General Tips for NFL Betting

The 2010 NFL preseason is nearly upon us, so it’s time to lay down a few ground rules to help you successfully navigate the crazy match-ups, wacky spreads and unforeseen injuries to come.

1.    Embrace The Home Underdog: It’s been proven time and again that a team playing at home and going against the spread wins many more games than the bookies would like. If you’re not sure which play to make, you can’t go wrong with the home underdog. According to STEVEN D. LEVITT at the New York Times’ Freakonomics blog, if you had bet on the home underdog whenever possible over the last 20 years, you would have made a profit.

2.    Don’t Mind the injuries: As the season winds on, you’re likely to see several players listed as “questionable” on each team’s weekly injury report. This trick has been used by coaches for years to sew doubt in the minds of the opponent as to whether a given player, usually a star, will play in the upcoming game. As a bettor, you should recognize this ploy for what it is and count on the star being on the field that weekend. Of course, it’s wise to examine any news reports to see whether there’s anything that might actually keep that star out of the lineup this time.

3.    Go Easy Early: It always takes a few weeks for the players to get their season legs under them, and the bookies too. Keep your bets on the low side during the beginning of the season, and most certainly in the preseason, when you’re better off not wagering at all. As the season gets into its fourth week, you’ll see lineups solidify and teams putting their nose to the grindstone in the hopes of walking away with a ring next year.