So here’s the advice: Don’t bet on any game that involves your fantasy team unless you absolutely have to if you are unable to take the emotion out of sports wagering like the pros do. Obviously, there are pick ‘em leagues that require you to pick every game of every week so in some cases, it is unavoidable. In these situations, pretend your fantasy team doesn’t exist. Bet with your mind, not your heart. For many of us that can be impossible, so here are some traps to avoid if you can’t get your fantasy team out of your mind:
Just because he’s good doesn’t mean his team is- It’s easy to look at how good your player is and forget just how bad his team might be. Sure, you can see Calvin Johnson putting up 120 yards and a touchdown, but don’t convince yourself that that will be enough for the Lions to pull off an upset. In 2008, Johnson had 1,331 yards receiving and found the end zone 12 times. The Lions? They went 0-16. So take the team for what they are and who they are playing, not for how good that one player on your fantasy team can be. BEWARE owners of: Calvin Johnson, Steven Jackson, Jamaal Charles and other good players on bad teams.
Just because it’s your defense, don’t always take the under- Don’t become so attached to how good your defense is that you ignore everything else surrounding the over/under. Say you have the Jets defense, arguably the best defense in the league. DON’T BASE YOUR NFL PICK OFF THAT. If you do, you will always take the under, and the score isn’t solely determined by one team’s defense. Instead, ask yourself how good is the Jets offense? And the opponents offense? And their defense? Always take the opponent into consideration. Maybe the Jets are facing the Dolphins this week. And as good as the Jets defense was last year, they let up 30 points both times to the Dolphins last season. Just because you want your team to allow as few points as possible doesn’t mean it will happen.
Never think a player is ‘due’- Last year‘s Matt Forte owners know this well. You have a big-name player and he’s underperformed all year long. Don’t convince yourself that this will be his breakout week and that will lead to a blowout victory for his team. Maybe it will and maybe it won’t, but don’t bet on a team because a player is ‘due’.
Make your bets before you look at your fantasy opponent- It can be easy to fall into this trap and not even know it. If you look at who your fantasy opponent’s team before placing your bets, you will most likely bet against whichever team those players are on because you want them to perform poorly. If you make your bets first, you won’t know who you want to root against in fantasy in the coming week and that won’t play a factor when you are making your picks. Also, you won’t feel guilty about hoping players on the other team have good games.
Overall- Once again, don’t bet on a game unless you have to. You really don’t want to be put into a situation where you need Adrian Peterson to score two touchdowns but the Vikings to lose against the NFL point spread. You won’t know who to root for and you will feel like you lost no matter what happens.
