it as their biggest sport. It generates tremendous revenue with its ticket sales, merchandise, and more. This helps the players earn more money and the NFL to participate in charity events. It’s the biggest league in the sport, and it earned its status and popularity.
Canadian Football League (CFL)
The CFL is the highest level of Canadian football and has grown to become one of the major sports leagues. It was founded back in 1958 when the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and the Western Interprovincial Football Union merged into one league.
The CFL has nine teams, all from Canadian cities. Those teams are separated into two divisions which are the East, which covers the eastern part of the country, and the West, for the western side.
A regular CFL season runs from June to November, during where each team plays 18 games apiece. That consists of matchups between teams in the same division, but also, some matches are interdivisional. The top three teams of each division advance into the Playoffs, where they compete in a single-elim bracket en route to the Grey Cup, their version of the Super Bowl.
Take note that the CFL has a different rule set compared to the NFL. Canadian football has a larger field, with 12 players on each team compared to the NFL’s 11. Aside from that, here are the other differences you can see between the CFL and the typical American football:
- Downs: Teams in the CFL have three downs to gain 10 yards, or they turn the ball over, placing a bigger emphasis on passing and offensive strategy. Compare that to the NFL, where they have more wiggle room with four downs. This way, you can expect faster-paced CFL matches than their neighbours.
- Changes in movement: The CFL allows offensive players besides the quarterback to move before the snap. This helps them build momentum and confuse the defence, unlike what you see in the NFL, where only one player moves.
- Scoring system: The touchdown and field goal points are the same, but teams can get one point in the CFL if the ball is kicked into the end zone and not returned by the defending team.
- The clock: CFL teams must snap the ball 20 seconds after the previous play ends. The NFL has 40 seconds on the clock, making it clear that it’s more of a slow game than the CFL.
National Collegiate Athletic Association Football (NCAAF)
The NCAAF, more commonly known as college football, is the biggest amateur American football league. This is where colleges and universities field some of their most elite athletes looking to make a name for themselves and possibly get drafted into the NFL.
This competition is vast, even when compared to the NFL. It has a huge following and deep-rooted traditions and rivalries that have been around for decades. Since the NCAA is a huge organisation, you can see hundreds of competing schools at different levels or divisions based on their school size and resources.
College football has three primary divisions: Division I, II, and III. Div I is split into two subdivisions which are the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision.
The competition is organised into conferences, and since most people are betting on the top division, you have to know which divisions are present:
- American
- ACC
- Big 12
- Big Ten
- Conference USA
- FBS Independents
- Mid-American
- Mountain West
- Pac-12
- Southeastern Conference (SEC)
- Sun Belt.
College football season runs from late August to early December where teams compete in a schedule of games, usually around 12 matches. A selection committee is tasked to choose four Playoff teams based on their performance during the regular season and compete in a single-elimination mini-tourney to decide the national champion.
XFL
Initially launched in 2001 as a joint venture between World Wrestling Federation executive Vince McMahon and NBC executive Dick Ebersol, the XFL was meant to be a competitor to the NFL, the predominant league in North America. It only ran for a season because fans did not like the gimmicks they showcased.
The project was re-launched in 2020 but was abruptly stopped again by the COVID-19 pandemic. The league returned to play in February 2023, and it impressed many football fans with its solid performance in viewership and game attendance.
There are some rule changes the XFL has put out that are different from the standard set by the NFL. Here are the main differences on the XFL:
- Overtime rule changes: Unlike college football, the XFL does not have extra periods. They just give each team three attempts at a two-point conversion from the opponents’ five-yard line. The team with the most conversions after three attempts will win the match.
- No kick extra points: The NFL allows teams to kick extra points after they score touchdowns. XFL teams need to try to get into the end zone to add one, two, or three points to their score.
- Kickoff rule changes: The two teams must line up five yards apart from each other. The kicking team will line up at their opponents’ 35-yard line, making kickoff safer due to the lack of huge tackles.
- Game clock: XFL games operate within a 35-second time frame compared to the NFL’s 40-second play clock.
For people who want a unique football betting experience, the XFL is a fantastic alternative. This is still a humble project compared to the NFL, but as they pick up steam, the league’s quality will improve as they sign new players.
How to bet on American football tournaments at BC.GAME
With the knowledge of the tournaments you can watch, you also need to know how to place a bet on these leagues. Check the tournament you want to wager on and look into the betting options available.
Get started betting on American football tournaments with this brief guide:
- Click the signup button on the top of BC.GAME’s site.
- Input your email and password. You also have the option to provide your phone number instead of an email.
- You can then enter a referral or promo code to help you get early bonuses.
- Tick the boxes to confirm you are at least 18 years or older. You should also agree to marketing promotions from BC.GAME by ticking the next box.
- Sign up, then find the deposit button at the top part of the page. Locate the sports section and look for ‘American Football’ on the menu on the left-hand side of the page. Once you open the page, you can make bets on live and upcoming games.
How to read American football odds
BC.GAME has a good amount of odds formats to choose from. You can change betting odds to your preferred format through the dropdown menu option at the bottom of the page.
Regardless of your chosen format, reading betting odds is generally simple. With various possible outcomes under a single market, the lower the odds value is, the more likely it is predicted to take place. This means top American football teams in their brackets will have lower odds than the underdogs.
Here are the formats you can choose from at BC.GAME:
- Decimal
- Fractional
- American
- Indonesian
- Hong Kong
- Malaysian
American football betting odds also show punters how much their payout would be if their bets are successful. You can check your potential wins from your chosen bets at BC.GAME’s Betslip.
American football markets on BC.GAME
Here are the markets you usually see when betting on American football matches at BC.GAME:
- Winner (incl overtime): This is where you predict the winner of the match from the two teams playing in the game.
- Handicap: This market helps the underdog get an advantage over the opponent as it levels the playing field better. The favourite has to dominate and exceed the point spread given while the underdog just has to keep it within that point spread.
- Total: You are given a point spread, and you choose if the final score will be over or under that number.
- 1st half 1×2: You are predicting which team won the first half, whether it’s the home (1) or away (2) team. The x represents a draw or tie between the two teams after the first half.
Best American football tournaments to bet on
What are the best tournaments to place bets on? American football has plenty of options for you, with multiple types of bets you can make. Take note that every tournament is different which makes every betting experience unique to the other. Here are the best American football tournaments you can place bets on:
NFL
This is, no doubt, the biggest football league in North America, making it a top option. There are 32 teams in the league, and they play 17 games each, which means you have 544 potential matches to bet on during the regular season.
To add to that, you also have the Playoffs, which consist of 14 teams making it to the next stage. Since this is a single-elimination bracket with each conference’s top seeds getting a bye to the divisional stage, there are 13 total matches in the playoffs, capped by the Super Bowl.
There are plenty of favourites when betting on the NFL, with some historically successful teams, which matter in any NFL betting guide. Here are the winningest teams in NFL history to give you an idea of who to watch out for:
- New England Patriots (Six Super Bowl wins)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Six Super Bowl wins)
- Dallas Cowboys (Five Super Bowl wins)
- San Francisco 49ers (Five Super Bowl wins)
- Green Bay Packers (Four Super Bowl wins)
CFL
Canada’s top football league is another superb betting option and it is easier since there are only nine teams to choose. However, they still play plenty of games, clocking in at 162 regular season games. They also have a playoff stage which concludes with the Grey Cup, the Canadian version of the Super Bowl.
Among the nine teams, some standouts have won multiple times throughout the league’s history. Here are the top three teams you should be on the lookout for:
- Toronto Argonauts (18 Grey Cup wins)
- Edmonton Elks (14 Grey Cup wins)
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12 Grey Cup wins)
NCAAF
College football has a wider scope than any other American football league because it encompasses the entire country. Tons of schools play in the NCAA, and they all play 12 regular season games. This gives you a huge variety of betting opportunities to wager on. You just have to pick which schools you want to watch and bet on according to any NCAAF betting guide.
There are plenty of successful schools out there that have thrived in the NCAA’s football league. Here are the winningest schools in history:
- Yale University (18 national titles)
- University of Alabama (16 national titles)
- Princeton University (15 national titles)
- University of Notre Dame (13 national titles)
- Michigan University (Nine national titles)
Aside from college football matches, you can also bet on the NFL Draft. The standouts in the collegiate game are drafted highly in the NFL, and you can place bets on specific players ending up on a team.
XFL
The XFL is a unique option out of the major football leagues because it gives you unique rules. This includes giving coaches one challenge per game, which can be used to reverse any call, like pass interference and holding. At the same time, you also don’t get overtime periods for the XFL because the league only gives both teams three attempts to score each
The XFL’s 2023 season concluded with the Arlington Renegades winning the Championship Game, where they beat the North’s top team, DC Defenders. That is just the start to help you contextualise your bets for upcoming seasons, and you can make American football live betting wagers while watching the games.
American football tournaments betting strategies
You may win American football bets on a whim with a gut-feeling prediction. However, smart bettors know how to make the best predictions, which are made using tried and tested American football betting tips.
Here are some of the most effective strategies you can use to help you succeed:
- Money management: Set a budget for your American football bets and stick to it. You have to manage your money properly to avoid impulsive predictions on betting markets which can cause you to lose money for valuable wagers.
Do not chase losses. That is a blunder made by most bettors, leading to losing even more. Make sure you do not bet more than what you can afford to lose. Start slowly, and then you can ramp up the value of your wagers afterwards.
- Analysing the odds: The odds are useful for knowing the likely and unlikely options for your bets. Betting on the underdog can lead to fantastic rewards, but you must weigh the likelihood of losing that bet. The best move to make here is to know the context behind those numbers and see if it’s highly likely the favourite wins.
Stop exclusively betting according to the odds because you will not progress. Take some risks here and there, but you need to be calculated with every bet. Sometimes, the stronger sides are the favourites, but they might lose in an upset to the less-favoured team if they pull off the impossible.
- Do research and analysis: When planning to bet on a market, you need to identify the contributing factors that play into that match. Take note of injury and transfer reports as they play a factor in a team’s momentum and chances of winning. Get to know of the players on the roster and their coaches, as every person on the team is vital to their performance.
For example, if you are looking to bet on a Kansas City vs Dallas match, you need to know what goes into that matchup. Learn which players are the most impactful and see how strategies play out for both teams. Remain equipped with proper knowledge to help you make the most profitable decisions.
- Do not get caught up in your emotions: American football live betting is one of the most wagered types among fans since they can place a bet while they watch the action go.
However, being in the heat of the moment when things don’t go as you predicted can be tough for your emotions, so you should ensure you’re in control most of the time. Losing is normal in betting. Take that in stride and work hard for the next wager you’re planning to make.
Bet on American football tournaments at BC.GAME
Get the best American football betting experience at BC.GAME! Every betting market you’re looking for is on the platform, and you can take your football knowledge to great heights with the wagers you can make on all kinds of betting options here. Cryptocurrencies are the primary payment methods here, so make sure to place bets to help earn more crypto rewards.
Follow the best American football tournaments at BC.GAME like the NFL, CFL, and college football to get the hard-hitting action and tactical brilliance from the teams. If you feel confident with making predictions on those leagues, you can do it right here at BC.GAME, create an account, deposit funds, and bet at one of the best sportsbooks on the internet!
Explore BC.GAME’s sports betting section for more offers
There’s a whole lot more to check out at BC.GAME besides American football. With hundreds to choose from, you can easily enjoy betting on sports like basketball and soccer if you have your mobile device or computer connected to the internet. Get the same exciting experience you get with American football by placing your bets at BC.GAME, where you get all kinds of markets to choose from for more chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
You can reach out to our 24-hour online customer support anytime if you have any inquiries. However, here are the most common questions about American football:
How to bet on the best leagues in American football?
You can place your American football bets here at BC.GAME. Click the sports button on the top part of the page and then navigate the sidebar and find the American football button with the helmet icon.
There, you will find matches you can place bets on. Click your chosen match and then pick out the predictions you want to make. Place your bet on the Betslip, confirm it, and wait for the results!
What is the best American football tournament to bet on?
You can bet on some tournaments, which will most likely come down to your preferences. The CFL might be best for you if you are looking for a lowkey league. College football might be the choice if you want unrefined yet exciting football. Want to bet on the highest level of football? Bet on the NFL! You are spoiled for choices for football, just pick one and start.
