NFL Public Betting & Money Percentages

NFL Public Betting – Percentages, Trends & How to Use Them

The NFL is the most-wagered-on sport in the United States, with billions bet each season. Since online sports betting became legal in dozens of states, Sunday afternoons have turned into a high-stakes contest between casual bettors and sharp professionals.

One of the most powerful tools for understanding the betting market is NFL public betting data — showing where the majority of bets and money are going. Learning how to read this information can help you spot potential value, avoid traps, and even identify “sharp” sides before kickoff.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• What NFL public betting means
• How to read % of bets vs % of money
• Weekly public betting percentages
• Trends from past NFL seasons

What is NFL Public Betting?

NFL public betting shows the percentage of bets placed on each side of a wager, usually tracked across major sportsbooks. 

Key metrics to know:

• Percentage (%) of Bets – The share of total tickets placed on a particular side. Example: If we track 20,000 bets on the Steelers-Bills game and 13,000 are on the Buffalo Bills, that’s 65% of bets on Buffalo.
• Percentage (%) of Money – The share of total dollars wagered on a particular side. Example: If the total handle (amount wagered) is $6 million and $5 million is on the Steelers, that’s 83% of the money on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How to Read NFL Public Betting Data

When comparing % of bets and % of money, look for discrepancies. Looking at the difference between the percentage of bets and the percentage of money can help The Action Network users find the NFL sides that have "sharp money" — in other words, those wagered on by pros. We also have expert NFL picks coverage.

This is important information because not every bet is the same. Some bettors will place a wager of $5 while others might bet $5,000. The sharp and professional bettors are the ones who tend to bet more, but those bets still count as just a single bet.

• High % bets + Low % money: Public is on one side, but big bettors aren’t.
• Low % bets + High % money: Smaller number of wagers, but larger dollar amounts — possible sharp action.
• Big differences (>15%): Worth investigating for potential value.

Example: If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 69% of spread bets but 92% of the money, that’s a +23% difference, suggesting professional bettors are leaning Tampa Bay. Of course, it's also important to look at the total number of bets placed on the market, which we also display on this page for The Action Network users. If there are just a few hundred bets, the resulting bet and money percentages might be skewed by the small sample size. In contrast, if that game has thousands and thousands of bets, you can trust that data more.

NFL Public Betting Trends

Historical patterns show the public often gravitates toward:

• Favorites (especially in prime-time games)

• Overs (rooting for points is more fun)

• Popular teams (Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers)

However, “fading the public” — betting against the majority — has historically produced value in certain situations, especially when 70%+ of bets are on one side.

When it comes to NFL betting, we have plenty of resources available to you: NFL Odds & Betting Lines, NFL Betting Futures Odds, Expert NFL Picks, and NFL Teams Against the Spread Standings. If you're more into NFL Props, we also have NFL Props Projections and NFL Touchdown Props!

You can learn more about the Best NFL Betting Apps and Best NFL Betting Promos by checking out our reviews!

If you are an NFL fan betting in Maryland, be on the lookout for the launch of bet365 and the bet365 Maryland bonus code soon!