Overlooked Handicapping Tools

There are three handicapping tools that are, many times, overlooked, which are the special teams play, turnovers, and the weather factor.

Special Teams

Many times football bettors and handicappers overlook the special teams when they look at games. To begin with, a solid kickoff return and punt return team can pile up hidden yardage for an offense and the kicking team has a huge impact in the field position battle. A kick or punt return that is run back for a score puts up points quickly and that is what wins games and bets. Conversely, kickers and punters that can pin their opponents deep in their territories are vital to their team. Field position is so important in football and if you have a solid kicking game that can make the field longer for the defense then it gives that team a huge advantage.

If you bet on football you have defiantly lost a game or won or lost a game with a late field goal made or missed. Often times missed chanced by the special units team can determine whether a team covers a spread or does not. A game that has two evenly matched defensive teams can often be decided by which team plays better in the special units aspect of the game. If you handicap games try to find teams that have the advantage in return yards, net punt yards, and field goal accuracy. Also look for teams that have a kicker that can pin the opposing team deep on kickoffs.

Teams that have a solid special teams unit are ones that may be a solid bet, especially when matched up against even teams. Special teams is an aspect of the game that does not get much attention, but it has to be taken into account when handicapping games.

Turnovers

Turnovers are also overlooked often when handicapping football games. There are football teams that turn the ball over more than others. It can be a QB that takes too many chances or fumbles often, i.e. Kurt Warner, or a RB that simply has trouble holding onto the ball. Bet against teams that have a lot of turnovers, check the turnover margin, and bet on teams that have a solid + turnover margin. Also, if a team goes against their style in the previous week and then the game has a different outcome the odds will not show this turnover margin and because of this you should bet against what the expectations are.

The Weather Factor

Weather is also a handicapping tool that tends to be overlooked. When you handicap a handicap a game you want to check how the weather may have an effect on the game. As a rule of thumb teams that are from warm weather location tend to struggle when they play in cold weather. Teams that rely on a passing offense will be adversely affected if the weather in the game is windy or rainy. When you see a weather forecast of a game and the conditions are going to be windy and rainy it is always good to bet on the team with the better running game. You have to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of teams and how the weather will have an effect on them. The weather factor is not the most important handicapping tool, but it is one that you should look at when you handicap a game.