Football is America’s favorite sport, and the NFL is the most popular league. The league has dominated Sunday television as players are interested in their favorite teams and every other game as well.
Since the NFL has changed over time, there are lots of interesting facts that you may not know about. Here are a few interesting facts about the NFL and NFL betting.
1. The Super Bowl
Even though the media refers to the first two AFL-NFL championship games as ‘Super Bowls,’ the term has a different origin. It was initially coined in reference to the third Super Bowl where the New York Jets beat Baltimore Colts.
The ‘Namath’s Guarantee’ was also coined from this game. It is from when QB Joe Namath from the Jets guarantees that they’ll beat the Colts before the game starts. Find the best NFL betting lines at https://www.oddsshark.com/nfl/odds.
2. Winless Regular Season
Six teams have gone winless in a season since 1994. The Detroit Lions are the latest to have done so in 2008. They are the only NFL team to have lost 16 teams in just one season. In the 1944 NFL season, two teams went winless for the first time in history.
3. Most Super Bowl Losses
Throughout the history of the NFL, many teams have faced notable losses. However, many references have been made to the woes of the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s. They were in the Super Bowl for four years straight and always lost.
However, they aren’t the only team to have faced such troubles. The Minnesota Vikings may not have lost four seasons straight, but they lost four Super Bowls in eight years.
Having never won the Super Bowl, the Bills are also on top of the losses list. Although Denver has won two Super Bowls, they have also lost four.
4. The First Black Pro Football Player
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1945 when he played in the MLB. Even though many think he was the first black athlete to do that, Charles Follis actually preceded him. He was the first black footballer to play professionally in 1904.
5. The Longest Losing Streak
The 1976-1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the longest losing streak in NFL history. The team lost 26 games. Between 2007-2010, Detroit Lions lost 26 away matches, creating another record. The Dallas Cowboys were also unfortunate to lose 14 straight home games in 1988-1990.
6. Two-Way Players
Two-way players are particularly common in high school football. In some teams, they are actually a requirement. However, they aren’t very common in the modern-day NFL. Did you know that before 1961, NFL players were always expected to be two-way?
Mel Hein and Chuck Bednarik were considered the best two-way players of their time. For 15 years, Hein played full-time in all New York Giant games. He played linebacker on defense and center on offense.
Chuck Bednarik became the last two-way NFL player. He achieved this feat in 1960, having played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962. He was a linebacker playing defense and a center playing offense.
7. Super Bowl Back-to-Back Champions
Eight teams have managed to pull back-to-back championships in NFL history. The most recent happening was the New England Patriots pulling off a win in both the 2004 and 2005 Super Bowls. The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled it off twice.
8. The Pro Football Hall of Fame
If you are a fan of the NFL, you’ve probably wondered why the Pro Football Hall of Fame is based in Canton, Ohio. Canton Bulldogs played 25 games with no defeat between 1921 and 1923. The Canton Bulldogs eventually won two NFL championships in 1922 and 1923.
Legendary NFL player Jim Thorpe played for the team during that period. The early success of this team influenced the decision to have the Hall of Fame in Canton.
9. Northern Super Bowl City
New Orleans, Miami, Tampa, and L.A are the most popular Super Bowl destinations. However, you may have noticed that northern cities don’t get enough opportunities.
However, the first Super Bowl was held in Detroit, a northern city. Before Indianapolis hosted in 2012, there had been three other instances.
10.Undefeated Regular Season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins wasn’t the first team to get through the regular season with no defeats. In fact, it had already been three times; 1934 (Chicago Bears), 1942(Chicago Bears), and 2007(England Patriots).
The biggest difference is that the Dolphins went through both the regular season and postseason undefeated. This is more than you could say for the other teams.
Smart NFL Betting Tips
Every NFL lover has probably thought of betting on it at some point. Whether you are a new or pro bettor, there are a few NFL betting tips to keep in mind. They make your experience more rewarding and boost your ROI. Here are a few of them:
1. Avoid Parlays
Parlays aren’t always your best options. A 12-1 parlay, for example, can look very attractive. However, what you don’t realize is that you could be giving the house significant edge. If you are looking for profits, parlays are not your best options. They are more appropriate for entertainment betting.
However, parlays can be effective when you need to leverage your edge. NFL games are difficult to beat, and you don’t want to give away too much edge.
2. Understand NFL Teasers
Blindly teasing teams in the NFL could be profitable in some instances. However, you need to be smart with the teasers. Before breaking even on a six-point teaser at -110 odds, for example, you’d need to find teams with over 72.4 percent probability of covering after a tease. You’d be smart to avoid teasing totals.
3. Shop Around
One of the best ways to improve your edge is by shopping around to find a variety of books. Luckily, it doesn’t take much effort. Check out online reviews and use comparison sites to find the best odds. Using a variety of sites gives you access to more bonuses and promotions.
