How to bet on American football?
American football is one of the most popular and important sports in the world. Although it is practiced in many parts of Europe and is starting to become even more popular in Latin America, the reality is that the only football league that plays at a truly top level is the National Football League, better known as NFL. This league is the highest level of American football in the United States, the country where this sport was born and became a phenomenon at the local level, and later at the international level. All the teams that participate in this prestigious league have a passionate and dedicated following, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing a successful period.
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General rules of American football
Before starting to talk about how to bet, it is vital to know the main elements and rules that this sport has. The first aspect to take into consideration is that each team is made up of 11 players (on the field), with both teams having to form an offensive and a defensive team.
This is related to the fact that each team, when it has its turn on offense, will have to try to reach the end zone, located at the end of the opposite side of the field. The offensive team’s primary method of attack is through the quarterback, who controls the ball on every play (whether he hands it off or opts to throw). Plays are generally separated into two different types: running or passing. A running play involves the quarterback either handing or pitching the ball most often to a running back, who then attempts to use his blockers and avoid the opposition team to gain yards on the ground. The other, and increasingly more popular option, involves the quarterback dropping back and throwing the ball to his wide receivers, tight end or running back.
It’s important to note that each offensive possession has four opportunities (called ‘downs’) to gain at least 10 yards. Should the team reach the 10 yard mark, then they will receive a new set of four downs to work with. This continues until either the team scores or they give the ball back to the opposition (either through a turnover on downs, fumble, interception or punt). A touchdown is worth 6 points, which can be extended to 7 or 8 in case of scoring the extra point (field goal) or two-point conversion which requires the offense to score again from a traditional type of play.
Teams can also score points by successfully kicking a field goal. The structure of a field goal is similar to that of rugby where the ball must be kicked through the uprights. If successful, the team earns three points, if unsuccessful, the opposing team takes over possession. The most common situation in which teams kick field goals is when the offense has not advanced 10 yards and has reached fourth down. If they are in a range where it is considered feasible, the special teams enter the field so that the kicker can attempt a field goal.
On the other hand, if the coach considers that the team is not in a position to score a field goal on fourth down, it is very common for the special teams to punt the ball, thus giving possession to the other team but much further back on the field than they would have originally been.
Regulation time of an NFL game consists of four quarters of 15 minutes each, with a halftime immediately after the second quarter ends. The team that scores the most points at the end of the fourth quarter is the winner, although there are occasions when both teams end up being tied. Here, overtime rules apply which can vary depending on whether the game is taking place during the regular season or the postseason.
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Most Popular American Football Bets
Among the most popular markets that are available for American football are the following:
- Game Winner
- Over/Under
- Handicap (point spread)
This is because it is really simple to understand how these work. On the one hand, the match winner market has only two options, the home team or the away team (including overtime) to whom the bookmaker gives a quota depending on the probability associated with their victory.
In this sense, it is worth reviewing that when a bookmaker posts high odds for an event (e.g. 6.50), they are saying that they believe the probability of this event occurring is not likely (6.50 odds represent a 15.4% implied probability). Likewise, low odds for a particular bet (e.g. 1.40) indicate the bookmakers’ belief that this outcome has a high probability and is likely to occur (1.40 odds represent a 71.4% implied probability). It is always worth being aware of the news of the teams with data such as recent performance, absences due to injury or suspension, as well as the importance of the match for each of the teams.
The Over/Under market works in the same way as in other sports. A line of total points scored in the game is determined by the bookmakers, where in case of being surpassed, bettors who have decided to back the over will win their bet, with the opposite holding true for the under. This requires the bettor to study how offensive the teams that face each other are, as well as the overall ability of each defense.
In addition, this type of betting can also be done per quarter. This makes it even more important to observe the tendencies of the teams in play to determine if they are an offense which starts games quickly, or if they require some time to get going.
Finally, it is always relevant to take into consideration the other existing markets such as the first touchdown method, the total number of touchdowns in the game, total field goals in the match, which team will score first, and so on. With all these options available, it is a fact that, from the preseason to the regular and postseason, you can enjoy such a dynamic sport as American football while seeking to maximize profit by betting on the best teams in the NFL, college football and other leagues around the world.
