Football Line

Over the years fans that bet football online, have searched for ways to find value on the point-spread line. It used to take a star quarterback or running back to go down to injury, for a good team to see their bookie software odds decrease. However, in the new NFL, the wide receiver is becoming the main target of line movement. With week five just around the corner, we will examine the impact of an injury to a wide receiver.

The new NFL has seen quarterbacks focus on the passing game far more then the running game. As a result, if a star wide receiver goes down, but the star running back is still in the game, you can expect the line to move. For example, in Sunday’s 17 – 10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Houston Texans lost star wide receiver Andre Johnson to an apparent hamstring injury. With Johnson’s status uncertain for the game against the Oakland Raiders, fishing games bookmakers have lowered the spread from seven and a half to five and a half.

In the new NFL, it appears as though Head Coach’s and offensive coordinators do not want to use running back’s as frequently as in years past. An example of this was during the 24-point collapse of the Dallas Cowboys at the hands of the Detroit Lions. Dallas as we mentioned was up by 24, and rather then run out the clock by handing the ball off to running back Felix Jones, Tony Romo was airing the ball out. The result? Three interceptions and a come from behind victory for the Detroit Lions.

Another scenario in which the run game may seem more logical, but the philosophy change is in full effect, is with the Minnesota Vikings. A team historically led by running back Adrian Peterson, currently only runs the ball to start the game, before going to the air for the rest of the afternoon. This in turn, has led to the Vikings going one and three. Sometimes running teams should stick to running rather then passing the football.