The line (also known as the chalk line or betting line) in football is the line predicted by bookmakers for the game’s final outcome. You’ll often see it mentioned in the news when there’s big point-scoring games or near-misses that decide the winner. It is also interesting to note that you can often get odds that are completely different to the line. For instance, if the line is 0-0, but the bookmaker thinks the game will end 0-1, you’ll often see 0-1 odds, whereas the line would suggest 0-0 odds.
The line is usually set by the bookmakers fairly early in the game – it is not usually an ‘after the fact’ line set by sportsbooks to cover up a bad game – and it will not usually change throughout the course of a game. Bookmakers want to give you as much chance as possible to wager on games before the season starts, so they do not want to change lines frequently during a game. However, sometimes things happen that cause the line to adjust, such as a major injury or unexpected block by the defense.
Line Meaning
When you place a wager on a football game, there are several things you should keep in mind regarding the line. First, the line is just that – a line – and it never changes. Even if the game is going in one direction or the other, the line will stay the same. Second, the line is usually set by the bookmaker fairly early in the game, so you’ll usually see the line move in the direction of the final outcome fairly quickly. Third, if the line moves in the opposite direction of the final outcome, you’ll often see money-back guarantees or one-way bets.
How To Read The Line For Football Games
If you’re looking to wager on a football game, it is essential that you familiarize yourself with the line and how to interpret it. To do this, take a look at the outcome of the game – if it is 0-0 at the end of the fourth quarter, you’ll know that the line has not moved, but if it is 0-1, you’ll know that the game ended in a tie. In the case of a tie, the line will stay at 0-0 until someone bet money on the game, at which point the line will move in the direction of the winner.
Why Is The Line Important?
The line is very important because it gives you as much chance as possible to win money. If you look at the NFL odds, you’ll often notice that the line is one of the most important things for punters to know. It is important for several reasons:
- If the line is 0-0, you basically have no chance of winning
- If the line is 0-1, you have a 50% chance of winning
- If the line is in the same direction as the final outcome (0-0, for example), you’re pretty much guaranteed to win
- If the line is in the opposite direction of the final outcome (0-1, for example), you have a 50% chance of winning
- Bookmakers will often times have odd lines for popular games
When Is The Line Set?
The line is usually set fairly early in the game, but it can be fixed at any point during the course of a game. If the game is heavily influenced by special teams, the line can be set before the first kickoff, because most bookmakers believe that kickers tend to miss more often than they hit. If a game is close at halftime, the line will usually stay the same because bookmakers do not want to inconvenience their customers by adjusting the line after halftime. However, if the game is heavily in favor of one team, they might move the line after the half because they want to encourage more bets in their direction.
How To Bet On Football
To place a wager on a football game, you’ll usually have to visit a bookmaker’s website or app and register an account. Next, you’ll have to choose a bookmaker who handles your favorite teams and places a bet on the game. Once all of this is done, you can make wagers on the upcoming games.
If you want to bet on an NFL game, you’ll usually have to go through several bookmakers, because most sportsbooks only take in wagers from several different bookmakers to avoid suspicion. When placing a bet on an NFL game, it is a good idea to contact the bookmaker who has the best odds for your team(s) and use their services – that way you’ll get the most out of your wager.
Line Movement In The Past
With that being said, there have been occasions when the line has moved in the opposite direction of the final outcome of a game. From a betting perspective, these are some of the most interesting lines to study.
2003 AFC Wild Card Game (10-6 vs. 10-7)
One of the more bizarre twists to the 2003 playoffs was the wild card game between the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. The Titans built a 17-point lead in the third quarter, which they eventually doubled in the fourth quarter, and it appeared that the Raiders were finished – the final score was 20-17, Titans. However, it would not be until later that day that the sportsbooks would adjust the lines for this game. After the game, more than 70,000 people had wagered on the game, with the majority of the money coming from the sportsbooks. In the case of the AFC Wild Card Game, the line was changed from 0-0 to 1-0, with the Titans becoming the heavy favorites to win the game. In another odd twist, the Titans were 8-1 against the spread versus the Raiders that year, but only 3-4 against the spread versus the rest of the AFC. It was an interesting situation, to say the least.
2016 NFL Wild Card Game (10-6 vs. 11-5)
Another bizarre line movement occurred in the final game of the 2016 season. The Green Bay Packers were heavy favorites to beat the Chicago Bears, but they were not supposed to be – the Bears were 11-5 and had just beaten them 33-28 in Week 16. However, after the Bears held a 31-28 lead with 7:27 left in the game, the line started moving in favor of the Packers. As the final seconds ticked away, the line moved from 1.5 points to cover, setting the stage for a Green Bay upset and one of the more exciting finishes of any football game in recent years.
Final Score Was 10-10, And The Line Moved In The Opposite Direction
In the previous two examples, the line moved in the same direction of the final outcome of the game – the Raiders went from being a 16.5 point underdog to an 8.5 point favorite and the Bears moved from 2.5 points favorites to 1.5 point favorites – in the case of the 2016 NFL playoff game, the line moved in the opposite direction of the final outcome, as the Packers went from being a 4.5 point underdog to a 1.5 point favorite and the Bears moved from 1.5 point favorites to 4.5 point underdogs. In all three examples, the game ended up being a tie, which is usually what happens when the line moves in the opposite direction of the final outcome. In the case of the AFC Wild Card and 2016 NFL Wild Card Games, the lines were moved after the fourth quarter – it is generally not done after the game, because the game’s not over yet. In the case of the 2003 AFC Wild Card Game, the line was changed because the game was so one-sided in favor of the Titans.