The NFL is a big sporting event for Canadians. Fans flock to the stadiums or sit in front of their TVs to catch the excitement and cheer for their favourite teams. Along with that, people spend a large sum on betting on the outcomes of the games. We all have our own methods, but many rely on NFL expert picks to make their decisions.
However, can you trust picks made by people who claim to be experts? Should you wager your money based on what others think?
Let’s explore more on the topic.
What Are NFL Expert Picks?
Fans are not the only ones following the NFL closely. Several sports analysts, media persons, and experts watch the matches closely to take note of important developments. They factor in multiple things, like a team or a player’s past performance, to make predictions about the results of a match.
NFL expert picks are predictions made by trusted sources, like a sports magazine. You may place your bets based on the picks made by NFL experts to improve your likelihood of winning.
Sometimes, websites publish expert picks and odds to help bettors make a decision. However, you should not rely only on expert picks to make your predictions. Several other factors also influence how a game may turn out to be.
What Factors do NFL Experts Consider?
Sports analysts or journalists do not make predictions based on guesswork. They make their choice based on solid data and a bit of gut feeling. However, not every expert takes account of the same information while making predictions. It is up to you to analyze different predictions and form your own decision.
Below are a few factors that experts use to make NFL predictions:
Performance of the Team
A team is more likely to win a match if they already have a winning streak. The players will be highly motivated to defeat their opponents, who might not have an equal chance.
As a result, a team’s recent performance is an important factor to consider while making predictions. An expert may also look at the overall performance and historical data to make predictions accurately.
Team Injuries
The outcome of any game depends on the skills of the key players. If they get injured, the team may not perform as expected by experts earlier.
Therefore, player injuries are another vital factor in making NFL picks.
Schedule
Players need enough rest between games to keep up their performance. However, they had to play many games at a stretch, even a few years back in the NFL. In such cases, the performance of an athlete was bound to suffer.
Even today, a player’s performance depends on the rest time. So, sports analysts keep an eye on the schedule to make solid predictions.
Location and Weather
Every team wants to play in their hometown as it brings an advantage. NFL experts also know it and track the matches’ location to make sure their picks are reliable.
Weather can also impact how a game turns out and forms a part of making NFL expert picks.
Emotional Factors
Players go through stress just like any other professional. It hampers their productivity and how they perform in the field.
So, sports analysts try to find out more about the mental states of the players or conflicts in a team. It is also an important factor to consider to make NFL predictions.
NFL experts may rely on other information to pick their teams or players. But should you go along with their decisions?
Can You Place Your Faith on NFL Expert Picks?
Researchers had the same question we have about NFL picks. So, they chose 100 people who claimed to be very knowledgeable about the NFL. Some of them were from the media and had been making predictions for a long time. Additionally, they had their own ways of predicting the outcomes of matches.
The researchers asked them to predict the outcome of 256 games in the NFL 2017 – 2018 season. They also set up metrics to track the accuracy of the predictions and the correct number of picks.
Surprisingly, most participants made the right predictions for 155 – 175 games. Moreover, the top experts made correct picks for around 180 matches. Even those who performed poorly predicted around 150 outcomes accurately.
Overall, the experts could predict the outcomes of 174 games without fail.
Should You Place Your Bets based on NFL Expert Picks?
Research shows most NFL experts are right about their choices. So, you may expect returns on your wagers by following what experts have to say.
However, even experts don’t always make the right predictions. In the study above, NFL experts failed to predict the outcome of around 70 – 80 matches. So, you are bound to lose money or earn very less profit if you wager based on only expert picks.
As a result, use NFL predictions to understand what others are thinking. Next, do your research and acquire more knowledge about the NFL, teams, and players.
Additionally, try to learn more about betting and how different concepts like odds work. You will also come across many more ways to bet on the NFL and not just on a game’s results.
The internet is your friend, and you have enough resources to complete your learning. Moreover, you may even follow the NFL picks and odds presented by reliable sources.
In the end, you will become an expert in making accurate predictions. You will also learn when to trust your instincts, sometimes required for an expert pick.
Final Thoughts
NFL expert picks serve as a foundation for making a bet. Experts rely on several factors to make predictions to assist gamblers in improving their winning chances. You should stick with proven experts who are known for accurate predictions for the best results. However, the NFL picks between experts may vary, and you are to perform your own research. Additionally, track the latest developments and statistics to ensure you make the right NFL picks and predictions.
