NFL betting - tips?

[MrGo]

I have bet on football before but have no real strategy. I follow the season pretty closely and I know what teams are good to bet on and what not.

My question is how do you guys bet on the games? Straight up? Parlay? Other? I have been told by others that parlay's are a waste of money and shouldn't be attempted.

I'm looking for a smart way to bet on games; not a gambling fun way.

Thanks

[Slacker13]

Parlays are a bad play. One the bigger things in sports gambling is control, if you are an action junkie you will never win. I normally play odd number amounts of games, such as 1, 3 or 5 wagers, never 2. if you play two games and go 1-1 you lose juice, If I play 3 games I have a better chance of going 2-1 and coming out ahead.
The next is studying, you need to study if your serious. I not only study all week, but I have pay alot of money each month for software to watch line moves at 50+ dif casinos both in vegas and offshore. Also, it's good to know bookies, find out where the money is going and go the other way, the general public is clueless and will lose.
Sometimes, if I hear more than a few people say they love so and so, bet the other way. Mostly though it's about studying and watching line moves, watching where the smart money is going etc.
I bet to win money, bottom line, I am not in it for the action. If I get ahead early in the week I guarantee that i am collecting at the end.

[eggzz]

Concentrate on finding live underdogs and betting them on the money line. If you isolate four solid underdogs each week, you only have to go 2-2 to win, and occasionally you can go 2-3 and break even.

[Slacker13]

A majority of my plays are underdogs, but I am not necessarily looking for an outright win, that's why I avoid the money line except in rare situations.

[redraw]

First off avoid parlays- they are real bad mathematically speaking. Then ask yourself "What is my motivation for betting on sports?" If it is for pure entertainment value, go ahead and spread your bankroll around on high profile, televised football games using straight bets (pointspread with 10% juice on losses).

If you are serious about making money you need to isolate just a few games a weekend and hammer them- these games will tend to be more obscure matchups where the money flow is inconsistent and the oddsmaker may post a "weak number" (incorrect spread). I like Slacker's "odd number" game strategy- such as playing 3 games. Going 2-1 is virtually just as likely as going 1-2 but for most players, the thought of going 1-1 just stinks- they would rather have the satisfaction of "being up" and risk being down a game, rather than just breaking even minus the 10% juice...

[MrGo]

Can you explain the advantages/disadvantages of betting on the money line vs. betting the spread. I usually always bet the spread.

Also, can you explain the money line please?

Thanks.

[Slacker13]

I personally always bet the spread. I will pick out a few good money line plays throughout the season but for the most part it's betting with the line.

A money line play is betting without a line but laying or getting odds instead. For example you can either take (below) Northwester +6.5 as your familiar with, or you can take northwestern +230, which means you lay $100 to win $230.
Or you can take TCU -6.5 or bet them with no spread involved and take TCU -275 which means you lose $270 on a $100 bet or you risk $275 to make $100.


NORTHWESTERN +6½
TCU -6½-

NORTHWESTERN +230
TCU -275

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
Can you explain the advantages/disadvantages of betting on the money line vs. betting the spread. I usually always bet the spread.

[/ QUOTE ]

In order to maximize your profits, you should consider both types of bets.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, can you explain the money line please?

[/ QUOTE ]

Baltimore Ravens +135
New York Giants -145

You're betting on who wins the game, regardless of how much they win by.

+135 means that if you bet on the (underdog) Ravens and they win, you win $135 for every $100 you bet.

-145 means that if you bet on the (favored) Giants and they win, you win $100 for every $145 you bet.

[MrGo]

Thank you..much clearer now!

[craig r]

[ QUOTE ]
if you play two games and go 1-1 you lose juice, If I play 3 games I have a better chance of going 2-1 and coming out ahead.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't understand this. You also have a better chance of going 1-2. It is a long season. Why would it matter if you go 1-1 this week, for example, and 2-0 next week? You would still be up on the season. And if you are a losing bettor (i have no idea whether you are or aren't) you are going to lose either way. I have no idea if you play poker, I assume you do, but sports betting is no different. It is one long season; just like it is one long poker game. In fact, to give this advice to a losing player (of never betting 2 games) is a bad idea. Because, his money will most likely not last as long and he won't get to have "fun" throughout the whole season. I just see this as faulty "money management" advice; like setting stop-losses, etc... Just my two cents. Any thoughts appreciated.