Intro to NFL in Arizona
Arizona is the home of the Arizona Cardinals, who play in the NFL’s NFC West Division. The Cardinals have the most prominent presence in AZ, but you will often find bettors who like teams that play directly on the west coast.
Even though the Cardinals are the most popular team, sports betting aims to win money. People in the state will wager teams all over the United States to accomplish this goal. The Cardinals have gathered some division titles and one NFC Championship. However, the team has never won the Super Bowl.
Fans in AZ still support the Cardinals in droves, hoping that they can bring a Vince Lombardi Trophy back to the state.
NFL Season Structure
The NFL season structure has been in place since 2002. The NFL consists of two leagues. These two leagues are the AFC and the NFC. The AFC and NFC have four respective divisions totaling eight in the NFL. The divisions are as follows.
AFC: North, East, South, West.
NFC: North, East, South, West.
There are 32 total teams in the NFL. Each NFL team plays 16 regular-season games over the year with one bye week. When preseason games are accounted for, each team plays 20 total games. There are 256 regular-season games in the NFL every season.
Following the season, the eight division champions all advance to the playoffs. Typically, two Wild Card teams make the playoffs in the AFC and in the NFC, which brings the total to ten teams.
Under this format, the first two seeds in each conference receive a bye week. In 2021, the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams with three Wild Card spots.
The season concludes with the Super Bowl in early February.
Where to Bet NFL in Arizona
NFL betting is legal in Arizona. You will be able to wager the league at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals. The professional sports venues and tribal casinos will offer retail betting facilities.
Additionally, there will be 20 mobile sports betting platforms in the state. Two of the headlining companies are DraftKings and FanDuel.
Types of NFL Bets in Arizona
When sports betting is legalized in Arizona, there will be tons of betting options for the NFL. Here are the types of NFL bets that will be available in AZ
Moneyline – The moneyline is the most common NFL bet that is made in the United States. When you bet the moneyline, you are picking a team straight up to win. This bet is widely wagered because of its simplicity. Only one outcome needs to occur for you to win.
Point Spread – The point spread is the wager that levels the unequal playing field in the NFL. With the point spread, you are wagering how much a team is going to win or lose by in a contest. The point spread allows you to bet underdogs to be within a certain number of points without needing them to win.
If a team has a (-) sign next to their total, they are the favorite. If they have a (+) sign, they are an underdog. A team who is -6.5 needs to win by 7 points to cover.
Totals (Over/Under) – The total bet is an excellent wager for the NFL because it allows you to root for both teams in the game. Sportsbooks will generate a certain number of points for a game that they expect to be scored in a contest. As a bettor, you must choose over or under this number. There are also team totals that you can wager.
Prop Bets – Prop bets are more challenging bets to win because they focus on individual players or team statistics. Ex) Will Kyler Murray score over or under 2.5 touchdowns.
Future Bets – NFL future bets are common in the offseason. Future bets are when you wager an outcome at some point over the following season. Betting the Cardinals to win the Super Bowl during the Super Bowl is a future.
Parlay and Teaser Bets – Parlay bets are the best way to make a lot of money on the NFL. Parlays are tougher to win than teasers. Both bets involve coming multiple single bets from different games to heighten your odds. All the bets must hit, but this will come with an increased payout.
Live Betting on NFL in Arizona
Live betting is one of the best wager types for NFL football. In the NFL, the teams are not as lopsided as college football. Any team can win on any given day in the NFL, so live betting should be your best friend in AZ.
Live betting is when you place a wager after the kickoff for a game. When you do this, odds are constantly changing, so live betting requires a lot of strategy. Live betting is a great way to find better odds for an NFL game.
Live betting gives you the same wager types that you would be offered before kickoff. You can bet the constantly evolving moneyline, point spread, over/under, and props. You can also create live parlays and teasers. When you live bet parlays and teasers, your chances of winning these complicated bets are raised.
Here is an example of how you can use live betting to help you in an NFL game.
The Cardinals (-300) are heavily favored over the Bengals. The Bengals drive down the field on the first possession and score.
However, you still want to live bet the Cardinals. This touchdown could cause the Cardinals’ odds to drop to -150. Now your risk would be worth more money through a live bet.
Tips for Betting NFL in Arizona
Betting the NFL is tough to do consistently well. However, there are some tips that you can utilize to succeed with NFL betting.
The biggest tip for successful betting is to do your research. Never place a blind bet or wager off feel. This is the quickest way to lose a lot of money while betting the NFL. Always have a proven reason for wagering the NFL, and it will pay off in the long run.
You should be looking at advanced analytics in preparation to bet the NFL. This will help you figure out how teams will fare against each other on a Sunday. You also must look at the injury report, weather, and other outside factors that can influence the game.
If one of the Cardinals’ best offensive lineman is injured, this could affect the team’s offense. An injury to an offensive lineman could go unnoticed by a fan who is not constantly checking the news. This betting error can cause you to lose a lot of money if you are not aware of what’s going on between the lines.
You do not have to be a football fan to be a great bettor. However, you need to put in the required amount of work to win wagers consistently.
Things to Avoid Betting NFL in Arizona
The NFL is one of the best sports to bet in the United States. Nevertheless, there are a few things to avoid when it comes to NFL betting. In Arizona, it’s critical not to bet on the Cardinals just because you are a fan of the team.
Never let your team come between you and a bet. Only do this if you want to lose. Even if your favorite team is one of the best in football, you always need to be impartial when it comes to NFL betting.
Always break down the matchup and make an informative decision on the numbers. The people who bet against Tom Brady in the Super Bowl because they wanted to see him lose lost a ton of money.
Do not let this mistake happen to you when betting the NFL in Arizona. You also should avoid betting heavy favorites on the moneyline. Some people use the strategy of betting a lot of money on a heavy favorite.
This is not a good strategy in the NFL because all the teams are talented, and any squad can win. If you put a lot of money on high odds, and the bet does not hit, you will lose a lot of cash.
To succeed with high odds, you need to put a lot of money down, so just stay away from these bets as a whole.
FAQ About NFL Betting in Arizona
Is NFL betting legal in Arizona?
Yes, NFL betting is legal in AZ.
Where will you be able to bet on the NFL in Arizona?
You will be able to bet the NFL at the tribal casinos, professional sports venues, and through your mobile device.
Does Arizona have an NFL franchise?
Yes, the Arizona Cardinals play in the National Football League. The Cardinals have been playing in AZ since 1988 after moving from St. Louis.
What division do the Arizona Cardinals play in?
The Arizona Cardinals play in the NFC West Division along with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers.
Who are the best players on the Arizona Cardinals?
The best players on the Cardinals are Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, and J.J. Watt.
Have the Cardinals ever won a Super Bowl?
No, the Cardinals have never won a Super Bowl. They won the NFC Championship in 2008, but the Steelers defeated them in the Super Bowl.