NFL First Half ATS Stats

BestOddsBetting OddsNFLFirst Half ATS Stats
Published:
Updated:
Malcolm DarnleySenior Writer
Ali Raza
Fact Checker

NFL 1st Half ATS Standings

Table Legends

  • ATS: The team’s current record against the spread in the 1st half
  • Cover %: The percentage of games covered ATS in the 1H
  • ATS +/-: Average ATS margin in the 1H
  • Home: ATS record for all home games in the 1H
  • Away: ATS record for all away games in the 1H
  • Last 4: The team’s record ATS in the 1st half over the last 4 games
  • 2023: The team’s record ATS in the 2023 season plus cover %

NFL 1st Half Betting

There is no league more popular than the NFL when it comes to sports betting.

It is believed that over $26 billion was wagered on NFL football last year in the United States alone.

Because the NFL is so popular, sportsbooks must spend a lot of time and effort ensuring their NFL odds are sharp.

If the betting public recognizes a wrong number, you can be sure that money will come flying in to bet on it.

One approach that some successful gamblers like to employ for NFL betting is to focus on more niche bets.

The traditional point spread, moneyline, and over/under lines get so much focus from the betting public that operators spend most of their time and effort making sure those numbers are extremely accurate.

A sports bettor might find an edge or jump on a trend before the betting public recognizes it if they focus on just the first half bets offered.

First-half wagers don’t get the same focus from the betting public and therefore don’t get the same attention from the sportsbooks.

Below we dive into NFL first-half betting stats and strategies to help you make better decisions next time you place an NFL first-half bet.

If you like betting on the first half of NFL, you might enjoy betting on the NFL 1st Half O/U as well.

Best Sportsbooks for NFL First Half Against the Spread Stats Betting

NFL first-half against the spread (ATS) betting focuses on how teams perform versus the betting line during the opening two quarters of a game. Many bettors prefer first-half ATS wagers because they can capitalize on offensive efficiency, game plans, and matchup advantages before second-half adjustments and late-game situations impact results.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings - Logo with green background and crown.

DraftKings offers extensive first-half ATS betting throughout the NFL regular season and playoffs. Bettors can wager on first-half point spreads while also accessing team totals, player props, and same-game parlays.

The sportsbook provides detailed team statistics and matchup analysis tools that can help identify value in early-game betting markets. First-half ATS wagers remain one of the most popular alternatives to full-game spreads.

Key Features:

  • Extensive first-half ATS betting markets
  • Same-game parlay functionality
  • Detailed team and matchup statistics
  • Broad NFL prop selection

FanDuel Sportsbook

Fanduel - Logo with blue shield and text.

FanDuel features first-half ATS betting across a wide variety of NFL matchups. Bettors can analyze offensive trends, quarterback play, and historical first-half performance when evaluating spread opportunities.

The platform offers competitive football odds and a user-friendly betting experience. First-half wagering is available alongside a full menu of NFL props and game markets.

Key Features:

  • Competitive first-half ATS odds
  • Easy-to-use mobile platform
  • Strong NFL betting coverage
  • Frequent football promotions

BetMGM Sportsbook

BETMGM - Logo with a lion and sports text.

BetMGM includes first-half ATS betting as part of its comprehensive NFL wagering lineup. Bettors can focus on early-game performance while also exploring player props, team totals, and full-game spreads.

The sportsbook provides broad football coverage throughout the season and regularly updates betting lines leading into kickoff.

Key Features:

  • Extensive first-half betting markets
  • Broad NFL wagering menu
  • Regular sportsbook promotions
  • Strong futures betting options

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook - Logo with gold accents.

Caesars Sportsbook provides first-half ATS betting across a large selection of NFL games. Bettors can wager on first-half spreads while also accessing traditional game lines and player prop markets.

The sportsbook offers comprehensive football coverage throughout the season and playoffs. First-half betting provides an opportunity to focus on teams that consistently start games strong.

Key Features:

  • First-half ATS betting markets
  • Caesars Rewards integration
  • Strong football betting coverage
  • Multiple game and player markets

bet365 Sportsbook

bet365 - Logo with green background and bold text.

Bet365 features one of the deepest NFL betting menus available, including first-half ATS lines, alternate spreads, and numerous period-specific wagering opportunities. Bettors can access a variety of early-game betting markets throughout the season.

The sportsbook is particularly popular among bettors who enjoy alternative betting options and detailed football wagering menus.

Key Features:

  • Extensive first-half ATS markets
  • Alternate spread options
  • Strong live betting functionality
  • Deep NFL wagering menu

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers offers first-half ATS betting throughout the NFL season and postseason. Bettors can evaluate offensive efficiency, coaching tendencies, and scoring trends before making selections.

The platform provides a straightforward betting experience while maintaining strong football market coverage. First-half spreads are available on most NFL games throughout the year.

Key Features:

  • Competitive first-half ATS odds
  • Easy-to-use sportsbook interface
  • Strong NFL betting coverage
  • Multiple wagering markets

Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet - Logo with sportsbook branding.

Hard Rock Bet features first-half ATS betting as part of its growing football betting portfolio. Bettors can target teams expected to perform well early while also exploring player props, team totals, and futures markets.

The sportsbook offers a streamlined user experience and regularly updates lines throughout the week leading up to kickoff. First-half wagering provides flexibility for bettors who focus on early-game trends and performance metrics.

Key Features:

  • First-half ATS betting markets
  • Competitive football odds
  • Clean and intuitive platform
  • Growing selection of betting markets

NFL First Half Scoring Statistics

2023 First Half Individual Team Stats

Team 2023 1st Half PTS 2023 Total PTS / GM 1st Half %
Buffalo 14.2 / 1st half 26.6 / game 53%
Kansas City 13.9 / 1st half 22.2 / game 63%
Tampa Bay 9.9 / 1st half 21.2 / game 43%
Dallas 16.8 / 1st half 30.1 / game 56%
Indianapolis 12.6 / 1st half 23.3 / game 54%

Our table above gives us a great illustration of what a sports bettor can expect when betting on first-half point spreads and totals (O/U).

The five teams listed above were some of the highest-scoring teams across the league. The majority scored slightly more points in the first half compared to their second-half scoring totals.

As a bettor, we can expect most teams to score slightly more than 50% of their overall points in the first half over the course of a season.

How First Half ATS Standings Work

If you are thinking of jumping into NFL first half betting, then BestOdds.com has to be a part of your weekly routine during the NFL season.

BestOdds will provide the first half against the spread (ATS) betting stats for all 32 NFL teams each week.

The standings page will be broken down by week and individual teams, allowing a bettor to easily search for all kinds of stats and trends.

Using First Half ATS Standings For Betting

There are several ways a bettor can take advantage of the first half ATS information offered each week at BestOdds.com.

2023 First Half ATS Standings

Team First Half ATS Record Cover %
Bengals 8-9 47%
Buccaneers 13-6 76%
Dolphins 9-8 53%
Colts 9-8 53%

Our table above has selected four teams from 2023 and provided their first-half ATS record.

Much like full-game ATS betting, most teams will finish close to 50%.

Using the BestOdds.com first half ATS standings page will give a bettor a great individual team perspective to try and spot developing trends.

A bettor will also be able to use the first half betting standings page by focusing on league-wide trends and weekly results.

With the understanding that the expected amount of first-half overs vs. unders is very close to 50% on any given week, what happens when unders cash three weeks in a row?

A bettor who can spot this trend can dive into it even deeper.

Is there an opportunity to jump on a market correction and focus on some first-half overs?

The BestOdds.com standings page is a great resource when handicapping your first-half bet options.

First Half ATS Betting Strategies

The point spread is the great equalizer in betting on the NFL.

The sportsbooks will set the spread to try and get 50% of the bets placed on each team.

The spread is trying to turn a game that has an obvious outcome into more of a coin-flip occurrence.

When flipping coins, we know that over time, 50% of the flips will land heads, and 50% will land tails.

With this knowledge, we can focus on teams who have won or lost multiple games against the first-half spread.

We can dive deeper into the analytics to see if we can figure out if it’s a random occurrence or if there is something about a particular team that impacts first-half spreads.

Spotting teams who are streaking allows us to evaluate whether there is an opportunity to bet on teams to end their streak.

The same philosophy applies to league-wide trends.

Suppose we can spot a trend showing that the first half unders have covered 75% of the games over the last three weeks league-wide.

In that case, we can evaluate whether sportsbooks are setting inaccurate spreads or whether this was a random occurrence that might be set to end or go the other way.

Being on top of individual team and league-wide trends is a great starting point for our weekly research, giving us the opportunity to focus on whether we believe those trends will continue or are due to end.

Always Shop Around

When we compare first-half point spreads, and over/under totals from multiple sportsbooks, we expect similar numbers.

However, there will still be opportunities to get extra half points with both point spread and O/U betting.

This extra half point becomes really important with the key number 3. Obviously, the number three is significant in football because it is the value of a field goal.

There is more of a chance that a 3-point spread results in a first-half push compared to a 2-point or 4-point spread.

However, just because one sportsbook has the first-half point spread set at three doesn’t mean they all will.

There is probably an opportunity somewhere else to find it at 2.5 or 3.5.

As sports bettors, our most significant advantage over the sportsbooks is our ability to shop around and play only the Best Odds that work for us.

If we aren’t shopping around to find the numbers and moneylines that work in our best interest, we are leaving profit on the table.

Looking for more stats? Check out the NFL Second-Half Spread stats for ATS betting.

About the Author: Malcolm Darnley

Malcolm loves to watch all kinds of different sports. He also writes about them.

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