Betting on NFL games is fun, but it can be dangerous if you are new to the game or a handicapper that is looking for an edge. One of the key words you may hear when betting on sports is “NFL sharp bets.” These bets are made by professional bettors, called “sharps,” who understand the game well, and have been gambling long enough to properly assess odds. But what are NFL sharp bets, and how do you use them to inform your betting strategy? Here, we’ll explain what sharp bets are and how to find...
Betting on NFL games is fun, but it can be dangerous if you are new to the game or a handicapper that is looking for an edge. One of the key words you may hear when betting on sports is “NFL sharp bets.” These bets are made by professional bettors, called “sharps,” who understand the game well, and have been gambling long enough to properly assess odds. But what are NFL sharp bets, and how do you use them to inform your betting strategy?
Here, we’ll explain what sharp bets are and how to find them — and show you a few ways that you can use this insider information to improve your chances of success in the world of NFL betting. From newbie to advanced bettor, knowing the sharp bets is a surefire way to boost your betting knowledge.
What Are NFL Sharp Bets?
In the world of sports betting, a “sharp” is a well-schooled bettor. These bettors usually have lots of information at their commands and employ complex strategies in making their betting decisions. Sharp bets are those placed by these pros as a result of their research. While your average bettor often uses emotion, instinct or even hunches to place wagers, sharps make the bets based on knowledge — and they take into account variables like team performance, players’ stats, injury reports (yes), and even the weather.
Sharp bets generally look to exploit value in betting lines established by sportsbooks. These sports bettors are able to find differences between the odds set by bookmakers and the probability of an event occurring. One of the great truisms in sports betting is that when sharps place a bet, it’s often perceived to be a wise bet because they’re betting on skill and analysis as opposed to emotion.
The Basics of NFL Sharp Betting Key Points about Sharps in the NFL
How to Spot NFL Sharp Bets
If you are serious about high-level success with an NFL betting system, recognizing a sharp bet can give you a competitive advantage. Spotting sharp bets is difficult but there are a few tips that you can use to help you figure them out.
Line Movements
With sharp betting, one of the most obvious signals is line movement. When a line moves aggressively right after it’s posted, it usually means the sharps are pounding one side of that contest. For instance, if the spread in an NFL game opens at -3 for a team and the number goes up to -4 or -4.5 within hours of learning that information, it can be a sign that professionals are betting on that side.
Sharps typically will react faster to new information such as injuries, coaching changes or weather conditions. So what happens is that they bet early before the lines move.
Betting Volume
Another method to detect sharp betting is by observing the volume of bets. Sharps bet more money than casual bettors, but generally in fewer wagers. And in this case it may be that there are less sharp bets overall