Sports betting continues to become more popular across the US as more states pass legislation to legalize it, and online sports betting makes it easier than ever to bet on your favorite team.
But has the weather on the field ever influenced the decision to risk your hard-earned money on the outcome of a football or soccer game?
Most people know that the weather can affect the team’s game plan and how well or how poorly the players will perform. This can affect the outcome of the game in terms of which team wins and how many points or runs are scored.
So before you put your money where your mouth is, you might want to consider the weather conditions expected during the game.
Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers reacts after throwing an interception during the first half of the 2015 NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle.
How weather impacts bets on NFL, NCAA football games
According to Kevin Roth, chief meteorologist at RotoGrinders. On the same subject : Classic video games are still close to our hearts.com, you’ll want to consider the forecast winds before placing your bet on this weekend’s football game, whether in the National Football League or the NCAA.
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“Wind has the biggest impact on sports betting,” Roth said. “You’ll see people betting below overall when winds are near or above 20 mph, because it makes it difficult to throw intermediate/deep passes, and it basically eliminates longer field goals.”
For example, if the odds makers set the over/under at 42.5 points, you might consider betting if the winds are expected to be light. But if there are gusty winds in the forecast, you might want to put it on the underside because it would be more difficult for the quarterback to connect with his receivers on a long ball.
A ribbon atop a field goalpost blows in the wind, with an American flag flying in the background.
(Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
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Another factor to consider when placing an NFL or NCAA football bet is whether it will rain during the game. Roth said heavy rain will limit the running game as the wet conditions make it more difficult to hold and throw the ball. That means teams are more likely to run the ball, which can lead to less efficient offenses and fewer points scored by both teams.
So if there is rain in the forecast, especially heavy rain, betting may be the smartest option.
“Some people also prefer underdogs to bet in the rain, because it increases turnover, which makes the game a little more unpredictable,” Roth noted.
HOW WEATHER CAN AFFECT FOOTBALL GAMES
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie kicks in the rain in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs on October 10, 2021, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
That may explain why the underdog Chicago Bears were able to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in a low-scoring game in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, despite the FOX Bet app placing the 49ers as a 6.5-point favorite . Heavy rain flooded Soldier Field in Chicago, forcing grounds crews to push the water off the field with a squeegee throughout the game.
Not only did the Underdog Bears win the final game of that bogus season on September 11th, but anyone who bet on the layup would have gotten paid handsomely with the final score of 19-10 (29 points total) coming in to good about FOX Bet over/under. of 38 points.
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Each week, Roth highlights any football games in the NFL and NCAA that he believes will have the potential for a weather impact, so be sure to use the FOX Weather app to track the latest forecast before placing your bet in the FOX Bet app.
How weather impacts bets on MLB games
Although America’s pastime is not usually played in the rain, other weather conditions such as temperature and wind can affect the outcome of a Major League Baseball game. On the same subject : NFL Week 1 picks, how to watch, stream: Experts’ picks, teasers, survivor picks and more.
According to Roth, temperatures on the pitch can have a big impact on the total number of runs scored over the nine overs, which can influence your decision to over or under bet.
“Warm temperatures result in thin air, which allows a ball to be carried further,” explained Roth. “Cold temperatures mean dense air, and cold-weather games have far fewer runs and home runs than warm-weather games.”
Take New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, for example. July is the average hottest month of the year across the US, and Judge hit 13 balls out of the park in July 2022.
Judge hit more home runs in July than in any other month of the 2022 MLB season as he went on to break the American League single-season home run record, smashing 62 homers into the stands. The previous American League record of 61 home runs in a season was held by former New York Yankee Roger Maris since 1961.
Fittingly, Judge hit those 13 homers in July 2022 amid the third hottest month on record for the US. average temperature higher than July 2022.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hits his 62nd home run, breaking the American League single-season home run record during the game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Arlington , Texas.
(Photos by Cooper Neill/MLB/Getty Images)
The winds during a baseball game are also an important factor to consider when betting over/under, according to Roth.
“The winds that blow out cause extra balls to be carried and more home runs to be carried, which leads to people making betting games,” Roth said. “Winds blowing in from the field mean the opposite.”
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Each ballpark allows for different wind flow, which means that some fields are very sensitive to wind – such as Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.
Lake Michigan is located within walking distance of Wrigley, and gusty winds off the Great Lake will generally blow toward home plate early in the season, providing favorable conditions for the pitchers but not so much for the hitters. Later in the season, however, the winds tend to shift and blow out toward the outfield, making the game more favorable to hitters during the warmer months.
The tarp blows in the wind before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2022, in Chicago.
However, Roth noted that other parks are designed to minimize the potential impact of wind, including the home of the San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park, located on the western shore of San Francisco Bay.
According to SFGate, the engineers designed Oracle Park in a way that would reduce the winds inside the stadium by facing the back of the ballpark into the wind, so while it may be windy out in the parking lot, the much lighter winds on the ball field. .
So what does this mean for betting? Roth monitors the weather conditions during the MLB season and shows how strong and which direction the winds will be blowing in relation to each ballpark.
For example, if the FOX Bet app puts the over/under at 6.5 runs, you might consider betting if the winds are expected to blow towards the middle of the field. But if the winds are blowing in toward home plate, you might want to get the upper hand because it would be harder for the batters to hit the ball into the outfield.
Be sure to use the FOX Weather app to track the forecasted winds leading up to your favorite basketball games so you know the best bets for potential winners.
How weather impacts bets on golf matches
Perhaps you are more of a non-traditional sport and prefer to bet on a Professional Golf Association (PGA) or United States Golf Association (USGA) event such as the Masters in April, the PGA Championship in May or the US Open Championship in June. On the same subject : Ranking the best ‘Yakuza’ video games.
“Golf is great because the weather has a big impact on it,” said Roth. “Perhaps the number one sport where weather matters, and if there’s one that’s going to compete, it’s baseball.”
Golf in the elements
Rain, wind and even the position of the sun can have a big impact on a round of golf.
For example, on a sunny day, the grass will lean towards the sun, which can change the direction of the putt. Or if the grass has dried out significantly after a stretch of hot, dry weather, it will be easier for your golf balls to roll right off the green.
Light rain can be the most beneficial weather for golfers, according to Roth, because it slows the ball down a bit, making it easier to putt.
And like baseball, golfers are able to drive the ball farther during warmer temperatures because of the thinner air, but on a colder day the ball would have much more air resistance, limiting the with the length of those drives.
HOW THE WEATHER CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR GOLF GAME
But if you’re looking for an edge the next time you use the FOX Bet app to place a bet on a golf game, Roth believes wind is the biggest weather factor on the golf course.
The flag on the 18th hole bends in the wind during a weather delay during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 8, 2014, in Pebble Beach, California.
On a typical day, winds tend to be lighter in the morning before picking up in the afternoon as daytime heat from the sun causes winds in the upper atmosphere to mix down towards the ground, resulting in stronger gusts from around midday in the early evening. .
“Because players leave at different times of the day, savvy sports bettors will target those who can play at times with lower winds,” Roth said. “On days that start with calm winds and pick up a lot, this can create a very advantageous betting pattern.”
As he does for the NFL and MLB, Roth lends his expertise to the PGA Tour and highlights any weather advantages or disadvantages golfers may face on the tee, so be sure to take advantage from the FOX Weather app to track current conditions. and get the latest forecast before you place your bet.
