NFL betting stands apart from other major sports due to its compact schedule and the outsized impact each game carries. With only 18 weeks of regular-season action and a single-elimination playoff format, every contest draws massive betting volume, which in turn creates some of the most efficient and deeply liquid markets in all of sports. The point spread is the signature NFL bet — a product refined over decades — and the totals market is equally robust. Bettors also have access to an enormous prop market on game days, along with player-level derivatives, alternate lines, and same-game parlays that have exploded in popularity. The scoring structure itself, built around threes and sevens, gives the spread market its distinctive texture, with key numbers like 3, 7, and 10 influencing line movement and closing prices in ways unique to football.
Vig on NFL spreads and totals is generally among the tightest in the industry, particularly on marquee games. Standard juice at most books sits around -110/-110 on sides and totals, but aggressive operators frequently shade that to -105 or even push reduced-vig models on primary markets. This tight margin reflects the sheer volume these markets attract — books can afford smaller edges per bet when handle is enormous. That said, vig widens noticeably on props, teasers, and less liquid secondary markets, where the house builds in a larger cushion. Comparing the actual hold percentage across sportsbooks on the same NFL line can reveal meaningful differences in what bettors are paying for the same exposure.
The NFL regular season runs from early September through mid-January, with the Super Bowl typically falling in early February. Odds competition tends to be fiercest during the regular season, when books aggressively compete for market share and bettors have the largest sample of data to work with. Early-season lines — particularly Weeks 1 through 3 — often present opportunity because roster turnover, scheme changes, and limited game film make pricing less precise. Weather becomes a critical variable from November onward, particularly for outdoor stadiums in the Midwest and Northeast, where wind and precipitation can suppress scoring and shift totals dramatically. Injury reports, released on a structured Wednesday-through-Friday timeline, are the single most influential driver of line movement, and bettors who process that information quickly hold a tangible edge before the market adjusts.
↓ 7-day trend: NFL average vig has improved by 0.12 percentage points over the past week (from 4.84% to 4.72%). Sportsbooks are tightening their lines — a good sign for bettors.
Cross-Sport Vig Comparison
NFL averages 4.72% vig across 15 sportsbooks. Here's how that compares to other active sports:
| Sport | Avg Vig | vs NFL |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | 4.72% | — |
| NCAAF | 4.80% | 0.08% lower |
| NFL Preseason | 4.39% | 0.33% higher |
| UFL | 5.50% | 0.77% lower |
| AFL | 6.87% | 2.15% lower |
Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Avg Vig | Grade | ML | Spreads | Totals | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LowVig.ag | 2.92% | A | — | 2.42% | 3.43% | 17 |
| 2 | Pinnacle | 3.30% | B+ | 3.13% | 2.93% | 3.84% | 16 |
| 3 | theScore Bet (ESPN Bet) | 4.49% | B | 4.10% | 4.70% | 4.67% | 20 |
| 4 | FanDuel | 4.52% | B | 3.98% | 4.80% | 4.77% | 18 |
| 5 | Bovada | 4.54% | B | 4.14% | 4.74% | 4.75% | 18 |
| 6 | DraftKings | 4.59% | B | 4.29% | 4.72% | 4.76% | 75 |
| 7 | BetMGM | 4.59% | B | 4.33% | 4.71% | 4.73% | 20 |
| 8 | Fanatics | 4.64% | B | 4.45% | 4.72% | 4.76% | 18 |
| 9 | BetOnline.ag | 4.73% | B | — | 4.71% | 4.75% | 17 |
| 10 | BetUS | 4.74% | B | — | 4.73% | 4.76% | 62 |
| 11 | Bally Bet | 4.96% | B | 5.01% | 4.93% | 4.93% | 17 |
| 12 | betPARX | 4.96% | B | 5.01% | 4.93% | 4.93% | 17 |
| 13 | BetRivers | 5.57% | C+ | 5.74% | 5.50% | 5.47% | 17 |
| 14 | Caesars | 5.70% | C+ | 5.26% | 5.94% | 5.90% | 74 |
| 15 | ReBet | 6.56% | C | 5.00% | 7.29% | 7.40% | 20 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sportsbook has the lowest NFL vig?
LowVig.ag currently has the lowest vig at 2.92%, earning a grade of A.
Why is NFL vig typically lower than other sports?
NFL games attract massive betting volume, which forces sportsbooks to compete on price. Higher liquidity lets books operate on thinner margins. The result is that NFL moneylines, spreads, and totals usually carry some of the lowest vig in all of sports betting.
What markets are available for NFL betting?
We track three core NFL markets: moneyline (who wins), point spreads (margin of victory), and totals (over/under combined points). Each market has its own vig profile — spreads tend to have the tightest lines because they see the highest volume.
When does NFL season start and end?
The NFL regular season runs from early September through mid-January, with playoffs extending through the Super Bowl in February. Preseason odds typically appear in August. During the off-season (March–August), sportsbooks may post futures but per-game lines are unavailable.
How do NFL spreads affect vig?
NFL point spreads are the most heavily bet market in American sports. This intense competition among both bettors and sportsbooks drives spreads to their most efficient prices. You'll often see NFL spreads at -110/-110 or better at sharp books, translating to vig under 5%.
Does vig change closer to NFL game time?
Yes. Early-week NFL lines often carry higher vig as books manage exposure with limited information. As kickoff approaches and sharp money flows in, lines tighten and vig tends to decrease. Betting closer to game time often means better prices, especially at sharp-friendly books.
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.
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.