In NFL preseason spreads betting, one team is given a point handicap that must be covered for the bet to win. A team favored at -3.5 needs to win by four or more points, while the underdog at +3.5 can lose by three and still cover. Unlike NBA spreads, where margins regularly hit double digits and scoring is more fluid, NFL preseason spreads tend to be tighter and far less predictable — largely because the outcome hinges on which coaches rest starters and how deep into the game reserve players see action.
The spreads market in preseason football rewards bettors who do granular roster homework. Tracking which quarterbacks and offensive linemen are expected to play — and for how many series — matters more than any regular-season power rating. Teams installing new offensive systems or breaking in rookie quarterbacks often perform unevenly, creating value on the underdog side. From a vig standpoint, preseason spreads typically carry standard -110/-110 juice at most books, but sharper shops occasionally offer reduced vig around -105 or -108. Because lines are set with less certainty and lower limits, shopping across books for the best number can yield more edge here than in almost any other NFL market.
Cross-Sport spreads Vig Comparison
NFL Preseason spreads averages 4.37% vig across 6 sportsbooks. Here's how that compares to other active sports:
| Sport | Avg Vig | vs NFL Preseason |
|---|---|---|
| NFL Preseason | 4.37% | — |
| CFL | 5.22% | 0.85% lower |
| NCAAF | 4.69% | 0.32% lower |
| NFL | 4.78% | 0.41% lower |
| UFL | 5.23% | 0.86% lower |
Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Vig | Grade | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LowVig.ag | 2.44% | A | 1 |
| 2 | DraftKings | 4.75% | B | 1 |
| 3 | Bovada | 4.76% | B | 1 |
| 4 | Caesars | 4.76% | B | 1 |
| 5 | BetUS | 4.76% | B | 1 |
| 6 | BetOnline.ag | 4.76% | B | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sportsbook has the lowest NFL Preseason spreads vig?
LowVig.ag currently has the lowest vig at 2.44%, earning a grade of A.
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on a letter scale based on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exceptional, A (2–3%) is excellent, B+ (3–4%) is above average, B (4–5%) is the industry standard, C (5–6%) is below average, and D (above 6%) indicates high-juice markets.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
What sportsbooks do you track?
We track both regulated US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) and offshore books (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS, LowVig.ag, BetAnySports). Data comes from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed sources.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing. A (2–3%) is very competitive. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard — a -110/-110 line is 4.76%. C+ (5–6%) is slightly below average. C (6–7%) is below average. D (7–8%) is high vig. D− (8–10%) is very high vig. F (10%+) is predatory pricing. See the full Vig Index Methodology for formulas, worked examples, and known limitations.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.