NFL Preseason Handicapping: Pros and Cons

Betting preseason NFL games never fails to elicit an irreconcilable difference of opinion among sports betting enthusiasts. Some consider it a very poor wagering opportunity, while others maintain that there’s no better moneymaking opportunity in sports than pro football’s preseason. The truth is probably somewhere between the two extremes–NFL preseason betting must be approached with caution and discipline, but offers the potential to make a tidy profit before the regular season kicks off.

The most compelling argument against preseason wagering is simply that the games don’t count. While there are often spots during the regular season where teams may seem more or less motivated, in theory they all want to win. That’s not something that can be taken as a ‘given’ during the preseason, however, as the individual agendas of NFL coaching staffs can very widely. Some might want to win games to establish a winning attitude, others might put a greater focus on working in a new offensive or defensive scheme. Others may prioritize evaluating talent at key positions, while others may simply want to make it through to the regular season without any significant injuries. With all of the uncertainty swirling around preseason football, handicapping wins and losses against the pointspread can be exceedingly difficult.

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.

NFL ‘doormats’, meanwhile, have a markedly different agenda to their more successful counterparts. They’ve often got heated competition for starting positions or key back up roles. They’ve often got new coaching staffs that players want to impress. Most significantly, they’re in great need of establishing a winning attitude. A win against an elite team in a ‘meaningless’ preseason game often has a much greater value to this type of team than to a playoff contender.

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%.

The philosophy of a NFL head coach is arguably the single most important factor contributing to preseason success. Some coaches always want to win, even if the games don’t count in the standings. Other coaches place a much greater importance on evaluating personnel and giving backups playing time they won’t have the opportunity to get during the regular season. The coaches that have a strong desire to win in the preseason often result in their team’s pointspreads being inflated somewhat, but a motivated team is always worth consideration for a wager.

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.

The bottom line is that while the NFL preseason does offer some solid moneymaking opportunities, its not a ‘free cash grab’. It’s best viewed as an opportunity to grind out a small profit, but as always its essential to maintain the same degree of discipline in handicapping and money management as at any other time during the pro football season.

Ross Everett is a respected freelance writer specializing in travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.

The Best Wedding Destination Hot Spots Around The Globe

Having a great wedding location is a major part of planning your wedding. If you are looking for something unique and personal a destination wedding maybe just what you have been looking for. Here are a few of the most popular destination wedding locations from all over the world.

Tuscany, Italy

Everyone dreams of visiting Italy. Why not treat yourself and your hubby to be to a truly romantic and magical wedding in Tuscany? Be amidst fine wine and food, friendly Italians, and begin your happily ever after in pleasant harmony.

The Yucatan

Have an outdoor adventure and relax on the sandy beaches. All this is possible on a Yucatan destination wedding. You can even have a traditional Mayan wedding ceremony for a unique twist to your big day.

Maui, Hawaii

If you are looking to relax on some of the best beaches of the world why not consider Maui, Hawaii for your big day. Maui is a great location for couples and their guests. The island is a true paradise with breathtaking beaches, clear waters, and top notch resorts.

Las Vegas

Roll the dice and take a chance on love in Vegas! With so many wedding chapels it is hard to not want to get married in Vegas. This magical place of bright lights and luck you and your guests will be fascinated by all the nightly shows, costumes, and grand marquis signs.

Jamaica

There are tons of things to do in Jamaica. If you are the adventure type book a few of the land tours. Learn about Jamaica, its culture, its people, and the land in general. Jamaica is a beautiful wondrous land with so much to see and explore.

Belize

Belize offers all types of water activities from snorkeling to scuba diving. It also appeals to the adventurer in everyone. The tropical rainforests of Belize are full of exotic animals and fresh water falls. If that’s not enough, check out the Mayan ruins.

Scotland

Want to get married in a castle and live happily ever after? Scotland has many wedding worthy castles and 12th century chapels that will make you feel like royalty. After the wedding you and your guests can learn more about the area by taking one of the many city tours or take the day to row across Loch Ness.

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Let Me Tell You My Experience In Las Vegas

It was my unfulfilled desire of more than fifteen years to go on a holiday to Las Vegas and I finally got to this beautiful city in the first half of this year. This city is just incredible and I just cannot find words to describe its resplendence.Do not miss an opportunity to travel to this unique city if you can.

We toured the city while the Great Recession was going on and so feel that we did not get to see it completely as a majority of shops were not open. We spent our days at Mandalay Bay Hotel which offered a very enticing package.This hotel was situated at the south end,but this did not pose much of a problem as there were umpteen ways of reaching the city.

The speedy transportation to Pyramid and Excalibur is not really difficult and reaching New York is no big deal. I fell in love with the grandeur of the different hotels in the city and it it really took my breath away. The only negative aspect was the smoke filled atmosphere in the boutiques,cafeterias and cards room. I felt extremely claustrophobic in that closed environment.

Our visit to the out skirts of the city began with a tour to the Hoover Dam. The sight seeing of this dam took up so much of our time that all our plans of visiting the Grand Canyon went completely hay wire.One thing that I have decided is that if we come to Las Vegas on another visit ,I will ensure that I have one more day to conduct a tour of the Grand Canyon.

I cannot describe what a lovely time we had strolling through the shops in the city, even though we did not invest too much in shopping. We came across umpteen haunts which sold things that were worth $20,000.What seemed really awesome to us was the posters that had the autographs of well known personalities. I wanted very much to get one for my home theater but urged myself not to buy it as it would mean spending a lot unnecessarily.

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