With the 2019 NFL season just days away, fans are already making their wagers on who they think will win the big game. While it’s always fun to make predictions, there’s more to it than meets the eye. For those who wager on games, there are a few guidelines that can help make your gambling more profitable – and less stressful.
Consider The Spread
One of the most important things to consider if you’re betting on sports is the spread. The spread can be defined as the amount of points that are on the board (or the amount of points that are not on the board) in a given situation. For example, if the betting line is set at 3 points, that would mean there are 12 points in play for the winning team (or teams).
Let’s say you have a team you think will cover the spread. If that’s the case, you can wager on them without worrying about whether or not they will cover the spread. That’s what makes the spread so useful. If you want to wager on a game and don’t have the money, you can use the spread to determine whether or not you’re going to profit from the wager. You would not want to use decimal points on a money line because 1 point would equal a $100 wager. However, on the spread, 1 point could mean a $1000 wager. So, even though you would have lost the $100 on a normal wager, you would have profited from the spread wager. Another important note about the spread is that it has a tendency to move more than it usually does. If you look at the betting odds before the 2018 season, the NFC East was heavy on point spreads. So much so that they were almost impossible to predict. The NFC West, on the other hand, was extremely tough to beat at home. So much so that they were favored in every game they played. The same can be said of the AFC South and the AFC North.
Matchups And Trends
One of the best things about betting on sports is the ability to research and analyze matchups and trends before making your wagers. Let’s say you’re looking for a team that you think will win a lot this year. You can do some research and find out that they’re going to play most of their games at home, and they have a really good defense. Based on that information, you can make a smart wager and profit from it. Some people might even say that studying matchups and trends is more profitable than just betting on games.
Under Or Over Performance
Another important thing to consider if you’re betting on sports is whether or not the team you’re wagering on is under or over performing based on pre-season expectations. For example, if you’re betting on the Patriots, you don’t want to do so if you think they’re going to struggle this year because they didn’t have a great season last year. It’s easy to get overexcited about upcoming games, especially when they’re games that you really care about. That’s why it’s important to look at past records and see how the team is doing compared to what you think they should be doing based on pre-season expectations.
Avoid Games With Larger Audience
It’s important to avoid games with larger audiences when betting on sports. The reason being that there’s usually more at stake in these games, which makes it more likely that emotions will get in the way of objective analysis. Larger audiences usually mean more people are interested in the game, which can lead to longer lines and more people talking about the game, which could affect the outcome. For example, if you’re betting on the 2019 World Series, you don’t want to do so if you think the audience will be huge and interfere with the game.
Don’t Bet On Teams That You’re Not Confident In
Last but not least, it’s important not to bet on teams that you’re not confident in. Every team has flaws, and it’s important to analyze those flaws before making your wagers. If you think a team is going to lose a certain amount of games this year, it’s better to not bet on them at all than to risk it and get disappointed. These are just some of the things to consider if you’re betting on sports. Just remember, this is nothing personal against the team or the individuals involved, and it’s all about taking risks and hoping for the best.
Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you become a more knowledgeable player. If you have any further questions, please feel free to hit us up on Twitter – @wageringarmy or @blazerugby. Good luck out there.