NFL Same-Game Parlays: Are They Worth It?
Should you bet on same-game parlays? It’s something that millions of fans are asking ahead of the 2026 NFL season, scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026, with reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle hosting the NFL Kickoff Game against New England. The past few seasons alone have seen NFL parlays completely explode, with parlays accounting for 70% of all NFL and NBA bets placed on FanDuel alone.
NFL fans have gone parlay-crazy and are using regular sportsbooks, as well as newly launched social sportsbooks seen in OddsPlays reviews, to build them (and you’ll probably remember earlier this year in the build-up to Super Bowl LIX when it seemed like everyone on social media was posting screen grabs of their parlays for the Chiefs vs Eagles). And of all the different types of parlays you can place, same-game parlays are at the top of the popularity ladder, and it was only at the start of the 2025 NFL season when a fan used DraftKings to place a 5-leg same-game parlays on the Ravens vs Bills, turning $25 at +150,000 odds into a huge $37,525.
The huge payout potential and ‘lottery’ feel of SGPs is ultimately what’s got fans hooked, so here we’ll break down whether you should join in the fun and if these parlays are actually worth staking your money on.
What is a Same-Game Parlay?
For those not in the know, a NFL same-game parlay combines two or more predictions from the same game into one big bet. Usually, most bettors will stick in the two-leg to 10-leg range, but some will occasionally go higher when they’re chasing ridiculously high payouts. To give you an example, take the bettor who won $37,525 last season when betting on the Ravens against the Bills. These are the legs he went with for his 5-leg SGP:
- Josh Allen 2+ TDs
- Zay Flowers Anytime TD Scorer
- Lamar Jackson Anytime TD Scorer
- James Cook Anytime TD Scorer
- Keon Coleman Anytime TD Scorer
The goal is to try and pick legs that create a significant profit opportunity but still maintain a respectable chance of winning. Otherwise, there isn’t much point to it, as you’re essentially throwing cash away. The tighter you can make the odds on your NFL SGPs, the better.
After placing a same-game parlay for any NFL game, be it a season-opener or the Super Bowl, you then have to hope that every leg of your parlay wins. If 5 legs win but your 6th one fails, that means the parlay itself loses, unless you’re using some type of parlay insurance promotion that allows you to get your original stake back in bonus bets if one leg lets you down.
In some cases, sportsbooks like FanDuel and BetMGM allow bettors to cashout their SGPs early if they wish to. If, say, you’ve placed a 4-leg SGP and 3 legs have already won, the sportsbook may give you the option to cashout for 25% less profit. Although some bettors often joke that if you’re going to cashout, why parlay to begin with?
There are other types of parlays you can place as an NFL fan, too, such as teaser parlays, cross-sport parlays, and future parlays. But SGPs are by far the most popular and sportsbooks make an unbelievable level of revenue from them, often driven by fans tuning into the game and deciding to quickly build parlays in between quarters.
The Hook of Same-Game Parlays
By far, the biggest reason why NFL fans love SGPs is the sheer profit potential they come with, as they often bring lottery-style odds to the table.
It was only a couple of seasons ago when a bettor down in Florida won a staggering $5.5 million from a $500,000 four-leg NFL parlays after Texans kicker Matt Ammendola hit a 38-yard field goal to give Houston a 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
There’s even a good chance you personally know someone who’s won a significant amount of money from one of their parlays hitting in the past, or if that’s not the case, you’ll have seen random people posting on social media about the latest parlay win they’ve just gotten.
At the same time, same-game parlays offer NFL fans a fun and exciting way to put their own knowledge to the test, as there’s nothing more effective than betting on multiple prospective outcomes to find out if you really know your stuff or not.
And there’s also the fact that 72.51% of all NFL wagers are now parlays, meaning the vast majority of NFL fans are picking parlays over other types of bets and essentially taking part in one big trend together, which encourages other fans to do the same.
NFL Same-Game Parlays Can Be Worth It When Done Right
The truth about NFL SGPs is that they certainly can be worth placing throughout each season, but only when you build them strategically and in the right way.
When it comes to parlays, the temptation can be to randomly put together 10+ leg parlays with extremely high odds and payout potential without a second thought.
However, this is a poor strategy and the reason why sportsbooks like FanDuel are able to keep billions of dollars coming in (as they rely on sports fans to place parlays without genuinely thinking about them).
So, if you’re a newbie to NFL betting, these points should be at the core of your same-game parlays for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, which the Rams are currently 700+ Super Bowl favorites for:
- Stick with 2-leg to 5-leg parlays so that you maintain a better chance of your SGP winning
- Stay in the -200 to +150 odds range for each leg
- Pick games where you have a solid knowledge of both teams
- Use parlay building software if you need help with your picks
- Cash out early when given the option to
You’ll also find that a lot of US sportsbooks come with features like odds boosts and bonus bets, which you’ll be able to take advantage of throughout different seasons.
If you’re ever given bonus cash to bet with, it’s a great idea to use it for an SGP, especially if that same parlay comes with available cash out options.
Verdict
When the upcoming NFL 2026 season starts this September, you might want to join the millions of others who are building same-game parlays all the way up until Super Bowl LXI.
It’s a great option for NFL betting fanatics who want big profit potential mixed with some added thrill (after all, watching a live NFL game knowing you have an SGP staked on it is always pretty exciting).
Just remember to follow our same-game parlay tips, gamble responsibly, and use trusted sportsbooks when you do this.
