NFL Betting
We can attribute the popularity of NFL betting to the extensive coverage of the sport across many platforms. From online streaming, media coverage, and major TV programs, fans everywhere can enjoy American football. What’s more, it is easy to follow with teams only playing one game a week. For many people, betting on America’s favorite sport is a thrilling ritual that adds to the excitement of the game. It’s no wonder that many people consider NFL betting to be a key part of enjoying the spectacle of American football. Read on to find out more.About the NFL
Successful sports betting relies upon a combination of experience and knowledge. It is therefore essential to understand how the NFL works. The National Football league (NFL) is American football’s premier professional football league. It consists of 32 teams separated into two divisions: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). Teams play a regular season, which comprises 16 games. Subsequently, the top 14 teams play in a post-season single-elimination playoff. Following this, the league ends with the world-famous Super Bowl to determine the season’s NFL Champions. Year after year, the popularity of watching and betting on the NFL continues to rise.NFL Betting Lines
Because of the increase in popularity regarding the NFL, many gambling sites now offer NFL betting. This allows you to wager on points spreads, fun prop bets, or you can opt for money line, futures, or over/under bets. Some sites also offer live betting. Thanks to live-streaming, you can follow the game as it unfolds, thus catching all the action in real-time. Alternatively, for an adrenaline-inducing live betting experience, there are in-game bets offering real-time odds.Understanding the Odds
To ensure you understand the odds involved and the types of NFL bets available, it is essential to carry out some research. The odds represent the likelihood of an event happening. Therefore, recognizing them can help increase a player’s chance of winning. While a minus sign and a number (-110) indicate betting favorites, a plus sign (+110) indicates the underdogs. In short, if the odds for the favorite are -110, and the bettor wagers $100, they will get back $190 on a successful bet. Alternatively, when the odds for the underdog are +110, and a bettor wagers $100, they will receive $210 if they win. So, if you bet on the underdogs, you will get $20 more, as there is a smaller chance of them winning.The Various NFL Bets
For NFL betting beginners, there are various options to help get you started. The following bet types are simple and require a minimal amount of knowledge.Odd/even bets
This kind of bet can be used in any sport that has goals or points. It simply predicts the total number of goals or points scored by both teams and whether that total will be odd or even.Head-to-head
As the name suggests, bettors predict who they think will win the game. Bettors often refer to this as two-way betting.Race to point
In this exciting way to bet, the sportsbook will identify several point milestones such as the first to 5, 10, 15 and 20 points. Bettors predict which team will achieve this total first. Also, there is room for variety here as bets can be split into the game’s two halves. For example, you could bet for the New York Jets to be the first to get 15 points in the first half and the first to reach 5 points in the second.Moneyline value and spreads
Occasionally, a moneyline value may be associated with the spread, also known as the juice or the vig. This indicates the percentage amount you must pay the sportsbook to wager the bet. For example, the Dallas Cowboys could be listed with odds of -12.5 (-125). Here, the moneyline value stipulates that bettors must pay a stake of $125 to win $100, which accounts for the sportsbook’s 15% commission. Also, there are instances where the line moves over a few days, for example, from -8 to -9.5. This is referred to as a line move. Line moves transpire when a large number of wagers are placed on the same team and prompt NFL betting sites to move the line and spread to equalize the action. This form of betting is also known as line betting. Consequently, this process heightens the game’s appeal as more people go back to the other side of the game. Ultimately, this facilitates sportsbooks in lowering their risks by balancing their handle of each team.Moneyline bets
For those wishing to bet on a team simply winning the game, ‘straight up’ (SU), moneyline bets are a good option. NFL moneyline bets are becoming increasingly popular, especially when wagering on a long shot. Here, points do not count. The juice (commission) is the only number that a bettor needs to look out for. Remember, positive values represent the underdog, and sportsbooks indicate the favorites with negative numbers. So, when a bettor picks a (-130) favorite, bettors would have to stake $130 to receive $100 in winnings. Often, moneyline bets are more valuable, as they are more profitable and less risky. Therefore, they are a popular NFL betting option.Over/under bets
This is another popular and common form of NFL betting. Also referred to as totals, NFL over and under bets refer to the combined number of points scored by both teams. The sportsbook calculates this number. Then, bettors guess whether, in the actual game, the points total will be over or under that number. For example, if the sportsbook determines the set line at 38 points. Bettors wager over/under this number. Betting over means that the teams’ combined total must be 38 or more (a score of, say, 21-17). The following options may suit NFL bettors who have a comprehensive understanding of the sport and are more experienced in sports betting.NFL Sports Line
A common type of bet within all sports, point spreads/NFL betting lines or betting ‘sides’ are a popular NFL betting choice. NFL sports line or point spread bets are great for beginners and experienced bettors alike. Here, sportsbooks predict a number that is a good balance between those who choose to back the favorite and those who choose to support the underdog. To illustrate this, assigning a positive value to a team (+12.5) equates to the underdog team’s point lead before the start of the game. Therefore, the underdog team can lose by 12 points and cover the spread. The favorite must win by at least 13 points to cover the spread. However, a negative value (-12.5) represents how many points the sportsbook favors points that team by. Consequently, 12.5 points should be deducted from their score to determine their win.Prop bets
This fun bet type involves the prediction of specific occurrences within an NFL game. The prop bet market is vast. There are thousands of options, such as which player will score the first touchdown and the distance a quarterback will travel with the ball. To make a successful prop bet, bettors must possess broad and specific knowledge of players’ prior performance and abilities.Futures odds
For bettors who love to book in advance, there are NFL futures. The odds concentrate on significant NFL season individual and team achievements in this case. During preseason, NFL bettors can bet on either division, the AFC or the NFC Champion. Bettors can place bets on the teams they believe will make the playoffs and be Super Bowl Champions. In terms of players, NFL futures focus on estimating which players will receive prestigious NFL awards such as Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year or Most Valuable Player. Timing counts when placing futures bets. Even though you will have access to less information, accurate early bets will culminate in more significant payouts.Double result
There are nine betting options here. Bettors are required to predict first and second half results successfully. Sportsbooks list all possible outcomes, including draws. This requires extensive NFL knowledge and carries a higher level of risk as bettors’ predictions are more specific.In-game
Another type of NFL betting is live or in-game/in-play betting. Here, bettors can simultaneously experience the thrill of live NFL action and place bets. Bettors can place bets during the first, second, and third quarters. Indeed, the odds will continue to change with the game’s events. However, given the inevitable movement in the odds, bettors may have to wait for the odds to solidify. In addition to this, bettors who are wise enough to read a game in its opening few minutes can succeed with in-play bets. For example, both teams were low on points in the Super Bowl, the Patriots, and the Rams. Bettors who wagered on the under received an impressive payout given the final result of 13-3.NFL Betting Trends
To back a winner, it is essential to stay up to date with NFL betting trends. NFL bettors should monitor Super Bowl odds and keep track of events in the crucial playoff stage. Excitement intensifies as the competition builds up to the Super Bowl. Given the nature of the internet, there is a vast amount of information regarding tips and betting trends. With sufficient research, you can see where other bettors are placing their bets. This can prompt sportsbooks to shift the NFL betting lines to balance both sides. Trends can also highlight which side of the line is a better bet. The number of bets coming in on each side is worth noting. However, the percentage of money on each side is even more telling. Whereas several bets indicate the public’s favorite, more significant monetary investments suggest that experienced gambles may have research-led insights, leading them to place considerable wagers on certain sides.NFL line shopping
Line shopping refers to the process where bettors look to find the best deal. This is a worthwhile process, considering the multitude of sportsbooks competing for bettors. Even a slight difference in odds between bettors can significantly alter winnings. It is also essential to consider the timing of bet placement. Typically, opening lines are set early in the week. Therefore, it may be beneficial to place early bets with the best odds. Although, it may be beneficial to wait to observe where the public places their bets. Consider this example, when facing a poor opponent, the Packers could open at -6. Subsequently, 90% of bets are placed on Green Bay. Therefore, if the spread rises to 13/14 points, backing the underdog may be a more profitable move.NFL betting tips
While many players bet on the favorite, analyzing trends and raw numbers and their value is more accurate. Also, there are free sites that allow you to check and compare odds across various providers. Team performance is a significant consideration. Elements such as a team’s travel schedule, home/away play, and their post-loss behaviors can help to inform more successful bets. In terms of individual games, there are other specifics that bettors can consider.- Pace: Fast-paced games are more likely to go over total and vice versa.
- Offensive performance: Proficient offensive play can lead to teams being more likely to accumulate points and cover the spread.
- Player news: Stay up to date with important player news. In particular, player injuries will affect your betting choices.
