Struggling to understand how American Football works? Or maybe you want to brush up on your existing knowledge? Whether you're looking to understand the game or learn some tips, with our guide you'll find:
Date | What Happened |
---|---|
1920-1923 | Looking at the history of American Football between 1920 and 1923, there wasn't a playoff system in place. Back in those days the NFL determined the championship team by holding a vote between the major team owners at the annual owners' meeting. |
1924 | Following this, the system was adapted in 1924 so that the championship title was decided by the team with the best winning percentage over the course of the season. |
1932 | The system continued until 1932 until a tie threw a spanner into the works. Suddenly the need for a playoff game was evident as the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans both had a winning percentage of .857. In order to fairly determine that year's champion the league decided to hold a final game between the two - the Bears won 9-0. |
1933 | Though this first championship determining game was not officially called a 'championship game', it did create a buzz in the football world and in 1933, the first official NFL Championship Game was created. This would change online gambling, American Football and our take on the game forever. |
1960s | Along with this innovation came the need to determine the winners in the case of a tie and, thus, the playoffs were born! This format continued through to the 1960s with impromptu playoff games being held when necessary. |
1970 | It wasn't until the 1970 AFL-NFL merger that the playoffs finally began to resemble their current form. |
The current playoff system is divided up into three rounds:
In the world of online gambling, American Football has two main betting styles; points spread betting and moneyline betting. The one you choose will be a matter of personal preference, so to help you decide here's an overview of each option.
Points Spread
When it comes to betting on American Football this system is the most popular, especially for NFL games. Also known as betting the 'line' or the 'spread', this method basically involves the sportsbooks setting a betting line. This is determined by how many points the bookmakers believe the game will be decided by.
Many fans like betting on the spread because it keeps the game interesting no matter what the result may be. Your team could be up by 20 points and have the game in the bag, but you will still be on the edge of your seat because you need another field goal to cover the spread.
Moneyline
Moneyline betting is also popular with American Football fans because it's simple. Instead of needing certain point conditions, this bet simply requires you to decide which team you believe will win the game.
When you're gambling online, American Football sportsbooks will set odds before the game based on a team's chances of winning. For example, the moneyline on a game may be as follows:
San Diego Chargers -200 | 1.50 | 1/2 New York Jets +170 | 2.50 | 3/2
Now we've given you an insight into online gambling, American Football and how they mesh together, here are ideas on how to improve your EV. When you join any of our top American Football betting sites, we know you'll be in safe hands. However, to ensure you're clued up enough to make some real money we think you should also pay attention to our following tips.
Who's in Form?
All NFL teams, in fact all sports teams, go through patches of good and bad form.
Valuing Value
The first skill you need to develop if you want to become a successful NFL tipster is spotting value. Different games offer different betting opportunities and it's your job to spot which wagers are most suitable for the match at hand.
When you're betting on any activity in the world of online gambling, American Football or otherwise, it's important to keep an eye on your finances. Bankroll management is one of the most important skills a gambler must develop and consists of two main facets: knowing your available amount of money and setting limits.
Familiarize yourself with some of the basic American Football terminology - it's a great way to help you understand the game and what American Football fans are talking about!
Team | Meaning |
---|---|
Field goal | Worth three points; a kick that's usually attempted within 40 yards of the goalpost. The kick must go above the crossbar and between the uprights. |
Fumble | When a player loses or drops the ball while running with it or being tackled. |
End zone | The area at each end of the field; teams can score touchdowns in this area if they possess the ball. |
Extra point | Worth one or two points; for one point a player would have to kick the ball through the uprights after a touchdown. For two points the ball must be taken to the end zone again. |
Huddle | When the players group together on the field to discuss their strategies and call a play. |
Kickoff | Otherwise known as a free kick; they are used after every touchdown, field goal and at the first and third quarters of the game. |
Line of scrimmage | An imaginary line extending across the field that players can't cross until the next play has begun. |
Linebacker | A playing position; a linebacker is part of the defense team. |
Quarterback | A playing position; a quarterback is part of the offense team and lines up behind the offensive line. |
Safety | Worth two points; this is earned by the defense tackling an offensive player with the ball in his own end zone. |
Touchback | Occurs in the end zone; a play that results in the ball being placed on the 20-yard line and the offensive team starting from their 20-yard line. |
Touchdown | Worth six points; a touchdown is scored when a player in possession of the ball crosses the opposition's goal line or catches the ball in the end zone. |
We've found the best American Football sites to bet on so that you don't have to take a risk with a dodgy platform. Using our industry experts, we've reviewed each suggestion and verified that it's a safe and secure play to play. So, if you're itching to get out and place some American Football bets make sure you follow the advice we've outlined in this article and join one of our recommended platforms today.
Yes, it's completely legal for players to bet on sports event at the biggest international online sports betting sites.
There are two main types of odds in NFL betting, point spread odds and money line odds. The odds tell you how much you can win if your bet turns out to be a correct prediction.
If you want to learn how to understand the way odds are displayed, have a look at the guide above.
You can also read a detailed explanation of how the odds work in NFL bets by checking out our odds calculator page.
Points spreadThis type of bet relates to a calculation that the sports betting site does that's based on who they think will win and by how many points they think the victory will come in at.
E.g. If the site thinks that the winner in a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos will be the Steelers and they think the Steelers will snatch the win with 10 points more than the Broncos, then site will display the odds as Denver Broncos –10.
When you bet on the Broncos in this situation, they'll have to win by over 10 points for you to collect any winnings.
Money lineIn this type of bet all you have to do is pick who you reckon will win and the amount of points the team wins by doesn't affect whether you collect any winnings or not.
Handicap betting is when you place bets relating to whether a team will exceed the 'virtual head start' that the betting site has given it, based on how unlikely a team is to win.
You can bet on every single game in the NFL.
Yes, if you want to. Although a lot of the likelihood of winning cash on an NFL bet is down to luck, knowledge about past team performance and player health can help you to work out the probability of a particular outcome.
There are loads of different betting strategies and systems out there on the Internet but if you want to find one that'll definitely help you when you play, then check out our betting strategy page.
Gambling on the NFL can make you plenty of cash if you place the right bets. The best way to make smart bets is to analyze what's happened in previous matches and then place your bets accordingly.