Many football fans overlook the weather when it comes to betting on the NFL, but inclement weather can have a notable impact on how a game pans out.
Have you ever wondered what might happen if a football game was disrupted by snow? What about high wind speeds or extreme temperatures? Well, all of these conditions can affect NFL games. Join us as we highlight how weather impacts NFL betting.
Wind
It could be argued that wind is the most important weather condition for bettors to consider when wagering on an NFL game. After all, high wind speeds can have a significant impact on the final result.
Passing metrics typically decrease as wind speeds increase, meaning passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per attempt, completion percentage and other factors are affected. On top of that, challenging winds can make field goals more difficult to convert.
So, if you like betting on passing yards, passing touchdowns and similar player props, you should always check the wind conditions in the location of the game.
Rain
Research shows that passing production decreases by around 12% in wet conditions. It is also worth noting that FG% jumps to approximately 85% in the presence of rain.
Naturally, a heavy downpour will lead to players slipping all over the field and making more errors. This will often lead to a low-scoring game, so you should bear that in mind if you’re partaking in totals betting or spread betting.
Temperature
55-85 degrees is believed to be the ideal temperature range for an NFL game. Many games will be played across the country within this range, but there will be instances when a contest is disrupted by hot or cold conditions.
From 22-55 degrees, passing production falls by around 5%, while there is an 8% dip when the temperature falls below 25 and above 85. If you’re betting on markets that could be impacted by these temperatures, be sure to check the weather forecast before you part ways with your money.
Snow
As you might expect, there is not a great deal of difference between light rain and light snow. However, heavy snow can have a big impact on how teams operate in an NFL game.
Heavy amounts of snow can lead to a 25% drop in passing production, while field goals in snowy conditions convert at roughly 76%, which represents a 7% drop from the regular field goal conversion rate.
Ultimately, you should always check the weather reports before you bet on an NFL game. Inclement weather can have a significant impact on NFL betting, so be sure to carry out extensive research before you wager on any football game.
Check our our NFL Wong teasers betting guide next.