Betting on NFL Preseason Football Games

Many sports bettors don’t take advantage of betting on NFLPreseason Games and decide to pass on this money making opportunity.More than likely, they’ve done battle with NFL Preseason gamesin the past and have started their football seasons in the hole.The number one reason why they failed is because they used thesame handicapping methods in exhibition games that they use duringthe regular season games.

As it turns out, the NFL Preseason is one of the best timesto bet on football. Winning edges can be found in decipheringthe available information heading into the game and giving theedge to the astute handicapper over the books. Information iskey in the NFL Preseason and it’s the only time of theyear when coaches are willing to reveal their game plans.

Among the items to look for when handicapping NFL Preseasongames is to assess the intentions of the head coach. An establishedveteran head coach’s primary objective is to prepare histeam to win during the regular season. If the coach is a veteran,look at his exhibition record in past seasons to gather cluesas to how he prepares his team for preseason games and how seriouslyhe takes the games. If a veteran coach is secure in his joband has stable personnel, it can reasonably be expected thathe will not be looking to win at all costs and will rest hisstarters and key reserves to avoid unnecessary injuries, especiallyin the first two exhibition games. However, as the preseasonwears on and the regular season looms, look for this type ofteam to step it up in their third preseason game.

A veteran coach whose team is coming off an unsuccessful seasonwhose job may be in jeopardy may go all out in preseason towin a few games and appease the ownership, media, and fans.This coach may play his starters longer in an attempt to getthem ready for the regular season. Such a coach tends to bedangerous early in the preseason.

A rookie coach almost always tries to impress and win gamesin the preseason, in order to build their own confidence, theconfidence of the team, and the confidence of the ownership,media and fans so they think that the right man was hired forthe job. A new coach is often in a “honeymoon period”with his new team and they may play harder for him trying tomake a solid first impression. You have to remember, the playersare starting over with a new coaching staff and may have tojustify their playing time.

The major decision that any coach must make is who is goingto play quarterback and for how long. When handicapping NFLPreseason games, you must pay attention to how deep the quarterbackposition is with each team and how many snaps each quarterbackwill see. This has a huge bearing on how well a team will perform.If a team is embroiled in a quarterback controversy, possiblya situation where two veterans are competing for the startingjob, one could expect both quarterbacks to play well. This situationcould have a seasoned NFL quarterback playing against the opponent’ssecond or third string defense in early preseason games –advantage to the veteran quarterback. When a team is not deepat quarterback, or is hurt by injuries or hold outs, it mightfind itself in trouble playing young and inexperienced signalcallers. These players may have trouble moving the ball whenfacing complex, speedy NFL defenses while directing an unfamiliaroffensive scheme.

Don’t concern yourself too much with each team’sstarters. In most preseason games, the starters that are securein their jobs are resting on the bench by the second quarteras the coaches audition their back-ups. Preseason games areusually won or lost in the second half by the reserves and playerswho won’t make the team’s final cut. There is a definitedifference in the quality of reserve players between teams:weaker teams with more roster spots open will usually have strongerplayers in camp than last year’s top teams with less rosterspots open. Top free agent signees out of college are more likelyto want to play for a losing team where a stronger opportunityto make the team exists than trying to catch on with an establishedwinning team.

Handicapping the NFL Preseason requires the ability to recognizeeach team’s needs and what the coach wants to accomplishduring the Preseason as he prepares his team for the regularseason. Try to back head coaches who care about the outcomeof the Preseason games and bet against those that don’t.Keep these factors in mind and you will be well on your wayto building your bankroll for the 2004 Football Season.

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Article by Ron Dyer of Dyer’s Sportsline at footballjunky.com– a leader in sports handicapping information supplying informationto make your sports betting profitable.

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