NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL News

Sesquicentennial

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Seska what now?
Well, it’s our 150th episode of the podcast, so we thought we would celebrate with our Sesquicentennial celebration.

We’ve been talking NFL BS in London for the past decade, and we’re happy that we have been able to share it with such a great audience as yourselves.

In this episode the guys go off on a bunch of topics.

The Old Sports Bar

Were you one of the first people to join us when we threw NFL parties at the Sports Bar & Grill Marylebone?
It’s been a long time since those days in the musty basement, although we were the ONLY place in London showing NFL games.
We had comedy, Madden tournaments, and some of the craziest fans you’ve ever met.
We’re back with the new and improved Sports Bar & Grill this season, hope you come down and join us.

Tebow

Timmy time is over in Jacksonville, and even God couldn’t save him.
Despite selling mountains of jerseys, his tight end days are over in Florida, so Timmy will have to move on to a new sports at which to be mediocre in.

Hard Knocks

The Cowboys are back and Zak looks brittle.
Every episode is about not hurting Dak, so you wonder what this season is actually going to be like?
Zeke is looking punchy as opposed to paunchy, so let’s see if he can save himself from injuries this year.

London Games

Carolina has announced that fans will be required to wear masks at ALL games, it’s only a matter of time before teams consider the fan options as the impending booster shots of fall loom.
As far as we know, fans will have to provide proof of vax before entering the stadium, but of course everything can change.

We’re back with our season previews and fantasy episodes soon.
We’re also working with DraftKings this season to offer you exciting DFS tournaments all year long.

Here’s the podcast! Enjoy and share!

2021 Win Picks

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NFL Training Camp is officially here, which means we finally get a chance to see these teams in action, kitted out with all their new players.
With the season almost upon us, it’s time to take a look at some of the pundits predictions, as we offer up our 2021 Win Picks.

With an extra week of games at play, all the records are either set to shatter, or just get an asterix for all eternity.

Looking at the 2021 NFL regular season win total odds, a few glaring things stick out.
Vegas is hot on some of the returning teams, while sluggish on some of the mediocre teams that showed promise at the end of the season.

Here are some of our picks for win totals in the 2021 season.

Indianapolis Colts (UNDER 9 wins)

In the snap heard round the world, Carson Wentz went down again in a rather predicable scenario for the Colts.
Despite starting strong under Rivers last season, the Colts faded away like ripped jeans, and impressive efforts from the likes of Jonathan Taylor were quickly forgotten.
Indianapolis hasn’t made that many changes to think that they will be that much better this year compared to their division rivals.
Heck, they may even lose to the Texans this year.

Carolina Panthers (OVER 7.5 wins)

The Panthers had a rough season of injuries last season (like most teams), but it was the loss of Christian McCaffrey that really sent the Panthers into tumble mode.
CMac is back, as well as a young studly from the Jets named Sam Darnold.
With fewer ghosts in Carolina, Darnold has the chance to connect with some very speedy receivers, and a comfortable O line to develop under.
Carolina is in a tough division, but they are also the most likely to be ignored by the big boys, given them a fighting chance.
Panthers will win over 8 games.

Las Vegas Raiders (OVER 7)

Can you still feel the NFL Las Vegas?
No? Well thank COVID for that.
The Las Vegas Raiders opened last season to a brand new stadium…with no fans.
Jon Gruden and the boys struggled in almost every capacity, except determination.
There were bright moments in Josh Jacobs, Derek Carr, and anytime that Darren Waller touched the ball, something magical happened.
The bright lights of Las Vegas are back, and so are the fans.
The Raiders are in a tough division, but they have the best home field advantage ever.
Too many visiting teams are going to get sucked into the seedy elements of Las Vegas on a Saturday night that makes them slow poke their Sunday.
Raiders win OVER 7 games.

Seattle Seahawks (UNDER 10 Wins)

Even with an extra week this season, it still is going to be tough for the Seahawks to eek out 10 wins.
The Seahawks haven’t really had a distinct running back in recent years, and Wilson is falling apart as fast as his O line.
Seattle’s D was also a mess last season, as they failed to stop even the worst opponents.
Pete Carroll is the oldest coach in the NFL, and a highly respected leader…but times change.
Seattle seems to have lost its fierceness, turning as damp and cold as the city itself.
Seahawks WON’T win 10 games.

There will be a lot of other factors at play this season.

COVID has the ability to come back harder & faster than a Tom Brady led Patriots.

Lockdown has led to a radical increase in fan violence at games since we have returned.
Every league has seen a shocking amount of fisticuffs, and even Week 1 of preseason NFL had several fights.  Do we really need THESE fans back?

It’s exciting to have the NFL back in any capacity, and extra week of games makes it all the more sweeter.

 

Why do UK sportsbooks suck at NFL?

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With sports betting exploding around the world, we often get asked ‘what are the best websites for NFL betting’?
Surprisingly, there aren’t very many available to UK fans that actual focus on NFL games, odds and options.
In fact we always find ourselves asking ‘Why do UK sportsbooks suck at NFL’?
There are a few reasons for this, which we will explain, as well as point you in the direction of our Top 3 NFL betting websites. 

Betting Britain

Britain has been betting on sports for decades, so one would assume that the betting product would be sleek, slick and easy to navigate.
Nope.
Betting in Europe is more ‘football focused’ (aka soccer) meaning that many of the betting options and parlays simply aren’t available to the public.
While the NFL betting options accelerated during the 80s’ NFL boom in the UK, it didn’t really translate into dedicated product.
Even as UK sports books increase their offerings in the face of American growth, they still lack the gumption to tailor their products to North American sports. 

Moneyline

One of the biggest issues for NFL betting fans comes down to formatting.
Europe and the UK prefer the use of ‘Decimal Odds’ or 

‘Fractional Odds’ when it comes to setting their weekly lines, whereas North Americans prefer the standard ‘Moneyline.’

For anyone not used to seeing odds formatted in ‘Decimal Odds’ style, it can be a confusing and intimidating style of play.
Many European sports books lazily refuse to add Moneyline odds, which essentially deprives them of a new, hungry audience.
North Americans are new to NFL betting, and intimidating them right off the bat is no way to sign up new customers. 

Options

Any NFL fan who has ever walked into the sports bar of a Las Vegas casino, knows that a magical experience is about to happen.
Not only do Vegas sports bars display countless betting options, the employees who work at sports books are all too happy to help with the numerous different ways you can wager.
UK casinos rarely even sports books, as was the case when we ran events at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square.
Fans who were desperate to wager on games were pointed to the Ladbrokes down the street, which benefited HUGE from the thousands of fans who wanted to throw down money each week.
Betting became so big there, that Ladbrokes employees from down the road would attend viewing parties because they had ‘so many people coming to bet on games’, they wanted to see what it was all about. 

Authenticity

Real NFL bettors usually have a weekend plan for success.
If you know which of the games on Sunday are ripe for betting, you will work out how many parlays, over-unders, and long shots you are willing to make.
Attempting to then make those wagers on a UK betting app then begins the problems.
Not only are the odds radically different from the US, but the ability to make ‘out there’ bets is only possible if you go into a shop, and find a competent worker.
While it is rewarding to burn a lazy bookmaker for not paying attention to NFL news across the pond, it’s frustrating to have to Scooby Doo down all the information from an app. 

Over the years we have tried to discuss the poor NFL betting options with bookmakers, but it has always fallen on deaf ears.
Either they don’t care about making money from a massively untapped market, to they’re just lazy.

So what betting websites would we recommend?
They’re pretty limited, but here you go.

1. Bet365

When it comes to NFL betting in Europe, Bet365 seems to be the only one with their head in the game.
Not only do they offer the best betting options for the NFL, but they also have a wide selection of parlays and novelty bets on offer.
Sure, the layout is a bit laborious, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to get betting.
You can also switch between betting pricing, allowing players to compare moneyline vs decimal options.
The best past about Bet365 however is the ability to watch the games.
Provided that you have bet on some NFL matches, bettors have the option of being able to stream the game to their phone or device.
With limited viewing options in Europe, this is a ‘MUST HAVE’ feature for NFL fans, as it allows you to watch the game in real time, for no extra cost.
Expats in Europe have been raving about this option for years, as it also extends to MLB, NBA and NHL games, which are hard to find across the pond.
Bet365 has pretty good customer service as well, which is really helpful if you are looking to bet on specific options. 

2. Betway

Second on the list is Betway, which has seen a drop in its NFL product in recent years.
With a very simple and straightforward layout, Betway’s NFL betting is a far simpler option than that of Bet365.
Parlays are quite easy to manipulate, and the overplay is quite crisp and simple.
Betway’s NFL product dropped in quality in 2020, so we are curious to see if they are going to improve on it.
Customer service is slow, but effective once they’re on it. 

3. Paddypower

Remember when Paddypower use to be edgy and funny?
Good times.
The Irish lads have gone corporate, and it shows in their North American sports betting options.
Like Betway, the NFL offerings on Paddy are pretty straightforward.
Nothing too fancy, and there are some muddled parlays and novelty bets in the mix, although they usually look like they were assembled by a soccer fan.
Customer service at Paddy is hit and miss, and on a busy game day, you’re more likely to encounter snark than satisfaction. 

We are still holding out that one day a UK sports book will actually take North American sports in Europe seriously.
With bookmakers on the continent on a frenzied mission to gobble up as many American betting properties as possible, you would think that they would actually look at what is successfully stateside and try to replicate it in Blighty.
 
The NFL is only going to get bigger in Europe, which bookmaker is finally ready to take it seriously?

FanDraft 2021

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Less than 2 weeks until the NFL season starts up again!
Use promo code ‘London 15’ to get 15% off of FanDraft before the season starts!

The NFL is almost here, which means it’s time to get your Fantasy pools ready for the upcoming season.
To help you out, we’ve partnered once again with FanDraft for 2021.
Using our unique promo code ‘London15‘ will get you 15% off your Fandraft subscription, and open you up to a whole new world of drafting possibilities.

To get the basics of FanDraft, they have a handy walk through guide to getting you set up, and ready to host your Draft Party

Interactive Drafts

The old way of drafting is dead. No longer do you have to worry about ordering a sticker pack of names off of Amazon, only to be disappointed with the quality once it arrives.
FanDraft is totally unique, and you can use it live or remotely.
Once you set it up, it’s just a click and your draft is live.
Best of all, it exports all of your draft into excel files, so that you can easily add them to whatever NFL Fantasy platform that you use.

Remote Drafting

Thanks to COVID, NFL draft parties took on a whole new look last year.
Many fans had to eschew the traditional draft party to Zoom it with their mates.
Zoom drafting sucks, which is why FanDraft is so needed.
You can easily send your mates a remote login, and they can just click and they’re ready to draft.
Just make sure that everyone has a good internet connection to get you going.

TV Hook Up

We usually hook our laptop into a TV to broadcast our NFL Draft, so that everyone can see and shout along.
This works really well if you’re hosting a few drafts on the same day.
Here is a little walk through on how to hook up FanDraft to your TV.

Features

For all the features of the new FanDraft 2021, all you have to do is watch this video.
FanDraft will walk you through all the fun settings you can play around with, as well as ways to piss off your buddies with walk in music, and various sound effects to burn them in even their greatest moments of drafting glory.

To get your subscription going, head to FanDraft today!
Use our promo code LONDON15 to save today!

https://fandraft.com/

 

Preseason Intro

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The NFL is officially back baby, as we rock down the latest news in our Preseason Intro podcast.

Ryan is back from his vacay and fired up on his Josh Allen love, with high hopes and deep fears about his 2021 Buffalo Bills season.

Hard Knocks is back on HBO, wide receivers are bitching and getting into trouble, and Carson Wentz is injured again. Quelle surprise!

In this episode of the podcast, Wade & Ryan look at some of the latest drama popping up in the NFL, check in with our Hall of Fame game and entrants, lament on Michael Thomas, and give their take on the new taunting rules.
All this for free in an easy to listen to episode.

Hard Knocks

The dulcet tones of Liev Schrieber is back once again, as the voice over artist for the greatest NFL show in August.
It’s pretty much the only NFL show in August, but it’s HBO, so that makes it very entertaining.
The Dullus Cowboys are back on the Knocks once again, as we get to witness the dithering decision makings of Jerry Jones as he treds his way softly through a new world of woke.
All eyes will be on Dak to see if that horrendous injury of last season has any lingering effects, or has tempered that competitive spirit.
Zeke has been fed, and let out an almighty poo of transformation, hopefully that still makes him in a competitive league of ageing running backs.
It’s on NFL Gamepass, or HBO if you’re that lucky in the UK.

Table Mafia

Ryan is stoked on his Bills, and hoping that they all get the Freedom Jab of a winning season.
Josh Allen has just signed a whopping contract to keep him in western New York, and putting him in the ‘Mahomet-zone’ of premier paid slingers.
Will Joshy crush the AFC East, or lose the steam he built from the past few seasons.
All signs point to a solid Bills team, who will be ready for southwest Texas in 2025.

MT

Michael Thomas is back, and he wants to be traded!
Trying to capture the crown of ‘most annoying wide receiver’ of 2021, Thomas is off to a flash start, pissing off the team and any chance he has of fitting in with a new one.
After splashing out a whack of dough on MT, it is unlikely that the Saints will rid themselves of the pest, especially since their offence is pretty much a run and gun deep.
Without Drew Brees to smack him around with his mighty bling, Thomas requires someone to sit his ass down and show him the lack of rings on his fingers.
Winning an award on a Nickelodeon game against the Bears doesn’t look as good to a future team.

From Wentz it Came

Carson Wentz is inured again, and the preseason hasn’t even started.
Having put his ‘foot up someone’s ass’, Wentz is back on crutches, the finest pine he has ever rode.
It is no surprise (to anyone but the Colts) that his brittle return to battle would be fraught be breakage.
He is about as easy to keep healthy as a sunflower in a basement flat, and no matter what you do, you’re just going to get left with some rotten pulp.
Next time you get try to grow a sunflower, name it Carson Wentz and see how long you can keep it healthy.

Taunt This

The NFL has announced new taunting rules, only a few years after heralding the return of the end zone celebration.
It’s ok for a D line to ‘run a train’ on someone’s mama after a pick six, just don’t give a thumbs up to a guy after a bug catch.
It makes sense to nip this problem in the bud before it gets bigger.
The amount of times that players would taunt and flaunt each other after inconsequential yardage began to inflame game play, and lead to more sever incidents.
With a ‘two and out’ policy, the NFL looks to remove the narcissists and nogoodnicks and send a message to shut up and get back to the huddle.
Good call.

Gamepass

NFL Gamepass is back, and subscribers may have already felt the hit to their bank account.
For NFL fans in the UK, Gamepass is a MUST HAVE, and a far superior product it was in days of old.
At around £150, you will definitely get 12 months worth of action…well at least a GREAT 9.
Sky Sports NFL is fine if you want the weekly game and Redzone, Gamepass offers so much more for die hard fans of the game.
Best of all, you can host your own NFL parties with Gamepass. Watch your team when you want to.

Here’s the podcast for everyone to listen to.
Share, care, wear clean underwear.