NFL In-Play Betting: Tips & Strategies
Betting on the NFL is always a thrill. You get to go through the ups and downs of the fast-paced action while having a stake in the result or various actions. But besides the regular betting, there’s in-play betting, or live betting, which is becoming quite popular in the country. This type of betting allows you to bet while the game is ongoing. You get to make split-second decisions, and your bet can be settled in a matter of minutes if you bet on player or game props, which are some of the best NFL prop bets today.
But while in-play betting gives you the chance to be a part of every move in the game, you need to master it to avoid making bad decisions. And today, we’ll give you several tips and strategies that you can follow.
Do Proper Research and Preparation
It’s easy to assume that doing research and analysis is for regular bets since you’ll probably watch the game and know what you need to. However, this is not correct. You still need to do proper research before the game to understand how it is likely to play out. You can then combine this with the live game analysis to make informed decisions. For example, you can watch out for second-half momentum if that’s what your research suggested.
During your research, look at how each of the teams plays in terms of strategies. You can then analyze the team form, recent player performances, and recent trends. From there, look at how the two teams have performed when playing against each other. Don’t forget to look at the latest sports news and factor in any injuries or recent coaching changes.
Understand the Various Live Betting Markets
In live betting, every second matters. Momentum in the game can shift quickly, and this also results in quick changes in the odds. This means that you need to understand how everything works before the game.
That said, in-play betting is not much different from regular betting, although the available betting markets may vary.
The key live betting markets include:
- Point Spreads: Here, you can wager on the point difference you anticipate between the teams. The odds will adjust accordingly as the score changes and time goes by.
- Moneylines: In live betting, you can still bet on who you think will win the game. The odds here will mostly be affected by the current score, momentum, and remaining time.
- Totals (Over/Under): Here, you get to predict whether the combined score of the two teams will be over or under a total set by the sportsbook.
- Player Props: If you don’t want to bet on the outcome, you can look at props. These allow you to wager on things such as the total yards of a player and the number of touchdowns or receptions.
- Quarter/Half Markets: You don’t have to wait for the game to be over for your bet to be settled, as you can still wager on quarters or halves of the game.
Before the game starts, ensure that you understand all these markets.
Watch the Game and Focus on the Momentum
While you can still get updates, it’s highly advisable that you watch the game you want to bet on. This is because it will let you assess the various strategies being used in the actual game (not what you researched) and how the players are performing.
But besides these, the crucial thing to focus on is the momentum between the teams. By looking at how it shifts, you can identify opportunities where you can place a good bet. This is because momentum can tell you when the course of the game is going to change. You can identify momentum change by looking at things such as a key turnover, a series of successful drives, or defensive stands.
Stay Calm and Focused
You will have to make decisions quickly when betting on a live game. But at the same time, you also need to keep a calm mindset. When the game is growing in intensity, emotions are running high, and the score keeps on fluctuating, it’s important that you avoid making impulsive decisions.
If you stay calm, you will be able to make calculated decisions even if they still need to be made quickly. You can analyze various factors of a game and identify bets that you can place if something else happens. This way, you will avoid making irrational decisions based on emotions or losing a previous live bet.