First touchdown scorer: one player, one moment
A first touchdown scorer bet wins only if your player scores the game’s first touchdown. Odds are long, often +500 to +2500, because dozens of players could score first, including defenses and returners.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Only the first touchdown of the game counts.
- 02Odds are long and margins are high.
- 03If your player does not play, the bet is usually void.
Key numbers
First TD at a glance
In short
Key takeaways
- Implied chances in this market add up well over 100%.
- Defensive and return scores count as the first TD.
- Field goals and safeties do not end the bet.
- Compare odds across books before betting.
Progress
How a first TD bet settles
- 1
Kickoff
Bet is live
- 2
Field goals
Bet still open
- 3
First touchdown
Scorer is checked
- 4
Your player
Bet wins
- 5
Anyone else
Bet loses
Rules on overtime and no-touchdown games vary by sportsbook.
Odds and implied chance
| Odds | Implied chance | $10 bet returns |
|---|---|---|
| +500 | 16.7% | $60 |
| +600 | 14.3% | $70 |
| +800 | 11.1% | $90 |
| +1200 | 7.7% | $130 |
| +2000 | 4.8% | $210 |
| +3000 | 3.2% | $310 |
Implied chance = 100 ÷ (odds + 100). Returns include the stake.
How the market works
Sportsbooks list most skill players on both teams, plus options like a defense or special teams touchdown and sometimes no touchdown at all. You pick one. If that player scores the first touchdown, by any means, you win at the posted odds.
Field goals, safeties and two-point conversions do not settle the bet. Only a touchdown does. If a defender returns an interception for the first score, every offensive player loses unless the book offers and you picked a defense option.
If your player is inactive or does not take a snap, most books void the bet and refund the stake. If he plays but someone else scores first, the bet loses, even if your player scores later.
First TD vs anytime TD
| Feature | First TD | Anytime TD |
|---|---|---|
| Wins if | Player scores first TD | Player scores any TD |
| Typical odds (star RB) | +500 to +700 | -150 to +120 |
| Times a player can win | Once per game | Once per game |
| Book margin | High | Moderate |
| Best for | Small, long-shot stakes | Steadier props |
Typical ranges; prices vary by matchup and sportsbook.
Why margins are high
Add up the implied chances of every option in a first TD market and the total is often 125% to 140%. In a fair market it would be 100%. The extra is the book’s margin, spread across many names.
That margin is much higher than on a standard spread bet at -110, which is about 104.8%. It means you pay more for each unit of real chance. Long shots in particular can be priced well below their fair odds.
Line shopping matters more here than on main markets. The same player can be +600 at one book and +750 at another, a big gap when the bet only wins about one time in seven.
Sequence
Placing a first TD bet
Step 01
Check inactives
About 90 minutes before kickoff.
Step 02
Read the void rules
For players who sit out.
Step 03
Compare odds
Across licensed books.
Step 04
Size it small
Most of these bets lose.
Step 05
Track results
Note price and outcome.
What drives a player’s chances
Opening drives matter. The team that receives the kickoff has the first chance to score, so its players often carry a slightly higher chance of scoring first.
Goal-line roles matter most. Running backs who get carries near the end zone and big targets who are used in the red zone score a large share of touchdowns. A player’s share of red zone chances can be more telling than his total yards.
Game totals matter too. In a game with a total of 50 points, touchdowns come sooner and more often than in a game at 38, which changes how prices line up between teams.
Floor rules
First TD terms
Know before you sit
- First TD scorer
- Player who scores the game’s first touchdown.
- Anytime TD
- Bet on a player scoring at any point.
- Void
- Bet cancelled and stake returned.
- Margin
- Extra built into the odds.
Common mistakes
- Betting big on long shots
- Most lose.
- Forgetting defense scores
- They count as first TD.
- Not checking inactives
- Late scratches happen.
- Taking the first price seen
- Odds vary a lot.
Keep reading
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01Basics
What is a first touchdown scorer bet?
A bet that one player will score the first touchdown of the game, by any method, with odds set by the sportsbook.
Do field goals count?
No. Field goals, safeties and two-point plays do not settle the bet; only a touchdown does.
What if a defender scores first?
Every offensive player loses unless you picked a defense or special teams option that the book offered.
02Rules
What if my player does not play?
Most sportsbooks void the bet and return your stake if the player does not take part, but check the house rules.
What if there is no touchdown?
Some books offer a no-touchdown option; otherwise all player bets lose. Rules differ by book.
Does overtime count?
If the first touchdown comes in overtime it usually counts, but rules vary, so read them.
03Value
Why are the odds so long?
Dozens of players could score first, so even the favorite usually wins only about one time in six or seven.
Are these bets good value?
Often not. Market margins of 25% or more are common, so compare prices and keep stakes small.
Where can I get help?
If betting stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, private help. Rules differ between licensed sportsbooks, so read the house rules.
Sources
- NFL — Official site Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Schedules, rules and scoring
- Wikipedia — Fixed-odds betting Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Odds formats and implied chance
- Wizard of Odds — Sports betting Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Sports betting math
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER