Sports fans and bettors have waited weeks for something that signifies a return to normalcy. Even though we are still dealing with the absence of live games, the NFL Draft is providing a temporary distraction and we are going to help you take full advantage of it.
After specifying some of the markets being offered across the best sportsbooks in New Jersey, we are going to provide some NFL Draft betting tips before making some predictions of our own for what’s turning out to be the biggest sporting event of the spring.
Yes, you can legally bet the NFL Draft online in states such as New Jersey, Indiana, and West Virginia. Despite Pennsylvania having legal wagering, Keystone State residents are unfortunately not able to access lines for this event.
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Despite the event being forced into an all-virtual setting as opposed to the spectacle in Las Vegas it was planned to be, the 2021 NFL Draft is still taking place from April 23-25 as intended and is an opportunity for gambling sites and the betting public alike.
These apps have created a seemingly endless array of markets and NFL Draft betting lines, even more than leading up to last year’s event. This goes hand in hand with the fact that there are plenty of bettors looking for some action on a mainstream sport and welcome the variety of options.
Below is a condensed list of categories that house the seemingly endless number of markets you’ll find if betting at legal sportsbooks in Indiana, New Jersey, West Virginia, or elsewhere:
Regardless of which team you root for or which prospect(s) you are following, there’s an option for every type of bettor when it comes to 2021 NFL Draft betting lines.
In total, the total number of markets is well into the triple digits and covers just about every angle you can think of, from the very first pick to Mr. Irrelevant and everything in between.
After weeks of looking at NFL Draft betting lines, this is one market we just can’t ignore. With the 32 selections in the first round, the total for offensive players is set at 16.5, with the over (-159) being favored ahead of the under (+130).
Even though the value is there on the under, we can’t help but heavily side with the over here. Sure, there’s going to be a section of this first round where we see edge rushers and cornerbacks fly off the board but that comes alongside a collection of offensive options as well.
This draft is loaded with linemen, wide receivers, and quarterbacks at the top and it feels like the offensive side of the ball could be taking center stage in this year’s event. At least enough to garner 17 of the 32 first-round selections.
We recommended including this as part of your NFL Draft betting predictions some weeks back, and the line has since moved from -125 to -159.
Even though siding with us isn’t a high-value play and has a steeper line than it did a couple of weeks ago, it’s also a sign that things are trending in this direction.
The 2018 Biletnikoff Award for being the nation’s top receiver obviously has the versatility to draw the interest of teams in the top half of the first round with holes at the receiver position. But with the over/under currently set at 12.5 so when does Jerry Jeudy get taken?
Teams such as Cardinals (No. 8), Jets (No. 11), Raiders (No. 12), 49ers (No. 13), and Broncos (No. 15) are just a few that are likely interested, and that doesn’t even count those that could trade down for his services.
This could be a spot where once the first guy goes, receivers are going to fly off the shelves because teams don’t miss one out on the talent in this wideout-heavy first round. Whether Jeudy is first or second off the board, we think it happens by the time pick No. 14 arrives.
Safety is a position we won’t hear much about during the opening round of this year’s draft, and that’s exactly how we want it. As it stands, there are two premier safeties in the class: Xavier McKinney (BAMA) and Grand Delpit (LSU).
Whether or not you select over 1.5 or under for the total number of safeties taken in round one, you’re basically wagering on whether both McKinney and Delpit get taken.
With so much focus going toward various offensive positions, and defensive spots like edge rusher, linebacker, and cornerback being the most common defensive areas of need, we think it’s unlikely that both of these players go in the first round.
Before you make any picks, you do need to shape a strategy for wagering on a one-of-a-kind event such as this one. Here are some NFL Draft betting tips to keep in mind when preparing to put a few bucks down on the biggest night of the pro football offseason.
Part of giving yourself the best chance to make smart wagers comes from being as well educated as you possibly can be. Coming up with an NFL Draft betting strategy starts with being aware of all current events and possible developments surrounding the draft.
Following major sports outlets and NFL insiders on social media, and reading articles regarding any relevant draft information is key preparation leading up to draft night. Stay up to date on information and content released by team beat writers and local outlets if focusing on a specific team.
The above tactics can deliver key information including overall team needs and analysis, which prospects a team has met with, which position(s) the franchise could consider going after, and more.
Much of the early line movement after NFL Draft betting odds are released comes directly from professional bettors, also known as sharps. They pounce on lines they feel are out of place, shaping how things look for the betting public.
so even tho the draft is a long way out following these moves from sharps can lead to finding value before it’s all gone
This means that oftentimes, following lines from the time of their release can alert you to which way the sharpest bettors are moving them before the public can cloud things up.
With that said, there is also tons of misinformation spread and rumors that wind up being false as the draft approaches. So it can be a wise NFL Draft betting strategy to get the full picture by letting m markets develop and then betting closer to the event. It is the safest way to do things, even if it means getting a little less value on the odds.
Football fans need to realize that just because they may watch college and pro football, they aren’t scouting and draft experts. You don’t know better than an NFL general manager or people who actually do this for a living.
Don’t be afraid to rely on trustworthy information from respected outlets such as The Draft Network, among others. Use these sites and their resources to get a more realistic idea of the strengths and weaknesses of prospects, what they could bring to a team, and what their realistic draft projection is.
This information isn’t all guaranteed to hand you any easy cash, and these projections are not always correct, but it can make the decision-making process easy when it comes to making bets and lead to some big wins.
There is so much of this content that it can get a little overwhelming. If you look at enough NFL mock drafts (there are dozens every week from various outlets leading up to the draft) you’ll see so many variations of what can happen, it’ll make your head spin.
You can take in this information but try to limit yourself to the real draft experts, because far to many like to invent fake trades or make outlandish selections that pump up that specific article rather than present a realistic scenario.
And even with the reliable sources, take mocks with a grain of salt. Use them as a tool to identify team needs and potential targets but don’t place bets entirely based on a mock draft projection. With a little bit of research, your guess is as good as many of the mocks you wind up reading.
This is where having multiple sportsbook accounts and being able to shop around for the best line comes in handy. Even though plenty of sportsbooks share betting markets, they don’t all have odds that are equal.
It’s entirely possible that one site could have lines that are far more valuable than another, and it proves a couple of things. It definitely helps to be able to compare odds to those at another site for your benefit, and it also proves that even oddsmakers aren’t at a consensus about how the draft is going to play out.
Aside from the actual analysis of players and teams, the most important thing here self-discipline. This would be the case no matter what due to the unpredictability of an event such as this one, but it’s especially important to include this in your NFL draft betting strategy in times like these.
Since this is perhaps the only mainstream sporting event that bettors can wager on for a while, there might be a desire to set aside more money than usual or to take a chance at a massive payout since there haven’t been many opportunities.
We’ll trust everyone to make heir own decisions, but you should definitely set a spending limit for yourself and do your very best to limit yourself to that number. Whether you’re a casual fan or a bettor who has been desperate to put money on something for weeks, treat the draft as a novelty event and not a source of income.