The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States, and fans can easily watch games on television, knowing that there will be action anytime during the season. But, did you know that you can also place wagers on NFL games?
NFL betting is a bit different than other sports because there are so many variables that can influence the results of a game. To make things more complicated, there is no clear-cut way to analyze the outcomes of NFL games. So, while you can certainly get close, you cannot necessarily trust the numbers.
Here is a simple explanation of how betting on NFL games works.
All Games Are Tic-Tac-Toe
All NFL games are held in stadiums that are 70,000 square feet or larger. As a result, there are only 15 games per season that are held at a neutral location, and most of them are on the road. The reason there are so few neutral-site games is that fans travel to them, so the demand is less than the supply.
Games are usually preceded by public announcements about who the home team is and if there is any TV network coverage planned for the game. Then, after the game has finished, there is usually some time for people to collect their winnings and leave the stadium.
The Clock Is Still Running
Another thing that makes NFL games hard to bet on is the fact that the game clock continues to run even when there is no action happening on the field. That means that the game is still in progress for the whole time and there is no set time when the game will end. Teams usually have 10 minutes to go over the entirety of their plays for the game, so the game clock keeps ticking away during that time, even if there are no breaks in the action.
However, there is one scenario where that doesn’t always happen. If weather conditions prevent either team from producing at their best, the referee can halt play for a brief period so that the scoreboard is updated and the game clock is reset. If there is no action for a period of five minutes, then the game is over and there is no more time for wagering.
The Spread
While most sports allow for easy money to be made by simply wagering on the result of a game, betting on the NFL is a bit more complicated because the spread rarely provides an advantage to the person doing the wagering. That is because the spread is meant to be an estimate of the point spread, and the point spread takes into consideration several factors.
If you’re new to NFL betting, then it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the types of wagers that are available. Those who wager on the spread will most often lay funds on a team that they are not very confident will win the game outright. However, if they are right and their team wins by a wide margin, then they can make a big profit.
The spread is most often used in conjunction with parlays, teasers, and over/under bets. Those who wager on the point spread will usually use that information as the basis for their lay bets. For instance, if the spread is set at Kansas City -6.5 and the Chiefs win the game by six points, then the bettor will likely lay six points, meaning they will win $100 if the game ends in a score of 10-6. If the game were to end in a 7-7 tie, then the bettor would lose his $100 bet.
The most common way to make money through NFL betting is to follow the game closely, study the trends, and place wagers on the final score. For instance, if there is no line on the game and you think that one of the teams is going to win by a large margin, you can place a wager on the eventual score, with the team that you favor winning. If your team wins, then you win your bet; if your team loses, then you lose your bet.
Betting On Over/Under
One more thing that makes NFL games hard to bet on is that there is no set number for an over/under bet. That means that the bettor can assess the total number of points that will be scored by both teams and then set the line accordingly. So, if you think that one of the teams is going to score more points than the other, you can lay a wager that the total amount of points scored will be above a certain amount, and this will make the game more attractive to bet on.
The over/under wagering is another option for those who want to bet on the NFL. Just remember that the over/under wager is a bit more complicated to use than the point spread because you have to assess the total number of points that will be scored by both teams and then set the line accordingly. Once you have done that, you can still lose even if your team wins, because there is no guarantee that the other team will score fewer points than you think they will.
Pay Attention To Stats
Still skeptical that NFL games are easy to wager on? Just remember that they aren’t as complicated as you might think. The key is being observant and paying attention to the right numbers. To start with, the right numbers will provide you with a clear view of how well each team is doing. That is what makes them attractive to bet on because you can assess how likely it is that each team is going to win based on the statistics. For example, if you notice that one team has racked up a lot of yards through the air, but the other team’s defense is holding them back, then you know that it is going to be an aerial warfare-type of game. And what is aerial warfare without wagering, right?
As far as which numbers to watch, you want to pay attention to anything that pertains to the game’s outcome. That is because you want to keep an eye on the numbers that impact the likelihood that your team is going to win. And what are the odds of your team winning if they’re not in your favor?
One more thing that you want to keep an eye on while watching NFL games is the amount of time that each quarter lasts. That is because there is a direct correlation between the amount of time that each quarter lasts and the amount of money that can be won. The longer the game lasts, the more the money will be added to the pot, which will cause the odds to shorten.
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into placing a bet on the NFL. But, as long as you do your homework and take the time to familiarize yourself with the terminology and the most common wagers that are available, then you will be able to make the right choice for your needs.