Participating in live betting as an NFL fan can be fun, but complicated. Don’t make the same mistakes that other bettors have made in the past. Be armed with knowledge and don’t feel the need to chase losses as things may not end in your favor.
1. Chasing a loss
It’s not smart to place more bets just because an NFL game didn’t go in your favor. Doing so continuously can cause a gambling addiction as you try to win back money that may never reach you if the bets don’t pay off. Instead, take the loss as a lesson in your betting journey and learn other strategies you could implement to make a more informed betting decision in the future.
Let’s say that in the Baltimore Ravens game on January 28, 2024 against the Kansas City Chiefs you made an over/under bet in favor of the Ravens where they would win by 20 points or more. However, the actual score was 17-10 in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs. You may have felt the need to recoup your losses by placing a bet on the 2024 Super Bowl after analyzing historical data for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
It would be smart to do as much research as possible before placing a bet on the Super Bowl rather than blindly making a future bet that the Kansas City Chiefs would win the event because they won against the Baltimore Ravens in the previous game. Although the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, that wouldn’t have been known until after placing bets.
2. Ignore Momentum Changes
Especially as a live NFL bettor, it is your job to recognize the momentum of the game and how it changes from the beginning of the game’s progression. Any turnovers in possession, player injuries, or sudden changes in the weather forecast are examples of momentum changes that could occur in an NFL game. Not recognizing these momentum changes early enough to refine your bets accordingly can be a big mistake.
If the defensive team takes possession of the ball on the offensive side, this can change the game in their favor as they now have a chance to score that they otherwise would not have had if this turnover had not occurred. Any star player who suffers an injury could directly impact the team’s overall performance, especially if that individual typically leads to a victory based on historical data.
Even sunny weather conditions that turn to rain in spring or snow in winter can alter the condition of the playing field. Slippery conditions and mud puddles could develop that could cause a player to make an uncalculated move if he loses his balance on the field. Even how wet or dry the field is influences how well the ball can be kicked during events such as penalty kicks.
3. Overanalyzing the game’s opening events
It is best to place over/under bets and other live bets from the middle to the end of an NFL game. Overanalyzing events too early in the game and hastily making a bet based on them can be a potential downfall in your betting strategy. Even if the team you think will win is getting off to a slow start, don’t count them out just yet. Instead, analyze the progression of the game from all angles before making a final decision on the bet.
4. Poor fund management
One of the biggest mistakes as an NFL bettor is poor bankroll management. You don’t want to make too big a bet on a single bet. You must take into account the loss that your funds will suffer if your bet is too high. Instead, bet only what you can afford and divide your balance accordingly to ensure it can last a certain number of games before it’s time to top it up.
