Point spread betting on NFL football games is the most popular sport bet in United States. Each week, there are normally 16 possible “point spread” or “spread” wagers. The “spread” is the betting line used for wagering on either the favorite or underdog. Wagering on a spread evens the playing field, so to speak. Rather than betting on an outright winner, gamblers bet on the final margin of victory, with the favorite needing to win by the spread or better, and the underdog needing to either win or lose by less than the spread.
As a bettor, you want to find the spreads that you believe are out of line (see the tips below). For example, let’s say that the NY Jets are playing Dallas, and the Jets are favored by 8.5 points (Jets – 8.5 spread). If you believe that the spread is not big enough and that the Jets will win by 9 or more points, then head over to NY Jets Betting and place your bet on the Jets.
On the other hand, if you believe that the spread is too much, you can bet on Dallas + 8.5, meaning that they have been “spotted” or “given” 8.5 points. If you bet on Dallas and they either win or they lose by 8 or fewer points, you win the bet.
8 Tips for Point Spread Betting on NFL Games
- Google “NFL predictions” or “football prediction sites” and read who the experts have chosen to beat the spreads and why. Look for a handicapper with a solid track record and years of experience.
- Do your homework and analyze the strengths and weakness of each team. Do not bet on mere hunches.
- Take advantage of the early point spreads, as these tend to be soft. Odds tighten up as the week goes on and a spread can change by a point or two.
- Don’t discount the underdog. Dogs win quite a bit – in fact over 50% of the time.
- Keep up on current events including illnesses, injuries and suspensions. Become an avid consumer of information on sports blogs and team websites.
- Over the weeks, you will notice that there are teams that rarely beat the spread and others that do so regularly. Find those teams, and bet against a team that rarely beats the spread and wager on the team that does so most of the time.
- A top team that was soundly beaten the previous week, will tend to come back strong the next week.
- Don’t discount top notch defenses. Great defenses can win games or at least keep them close.
Make use of the above tips to increase your chances of winning your bets and making profits.
