NFL Playoffs Betting By Tom Wilkinson NFL Playoffs betting is one of the most exciting times of the entire year for bookmakers and bettors around the world. NFL betting always outdraws the other sports and that interest continues right through the Super Bowl. I’ll take a look at betting the NFL playoffs and some of the trends and facts that can make your wagering more profitable. When the NFL playoffs roll around it is a whole new season for football bettors. You can throw out the regular season results because in the playoffs it is win or go home. It is a one game slugfest where the better team does not always prevail. Many times throughout the years the best team has not always prevailed as we have seen wild card teams advance in the playoffs and even win the Super Bowl. Sometimes in the playoffs the better team is not always the favorite. How many times have we seen a team that is peaking entering the playoffs be an underdog to a team with a better record? Last seasons Carolina Panthers were a prime example as they entered the playoffs on a roll, and except for their Wild Card win over Dallas, they were an underdog as they rolled into the Super Bowl. Betting on the NFL playoffs can be profitable if you find that team that is peaking entering the playoffs. Sometimes it will be a team with a good record, other times it will be a team that has finally hit its stride. Last year’s Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots were a steamroller throughout the regular season and into the playoffs but they were very often over priced and did not always cover the spread. They failed to cover against Tennessee and also did not cover the Super Bowl against Carolina. Betting the NFL playoffs successfully also includes finding value and last season the Patriots did not offer very much. There are some basic trends that can help us when betting the NFL playoffs. Home teams are usually very strong straight up, winning at over 70 percent of the time. Against the spread they hold their own as well hitting at near 60 percent. Home teams that get the first round bye are also solid bets winning at over 62 percent of the time against the spread. Double-digit favorites are also a good bet in the NFL playoffs as they come in at over 65 percent of the time. Usually during the regular season it is a decent idea to bet against the public but that does not always hold true in the playoffs since the favorites do pretty well against the spread. One trend that works well during the regular season and also holds true for the playoffs is that the winning team usually covers the spread. What this means to us is that if we like the underdog we should also seriously consider betting the money line as well. If you look at the article on Super Bowl betting you will see that the trend applies to the big game as well. We have already learned some valuable things when looking at the NFL playoffs. First, always look very hard at taking the home team. Second, look very hard at taking the favorite. Third, if we like the underdog then playing them on the money line is usually a good bet as well. What about totals in the NFL playoffs? Usually when the playoffs roll around the defenses tighten up and games tend to be lower scoring. The Super Bowl is a notable exception to that rule, as the games tend to go over. New England’s two playoff games both went under the total as the games against Tennessee and Indianapolis slipped under the posted numbers. Carolina did not hold up their end of that trend as two of their three games went over the total. Usually the defenses dominate the Championship games and that was the case last year as both the AFC and NFC games went under the posted totals. What other factors play a part in NFL playoffs betting? Weather can be a key factor since these games are often played in cold weather cities during the winter. Always remember to check the latest weather and take that into consideration when betting any total. Injuries always seem to pile up as the season wears on and can be a factor in the playoffs. Be sure and check on the latest injury reports before making your playoff wager. Line movement is another area to check before you make your bet. I always want to be aware of any late line movement in a playoff game because very often it is correct. After taking all of the trends, injuries, weather, and line movement into account you can make a more informed decision on what side or total to bet when the NFL playoffs arrive. Hopefully those decisions will be good ones and add to your long-term profits.