The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues on the planet. While most fans from outside of the States choose football – or soccer to the Americans – as the primary source of sporting drama, there can be no denying the allure that the gridiron brings. One only needs to look at the most lucrative leagues on the planet to confirm that, with the NFL sitting in first place and the English Premier League down in third, with India’s IPL cricket sandwiched in between.
When it comes to betting on America’s favorite sporting pastime, the most common way to get in on the action is through spread betting. Much like placing a bet on the beautiful game’s handicap market, spread betting places a handicap on both teams, meaning that you need one to win by a certain margin – or one to lose within a certain margin – for your bet to be settled as a winner.
The market aims to level the playing field. In football, for example, Real Madrid are a million miles clear of Rotherham United. And the same is the case in the NFL, with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles streets ahead of the lowly Carolina Panthers. But which teams managed to beat their spread line regularly last term? Let’s take a look.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have steadily emerged as a powerhouse within the NFL. Barely three years ago, they were languishing in the doldrums, but fast forward to 2025 and online football odds providers make them a genuine Lombardi contender. The latest NFL betting odds at Bovada currently price the Motor City outfit as a +1000 contender next term, only behind the Eagles (+600), Chiefs (+700), Bills (+725), and Ravens (+770).
Last season, they were contenders as well. In fact, they were the Super Bowl favorites for much of the campaign. However, their season came to a shocking end in the divisional round of the playoffs when they were outgunned on home turf by Jayden Daniels and his upstart Washington Commanders. But while Lions supporters may well have to suffer the pain of yet another campaign ending without a first-ever Super Bowl appearance, punters had a whale of a time spread betting on Detroit all year long.
Last season, they finished with a stellar 12-6 record against the spread, the best of anybody. Their league-best scoring margin was paramount to that success, with the Lions posting a whopping 564 points last term, comfortably the most of anybody. That helped them cover the spread consistently, thanks largely to quarterback Jared Goff’s efficient passing and Jahmyr Gibbs establishing himself as a force in the backfield.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were considered a middle-of-the-pack team last term, but they managed to reach the playoffs, one of three AFC West teams to do so. Behind Justin Herbert’s arm and a league-leading defense that allowed just 301 points last term, the Californian side excelled at keeping games within reach or blowing out inferior opponents.
Much of their 12-6 record against the spread last term was built off the back of that defense. The Chargers only lost by more than one score on two occasions last term, and they blew out the likes of the Patriots, Browns, and the Saints. Their ability to remain in contention in each and every game eluded them in the postseason, however, as they were destroyed by the Texans in the wildcard round, with four interceptions from Herbert curtailing any Super Bowl aspirations they had.
Team to Keep an Eye On in 2025: Cincinnati Bengals
With a 10-7 record against the spread in 2024, the Bengals showed flashes of brilliance. But that’s all they were.
The start of the season was a disastrous one. Despite being 12.5-point favorites against the lowly New England Patriots on the opening weekend of the season, Cincy was shockingly beaten on home turf. And that was a sign of things to come. Throughout the first 13 weeks, the Bengals shone on offense but had a disastrous time on defense, slipping to a paltry record of 4-8.
Throughout the back end of the campaign, however, the Bengals came alive. Quarterback sensation Joe Burrow was firing on all cylinders, somehow leading his side to the brink of the playoffs after five straight victories. The former Heisman winner led the league in terms of both yards and touchdowns, while Ja’Marr Chase ended the season with the receiving triple crown. He will remain at Paycor Stadium next year, as well as fellow wideout Tee Higgins, and that is huge news for Cincinnati.
Bovada’s tweet showed just how excited they were about Ja’Marr Chase’s impressive achievements!
Ja’Marr Chase is the only player ever with 1,700 yards and 17 TDs in a single season 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/GMJq1YLLvK
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) January 5, 2025
The Bengals’ form toward the end of last season suggests that they’re primed to be dominant in 2025. Quarterback Burrow’s leadership and ability to carve up defenses remain the centerpiece of their success, and the former LSU standout has the ability to win games on his own at times. If he and his star receivers are firing, then points will come in abundance, and that means spread bets should be covered quite comfortably.
Let’s just hope for both Burrow and spread bettors that the defense is upgraded from last season. It surely can’t be any worse, can it?
