10 Basic NFL Betting Strategies and Tips 

Are you considering betting on the NFL and want to know some strategies you can use? Perhaps this is your first bet, and you are looking for some tips? Maybe you are looking to turn your luck around and change the way you bet? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!

We know how stressful NFL betting can be. There are so many bets out there, with confusing odds and voices online, that we don’t know who to listen to or trust. Suddenly our idea of a fun afternoon is overrun by stress, and we find ourselves unsure where to turn. 

Well, no more! Today we are here with ten basic NFL betting strategies and tips to help you understand the betting world. Keep reading to learn some more strategies and place your next bet with ease.

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10 NFL Betting Strategies and Tips 

Let’s get straight into it! Below we have ten basic NFL betting strategies and tips you can use when placing your next bet. You can opt for one or a few of these to help increase your chances of winning. Remember that when it comes to gambling, there are no guaranteed wins. Bet only what you can afford and be realistic about your chances of success. 

Here are our ten betting strategies and tips for betting on the NFL!

  1. Don’t overreact at results. 

An NFL season has 256 games and is one of the most widely covered and discussed sports. That means every week, there is an abundance of hot takes and predictions for the whole season, even after the first week! And while one team can dominate one week, there’s no guarantee they will continue to dominate for the whole season. 

Remember that every team in the NFL is super talented and that gaps between the best and worst teams are smaller than you realize. So avoid overreacting when it comes to results. If you win big one week, that doesn’t mean you will win the next. Stick to your strategy and avoid getting swayed by wins and deviating from your plan; that’s how you lose money! 

  1. Do your research 

We don’t just mean looking at odds. Final scores, sportsbooks odds, and basic stats aren’t always the best. They can sometimes be misleading, so be sure to conduct thorough research before placing your bet. There are lots of fantastic tools out there that can help you. 

We recommend taking a look at NFL power ratings or metrics like the DVOA. These can be found easily online, along with advanced metrics that can help you understand the team better before you place your bet. 

  1. Shop around 

It’s super basic, but the easiest way to improve your edge is to see multiple books. You can do this with minimal effort too! Simply find new outlets to ensure you always get the best price. Look for NFL odds that are the best line in a legal book, and don’t be afraid to turn your back on your usual betting site if you find a better deal elsewhere! 

  1. Keep track of your bets. 

This sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised who forgets to do this! Keep track of your bets and the results, so always know where you stand. Imagine winning big, and you don’t realize because you haven’t checked the score? Look for apps that allow you to keep your bets in one place and check the NFL results quickly. These will allow you to keep on track without taking up too much of your time.

  1. Don’t ignore live betting. 

Live betting is becoming more relevant every day. You can now access live betting easily with most bookies, so make the most of that tool! Live betting allows you to wait for the odds to change and place your bet as they change, making the most of your bet and ensuring you don’t need to settle for poor odds! 

It’s also fun to chase these bets and get what you want! 

  1. Keep an eye on the market. 

A top tip is always to keep an eye on the market. The more you pay attention, the more informed you will become! Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help and advice, either. You can enter plenty of forums and chats to learn from experienced betters about what to look out for and what to avoid. Take advantage of the community! 

  1. Check injury reports 

Football is a team game where the smallest of changes can impact everyone. Read up on the team regularly to check who’s missed practice, their status for their next game, and their role on the team. 

These reports aren’t always detailed, but thankfully Twitter is a valuable tool full of details that can help you evaluate NFL lines and place more informed bets. 

  1. Look at where the game is played. 

It’s no myth; home-field advantages matter and some matter more than others depending on the stadium. Some teams will have a substantial home-field advantage that you will want to be aware of before placing your bets. Take your time and compare each team’s home vs. away record and use this information to place your bets. 

Alternatively, some teams don’t travel well, and their records will reflect this. Past performance isn’t always the best indicator, but it can be helpful when it comes to the NFL! Familiarizing yourself with a team’s performance home and away is a useful strategy that can yield success. 

  1. Follow more than the trends. 

Following the NFL trends isn’t necessarily a bad idea; they can provide valuable information that will allow you to place strategic bets and potentially win big. However, they aren’t set in stone, and there’s no guarantee that a team will continue to play as they have and continue to achieve high numbers. 

To make better-informed bets, look at the context behind the numbers. This can help you create the strategy that allows you to place well-informed bets and see success. 

  1. Watch divisional matchups 

Teams that play each other twice per season can know each other very well, and even bad teams will dig deeper if there’s a division rivalry at stake. The teams are often much closer than anticipated when it comes to divisional matchups, despite what they might appear to be on paper! 

While they can seem like good choices on the NFL point spread, they can be risky on the moneyline. Take care with these bets, and do your research into the teams before betting. 

Final word

And there you have it, ten basic NFL betting strategies and tips for you to adopt! You can opt for one or several of these strategies and tips to enhance your chances of winning when you place your bet on the NFL. Remember never to bet more than you can afford and take regular breaks when gambling. If you find it hard to stop, seek professional help; you don’t need to suffer alone. 

Geoff Lambert

Geoff has been playing fantasy football since 1996 and covering it professionally since 2015. In addition to being the founder of GoingFor2.com and The Armchair Fantasy Show, Geoff has contributed to FantasyPros, FantasyLife, and the now-defunct RotoWriters, while also appearing on a multitude of fantasy podcasts. Geoff's favorite professional teams are the 49ers, the Pelicans and the Nationals.

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