The NFL Playoffs are the culmination of the NFL regular season and feature the top 12 football teams in the world. The four division champions in both the AFC and NFC conferences will be joined by two wild-card teams to make up the 12-team field. The NFL playoffs have not always featured 12 teams however. The current playoff system has been in place since 2002 when the NFL moved to four four-team divisions in each conference.
Professional football has taken over as the most popular sport in American society, and fans all over the country tune in each season for the drama that the NFL playoffs produce.
Not only is the action on the field intense, but betting action on online sportsbooks have heated up in recent seasons as well. The NFL Playoffs end with the Super Bowl, which is the most-watched live sporting event almost every year.
The Dallas Cowboys lead all NFL franchises in NFL playoff appearances, but the Green Bay Packers are right behind them. In recent times, it is the New England Patriots who have been a fixture in the NFL Playoffs, and the Superbowl, but up and coming teams are announcing a new era.
<h2>Things to consider before Betting on the NFL:</h2>
Below are some of the top ranking players and best bets to consider
<ul>
<li><a href="/nfl/nfl-playoffs/ranking-fantasy-quarterbacks/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Quarterbacks</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/ranking-fantasy-running-backs/">Ranking the Top 25 Fantasy Running Backs</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/ranking-fantasy-wide-receivers/">Ranking the Top 25 Fantasy Wide Receivers</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/ranking-the-top-10-fantasy-tight-ends/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Tight Ends</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/nfl-playoffs/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Kickers</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/top-10-fantasy-football-busts/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Busts</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/top-10-fantasy-rookies/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Rookies</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/ranking-fantasy-sleepers/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Sleepers</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/backup-fantasy-running-backs/">Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy Back Up Running Backs</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/bets-to-super-bowl/">Best Bets to win the Super Bowl</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/bets-to-score-most-tds/">Best Bets to score the most TDs</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/best-bets-to-lead-the-league-in-rushing/">Best Bets to lead the league in rushing</a></li>
<li><a href="/nfl/playoffs-tips/best-bets-in-receiving-yards/">Best Bets to lead the league in receiving yards</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>How to Bet on the NFL Playoffs</h3>
Since the NFL Playoffs are one of the most popular sporting events in the world, there are several ways to bet on them. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to make some money by betting on the NFL Playoffs.
Betting on Each Game: The most common way to bet on the NFL Playoffs is to bet on each individual game that takes place. There are three common bets that are available for each game, and we will take a closer look at those below. We will use the odds for Super Bowl LIII to explain each type of bet.
Point Spread: Betting on the point spread is the most common bet that takes place on NFL games during the regular season or the playoffs. Often times the point spread changes multiple times leading up to kick off. Here is an example of this type of bet:
<ul>
<li>New England Patriots -2.5 -115</li>
<li>Los Angeles Rams +2.5 -105</li>
</ul>
If you place a point spread bet on the New England Patriots, they would have to win the game by at least two points to win the bet. The Los Angeles Rams could either win the game or lose by less than three points to make it a successful bet.
Over/Under: Betting on the over/under is a bet placed on the total number of combined scores between the two teams in a particular game. This number will also likely change a few times leading up to the game. The odds are usually the same for this type of bet, making it a simple choice of over or under.
<ul>
<li>New England Patriots Over 56.5 -110</li>
<li>Los Angeles Rams Under 56.5 -110</li>
</ul>
Moneyline: Sportsbooks will set the moneyline for each team for each game of the NFL playoffs, and there is a potential to win some money by picking a winning underdog team. Betting a favorite using a moneyline bet is a risky play and likely won’t get you much of a return.
<ul>
<li>New England Patriots -140</li>
<li>Los Angeles Rams +120</li>
</ul>
During the NFL Playoffs, the moneyline will likely be a lot more spread out than with this example, but the team you picked has to win in order for you to win the bet.
Futures Betting: Making a futures bet is most often done during the NFL regular season, and it gives the bettor a chance to pick the winner of each conference as well as the Super Bowl champion. There is great potential to win a lot of money if you place a futures bet before the season begins, but it is hard to hit on this kind of bet. The odds change throughout the season as the standings in each conference begin to take shape.
Super Bowl Prop Bets: When the NFL Playoffs reach the pinnacle at the Super Bowl, there are many more betting options available for what is called prop bets. Prop bets are fun and quirky kinds of lines, but there is a chance to hit on some and win some great money. This is the best betting option for the casual fan placing a bet on the NFL.
<h3>Tips For Choosing a Sportsbook to bet on the NFL Playoffs</h3>
If you plan on placing bets on the NFL Playoffs, the first thing that you need to do is find the right sportsbook. If you don’t have any clue where to start, try to find a sportsbook that has these three features.
Mobile App: One of the newest features that a sportsbook has to offer is the option to download a mobile app. This can come in handy when you aren’t able to get to a computer and want to quickly make a bet using your mobile phone. If you are a fan of live betting, finding a sportsbook that has a mobile app is essential.
Cheaper Lines: Some sportsbooks offer lines that are -105 as opposed to -110, which can save you some money in the long run. It’s not always easy to find a sportsbook that will offer this sort of thing, but you can <a href="/best-online-sportsbooks/">check our sportsbooks reviews page</a> to find the websites which tend to offer the best prices
Reload Bonuses: Most online sportsbooks will offer some sort of bonus when you make your first deposit, but a lot of the bigger ones will offer reload bonuses as well. Sportsbooks want your money and action, and they will offer you little deals to keep you coming back. Before you sign up for a sportsbook, check and see what kind of things you can get for adding more money after your initial deposit.
<h4>NFL Playoffs Betting Tips and Strategies</h4>
There are a ton of different ways to bet on the NFL Playoffs, and each one has a unique way to make some money. Placing a futures bet during the NFL regular season can net you a huge return in the end, but it is also one of the hardest bets to hit on.
We would suggest focusing on each individual game of the NFL Playoffs and trying to make money that way. Forget about placing a bet on the moneyline and focus on the point spread. Do some research on each team before placing a bet, and always wait until you bet the best possible point spread out there.
Also, if you are a fan of sports betting then spend some time placing some bets on props for the Super Bowl. Super Bowl prop betting is extremely fun, and there is a real opportunity to win some big money. Regardless of what route you choose, know that the NFL is truly unpredictable and there is no such thing as a sure thing.

Eddie Griffin has been writing about and betting on sports for over a decade and has been with Betting News since 2021. For more of his thoughts on sports and sports betting, you can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter.