The NFL offers its own version of an all-star game. Known as the Pro Bowl, this game is usually a high scoring affair with little defense and a whole lot of offense. The question is: Should a serious sports bettor wager on the Pro Bowl? The game used to happen after the Super Bowl, but in recent years it has been sandwiched in between the final NFL playoff games and the Super Bowl. Here are some things to consider.

Super Bowl Players Don’t Participate

Remember that some of the best players, the guys in the Super Bowl, are not at the Pro Bowl. They are getting ready for the big game. Plus, football is a game that demands a cohesive effort from everyone on the team. Pro Bowl teams are tossed together. There’s not much coordination going on.

Party On!

The Pro Bowl is really the NFL’s excuse to go to Hawaii and have a big party. So if they’re not taking the game seriously, neither should you. Invest little on this game in which no player wants to risk injury and nothing is really at stake.

Best Bet

It’s virtually impossible to pick a winner. However, the over/under can be a decent bet to make. So, if you like the totals, go with it. Stay away from any props. The best that can happen is you’ll break even. The worst, which is bound to occur, is you’ll lose cash. It’s impossible to properly handicap the Pro Bowl. Thus, bet it for what it is, an exhibition game featuring some of the best NFL players around.

By the way, the totals bets will probably look like some sort of college over/under. Don’t be thrown by it. Look at the QBs and receivers. If you think they’re going to air it out (they will) and connect (they probably will), then the over may be the way to go (depending on how outrageous it is).

Prep for the Super Bowl

Don’t spend too much time focusing on the Pro Bowl, which is a showcase event. Use the week off before the Super Bowl to prep your picks for the big game. The NFL is almost over and hopefully you are focusing on hockey, basketball, and/or baseball. You’re not going to make a lot of cash on one game like the Pro Bowl. So cool it, make an over/under bet, and keep your focus on the Super Bowl – or better yet, on more valuable games happening in other sports.