Halftime Wagering: Low Scoring is Commonplace

When making halftime wagers, it’s common in football for games to be lower scoring, if the situations fall right. The NFL playoffs can present opportunities, especially if the home team has a big halftime lead and either a strong running game or a great defense.

I thought of this Monday night watching the national championship game between Florida and Ohio State. The Gators were unstoppable in the first half, rolling up a 34-14 lead. The offense did whatever it wanted while the defense was suffocating the Buckeyes. Faced with such a huge halftime lead, there was no reason for Florida to keep piling on the points. If you watched their second half game strategy, it was obvious: Let’s run the football, control the ball and the clock, and minimize potential risks such as turnovers. Neither team scored in the third quarter, though you know that is the Gators really wanted to they probably could have.

The second half total was around 23, and with a scoreless third quarter, anyone who wagered on the under was pretty much home free. In last year’s opening round of the playoffs, the Panthers – a ball control, run-oriented team with a great defense, jumped all over the Giants with a 10-0 halftime lead. There were only 13 second half points scored, easily going under the total. That same day, the conservative Redskins led 17-3 at Tampa Bay, and proceeded to get out of town as fast as possible: There were only 7 second half points scored. Again, the game plan was simple – no mistakes, go to the running game, play the field position battle and use one of its strengths – defense – to keep the lead and ice the win.

If a game is close at the half, you really can’t use this betting strategy. Since both teams are still in it, one team is not going to be content with just running the football and punting away, as it’s still anybody’s game.

The old rule is if the home team is up by two touchdowns or more, take a serious look at the under for the second half. It helps if the home team has a strong defense and a decent running game. This happens in the NFL, especially with conservative coaches who have reliable running games and above-average defenses. NFL playoff teams that currently fit this model, if they have a big first half lead, would be the Ravens, Chargers, Bears, and Seahawks. Yes, we all look for games and point spreads to beat, but don’t ignore halftime wagering, either, because there are all kinds of methods to build your betting bankroll.

Back to Article Listing