99To1 - Football betting

There are three areas where American football (or a version) is played: Professional, Semi-professional, and Amateur. While betting on each type of football game takes place; it is at the professional and college (amateur) levels where the majority of the wagering occurs.

Wagers on American Football are based on two basics betting formats: the ‘spread’ and the ‘over-under’. While other types of exotic bets can be made, the majority of wagers on football fall into these two categories.

In American football each game is assigned a point spread that represents the difference in points a team will win (or lose) by. While a straight bet can be made on a simple win or lose bases, this is rare and a heavily favored team will return a very low winning payout. The spread is determined by various professional football game ‘books’ and can vary from place to place, but most games have a semi official point spread posted days prior to the game. Most point spreads are multiples and combinations of 7 and 3 points (the two major scoring values in the game) with a ½ point value added. This half-point is added to prevent ‘pushes’ or ties.

For example: Dallas plays Phoenix at home and the spread is determined to be 14 ½ points. For a player to win then Dallas must defeat Phoenix by at least15 points. If not then the wager is loss, no matter if Dallas should finally win the game. By the same token a player betting on Phoenix will win if either the team wins outright or loses by less than 15 points.

This is a number that represents the total of all points scored in a game by both teams. Bets are made stating that the bettor believes that this combined score will be either over or under a preset number.

For example in the Dallas/Phoenix game if the over/under is set at 45 ½ points the gambler states that he believes the game will have a combined score of 45 points or less. If the final score is Dallas 34, Phoenix 20 (a total of 54 points) then the wager is lost.

A multitude of factors go into the determination of both the spread and the over/under for any one particular game. Here are a few of the more important facts that can affect these betting formats:

Team history- Some franchises seem to produce teams that are consistently good teams. A contest between two powerhouses will generate a lower spread, while the over/under is determined by the overall type of teams playing. High scoring low defense teams will produce a high over under while two high defensive rated teams will generate a relatively lower total point score.

Injuries- Which key players are injured to the point where it might effect their participation in the game. If a key player is out for one side or the other this can have a drastic effect on the outcome of the contest.

Weather- Certain types of weather (winds, rain, snow etc.) can have an effect on particular styles of play. If a team is basically a running team and is playing good passing team in high winds and rain then the running team will have an advantage.

Home games vs.. Away- Certain teams perform markedly better at home than when playing as the visiting team. Also some stadiums (particularly those with loud fans) can have a dramatic affect on a games outcome.

There are literally dozens of other factors that are considered by those who set the point spreads and totals. Even after a spread has been set, situations can occur that will drastically change these figures. Despite what experts may decide, on any given day an underdog team can upset the favorite. This is why it is called a ‘gamble’.

American Football Betting and how it works.