NFL Betting – The Home Field Advantage

Different Stadiums, Different Situations, Different Weather...

To begin with, many people think that the home field advantage is worth 3 points for the home team. This is simply not the case, but it is a sort of rule of thumb. It is hard to believe that this 3-point advantage is same in a game in the November in cold and Windy Chicago and one in beautiful San Diego at any time. There are some home field advantages that are better than others and not just because the team plays better there, but other reasons such as weather and playing surface.

In the beginning of the NFL season the home field advantage means less, as the legit NFL bookies will be watching teams very closely. They keep an eagle-eye out to see which teams are going to be established as good bets and how that team may look for the remainder of the betting season. Because of this, the home field advantage may be worth less than a field goal in the beginning of the season.

As the NFL season gets deeper and the personality of teams become clearer, the home field advantage can be worth at least 3 points in various stadiums. A few of the teams that have more of a home field advantage in the late fall are Denver, Green Bay, New England, Chicago, and Buffalo. Conversely, teams that are used to playing in adverse conditions may not perform as well on the road in dome stadiums or places where the weather tends to be nice, such as San Diego, Arizona, and Florida. Weather is definitely a major factor when looking at home field advantage, especially in the latter part of the season.

Fan Morale Is As Important as the Team

Home field advantage also is more valuable in the latter part of the season, as many players are fatigued and travel never bodes well with tired and banged up players. It is always nicer to sleep in your own bed and the same goes for football players.

It's in the Spread Already...

You have to know that bookies know what the home field advantage is, so do not think that you have the edge over them, as they already have taken that into consideration when they make the line.