NFL halftime lines and totals can be real moneymakers for sports bettors who know what to look for. The fact is many sports bettors underutilize halftime betting opportunities, which are often created in a rushed environment and offer fantastic value. Sports bettors can use this chance to make up for miscalculations they made in their initial picks, to hedge their bets, or to make some extra cash.
Halftime Lines Explained
Halftime lines are posted on every NFL game during the break. They are created quickly by handicappers and are geared towards only what occurs in the second half of the football game. You’ll find point spreads and totals. These betting opportunities greatly favor the savvy sports bettor who knows how to exploit them.
Why Sports Bettors Like Halftime Lines
The great thing about them is you’re not betting on who will win the game outright or how many points will be scored. You are wagering only on the second half. If you’ve been watching the game, then you have a good sense of its rhythm and pace. If you know the teams, then you also have a decent understanding of how they normally perform in the second half. These facts give you a major advantage when making halftime bets.
Second-Half Teams
Some NFL teams are known for scoring an amazing number of points in the second half, and dominating their opponent. A team that is losing might turn it around and win the second half – but still lose the game. The important thing to remember is that even if they lose outright, you can still win your bet. If a team goes into the locker room down by a number of points, but you believe that they can make the adjustments necessary to put points on the board, they could be a good bet. This is especially true if they are home.
Defenses Are Tired
If a defense has been out on the field quite a bit in the first half and is struggling, it may start to break down in the second. Consider this in making your bet on the halftime spread or over/under. Also, if a team is far ahead in the first half, they may decide in the second half to put guys in off the bench. This provides opportunities for the losing team to score when they come back onto the field.
Factor in the First Half
Before taking any odds at halftime, take time to factor in various aspects of the first half. Will the losing team be motivated to attempt a comeback? Are they capable of doing so? Do you expect the team that is ahead to continue to score? Has there been an injury in the first half that may affect the second?
Shop Around
You’ll find a wide range of halftime odds, so be sure to shop around. One bookmaker may have the second half at +/-6 and another may post is at +/-2. The juice may be different on each site, which means you may be able to take both and make some cash no matter what happens.
Choose Carefully
Make sure that you carefully pick the games on which you plan to place halftime bets. Go with teams and games with which you’re familiar. These are not lottery tickets, nor are they bingo cards. These are quickly manufactured odds that are often quite soft and that smart sports bettors can exploit to their benefit. Utilize them in this manner.