Introduction to NFL Betting
Unsurprisingly, American Football is the favorite sport of 35% of Americans, so, naturally, the NFL is one of the most popular sports events. It actually receives more media coverage than any other event of the kind. It has had a large effect on American culture and a large portion of the fans actually love to bet on the games. Most do it for the excitement it adds to watching but there are some quite serious punters among them. If you wish to join their ranks, through this guide, we will help you make the most informed bets on the next NFL game.
The Basics
The basics of NFL betting are mostly the same as those of any other sport. You need to be unbiased in order to make the best possible betting decision. For instance, being loyal to a certain team or player will make you less likely to predict the outcomes of all games accurately. We hear you from all the way there – but they’re my favorites, they’re the best, they can’t lose! Well, maybe and maybe not. There are too many variables to expect a single team to always win.
On the other hand, not being a die-hard fan could also be a large disadvantage. You need to be fully familiar with everything about the sport, the NFL, the teams, the coaches, the players, etc. There are many details to pay close attention to. A single fact from a player’s medical history may be the difference between a huge win and a devastating loss.
So, in order to place successful bets on the NFL games, you need to be an experienced punter and a highly involved fan of the league. However, with the help of our guide, perhaps you will come at least a little closer to that ideal state.
Understanding the Odds
If you want to start placing NFL bets, you will need to acquaint yourself with the American betting odds or, if you are a novice sports bettor, how odds work in general. The odds basically tell you the money you will be making if you win. They can either be odds on or odds against. Odds on will give you a bigger chance to win but the profit you make will be smaller than your stake. Odds against are risky but pay big. There are also even money odds in which case you would double your initial stake if you were to win.
Now, when it comes to American or Moneyline odds they can either be positive or negative and they revolve around the number 100. There are multiple ways to calculate what your win would be with such odds. We have dedicated an entire separate article specifically so you can entirely familiarize yourself with all odds you can encounter when placing a bet on the NFL.
Betting on the NFL
There are two ways to place a bet on the NFL, as well as almost any other sports event – in a land-based location or online. Placing bets in betting shops in the USA is possible pretty much only in Las Vegas, Nevada and a few other states that have started offering sports betting after the recent lift of the ban. However, they are just getting started so Las Vegas would still be your best option. There, almost every casino has a floor specifically for sports betting. The only downside to it is that not everyone has access to such a location. Even if you are not located in the US you may not be able to place a bet in a betting shop.
Online sports betting is a different story though. It is accessible to far more punters and it does not require you to go out of your way in order to get to a specific location just to place one bet. This also depends on where in the world you are located as there are countries and states where sports betting is not legal altogether with online betting. So, the first thing you need to do once you have decided you wish to bet on the NFL or any sport is to make sure that it is legal in your jurisdiction.
NFL Bets
When it comes to betting on NFL games, you will find pretty much every possible betting option because the events are so popular. This naturally includes basic bets such as point spreads and totals and some alternative bets like moneylines, futures, props, and others. You will find these betting options at every online sportsbook.
You may not have as many options in a betting shop, though. You will most likely encounter the basic betting options and the experience will be very different from what you will find online. It is far more intense and exciting than online betting. If you enjoy the social aspect of betting then you are more likely to prefer land-based sports betting shops to online ones. The crowds of fans filled with energy are intoxicating and you are bound to have some fun with fellow fans of your team. Of course, things can get heated if the fans of the opposing team are there as well, but usually, things do not escalate in betting shops.
We will go into more detail about the different types of bets you will be able to place on NFL games both in land-based venues and online a bit later in the guide. You will have the chance to learn the exact type of bet that is suitable for you.
Betting Strategies
There are many ways to be a sports bettor – you can be a casual one, you could place bets only when your favorite team is playing, but you could also be a pro at it. For that, you will need to use a betting strategy. There are basic and advanced ones, based on your level of comprehension of both the sport and sports betting itself. We will also delve deeper into them later on.
What is important to note from the beginning is that you need to make some ground rules for yourself – you need to decide if you will be playing for fun, or if you are going to try to make profit. If you are playing for fun, you are most likely a fellow with a substantial bankroll, because otherwise, it would be quite unwise to simply bet without a strategy. On the other hand, if you are a player who is striving to make profit and become a respectable sports bettor, you most likely already know about the importance of money management.
Money management when it comes to any form of gambling is probably the hardest part of it. It is quite hard to decide how much you are going to bet and how big your bets will be beforehand. It is even harder to stick to that decision when you are losing. However, if you cannot do this, we recommend you stay away from gambling altogether. This is essential, and if you are at risk of wagering all funds you have available, you are at risk of becoming a gambling addict which is not something you should take lightly.
Conclusion
This is only the introduction to all you will need on your way of becoming a successful NFL bettor. We will carefully guide you on your journey and provide you with all the information required for you to start making successful bets both in land-based betting shops and online. The purpose of this guide is to educate those who are already interested in sports betting and we cannot promise that all of your bets will be successful once you have followed our instructions. Gambling in all of its forms involves taking a risk of losing your bet every time. Please, play responsibly.