Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the USA. In fact, the average attendance at an NFL match in 2019 was a staggering 66,151, making it the most well-attended sport in the entire world. And what better way to add some extra flavor and fun to a sporting event than by laying a wager on its outcome with a sportsbook like BetOnline!
If you’re one of the thousands of NFL fans who enjoys placing bets on individual games and season results, you’ll no doubt enjoy the thrill of winning far more than the disappointment of losing. But what steps can you take to experience more of the former and less of the latter? While there is no sure-fire strategy for winning every bet you lay (indeed, such a scenario is nigh-on impossible), following these tips should help to maximize your returns.
Bet on what you know
When it comes to sports betting, it can be tempting to place bets left, right and center to prolong the enjoyment of the activity as much as possible. That’s especially true if you’re on a hot streak and feel invincible, but can be equally as valid when you’re down on your luck and just want to arrest the slide. However, don’t be seduced by apparently attractive odds on a market with which you have little familiarity. Instead, stick to the players and teams you know best to give yourself the best chance of correctly predicting the outcome.
Do your research
At the same time, it’s unhelpful to rest on your laurels with regard to prior knowledge. There’s always room for improvement when it comes to learning more about the form of NFL franchises as well as that of their individual stars. With that in mind, checking up regularly on NFL rosters at lineups.com will help you to stay up-to-date on all of the latest draft news and team rosters, ensuring you don’t miss out on any important injury or draft developments.
Stay detached
While “follow your heart” might be a good mantra for many aspects of life, sports betting is not one of them. Instead, you must keep your emotions firmly under control when deciding where to lay your wagers, since backing your favorite team or letting excitement supersede rationality can cloud your judgement. Look at all matches (and the odds which go with them) through a cold and clinical eye and decide who is most likely to win – not who you want to win.
Back the favorites
Speaking about emotion, it’s easy to let the idea of a romantic upset get the better of you surveying the sportsbook. After all, everyone loves an underdog story and when they come with such attractive odds attached to them, the dollar signs in your eyes and the idealism in your heart can lure you into betting against the odds. Of course, surprise results do occur every now and then, but backing the favorite will give you a more consistent win rate overall. Yes, the gains might be less lucrative, but they’re more reliable. Over time, they’ll add up.
Look for live odds
There is often underappreciated value in in-play betting. For example, if a strong favorite goes down early in the first quarter, you might find that their odds of overturning the deficit become attractively longer. Here is where you can exercise your prior knowledge, as well. If the team currently losing has a history of coming back later in games, or is on an impressive streak of victories, you can be more confident about their ability to turn things around. Combine your previous knowledge of the teams with your assessment of how the game is unfolding to make astute decisions.
You’ll never win every bet you place, but with a little bit of foresight and common sense, you can turn those Ls into Ws with increasingly regularity.
