A Look at Some Common NFL Betting Myths and How to Use Them to Your Advantage 

Daniel Badenhorst
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Because the National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular competitions not only in the United States but also around the world, this text is intended not only for people who follow the NFL in the United States but also for anyone who has an emotional connection to this sport. 

As you are all aware, the National Football League (NFL) has surpassed the popularity of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB). It can be difficult for people who enjoy betting on the National Football League (NFL) because the season is so short in comparison to most other leagues. Because there are fewer games played and fewer teams to compete against, it is difficult to determine each team’s true potential. It is, however, a challenge that everyone must face, and those who are adequately prepared can use it to their advantage. 

Betting on Spreads 

The most common type of wagering in the National Football League is the “spread” or “line” (NFL). Despite its alternative name, this wager is essentially a handicap bet. You will frequently see something similar to the following example on the NFL sportsbook at the best online casinos that have an offer for this league and can be seen here: 

This means that for the Bears to cover the point spread, they must win by a margin of victory of at least 3.5 points, or by a margin of victory of 4 points or more. If, on the other hand, you bet on the Cowboys, you will receive your winnings even if they lose by no more than three points. 

The casino or bookmaker has estimated the margin that makes the match 50-50. For example, the point spread for Chicago is -3.5 because it is believed that there is a 50% chance that Chicago will win with a 4-point difference or that it will not win. In either case, Chicago has a 50% chance of losing. 

Unfortunately, because casinos do not offer “even money” odds of 2.00 and most spread betting odds are 1.91, you will need to win at least 52.5% of your bets to achieve a tie. This is a lot harder than it appears. In either case, the “golden” ratio for long-term success would be 55.5% of whatever you are attempting to accomplish. As can be seen, the margins between success and failure in the NFL are extremely narrow, so finding the games with the best odds is critical. 

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Important Numbers in NFL Betting 

When betting on the National Football League (NFL), it is critical to remember something known as “key numbers.” What are the critical numbers? These are the most common victory margins in National Football League games. These are worth three, seven, and ten points, respectively, and are listed in that order. Over the last 20 years, one of these three margins has determined the final score of nearly one-third of all games. 

So why would you want to remember important numbers? If we assume that 16% of games in the last 20 seasons were decided by three points or less, anyone who bets on the NFL spread must understand the difference between lines 2.5 and 3.5, as well as 6.5 and 7.5. Because these margins determine the outcome of so many games, a one-point difference between a spread of 2.5 and 3.5 points is far more significant than a one-point difference between a spread of 4.5 and 5.5 points, or even a two-point difference between a spread of 10.5 to 12.5 points. 

To make things simpler, suppose the Washington Redskins were given a point spread of +3.5. Because these situations occur much less frequently, the Redskins’ gain of 0.5 points above the margin of three points is significantly more valuable than some 0.5 points in the case where the margin is 5 or 8 points. This is because the 3-point margin is both consistent and frequent. 

The Benefits of Playing at Home 

Home-field advantage is traditionally worth three points in the National Football League. What does this entail exactly? Simply put, a team playing at home with a spread of -3 on the list means that the casino or bookmaker believes the opponents are on equal footing but gives one team an advantage simply because it plays at home.

This is the case when a team is playing at home with a -3 spread. When it comes to the NFL spread, there is a six-point difference depending on whether the game is played at home or on the road. The location of the game determines this range. For example, a team that plays at home and has a -3 spread for the game will have a +3 spread if they play the same game away from home. 

Simply changing the location of the game can be a quick and easy way to determine whether or not it is profitable to bet on a specific team when it comes to spreading betting. This is one of the more simple methods. This will be accomplished by awarding the participant whose name is on the list a total of 6 points from the spread. Consider the following example: Miami is hosting Cleveland, and the spread is set at -4.5 in Miami’s favor. If the game is moved to a different location, you will be given a 6-point advantage for playing at home. If you do this, the game will be played in Cleveland, and Miami will have a +1.5 spread. 

When you do this, the bookmaker will offer you a specific spread and you will gain a new perspective on that spread. This assists you in determining whether or not a specific spread is profitable for you to bet on. 

Underdog Betting 

The vast majority of people who bet on NFL games go with the favorites. This frequently results in excellent betting opportunities for those brave enough to bet on underdogs, especially underdogs with a favorable point spread. Let’s look at a couple of simple numerical examples. 

Underdogs who played away from home and received a spread of +10 or more were successful in beating the handicap expectations in 54% of games over the last ten years.

Of course, betting solely on these teams will not make you wealthy, but the fact that they have been successful in beating the spread demonstrates how widespread prejudices against such teams are and how significantly they influence the betting market, in this case, the lists. Bettors who follow the National Football League usually avoid betting on teams with poor records, especially terrible recordable records. 

A similar bias can be seen for underdogs who play at home and have a positive spread of seven points or more. Over the last ten seasons, teams in this category have outperformed expectations in nearly 59% of the games. This is an incredible statistic, and it once again demonstrates the value of betting on an underdog who no one believes has a chance of winning or even coming close to winning. 

Teams Rehabilitating From Heavy Losses 

When betting on NFL games, another factor to consider is when a team has come off a particularly crushing loss in their most recent matchup. Looking back at least ten seasons, we can see that teams that have lost by 14 points or more in their previous game have a 54% success rate in beating the spread expectations in their subsequent game played away from home. This is a straightforward reaction to previous poor performance and to playing away from home. 

Consider teams that are attempting to recover from a loss by a margin of 14 points or more and then play away as an underdog in their next game. This can be expanded upon further. These teams have a spread winning success rate of more than 56% over the last ten seasons, which is yet another example of the market’s typical overreaction to their poor performance in the most recent matchup. We sincerely hope that we have adequately prepared you to enter the NFL betting world.