With four weeks left in the NFL betting season, handicappers are beginning to look toward the playoffs. The 2010 football betting season can be described by only one word, insane. From start to finish, handicappers have been unable to consistently predict which teams win games, and which fantasy stars will will make a significant impact. For the football bettor looking to gamble on the NFL playoffs, here is a guide on how to do so.
Betting on the NFL in the playoffs is exactly the same as gambling on the NFL during the regular season. The breeders cup betting fans have the options to bet on games through the point spread, money line, and totals methods. However, parlay and teaser bets are harder to do, since the games are more spread out then during the regular season.
Point Spread - Recall, the point spread is used to give the underdog an advantage leading up to the game, so that sportsbooks can balance their numbers. In the playoffs, the numbers are smaller than they would be during the regular season, as teams are expected to tighten up their defense for the playoffs. For instance, a game in which a team would be favored during the regular season by seven points may drop down to three points.
The same rules for regular season and playoff season point spread apply. Meaning to say, bettors who take the underdog need the team to win the game outright or lose by less than the point spread. Meanwhile, fans betting the favorite need their team to win the game outright and cover the point spread, by one more point then what the spread is.
Money line - Also known as a straight bet, the money line odds tend to lower during the playoffs, as the teams in each game are theoretically closer in skill level then they would appear during the regular season. As this is the case, you may see a team be listed as a favorite at -125 as opposed to -150.
