While the stats available for most sports are extremely useful, they often don’t give you a clear indication of how these numbers will affect the outcome of a sporting event. This is particularly true for football (soccer), where the stats might not always show the complete story. On the other hand, when it comes to football betting, you definitely want to know as much as possible. After all, you’re investing your own hard-earned money in the game. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at some of the most useful stats around when it comes to predicting football betting – and how you can use them to your advantage.
Team Stats
One of the most useful things you can do when it comes to predicting football betting is to look at the stats for the competing teams. Of course, you don’t always need statistical proof to know how a game is going to turn out. Sometimes, all it takes is a good old-fashioned gut feeling – which is why we often turn to football betting websites when we want to place a wager on a game. The problem is that not all statistical information is created equal, and there are a few key team stats that you need to know in order to make the right decision. While you’re at it, you may as well check out the individual stats for the players on your team as well, just to be on the safe side.
Pace
One of the first things you’re going to want to check out when you’re looking at the stats for a football team is their pace of play. The pace of a team is a measurement of how quickly they move the ball down the field, which is usually indicated by the number of times they attempt to break a play in progress each week. A high-paced team will usually force the defense to make more consistent efforts in order to keep up, which in turn makes it easier for you to score. On the other hand, a low-paced team isn’t going to offer much in the way of competition, and that can make a big difference in how you feel about one particular team as opposed to another. Knowing how fast a team is going to go can also help you decide how much you’re willing to wager on a particular game. You don’t want to back a fast-paced team if your goal is to simply make money, because then it’s more like gambling than just placing a wager – and although that may be fun, you may not come out ahead in the long run. The key takeaway from this point is that if you’re looking for a way to bet on football, you may not always want to go with the highest-rated team – especially if that team is also the one with the highest pace.
Defense
Defense is typically viewed as a negative stat when it comes to football, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t play a crucial role in a lot of games. Even in a game as simple as football, defense can make a big difference. Consider this: if you’re up by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and your defense is on the field, you’re probably going to lose – no matter how well your offense is playing. That’s an incredibly frustrating feeling when you’ve placed a big wager on the game. So it’s important that you know how good their defense is before you decide to put your faith in them. On the other hand, if you’re up by five touchdowns in the second half and your defense is playing well, there’s no reason to believe that you’re not going to pull off a close win. This is why it’s so important to monitor defense stats closely when you’re wagering on a game. Knowing how good a team’s defense is can help you get a sense of how likely it is that they’re going to keep the other team under control, which in turn makes it easier for you to judge the outcome of a game. Of course, if the other team has a really good offense too, it may be hard to keep them under control for the whole game – but that’s why you want to bet on the under, in case your hunch is right and they pull off an upset win.
Offense
No discussion of football stats is complete without at least a passing mention of its offense. If you’re looking for a way to make money, chances are you’re going to want to bet on the offense – so it follows that you should know something about their capabilities. After all, you’re paying for the privilege of placing a wager on the outcome of a game. While we’re on the subject, let’s not forget about the importance of the running game either. If your team is known for its ground game, it’s usually a safe bet that you’re going to see a lot of possessions on the ground, which means a lot of good stats for you to wade through. Knowing the difference between an efficient offense and a dysfunctional one can also help you determine how likely it is that you’re going to win the game. If you have a clear picture in your head of how the game is usually played, you may be able to tell right away whether or not a team is on the right track. Sometimes, it just takes one bad game to realize that a team is having trouble scoring enough points to be effective – and that’s when you begin to see a pattern. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on offense when you’re wagering on football. Knowing how good or bad their offense is can make a big difference in your ability to win or lose a bet.
When you put all of these stats together, it begins to form the overall picture of how well a team is going to do this year. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, so while it’s good to know the general tendencies of each team, you shouldn’t always assume that these stats predict the outcome of every game. After all, it’s just like with people: some teams are good at combining smarts with social skills, while others are gifted at maths but lack consideration for others. It’s all about knowing which ones you are dealing with, and how much you should trust their word. If you want to know more, just visit one of the many football betting websites online, where you’ll find all the information you need to make the right decision about your upcoming wagers.