2018 NFL Season Betting Checklist

On September 6, the 2018 regular season in the National Football League will get underway, as the Atlanta Falcons visit the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in prime time. Sports betting is a huge business, and the NFL is the biggest source of action each fall. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed individual states to determine whether or not they want to legalize sports wagers, you can expect the volume in the United States to increase even further. As you prepare for the 2018 NFL season, check out these steps to make sure that you can maximize your profits for the upcoming NFL odds.

2018 NFL Season Betting Checklist

.@AaronRodgers12, @packers agree to 4-year contract extenstion with over $100M in guarantees: https://t.co/xFSktoGIDi (via @89JonesNTAF) pic.twitter.com/0Ekno31acF

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2018

Keep a close eye on those final injury reports

The biggest injury that people are keeping an eye on in the NFL is the knee of Carson Wentz, as he blew two ligaments in the same joint last year and has only recently been cleared for live action. He hasn’t appeared in any preseason games for the Philadelphia Eagles, and backup Nick Foles has struggled significantly in the early going. However, Wentz is far from the only key injury. Will AJ McCarron start at quarterback for the Bills, or is his collarbone too fragile? Or will Josh Allen start instead, despite having to go into the concussion protocol after the Bills’ demolition by Cincinnati? Will Eric Berry return at safety in time for Week 1 for the Kansas City Chiefs? There are a lot of key injuries to watch, and you need to know as much as you can before locking in any bets.

Pay attention to last-minute signings

The biggest name still out there on the free-agent board is Dez Bryant, whom the Dallas Cowboys cut loose and who received a three-year offer from the Baltimore Ravens, only to spurn it, holding out for a one-year deal that has not yet materialized. As teams start to make cuts, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Bryant turn up somewhere, such as Cleveland, as teams realize that an aging possession receiver who has played at an elite level might not be a bad idea to roll out there in a slot formation. There’s also Seattle safety Earl Thomas, who has been linked to numerous trade rumors, mostly in connection with the Cowboys. Safety Eric Reid, who has not found work since joining Colin Kaepernick in the kneeling protests, could contribute to defenses, as could safety Tre Boston. Cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, defensive tackle Johnathan Harkins, linebacker NaVorro Bowman — not to mention Kaepernick — all remain unsigned and available for teams at the present time. Each of them could provide the sort of jolt that could alter point spreads.

Familiarize yourself with the latest player movement

Carlos Hyde was a terrific running back with San Francisco last year, but now he’s part of a three-man running game in Cleveland, along with Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. Derrick Henry had to share time with DeMarco Murray in Tennessee last year, but Murray is gone, which will leave Henry with more carries on the season. Teddy Bridgewater was shipped by  Minnesota to the New York Jets, but with Josh McCown and Sam Darnold in the fold, they sent Bridgewater down south to join the Saints, where he makes an intriguing backup for Drew Brees this season and, at least potentially, a successor once Brees’ age finally catches up to him. Rosters are changing daily right now, so stay abreast of player movement so that you can find so that your bet on Week 1 action will be as informed as possible.

Watch spread movement

The point spreads that came out in the early spring have likely shifted significantly between then and now, thanks to player movement and other rumors swirling around the league. As spreads move, they do not always reflect realities in the league but instead expect the best balance of the betting out there. Perennial favorites always get heavier betting than what they may deserve, particularly in the early going, and the savvy sports bettor can take advantage.