NFL back-to-back road games betting is simply wagering on NFL games that involve teams that are playing consecutive away games. The idea is that playing away from home can affect how well a team performs. So bettors try to capitalize on these performance trends by betting on the back-to-back road games.
In this article, I’ll explain how consecutive road games impact a team’s performance. I’ll also cover how you, as a bettor, can place successful wagers by taking advantage of these performance trends. Let’s get into it!
Every NFL team has to play a certain number of road games each season. This involves traveling down to the opponent’s turf and dealing with the added pressure of playing in front of their home crowd. Sometimes, these road games can happen consecutively, which makes them even more challenging for the traveling team. Statistics have shown that teams playing their second consecutive road game tend to perform poorer.
This means that the sequence of games plays a significant part in the performance of a team.
Therefore, you need to consider these sequences, especially when betting NFL back-to-back road games. This will help you place more informed wagers and capitalize on the opportunities from these performance trends.
As mentioned earlier, teams tend to struggle when they play two road games in a row, particularly in the second. In fact, since the NFL moved back to the extra-point format in 2015, teams playing their second consecutive road game have won only 43.4% of the time. This percentage drops even further to 41.8% when excluding data from the 2020 season, during which fans were absent from stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When you look at back–to–back divisional road games, the impact of fatigue on traveling teams becomes even clearer. In the first game against a divisional rival, teams win their road games about 59.8% of the time. They also cover the spread set by sports betting expert oddsmakers 53.8% of the time, which is pretty solid.
However, by the second game, things change drastically. The winning percentage drops to 41.8%, and they only cover the spread 45.6% of the time. This stat shows that the intensity they brought to the first game just doesn’t carry over into the second. Evidently, this period is when the fatigue from all the travel really takes a toll on them.
Statistics have shown the performance trends when teams play back-to-back road games. So, as a bettor, you can use this information wisely as part of your NFL back-to-back road games betting strategy. Below are important factors that you must consider when betting on these back-to-back road games:
When a team travels for road games, it likely has a relatively smaller fan base cheering the players on. What is certain though, is the raucous home crowd of the opponent fully invested in supporting their team. This can create a hostile atmosphere, which might be intimidating for the visiting players, even if they’re stronger. Also, the energy and enthusiasm of the home crowd can significantly elevate the performance of the home team.
As mentioned earlier, teams are usually fatigued during back–to–back road games, especially in the second consecutive match. You should take this into consideration when placing a back to back hits bet or wagering on a second consecutive road game.
In NFL division matchups, away teams often don’t have to travel far. This means they may not experience significant fatigue, especially in their first road game. However, as shown by the stats above, the effect of consecutive road trips is still usually significant in the second game. This means that it might be more logical to favor the home team if the traveling team is playing their second consecutive road game. You should still consider other important metrics to know which side is on track to come out on top.
When you understand the performance trends associated with NFL back-to-back road games, you will be able to make more informed betting decisions when betting on them. However, factors like fatigue and fan presence aren’t the only things to consider when wagering on these games. To get the best results, you should also conduct in-depth research and analysis of other general essential metrics like historical data, team form, H2H stats, injury reports, etc.
Like any other sports betting strategy, the NFL second road game betting strategy does not guarantee victory. However, maximizing the trends and insights when placing wagers can significantly improve your chances of winning. Remember to bet responsibly and always manage your bankroll wisely.
