NFL

NFL Banner. Point Spreads

NFL point spreads are created by oddsmakers who weigh two team’s chances of defeating the spread in a particular game. Point differentials can differ depending on the teams playing in the game. 

However, most teams are evenly matched, so spreads typically are within seven points. Spreads aren’t alway in that range, varying with the quality of the players on the teams. 

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NFL Betting Odds & Examples

NFL Betting Odds

For those fresh into NFL betting, lines may look somewhat confusing. Effectively learning how to read NFL betting odds is of utmost importance.

Common terms consist of the “favorite” as well as the “underdog,” with the favorite being the team expected to win, and the underdog the one expected to lose. In the U.S., NFL Odds start with a positive (+) or a negative,(-) sign. A positive(+) shows the underdog. A negative (-) shows the favorite. For plainness, these odds are represented in spans of a $100 wager. NFL lines that hold a plus (+) demonstrate the payment won if $100 is wagered. NFL Lines that contain a minus (-) demonstrate the payment that must be wagered to win $100. For example:

NFL Betting Odds Example

TeamLine
New England Patriots-265
Miami Dolphins+245

In this case, a $100 wager on the Dolphins would result in a $245 reward if they won, whereas a $265 bet on the Patriots would result in a $100 payoff if they won. NFL odds fluctuate from one bookmaker to the next. Remember, however, that a wager is only as good as the sportsbook where it was made.

NFL Betting Stats

When you’re deciding on which teams to bet, statistics are surely important to consider. However, understanding how to read these NFL stats might be the difference between winning and losing. What can we deduce from these figures and stats? 

What does it mean when a club ranks at the top on the offensive, but near the bottom on defense? It indicates that they will most likely be involved in games with a lot of points. So, how can you make the most of it? Keeping an eye on the over/under lines is an excellent way to start. Consider betting on the over, bearing in mind their line will be high to start. 

Learn more about betting on over and under.

NFL Betting Trends

NFL betting trends provide insight into how different pro football teams perform in different scenarios. When it comes to making NFL picks, if you can get your hands on great NFL trends, you’ll have a huge advantage when wagering. 

While some NFL preseason and regular season betting trends are nothing more than intriguing league data to wow your friends, others are excellent handicapping tools to utilize when placing your bets at your preferred site. Things like NFL against the spread figures or how a franchise performs in preseason games when down double digits against a team with a losing record are examples of trends. However, you have to see and decide on the quality and value of an NFL trend before integrating it into your betting decisions. 

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The home team is usually spotted with an automatic three-point advantage. So, if a home team is favored by three points, that game is thought to be evenly matched.

If the home team is a lesser favorite, the road team is likely considered the better team overall. 

Since football tends to be high scoring, a seven-point spread is still suggesting the game is competitive. Anything in double digits is regarded as a large spread and a mismatched game. 

The team with a “-” sign in front of their listed number is the favorite, while the team with a “+” symbol is the underdog. A team as underdog is popular when betting on football, since it has points added to the total. 

Tips, Tricks and Advice For NFL Betting

Finding the best sports spreads for any given contest may require bettors to look at different sportsbooks. Various sportsbooks can offer differing odds, so finding the best possible odds is the best way to guarantee a decent chance that the payout is solid. 

Beating the closing line is another good way to give yourself a good chance at success. Placing their bets early in the week and having the final odds ending with a worse number means the bettor would have beaten the closing line. 

This is why placing bets early is of the utmost importance. Bettors often choose to wait until right before kickoff before placing their bets. However, the NFL provides odds well before the games, giving you a significant amount of time to place early bets. 

Finally, make sure to do plenty of research on the team’s statistics regarding their overall record as well as record against the spread. As an example, instances where a team may have an overall winning record, but a losing record against the spread. Understanding these statistics will be invaluable for the bettor.

We mentioned earlier that underdogs are a popular betting selection among experienced people in the industry. One mistake new sports gamblers make is leaning on the favorites. 

Betting on the favorite may carry a lower risk, but it also tends to have a much lower reward. Rolling with an underdog, however, can be a great way to net a significant profit. While there are certain times to bet on the favorite, you shouldn’t be afraid of the underdog. 

Understanding the context for a specific game is essential. If you are betting on a mid-season contest, that could provide different results than a late-December game, especially if a team’s playoff chances hang in the balance. 

These are things to pay attention to when betting the NFL:

Betting on the point spread can prove to be challenging. One field goal or one interception can make or break a team’s betting chances.

In other words, expect the unexpected. 

For example, the Los Angeles Rams were generally considered to be a four-point favorite in their Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Although L.A. won  it only did so by three points, giving the Bengals an ATS victory. 

Teams that lose games in the NFL still have strong chances of defeating the spread. 

NFL History

The first formal football game as we know it took place in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers, and the NFL has a long and illustrious history. The regulations were developed as a cross between soccer and rugby. It wasn’t until Walter Camp, a great rugby player from Yale, came along in the 1880s that the early rules for what we know today as American football were established.

William “Pudge” Heffelfinger of the Allegheny Athletic Association in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the first paid participant, earning $500 for his participation in a game November 12, 1892. As a result, play-for-pay was formed, as was the emergence of the professional athlete.

The year was 1920, and football required structure to remain a viable addition to the American sports scene. The loosely-affiliated teams met for the first time at the Jordan and Hupmobile showroom in Canton, Ohio.

The American Professional Football Conference (APFC) was formed as a consequence of this meeting. It was renamed the American Professional Football Association (APFA) a month later, September 17, 1920. According to the Canton Evening Repository, the purpose of meetings was to “improve the level of professional football in every manner possible, eliminate bidding for players between rival teams, and achieve collaboration in the formulation of schedules.”

There were at least three incarnations of the American Football League (AFL) and another known as the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), attempting to challenge the NFL for professional dominance throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, but none of them succeeded.

Things began to alter in 1960 when the fourth edition of the American Football League launched their league. This was a more aggressive version of past efforts, with a younger league quickly gaining traction and fighting for players with its more established rival.

The leagues agreed to unite June 8, 1966, although they would function independently until the merger was completed in 1970. The leagues would have a common draft and compete for free agents under the same set of regulations.

Super Bowls I and II were won by the NFL, while Super Bowls III and IV were won by the AFL. The NFL would keep its legal name after the merger, but it would be split into two conferences, with the AFL clubs (plus Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh) in the American Football Conference (AFC) and the remaining NFL teams in the National Football Conference (NFC).

Conclusion

Betting on the NFL is one of the most popular forms of sports wagering in the USA. With the potential of getting big paydays, it may be an overall enjoyable experience. However, sports betting is not like other forms of gambling where you need to hope luck is on your side. 

Putting in the proper amount of research is necessary if one truly wants to find success when betting on the NFL, or any sport for that matter. 

nfl faqs

Which sportsbook is the best for NFL betting?

Each sportsbook is different in its approach, and each has its own pros and cons. There are some sportsbooks that lead the industry in sports betting. However, you should research the most popular and legal sportsbooks to see which one suits you the best. 

Is betting on the NFL safe?

Yes. However, there are some conditions to it. You must adhere to them to be a legal sports bettor. You must be wagering on a completely legal and licensed sportsbook, and within a state that has legalized sports betting. However, you must also be of the legal age required for sports betting. 

Can you bet on point spreads on NFL games?

You can wager on an NFL team covering their point spread. There are many sportsbooks that offer NFL betting. Additionally, all of them most certainly offer point spreads. 

What are Units?

A “unit” is how much you ordinarily bet on a team. For example, if you normally place a bet of $10, that is the unit.

What Is The Over/Under In Sports Betting?

Over/under, or total, is a type of bet where a sportsbook predicts the total score of both teams added together for one game. Bettors place wagers over or under that number.
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