NFL Sportsbook – Bet a Teaser To Score on Hall of Fame Game This Sunday

The fact that the Dallas Cowboys are 3-point underdogs in the NFL sportsbook in their game against the Cincinnati Bengals in this Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game means only one thing, that the NFL odds makers aren’t exactly sure who the winner of Sunday’s game is supposed to be.

Making the home team a 3-point favorite over the opposing team is traditionally the way that NFL odds makers tell sports gamblers that the game is “up in the air”.  In this case, the home team really isn’t playing at home.  The Bengals are considered the home team by some sports news outlets even though this game is being held at Fawcett Stadium not the Bengals’ home stadium.

Although I believe that betting on one of these teams to win against the spread is a fruitless endeavor, I do believe that making an NFL teaser bet could yield profits.  Take a look below at how.

NFL Pre-season:  Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Where:  Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH
When:  August 8th, 2010 at 8:00 pm EST
TV:  NBC

NFL Betting Lines

Cincinnati Bengals                              -3 Ev               O 33 -110

Dallas Cowboys                                  +3 Ev              U 33 -110

I’m of the opinion that betting on either the Bengals or the Cowboys against the spread is a recipe for disaster.  If a sports gambler really feels strongly about either Cincinnati or Dallas, then he’s in the minority.

In these situations, and if I still feel I can make some dough betting on the game or want more action on the game than what I originally bet, I will go ahead and take advantage of securing more points by making a teaser bet. 

The best teaser bet that I believe I can make is below:

Dallas +9 ½ to Under 39 ½

The bet above is a wager on the Cowboys +6 ½ points and the Under +6 ½ points.  Why 6 ½ instead of 6?  Because often times it’s that ½ a point that can either make or break any bet including an NFL teaser bet.

Why bet on the Cowboys instead of the Bengals?  Because in this game I believe that the defenses are going to dominate, at least in the first three quarters, and that both teams’ offensive coordinators are going to be hesitant to show their best stuff so early in the pre-season.

Therefore, in a close, defensive game, it makes sense to use the team receiving the most points.  In this case, that’s the ‘Boys who are already receiving 3-points in the sportsbook before making the teaser bet. 

Since I believe that defenses will rule the day, adding 6 ½ points to the Under and using that in the teaser bet is pretty much a foregone conclusion.  By betting a teaser with the Cowboys +6 ½ to Under the total, I believe that it’s perfectly possible to create a profitable wager on Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game.

NFL Teaser Bet:  Dallas +9 ½ to Under 39 ½   

The NFL Pre-season is here!  Check out free picks in the sportsbook!

Sources:  covers.com, espn.com