There is no doubt that football is one of the greatest sports mankind has been blessed with. If any of us were to ask those from other countries to list off what it means to be an American, it is a fair bet to assume that football – or at least the NFL – would be mentioned at some point. In a way, this sport defines Americans. The bigger, stronger, faster nature of the game is, well, pretty American.
From Arizona to Philadelphia, or Boston to California, football can be found pretty much anywhere in the U.S. It can sometimes feel a little strange referring to the game as a sport, given that literally millions of people across the nation see it as a religion. Name one other country in the world that fills giant stadiums for college games? If you are struggling to do so, it is because there are none. Football is that big.
Every single American will have childhood memories of football. Whether it is fathers, uncles, and cousins all sat around the TV watching the big game on Thanksgiving or the initial feeling of first falling in love with the NFL. While football is a religion to some, it simply a passing interest to others. The devoted husbands and wives of the game contrast with the casual lovers. Both look at each other with suspicion.
Now, if I had my way, I would campaign for football to be recognized as an official religion in the U.S. With legions of devotees and disciples who treat every Sunday as a spiritual experience, it just might work. Well, kind of. It depends on what franchise you worship, I guess. Then again, it might cause a little friction and I am a man of peace.
I’m sure the one thing that can really bring us all together under the same banner – regardless of our allegiances – is betting on football. If the game is like ice-cream, then see betting on the game as the sprinkles, cream, and cherry on top. As the initiated will tell you, there is nothing quite like a wager on the big game to really get the juices flowing. To the uninitiated reading this, you will understand what I mean after I state my case.
In simple terms, there is no bigger game in the U.S. than football so there will always be a truckload of bets out there offered by most bookmakers. Given the huge number of spectators, it is also fair to say that there are a high number of bets placed on most games. With so much interest in betting on the NFL and even college football, this makes for more diverse markets and an overall better experience when betting.
If you are a seasoned betting enthusiast who doesn’t bet on football, ask yourself why. Is it that you just don’t feel compelled by the game? Did your high school quarterback steal your girl while you were in band practice, or is it that you just prefer basketball or baseball? Regardless of your reasons, you are missing out on a fantastic game and an incredible betting experience. Read on, because I intend your mind.
If you are a novice bettor, there are fewer sports out there that can compete with football. Maybe you are a fan of the game but just can’t get to grips with bets? Perhaps you are a little blown away by the sheer number of bets available and don’t know where to start? I would also advise you to read on. I will explain why football betting is awesome.
For those who didn’t grow up in the U.S. and aren’t too familiar with football (and the types of bets you can place), let’s take a look at what makes betting on the game so incredible.
As I said above, there is simply an abundance of bets that can be placed on any football game. Unlike games like soccer – where there is only one way to score – football has a couple of different ways. There are also more complex plays and smaller features that make up the game. These are all taken into consideration by bookmakers, meaning more bets for punters. Pretty exciting, when you think of it.
Now, I know you might be thinking that this means that there is a lot more to learn about the game, if you want to win money. Yes, of course. The game of football is more comprehensive than others but this should not deter you at all. Learning the basic rules and how teams score can often be enough to prepare you for placing most bets. As your love of the game grows – which it will – so will your tendency to place more complex bets.
The first bets you will likely place on football games are those which are on a team to win. Your prediction is for the team of your choice overcoming the other team when the game ends. This is called a “money line” bet and it is just about as easy as it gets in sports. A popular alternative to the money line bet is betting on point spreads. There are a few more easy bets, too, which you can find below:
Money Line: As I said above, this is the most basic bet out there. You will simply choose Team A to beat Team B, hopefully after giving the odds the consideration that they are worthy of your bet. If the team you are choosing are considered heavy favorites, then the odds will likely be pretty short. If you choose the team that is heavy underdogs, then the odds will reflect this, too.
This is usually a novice gambler’s first bet on football. Sometimes, it will make no sense to take money line odds if there is a considerable gulf in class between the teams. You could end up betting $100 to win $160. Now, if you want to increase the odds, you might consider a point spread bet.
Point Spread: This type of bet is popular among novices and seasoned gamblers, while being very easy to understand. Simply put, the bookmakers will recognize that one team holds an advantage over the other and will look to level the playing field. To offer as close to even money as they can, they will apply a loading to the stronger team and give the weaker team an advantage. They do this by offering odds to the former on the basis that they start with a points disadvantage and give the weaker team a head start.
For example, Team A will start – 8 points with Team B +8 points. This means that if Team A win by 9 or more points, you win your bet. If they win by 8 or less, you lose. This is all in theory, of course. The bookmakers don’t have that much control! It is all for the purpose of creating betting lines that attract interest.
Over/Unders: The bookmakers believe that a game between Team A and Team B will score somewhere in the region of 40 points. They offer bets to punters to guess if the combined score of both teams will be over or under 40.5 points. Typically, for even money, you can choose either. So, if you believe that there is no way these two teams will score anywhere near an average of 20 points each, you should bet under.
Then again, if the rivalry between both teams is set to make for a high-scoring game, you can put your money on it. This is a really interesting bet, considering it is so straightforward, as it forces you to consider what variables will come into the game. You see, football betting is awesome. I told you!
While a bet on a team to win, or trying to predict the spread, is interesting, there are other bets that might take your fancy. In football, this variety draws betting enthusiasts to the sport. There are reasons why many gamblers will stick to betting on football over any other sports, and this level of choice is just one.
Prop Bets: These are pretty cool bets to get you going. You can bet on a number of different in-game scenarios, such as:
There are also some pretty interesting bets that are more novelty in nature. You would be surprised at what you can bet on. I won’t spoil the surprise for you.
Parlays: It would be pretty unique for anyone to begin their football betting experience by creating a parlay bet. It is not completely out of the question, however, as these types of bets do attract those who enjoy an occasional flutter. A parlay might seem a little complex to begin with, but they are far from difficult. Essentially, what you need to do is make two or more selections, usually up to about 11 different choices.
Your parlay bet can win big, big money if it comes through, depending on how many selections you choose and the odds of each one. It is probably not a great idea to be placing serious money on 11-team parlays, however.
Teasers and Pleasers: These types of bets are like parlays. They are very similar but do have their own distinctions. Teasers will essentially allow you to move the spread in your favor, which will shorten the odds offered by the bookmakers. Pleasers work in the exact opposite fashion, by giving you the chance to move the advantage to the bookmakers in exchange for better odds.
These bets are great for those who like to customize their bets a little. Sometimes, you might have identified something that can really work in your favor. Perhaps it is something that can be the difference between a couple of points, either way.
One of the most exciting parts of becoming a fully-fledged football bettor is working on your strategy. Simply put, your betting strategy is how you conduct your bets when placing wagers on the NFL or college football. From deciding how much you are going to bet – to understanding what games to bet on – your strategy can help you in your quest to become a true gambling aficionado. If that is your thing, of course.
There are a number of different aspects of a betting strategy that you will come to appreciate. From managing your bankroll to shopping around for numbers, you will find your own path and add a real kick to your betting experience while hopefully making some nice profits. When it comes to betting strategies, there is no better sport than football to make them work for you.
The first thing you need to keep in mind when developing your strategy is money management. This is crucial for having fun when betting on football (and keeping it that way). You need to decide how much money you have to fund your bankroll and never exceed this amount. If you have poor money management, this is not going to work well for you when placing bets on football.
Look around for the best odds and prices you can get. Seriously. Take this one to heart as not enough gamblers really put the effort in. When it comes to spread betting, you might find that one particular bookmaker cuts it better than others. Is that the bookmaker you do business with? If the answer to this question is “well, jeez, I don’t know,” then there is a chance that it is not.
If you don’t drink, good for you. You can pass this one. If you do drink – and enjoy betting when you are drunk – stop! It’s not going to work out well for you When drinking, we lose our inhibitions and tend to make some pretty bad decisions. Just think back to your college days and you will catch my drift. Never, ever, bet drunk. You need your brain cells to strategize.
In the NFL in particular, this is a common strategy for many betting enthusiasts. Over the years, we have seen the stronger team fail when playing the underdog in their own backyard. There have been many instances of this in college football, too, which has lead to gamblers accepting this as something of a platitude when it comes to betting. It won’t always work for you, but logically, it can be worth a shot.
You can get some more football betting strategy advice here.
OK, let’s talk football. You know the bets and have an idea of how to develop a strategy. You understand what it takes when it comes to betting on football, so now we will look at the finer points of the game. You might find that there are particular events or scenarios that you will flock to when it comes to placing your bets. These big occasions tend to attract the most betting interest, so you will not be alone.
Everyone with eyes and ears knows about the Super Bowl. Even outside of the U.S., the Super Bowl is a pretty big deal. In college football, there is the College Football Playoff. These games are huge, in their own rights, attracting millions of viewers and providing a high number of gamblers with various opportunities to get their bets on. The big occasions are part and parcel of what makes football so incredible.
The bright lights, loud sounds, and pure spectacle of the Super Bowl make it the most important event in global sports. It is the culmination of the blood, sweat, and tears of the season. The final showdown to determine who leaves the stadium with the glory and honor, and who hangs their heads in desperation. The Super Bowl truly separates the best from the better, sometimes by the slightest margin possible.
Some incredible teams have contested football’s biggest prize over the years. The greatest players to have ever stepped on a field have lit up this prestigious game over the years. For many gambling enthusiasts with a passion for football – myself included – this is one day of the year that truly belongs to me. Backing your team to win in the Super Bowl and making some serious cash is… simply unbeatable.
In college football, the answer to the Super Bowl is the College Football Playoff. This game is not on the same level as the NFL’s showpiece game, but it gives it a good run for its money. The College Football Playoff features the creme de la creme of the best athletes currently plying their trade in college football. Some of these players will eventually move on to the NFL, with an appearance in the Super Bowl possible.
Make no mistake, the interest in this game is huge. All bets are on, that’s for sure. The spectacle is insane and the crowd really get involved. It is easy to forget that this is not the finale of a professional sports tournament, especially given the number of bets that are placed by fans. While the College Football Playoff is an awesome occasion, it is also the hunting ground of some savvy bettors. Isn’t football just awesome?
If you’re looking for betting opportunities, you can’t go wrong with football. There are 256 games in a regular season in the NFL alone. There is no doubt that this level of choice is partly responsible for the high number of bets placed on football from both inside and outside of the U.S. That doesn’t mean that you have to bet on every single game, however.
The best thing about having so much choice is that you can opt for the games and bets you want to place. It’s cool to be as greedy as you please, but it’s not always the smart move. Simply placing wagers on a game – just because you can – doesn’t make sense. Instead, you can identify betting opportunities that do make sense. You can look for the odds that represent value. This is another great side to betting on football.
Even from a fan’s perspective, you can’t really go wrong with all of this choice. Having the ability to choose what you want to watch makes football the ultimate sport to be a fan of. However, from a bettor’s perspective, this level of choice allows us to make our bankroll work for us. If we don’t have limited betting opportunities, we get to have a say in how we place our bets.
If you want to get the most out of your football betting experience, I would advise becoming crazy about the sport. Much like an architect needs to understand how materials, orientation, and various other factors affect constructing a building, a savvy betting enthusiast should know how football works. Learn the rules, get to know the players, and choose your team.
If you live in the U.S., the chances are that your team is chosen for you, depending on where you live. If you were born and raised in Boston, you will be surrounded by New England Patriots fans. If you were born in Denver, you will probably be surrounded by New England Patriots fans, too. There are two points here: one, where you’re from doesn’t have to determine who your team are, and two, everyone loves winners.
Having a team to support will help you understand how the game works. You will watch more games and become acquainted with how each and every player contributes to a game. You will follow the football-related news, be able to hold conversations with other fans, and all of this will lend itself to you betting on the sport. If you want to increase your chances of making money on football, get yourself a team. Trust me.
In reality, there are so many different bets that can be placed on any football game during the season. This applies to both NFL and college football games, giving you a range of choice you will not find anywhere else. As I covered above, there is so much about betting on this wonderful sport to love that everyone should be out there singing its praises.
Are you converted yet? Of course you are.
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