NFL preseason betting includes the Hall of Fame game and then four weeks of full action. How do you handicap teams in NFL preseason odds after they played the Hall of Fame game? Let’s take a look.
NFL betting numbers do not favor teams having played in the Hall of Fame game. You would think that a team having played a game already would be a solid pick in online sports betting against a team that was playing their first preseason game but that is not the case. In the last 10 years those teams playing at home have really been bad wagers against the NFL preseason odds at the sports book. They are 4-10-2 in the last 16 instances of NFL betting.
Last season Washington was home against Buffalo in Week 1 after having played in the Hall of Fame game and they failed to cover against the NFL betting odds. Two years ago both Hall of Fame participants were at home in Week 1 and didn’t cover the NFL odds. Pittsburgh lost outright to Green Bay and New Orleans lost outright to Buffalo in NFL preseason betting.
Playing in the Hall of Fame game is an honor that most teams like to have. Coaches definitely like the extra game since they have more time to work on things. History has shown though that the teams in the game really don’t bounce back well the following week versus the NFL preseason betting number. This is important to keep in mind because oftentimes the public and the media are going to be all over the Hall of Fame game teams the next week in online sports betting. Looking back at history we know that teams at home are not good wagers against the NFL preseason odds. Always remember that just because something seems logical does not mean it is. That is definitely the case when it comes to teams playing in the Hall of Fame game.
The 2009 Hall of Fame Game has the Buffalo Bills playing the Tennessee Titans. You may want to go against both of those teams the following week as Buffalo hosts Chicago and Tennessee hosts Tampa Bay.
There are always situations to consider in NFL preseason betting at the sports book. This is just one that applies to the Hall of Fame game.