According to research, football is the favorite sport to watch in America, with 41% of individuals choosing it over baseball and basketball. It’s no wonder that the National Football League or NFL is incredibly popular in the United States, with the Super Bowl being the most-watched television event each year.
The widespread recognition of NFL and American football also means that it’s highly popular in
sports betting circles. The American Gaming Association projected an estimate of USD 35 billion in revenue in the last NFL season, a huge jump from the USD 26.7 billion estimate from the 2023 season.
With that said, the profits from American football wagering can be very tempting. However, if you’re a beginner in the sports betting industry or into American football, you may end up losing more than winning if you have no idea what you’re getting into. Here’s a rundown on NFL betting basics plus some tips and strategies that you can use during the season.
Types of NFL Bets
The NFL is massive in the United States, with the Super Bowl being a cultural event that all eyes and ears in America tune into. This sport is slowly but surely gaining traction all over the world, too, with the rise of online streaming platforms that make it easily accessible. With many getting into football fever, numerous people are dipping their toes into NFL betting as well.
If you want to start profiting from NFL betting, it’s best to start by understanding the popular bet types in this sport. This way, you’ll have a better grasp of the betting system, meaning you won’t waste your wagers and end up with winnings instead.
Moneyline
The most straightforward market, moneyline bets simply mean you’ll place your wager on who you think will win an NFL match. Most sportsbooks will mark the favorite’s odds with a minus (-) while the underdog’s odds will be marked with a plus (+).
Point Spread
This is a highly popular method of betting in the NFL. It’s also referred to as the “handicap market,” as this type of bet is where one side is given a point advantage so that both teams are close to even money.
Before each match, sportsbooks give the favorites a negative point spread. This means that the favorites must win by a couple of points or more to cover the spread and win the bet.
This type of wager levels the playing field, especially if the quality of the two teams playing against each other is uneven. It also adds more excitement to each game.
Points Total
Also known as the over/under market, this type of bet depends on whether the game will go over or under a certain amount of points. This disregards the winning team of the game as it focuses only on the combined final scores at the final whistle.
Parlays
This type of bet involves a combination of two or more bets into one wager. This can be a mix of moneyline, points spread, and points total bets. They can also include various NFL games where the accumulated odds are multiplied together. This type of bet can result in massive winnings, however, all the bets must win for it to be successful.
Prop Bets
Proposition bets allow you to bet on specific events during an NFL game. This type of bet doesn’t depend on the final score of the match. Instead, it could concern a player’s total passing, which team/player will score the first touchdown, how many field goals a team will score, and so on.
NFL Betting Tips and Strategies
Aside from knowing your betting options in NFL games, it’s also important to know a couple of tips and tricks when placing wagers. Utilizing these strategies can help you win big.
Research
Before placing your bets, it’s best to research and analyze the teams playing, their historical matchups, performance, and player data. These details provide valuable insight into how a game might play out.
Various factors such as player injuries, changes in form, and head-to-head statistics can also influence the results. With proper and comprehensive research, you’ll be able to place a good bet and hopefully end up with a win.
Betting Early
NFL lines are updated Sunday night after games, and many professional bettors make their move during this moment. On the other hand, casual bettors tend to bet closer to the kickoff.
Betting early may come with a risk but it is also when lines are most vulnerable, allowing you to take advantage of the spread.
Fading the Public
A common strategy in NFL betting, “fading the public” is also known as betting against the market. This means placing your wager against the majority opinion. Using this strategy allows you to capitalize on odds that are potentially inflated.
Monitoring Bet Lines
The betting lines are dynamic and can be driven by various factors such as injuries, weather, and even public betting trends. Monitoring the betting prior to a game can help you identify betting opportunities.
Home Field Advantage
Recognizing a team’s home-field advantage can help you with your winnings. Having an amazing home crowd can help sway public opinion and the outcome of the game. This advantage also potentially gives the home team an edge in close games, and it may even result in underdogs upsetting the favorites.
Conclusion
Watching the NFL is thrilling, and it can be even more exciting with its wide pool of wagering opportunities. Understanding the betting types and applying certain strategies can help you profit while enjoying your favorite sport.
