When you place a bet with NRL Vegas, you’re getting expert betting advice on what to put your money on. In this article, we’ll tell you all about the line and how it impacts your NRL betting experience!
What Is The Line, Anyway?
The line is the distance between the two teams at the top of the pyramid when it comes to scoring points. Lines can change as the game goes on, and they’re always subject to amendment. Lines are usually published in the sportsbooks before the match, so if you’re planning on placing a wager, you’ll want to check the lines before doing so.
The line is one of the most critical metrics when determining the winner of a match. The line is derived from the over under principle, which means that you are betting on the total number of points that will be scored by the two teams. This is different to betting on the winner of the match, which is more subjective. If you aren’t sure how to find the line, check out our guide on how to bet on rugby league.
Why Is It Critical To Check The Line Before Placing A Bet?
The line is important for a couple of reasons. First of all, you want to make sure that you are going to get your money back if the favored team wins. You also don’t want to risk losing money by placing a wager on the underdogs. Third, the line can change anytime during the game, which means you’ll want to check it repeatedly to get the best betting price.
Let’s say you’re backing Melbourne Storm to beat New Zealand’s rugby league team. (Yes, the NRL season starts early in the Southern Hemisphere.) You’ll get odds of 3.5 or 4.0, respectively, on the Storm to win the match, depending on the bookmaker. The line for that particular game is set at 5.0, which means you’ll have to wager $10 on the Storm to win $5. If the Storm scores 20 points and the New Zealanders 14, you’ll win $10, but if the Storm scores 9 points and the New Zealanders 20, you’ll have lost $5. This is called mismatching the bets, and it’s generally a bad idea unless you’re a pro at sports betting or know exactly what you’re doing.
Why Are The Teams At The Bottom Of The Pyramid Important?
The line is usually at its most favorable when the two teams at the bottom of the pyramid are playing each other. For example, when the Brisbane Broncos play the North Queensland Cowboys in the annual State of Origin series, the line is set at around 2.0 or 2.5, regardless of the team’s overall rankings. This is because the teams are so evenly matched and it’s impossible to tell how the game is going to pan out. If the game ends in a draw, there’s no line movement because both teams won’t have scored enough points to move the line in their favor.
In general, the line is most favorable when the game’s top-rated teams are playing each other. This is because the ratings reflect the quality of the teams and their ability to win games. The higher the rating, the better the team. Let’s say the New South Wales Blues take on the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin. (You can view the full State of Origin fixture here.) Depending on the bookmaker, you’ll get odds of 7.0 or 8.0 that the Blues will win, which means you’ll have to wager $28 or $32 to win $20. If you don’t want to risk losing your money, you shouldn’t place a wager on the New South Wales team.
How Does All Of This Influence My NRL Betting Experience?
Now that you’re aware of what the line is and why it’s important, let’s dive into how it affects your NRL betting experience. If you check the lines before placing a bet, you’ll discover that most books will have adjusted the line in accordance with any goals set by the teams before the match. For example, let’s say you’re backing the Broncos to beat the Cowboys. If the Broncos score 20 points before the full complement of 80 minutes, they’ll have moved the line in their favor, which means you’ll have to wager $10 on them to win $5. This is called a restated line and it’s important to note that the team’s score has, in fact, had an impact on the line. In this case, you can see that the line has been reduced by 10 points, which is a lot! This is because the bookies take into account the score and assume that the game is, in fact, not yet over. In other words, if the game is still tied at the end, the line has to be adjusted because there’s no clear winner at that point.
You’ll also notice that as the game goes on, the line will change multiple times. This is because the two teams at the top of the pyramid will keep scoring points, which will, in turn, move the line in their favor. As soon as one of the teams in the middle of the pack scores, the line will change to reflect the latest scores. This can make it tricky to keep track of what the line is at any given moment during a match, as it keeps changing as the game progresses. This makes it more important to check the line frequently, especially if you’re planning on placing a bet on the game. Doing so will, however, make it easier for you to keep track of what the line is at any given moment during the game. It’s also helpful to look at how the line has changed over the course of a match, as this will give you an indication of how the game has evolved. If you’re looking to place a bet on a specific moment in a game, you should do so shortly after the half-time break or at the end of the third quarter, when the line has often settled.
Rugby Is Different
While the abovementioned scenario is prevalent in Australian Rules Football, it doesn’t necessarily apply to other sports. For example, in a North American sports environment, you’d want to check the line before betting on a game involving the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. The way the line is perceived and presented in those parts of the world is, in fact, quite different!
With the exception of Formula One, where you’ll always want to bet on the underdog in the hope that they’ll pull off a shock win, most sporting contests are close contests. This is especially the case with professional sporting competitions, where the margin for error is so small. Going into last year’s Super Bowl, the Vegas favorites had won the previous seven Super Bowls, so the underdogs, the New England Patriots, were viewed as long odds-on favorites to win the big game. However, the Vegas odds-on favorite, the New England Patriots, shocked everyone when they beat the Falcons, 28-24.
With less than a minute and a half to go in the game, and the Patriots leading 24-23, the bettor in question texted his sportsbook to inquire about the available odds on a Patriots win. He then proceeded to place the winning wager at the aforementioned odds-on favorite, the New England Patriots, and the money was subsequently returned to him. After the game, the bookmaker revealed that the Vegas odds the customer had actually placed was significantly less than what had been presented to him. In general, if you plan on placing a wager in a sportsbook, make sure to check the lines before doing so.
Placing Multiple Bets
Sometimes, sportsbooks will offer special bonuses for those who wager a certain amount on a certain day and time. In addition to giving you the standard profit, these books will add a little something extra, usually in the form of free games or cash. (Although, with some sportsbooks, you may have to make a another payment to get your money back!)
These types of bonuses make multi-betting worthwhile, particularly if you can combine several sports into one wager. For example, let’s say you’re a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and also enjoy betting on the New York Yankees. With the Cowboys hosting the New York Giants this coming Sunday, you could place a combined wager on both teams and receive a massive bonus. Doing so will also help you make extra cash if one of the teams you’ve bet on scores a lot of points.