NFL First Drive Stats
NFL First Drive Stats for Betting
Table Legend
- GP: Games Played
- Punt: % of 1st drives that resulted in a punt
- Off. TD: % of 1st drives that resulted in an offensive TD
- FGA: % of 1st drives that resulted in a field goal attempt
- Other: % of 1st drives that resulted in either a turnover, defensive touchdown, or safeties
- Off. Score: % of 1st drives that resulted in an offensive score overall
What Is NFL First Drive Betting?
Traditionally, NFL Sundays for sports bettors involved point spreads, moneylines, over/unders, and three hours of sweating out our bets.
But for those who enjoy betting on NFL first drives, there is no point spread to cover and definitely no three-hour sweat watching it all play out.
Betting on a team’s first drive is a bet that can be over with just one play. A bettor must decide what the result of that 1st drive will be and place their bet accordingly.
The first drive bet option exists for both teams and is not restricted to the opening drive of a game.
A bettor can bet the 1st drive result for either team.
Best Sportsbooks for NFL First Drive Betting
NFL first drive betting allows bettors to wager on what will happen during a team’s opening possession of the game. Popular markets include whether the drive will result in a touchdown, field goal, punt, turnover, or score of any kind, making these wagers an exciting way to get action from the opening kickoff.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings offers a variety of NFL first drive betting markets throughout the regular season and playoffs. Bettors can target opening-drive outcomes while also accessing player props, game lines, and same-game parlays.
The sportsbook provides extensive statistical resources, including team scoring trends and offensive efficiency metrics that can help evaluate first-possession opportunities. First drive betting has become one of the fastest-growing NFL specialty markets.
Pros:
- Extensive first drive betting markets
- Strong NFL statistical resources
- Same-game parlay availability
- Broad player prop selection
Cons:
- Specialty markets may vary by game
- Odds can move significantly before kickoff
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel features first drive betting across a wide range of NFL matchups. Bettors can analyze offensive tendencies, scripted plays, and early-game scoring trends when evaluating opening-possession wagers.
The platform offers a simple and intuitive betting experience while maintaining strong football coverage. First drive betting options are available alongside a comprehensive menu of NFL props and futures.
Pros:
- Competitive first drive betting odds
- User-friendly mobile platform
- Strong NFL betting coverage
- Frequent sportsbook promotions
Cons:
- Some specialty props vary by matchup
- Markets can fluctuate throughout the week
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM includes first drive betting as part of its extensive NFL wagering lineup. Bettors can predict opening-drive outcomes while also exploring touchdown props, player props, and game betting markets.
The sportsbook provides broad football coverage from Week 1 through the playoffs. First drive markets offer bettors an opportunity to focus on the earliest moments of the game.
Pros:
- Strong specialty betting coverage
- Broad NFL wagering menu
- Regular sportsbook promotions
- Extensive futures markets
Cons:
- Market availability varies by jurisdiction
- Some niche props may be limited
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook provides NFL first drive betting across many regular-season and postseason games. Bettors can wager on whether a team scores, punts, or turns the ball over during its opening possession.
The sportsbook offers comprehensive football coverage and a variety of specialty wagering options. First drive betting remains a popular alternative to traditional game lines and totals.
Pros:
- Reliable first drive betting markets
- Caesars Rewards integration
- Strong NFL coverage
- Multiple wagering options
Cons:
- Specialty markets vary by matchup
- Odds can move rapidly before kickoff
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 showcases one of the deepest NFL specialty betting menus available, including first drive betting and numerous game-specific props. Bettors can access a variety of opening-possession outcomes alongside live betting opportunities.
The sportsbook is particularly popular among football bettors who enjoy alternative markets and detailed wagering options. First drive betting fits well with its extensive prop menu.
Pros:
- Extensive specialty betting options
- Strong live betting functionality
- Numerous alternate football markets
- Deep NFL wagering coverage
Cons:
- Large menu may overwhelm some users
- Market availability varies by location
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers offers first drive betting throughout the NFL season and playoffs. Bettors can evaluate offensive performance, quarterback tendencies, and coaching strategies before making opening-drive selections.
The platform provides a straightforward betting experience while maintaining strong football market coverage. First drive betting is available on many of the week’s marquee games.
Pros:
- Competitive first drive betting odds
- Easy-to-use sportsbook interface
- Strong NFL betting menu
- Multiple wagering options
Cons:
- Fewer alternate markets than some competitors
- Promotions vary by jurisdiction
Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet incorporates first drive betting into its growing NFL betting portfolio. Bettors can wager on opening-possession outcomes while also exploring player props, touchdown markets, and futures bets.
The sportsbook offers a clean user experience and updates odds regularly leading into kickoff. First drive betting provides an engaging way to have action from the very first possession of the game.
Pros:
- Clean and intuitive platform
- Competitive specialty betting odds
- Strong NFL coverage
- Growing selection of betting markets
Cons:
- Available markets vary by location
- Fewer specialty options than larger operators
How Does NFL Opening Drive Betting Work?
Sportsbooks will provide odds on different 1st drive result possibilities.
- Punt.
- Touchdown.
- Field Goal Attempt.
- Turnover | Safety | Other.
A bettor must decide what the result of the first drive will be and pick the option and odds that work best for their strategy.
Important to note that the Field Goal Attempt option doesn’t require a bettor to decide if the FG will be made or missed.
They only need a team to attempt it.
Don’t be late for the opening kick-off because this bet doesn’t usually take very long to settle.
First Drive Results Bet Vs. First Drive Any Other Bet
The difference between a first drive any other bet and a first drive results bet lies in the type of outcomes being wagered on.
| 1st Drive Results Bet | 1st Drive Any Other Bet |
| Common outcomes to bet on might include:– Touchdown– Field Goal– Punt– Turnover (e.g., interception, fumble)– Field Goal MissBettors select from one of these specific options based on how they think the first drive will end. | Any outcome other than common options that cover alternative, less frequent outcomes, such as:– Safety– Blocked field goal or punt– Turnover on downs (failure to convert on 4th down)It’s often seen as a way to bet on rare events that aren’t typically expected to happen. |
How NFL First Drive Odds Work
When betting on NFL 1st drive results, a bettor will analyze moneyline odds for the available options.
Example: Buffalo Bills 1st Drive Result
| Result Options | Odds |
| Punt | +140 |
| Touchdown | +175 |
| Field-Goal Attempt | +400 |
| Turnover, Turnover on Downs, or Safety | +450 |
Looking at our odds table above, we can see that the two most likely occurrences for the Buffalo Bills first drive of the game is either they punt the ball or score a touchdown.
The field goal attempt and turnover/safety option have significantly higher odds than the punt or touchdown options.
Using The BestOdds.com NFL Opening Drive Betting Table
The appeal to betting on NFL opening drive results is obvious, especially once you have sat through a few betting tickets yourself.
This is a high-adrenaline, intense, and over-in-a-hurry type of bet.
Unlike riding the emotional roller coaster of a +3-hour game, opening drive bets don’t take long to play out.
The BestOdds.com NFL Opening Drive standings page is updated after each night of NFL action.
This page needs to become part of your regular rotation if you are even just thinking of betting on NFL opening drives.
As bettors, we can quickly find out how every NFL team has performed on their opening drives all season long.
Access to every team’s opening drive Punt Percentage, Touchdown Percentage, and Field Goal Attempt Percentage, all broken down by home and away games if you require.
Pay Attention to What the Stats Don’t Provide
When it comes to betting on the opening drive results, we can make our strategy as simple or complicated as we wish.
For some, a bet like this is simply looking at Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs get plus money odds to score a TD.
Who can resist that scenario watching Mahomes to Travis Kelce and others light it up each week?
For some bettors looking to take their research to another level, here are some other pieces of information to consider that the stats won’t provide.
Game Total (O/U)
The total for a game is a great place to start your research because the number set by the sportsbook will tell us if they expect a game to be high or low scoring.
If a game is low scoring, we expect the odds for a 1st Drive Touchdown to have a bigger payout than a 1st Drive Punt.
The reverse might be true if the O/U for a game was unusually high.
Sportsbooks are expecting a shootout, and if the game plays up to their expectations, punts will be few and far between.
Weather
Weather information can be interesting for a couple of reasons.
Weather can impact a team’s ability to score in so many ways. Wind, rain, and cold are just some ways weather can make scoring points difficult.
Weather information can also be very interesting after the coin toss but before the game has started.
Suppose a bettor understands that a strong breeze is blowing across the field, making throwing the ball extremely difficult in one specific direction.
Once the coin toss has been completed, and the direction each team will be going has been determined, there is still time to place a bet.
You might find odds that were unable to adjust to the weather issues in time.
With their weather research completed, a quick-to-react bettor can take advantage of that small window of time.
Other NFL 1st Drive Betting Options
Along with betting on the 1st drive result, a bettor has a couple of different variations of this bet available to play if they wish.
1st Drive Result Grouped
| No Offensive Score (-260) | Offensive Score (+200) |
First Drive Result Grouped is a simplified version of this bet. Instead of having four options to select from, a bettor only needs to decide if a team will or will not score points.
1st Drive Field Goal Made
| Yes +475 | No -900 |
Betting on whether or not a team will successfully make a field goal on their opening drive is also an option with some sportsbooks.
First-drive successful field goals can be a rare occurrence for some teams, and the odds of that happening can be very enticing.
Shop Around
When it comes to being profitable and taking on the sportsbooks head to head, the single greatest edge a bettor has is to shop around for the Best Odds available for the bet they want to make.
See the latest NFL odds here for major sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, Hard Rock Bet, and BetRivers.
Buffalo Bills 1st Drive Results
| 1st Drive Results | DraftKings | FanDuel |
| Touchdown | +175 | +270 |
| Punt | +140 | +100 |
| Field Goal Attempt | +400 | +440 |
| Turnover / Other | +450 | +500 |
Our table above is an excellent example of why shopping around provides the single most significant advantage for a bettor.
Imagine wanting to bet on the most likely scenario option, which is the Bills to Punt on their first possession.
A bettor would see a 40% difference in profit between selecting the Best Odds or the worst odds available for this bet.
This is a 40% difference in profit for just one wager.
If you multiply this type of advantage throughout an entire NFL betting season, the difference between shopping around or not could be massive.
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