How to bet on American Football
American Football may be known as America’s Game, but interest in the sport is spread across the world. As interest has grown in other markets, so has betting on American football. With many televised games taking place each week, as well as a long list of games every Sunday, the sport lends itself to betting, providing opportunities for fans no matter how they bet.
If you are looking to improve your American football betting, or place bets for the first time this season then this article will guide you through the most common ways to bet.
The Handicap Line
In some sports you will notice that the most common way to bet is by using the handicap line. This is the case in basketball, and usually the case for rugby punters too, and American football is another sport that joins the list. The handicap line is a market created by your bookmaker to bring the two opposing teams as close to level as possible from a betting point of view. This means that both teams will be the same price to win the game on the handicap line, or very closely matched.
For example, a game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns may look very uncompetitive to fans, however the handicap line will bring this game to life from a betting point of view. No one believes the Browns can win the game, but what if they were given a 15.5 point start? That would make things more interesting, could the Patriots still win, even though they needed to win by 16 or more, or would the Browns make their advantage count?
The handicap line is available for every single game, and if you understand how handicaps work then this is certainly the best and most popular place to head. The most popular strategy when using this line is to back a team you think are going to win with ease, and win by enough points to cover the handicap line. For example, a team that is -6 on the handicap line will be a far better price using that line than the money line, and if you think they are going to win by double digits then this is a great way to back them at a bigger price.
The Money Line
When betting on American sports the money line is what is known as the standard win line. This is as simple as betting can be, it is simply who will win the game, and this is a two way market so includes any overtime that is played in the game. If you are completely new to betting then this line would probably be the best place for you to start as it keeps things simple.
The odds on offer are not as good as other lines, but as a starting point it is a good place to go. Using the example above, if you were backing the New England Patriots to beat the Cleveland Browns by any score line, including overtime if needed then they are sure to be a very short price favourite. However, on other games you will get a better price, and if you are looking for a simple way to get involved this is certainly it.
Betting on Total Points
Betting on the total points in a game is something that started with American sports but is now part of betting on almost any sport. If you are looking for a way to get involved but you don’t want to back a team to win then this total points market could be the place to start.
While some people think that betting on the total points in the game is a fun bet, there is also a lot of skill involved when placing bets on this market. Analysing the chances of a team scoring against their opposing defence is something you have to do on this line before placing your bet. For example, the Denver Broncos struggled to score last season, and they have a very good defensive unit who can stop the opposition. Therefore their games are likely to be low scoring, so on the total points line you should be looking to back under the line.
The total opposite of that was the New England Patriots at the beginning of last season. They had real defensive issues to start with, something they managed to solve later in the season but their opening games were good games for betting over on the total points market. If the Patriots are poor defensively again then they have the offensive weapons to be involved in a lot of high scoring games.
Winning Margin
Perhaps the toughest market to solve when it comes to American football betting is the winning margin market. With six points awarded for a touchdown, and then another one or two on offer depending on what a team chooses to do with their extra point attempt, just one score can make a huge difference to the scoreboard, which makes this market tough to predict. However, should you manage to get one right then good odds are on offer for winning bets, so it is certainly a line to consider.
NFL Betting Offers
888Sport- American Dream Acca Refund
If you are looking to place your American football accumulators for the upcoming action then 888Sport is the place to head. They have an accumulator offer called American Dream that covers all American sports, including American football.
Simple place an accumulator with them of £5 or more with five selections and minimum odds of 3/10 on each selection and you will qualify for the offer. If your bet loses by one selection then they will refund your stake up to a maximum of £25 as a free bet. While it is disappointing to be so close to winning a bet, at least you will be able to try again the following week with your free bet voucher.
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