There\'s not much \'middle ground\' when it comes to the desirability of betting NFL preseason games. The overly conservative handicappers suggest that its a poor wagering opportunity, while the \'boiler room\' sports touts try to suggest that short of a fixed game there\'s no more sure thing than preseason football. There\'s a degree of truth in both views. Handicapping preseason NFL football is a unique discipline unto itself, but with knowledge and caution it can be a profitable endeavor.
First, let\'s examine the case against preseason NFL wagering. Clearly the biggest argument against it is the simple fact that the games don\'t count. Though spots will exist during regular season games when the motivation and preparation of individual teams may vary, in theory both teams want to win. That\'s not always the case in preseason football, since different coaches have different goals. Some might want to just evaluate their personnel, others might want to establish a winning attitude, and all coaches want to keep their stars from getting injured. Factor in all of the variables and conflicting agendas, the preseason naysayer would argue, and there are just too many unknowns to consider taking a financial position on.
The proponent of preseason wagering would argue that this is the very reason that good opportunities frequently arise during preseason. First, additional value is frequently found with the underdog in preseason games by their very nature. To explain, in a hypothetical matchup between a Superbowl champion and an also-ran the \"better\" team by regular season standards would invariably be favored. However, by virtue of their success the \"better\" teams have not only more \'marquee names\' to protect, but also valued guys in the trenches who could cause big problems if injured. Frequently, they\'ll have more depth and thus fewer personnel evaluation decisions to deal with. They\'ll have no need to \"create a winning attitude\", nor will they usually have wholesale changes in team composition, offensive or defensive strategy, or coaching philosophies to deal with. In short, the \"better\" teams often go into preseason situations with little to accomplish other than to get the games over with and stay healthy.
Now, lets look at the other side of the equation. A \"lesser\" team by regular season standards might have a number of starting spots or key backup spots up for grabs. They may have new coaches to impress, or new offensive or defensive coordinators whose schemes they\'ll have to implement. Certainly, winning any games\"whether or not they count in the standings\"are of utmost importance to losing teams trying to turn things around. Finally, a bad team can gain a lot more psychologically from beating a playoff team than the playoff team can from beating a doormat. A struggling team that is destined to lose a lot during the regular season won\'t have a lot of bright spots, so a preseason win against one of the league\'s elite can mean a lot more.
While some teams could care less about the result of preseason games, few want to enter the regular season having lost them all. In light of this fact, a successful preseason situation that has stood the test of time is to bet on teams that lost their first two exhibition games outright. This situation has produced a winning percentage right around 60%.
Perhaps nothing determines a team\'s approach to the preseason more than the philosophy of the head coach. Some coaches simply hate to lose anytime they line \'em up to play football, and as a result their teams are usually good preseason bets. Bill Parcells was famous for the preseason focus of his teams. Not surprisingly, many who worked with Parcells earlier in their careers are now carving out their own records of preseason success. This sort of dominance isn\'t lost on the linesmaker and a coach like the Giants\' Tom Coughlin (a former Parcells assistant) will have his ATS success will definitely been factored into the pointspread. Still, a motivated team that wants to win is always worthy of consideration.
The Internet has become a very valuable weapon in the NFL preseason handicapper\'s arsenal. Simply following the local media reports of NFL teams can often produce a wealth of \'mission critical\' betting information. The combination of anxious beat writers, little in the way of \'real\' news, and a less guarded approach by coaches to games that \'don\'t count\' can often reveal game strategies, playing time for key personnel, or even a team\'s specific agenda for a particular game. Sometime coaches will come right out and say that evaluating a certain position, or working on a specific offensive scheme is their top priority for a game. It\'s a great way to find not only good teams to bet on, but strong situations to go against teams that are focused on something other than outscoring their opponent.
In closing, the best advice is to not be afraid of wagering on preseason football, but to not get too excited about it either. It\'s a good chance to grind out a small profit, but definitely not the moneymaking opportunity of a lifetime. There will be plenty of other\"and better\"football wagering opportunities down the road. Discipline and self-control is always in your best interest when betting on sports, and that certainly is the case in the preseason NFL.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
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