How To Bet The Nfl
How to Make Your NFL Bets
There are a few ways that you make NFL bets. You can place your wagers online, which many currently do. You may also make them at a land-based sportsbook in places such as Las Vegas. Some bettors also utilize the phone.
By far the Internet has become the chosen way for many to bet on the NFL. It’s fast, easy and convenient. There are hundreds of online sportsbooks from which you may choose. Some sports bettors give little thought as to which online book they decide to use. They may look at two to three and then pick one.
But just as NFL betting is a process, finding the right sportsbook for your purposes is also a process. Doing the proper research and analysis before game time is important, but it’s also essential to do the same type of research and analysis prior to picking a sportsbook. You should not pick a book just because it looks appealing.
Everybody bets the NFL. Yes, even your dentist. But I’m sure your dentist doesn’t win money betting the NFL and you might not either. Whether you’re a new bettor or a recreational bettor who wants to take betting the NFL more seriously, there are many small things you can do to improve your return on investment (ROI). Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our 101 section — including Common Sports Betting Terms — or head to more advanced strategy — like 10 Tips to Become a Sharper Sports Bettor — to learn more. NFL football is the. NFL Spread Betting This is easily the most popular way to bet on NFL football. Oddsmakers set the point spread by making one team the favorite by a certain number of points. That team has to win by more than those points (the spread) in order to cover and pay out. NFL Teaser Bet A teaser bet is a form of parlay that involves a combination of two to ten NFL wagers in which you adjust the point spreads and/or totals in your favor in exchange for a lower payout. When your teaser includes a point spread, you have the option to decrease the spread for the favorite or increase the spread for the underdog. NFL Spread Betting This is easily the most popular way to bet on NFL football. Oddsmakers set the point spread by making one team the favorite by a certain number of points. That team has to win by more than those points (the spread) in order to cover and pay out.
A sportsbook may have exciting graphics, great looking babes and an excellent ranking in Google. But does that mean it’s right for you? Does that make it a book that pays out quickly? Does that mean it covers the NFL? The answer is “no.”
There are a few basic things you need to consider when it comes to choosing a book for your NFL bets. It is important overall that you find a book that is reliable when it comes to taking your bets, when paying out and when transferring cash in and out of your account. It must be safe and secure and offer great customer support. Bettors in the U.S. focusing on the NFL need to locate a book that offers a range of professional football bets and that will also take Americans.
The longer a book has been around the better the possibility that it’s a good place to wager. There’s a lot of competition for the betting dollar and those sites that continue to thrive are doing something right. With the NFL, you want a book that posts early lines and lines that are competitive.
Also, you’ll want a provider that offers a range of deposit and withdrawal methods. Basically, you are looking for a book that makes banking as easy and effortless as possible. Various methods of seeking out help are also preferred such as an 800-phone number, live chat and email. If you have a problem or question, you want to be able to contact them at any time, 24/7.
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Once you’ve found at least five books that satisfy these basics, you’re going to need to determine what your specific priorities are in a sportsbook. Do you want a book that has the best NFL lines and odds? If the best lines and odds are important, then take some time to compare various books by going to our NFL sportsbook page. There you’ll get a good sense of how some of the top sportsbooks on the Internet set their odds.
If prop and future bets are important, you’ll find that some sites offer a lot more in this area than others. Do you have another sport other than the NFL that you bet a lot? If so, is it covered at the various books you’re considering? Or do you want a book that also gives you the option of engaging in live NFL betting? If minimum bets are important, you’ll find that these can vary a lot. One site may offer a $5.00 minimum, while another $10.00. Maximum bets are also different from site to site.
Maybe a large sign up bonus is important to you? You’ll find some, those that are doing quite well, that will offer new members little to nothing and others, often newer books looking for new members, that will award generous bonuses. If that’s the case, don’t immediately decide to go with the site that has the biggest bonus.
One site may offer a 100% match on up to $1,000 and another may be giving 150% on up to $300. With the first book, you’re getting $1,000 in free cash and the second $450. Let’s say all of the basic features you’re looking for are the same on each book. You may think it’s best to sign up with the site that’s offering the most money. But this is not necessarily true.
First, if you have $300 to deposit and nothing more then the second site is preferred as they are offering more cash. Also, check to see how much you have to wager before you can clear your bonus and how it will be given out. Sites require that you wager a certain amount before they will give you the matching cash.
If the first site requires that you play through 20 times the bonus amount and the second 30 times the amount, which will you choose? If depositing the maximum at each site, the second book is the better deal despite the fact that you have to spend 10 times more before getting your cash.
With the first you’re required to bet 20 x $1,000 or $20,000 to get your bonus. The second makes you bet 30 x $450 or $13,500. Thus, you’d select the second bonus. (By the way, if you were going to just deposit $300 in either account, then the first book is the better choice. Although it pays $150 less in bonus cash, it also requires you bet far less to clear it—$9,000, which is $4,500 less than the second book.)
Once you’ve selected your sportsbook (and by the way many people go with two or three, betting at the one that has the best deal on a given game), you’ll need to become a member, which means downloading the software, installing it, creating an account and funding your account. Although the amount of time it takes is negligible, it’s best to do it sooner than later, as setting up funding may take some time if you don’t already have an eWallet or another manner of transferring funds.
When you have everything in place, you simply go to the NFL betting area, select the game and types of bets you’re going to make and decide on how much you’re going to wager. As the games end, your account will either be credited if you win or the book will keep your cash if you lose.
When you’re in Las Vegas, you’ll find the basic process it the same but you’ll be surrounded by a bunch of sports bettors, standing in line to make your NFL bets and placing your wagers with a real person. Before going to a Vegas sportsbook, it’s important that you know what you are doing and how the betting process works.
Also, if you’re not familiar with the sportsbook, it’s a good idea to go there ahead of time and check out the features, options and ambience. When at a land-based book you’ll be expected to behave a certain way. Here are five basic guidelines for wagering at a Vegas book.
Before placing a NFL bet, you need to know all of the correct terms. Also, understanding how the odds listing works, such as knowing what the rotation number is and how a stake is expressed, is important. If you cannot look at NFL odds and explain each part of the listing, you’re not ready to go to a land-based book.
The second guideline involves knowing what you are going to do. Prior to betting, you’ll need to know the rotation number of the club on which you’re wagering (you’ll use it instead of the team name when betting), how much you’re wagering and the type of bet you’re making. Before going to the betting window, you want to know all of these things. Don’t stand at the window and hold up other bettors by making your decision there.
Here’s an etiquette guideline to use when winning. If a bookie offers you advice on a wager and you win big, you should tip him. If you win $600 on his advice, then give the person who offered you that great advice $60. A 10% gratuity is standard on a winning tip.
It’s bad manners to boast when you win. There are people around you who lost their bets and others who even though they did win may have whished they bet more. Some sports bettors may have dug themselves into a huge hole and your bragging is just rubbing salt in the wound. When you win do so with humility and grace.
The final guideline, like the prior one, also involves sharing information. It’s bad manners to ask another bettor how they did. Either way, whether they’ve won or lost, you’re putting them in a difficult situation. Additionally, it’s bad form to give another bettor advice when they have not asked for it. Playing the part of the bragging expert is a great way to make enemies with winners and losers.
Use the information in this article when preparing to find an online sportsbook for your NFL wagers or when venturing to a land-based sportsbook. When you’re deciding at which books you’re going to bet be sure to choose one or more that fit the criteria that are important to you. A sportsbook, no matter how great it looks, is no good unless it fits your needs.
NFL betting is becoming increasingly popular outside of the United States. With even more regular season games planned on UK soil and talk of a London franchise, the popularity of NFL betting will only continue to rise over the next few years. Read on for a comprehensive guide to NFL betting.
The NFL has consistently built on its International Series over the past few years and this season, the UK will host a minimum of three overseas games. Whilst games in UK only make up a fraction of the regular season fixtures, football fans can still watch the NFL all year round, so with more and more fans watching, this is the perfect time to learn about NFL betting.
NFL betting: Available markets
There are three basic bet types in NFL betting; Money Line, Handicap and Totals - the same as basketball betting.
Money Line
The Money Line (1X2 without the draw) is also commonly used amongst novice bettors because it is simple and straightforward - it is essentially betting on who will win the game.
Handicap
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Opposing NFL teams vary in strength so in order to counter the perceived bias in abilities, bookmakers offer a points handicap to level the playing field - this is often referred to as “the spread”.
Experienced bettors will most likely think about things like how the weather can impact the result or whether a team is playing at home or on the road.
The handicap market is popular with more advanced bettors as it balances each team’s chances and offers more value - it is used as the standard reference point for referring to relative chances in a game.
By using a hypothetical example, we can explain how betting on a handicap works. Both teams are offered associated odds on either a plus or minus points score, so for example the Indianapolis Colts might be offered at -6 1.909 against the New York Giants at +6 2.020.
A bet on Indianapolis would win if the Colts win by six or more points, and similarly a bet on the Giants would have paid if they win the game, or lose by less than six points.
If the result was 29-17 to the Colts, those bettors who bet on the Colts to win -6 1.909 would have a winning bet as the point difference is 12. Six more than the handicap offered.
Totals
Totals NFL betting focuses on how many combined points will be scored by both teams during the game. Bookmakers offer an option to bet on whether or not the total points will be either over or under the totals mark. This is why this form of betting is often referred to as the Over/Under.
In both the handicap and totals markets, when a team exceeds the required points for a successful bet it is called ‘covering the bet’.
Alternative NFL betting markets
In addition to the more common betting markets, NFL bettors can also bet on time specific markets within a game (first quarter, first and second half), adjusted handicap markets (alternative handicap) and individual team totals. These markets are merely variations of the basic bet types mentioned above and work in the same way.
Outright NFL betting is also an option for bettors. These bets will usually run over a longer period of time and often span across an entire season. Examples of outright markets in NFL betting include season win totals for individual teams, Division winners, winner of the Super Bowl and the Super Bowl MVP (most valuable player).
Because the Super Bowl is such a big occasion in terms of NFL betting, there are often special markets posted for the event - these include scorer of the first touchdown and winner of the Super Bowl coin toss.
Developing an NFL betting strategy
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Once you have mastered the basics of NFL betting, you may want to explore some more advanced strategies like a spread betting strategy. Bettors looking to bet on the NFL handicap must take into consideration a number of factors about the game, instead of just the chances of team X beating team Y.
By understanding what the key numbers are, you can avoid betting on a bad handicap and can even work out which team the bookmaker wants you to bet on.
The spread in NFL betting refers to how many points X is better than Y and an experienced bettor will most likely think about things like how the weather can impact the result - as this could effect the number of points scored - or whether a team is playing at home or on the road (away).
Professional NFL bettors spend time building power ranking systems to evaluate teams’ relative strengths and calculate who will have the advantage in any given game. This is then measured against the handicaps and odds offered by bookmakers – looking for discrepancies that represent value.
Collating reliable information is an integral part of any successful betting strategy. However, for those bettors new to NFL betting, there are some accessible handicapping systems that can produce accurate results in the short term.
Yardage differential
At the most basic level, the NFL is about the battle between offensive and defensive units. So one simple way to evaluate the strength of an NFL team is to look at the average offensive yards gained per play and the average defensive yards allowed per play.
As you would expect, teams that gain more yards than they allow tend to win. While this isn’t exclusively accurate, this measure can be used as a tool to predict future performances using a yards per play betting strategy.
Home-field advantage
NFL operates in a unique ‘closed’ league system, where relegation and promotion do not occur. From a statistical point of view, the data from successive seasons for such factors as home-field advantage (HFA) is robust.
To work out HFA for each franchise competing in the NFL you should subtract the total points scored by visiting teams from the home teams and divide by the total number of games played.
You will notice after working out the HFA for the past 20 years, each Franchise HFA is close to a 3-point mark, which has become standard for handicapping purposes - find out which NFL teams have the biggest home field advantage.
Key NFL betting numbers
In terms of the handicap in NFL betting, there are a few key numbers that bettors should be aware of. By understanding what the key numbers are, you can avoid betting on a bad handicap and can even work out which team the bookmaker wants you to bet on.
Similarly to the Run Line in baseball betting, most games in the NFL are decided by specific margins. The is the most common margin of victory in the NFL as most games are decided late on by a field goal (three points), while seven is the second most common winning margin, as this is how many points a team is awarded for a touchdown plus an extra point for a successful conversion.
It is estimated that around 30% of NFL games are decided by three or seven points. This means that -2.5, +3.5, -6.5 and +7.5 are perhaps the most important numbers when it comes to betting on the handicap in the NFL. Sharp bettors will often wait for the handicap figure to fall around this mark before placing the bet they want to make.