While placing bets on the outcomes of football matches, many punters underestimate the importance of weather conditions like freezing temperatures, high humidity, and strong wind. Since football is an outdoor sport, weather can significantly impact the players’ performance, teams strategies and game dynamics. Weather is even able to change the course of match result. Understanding how different weather conditions influence the gameplay may help you increase your chances of success in in-play and in-game betting. In this article, we will explore how certain weather conditions can affect the outcomes of football matches. Well also give you some tips on how to implement analysis of weather conditions into your betting strategy.
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Extreme Temperatures (Cold Weather, Excessive Heat & Freeze)
Cold weather conditions pose a challenge for players. They have an impact on players’ stamina, ball movement, quality of running and pitch surface. However, they can significantly impact only the outcomes of weak championships. The stadiums for the leading national championships are usually equipped with heating technologies. The muscles of players can be more prone to injuries in cold weather, and the colder ball is harder to pass.
Freezing temperatures and icy conditions can have a real drop on players’ performance. The field can be blistered, and the muscles of the players will be exposed to a greater risk of injury because of muscle stiffness. It may result in players injuries, small number of shots per game, weak competition and low results (1:1, 1:0, 0:0). As for sweltering heat, it may lead to a drop in players performance during the game. Hot weather can cause fatigue and dehydration and potentially result in unexpected mistakes and slower game pace.
How could this knowledge let you gain a valuable edge in betting? Well, freezing or hot weather favors teams that are better at handling the heat and keeping the ball away from the other team. Teams from Africa and regions can adapt to hot weather much better than those from Western Europe. Players from the team with better conditioning training also have an advantage over their opponents. Preferable betting options for cold weather are bets on a total under in the first half and under 2.5 wager.
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Precipitation (Rain & Snow)
Precipitation in the form of rain or snow can influence in-play betting outcomes a lot. Not all indoor stadiums shield teams from the rain. A wet, slippery pitch changes the trajectory of the ball and affects the energy consumption of players. It may lead to misplaced passes, harder shooting, reduced speed, weaker ball control, unexpected results, and lower scores. Since many fans wouldn’t visit the game in the case of heavy rain, it can reduce the home advantage of the home team. At the same time, the visiting team may be less accustomed to rainy conditions. If the football match is likely to unfold in rainy or snowy weather, consider betting on lower or under-goal ranges rather than total goals.
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Wind
Strong, gusty winds at speeds above 20 mph usually change the trajectory of the ball and make it harder for players to pass it. A team that has the wind at its back in the second half gains an edge over the opponent team. At the same time, strong wind is a big issue for a team that relies on long passes. To identify a team that is better adapted to strong winds, analyze the historical performance of teams. Of course, always consider the worst-case scenario when placing a bet – a football match may be postponed due to a storm.
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Fog & Humidity
The presence of fog reduces visibility on the field and decreases the quality of play. Poor visibility can hinder attacks, but it also disorients goalkeepers. Players with quick passing games may have an advantage over their opponents. Foggy conditions may lead to postponing of matches and make your bets void. Generally, the bets on such matches are riskier due to a high degree of uncertainty. As for humidity, high moisture in the air make the passes and pitches less accurate.
How To Mitigate The Impact Of These Weather Conditions? Betting Tips
As mentioned earlier, weather conditions like excessive heat and gusty wind can significantly change betting outcomes. Therefore, you need to check the weather conditions for the game you want to bet on and adjust your betting approach accordingly. Next time you are doing your research on an upcoming match, be sure to follow these tips:
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Rely On Multiple Sources Of Weather Forecasts.
A credible and accurate weather prediction will increase your chances of winning a bet. Therefore, obtain information from multiple (and reputable!) meteorological services. Look for the sources of weather forecasts which update their output frequently and are geographically accurate.
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Check The Historical Performance Of Teams.
Analyze the players’ adaptability to certain weather conditions and their historical performance in cold weather/heat, as well as rainy and windy weather conditions. How do the teams usually perform in similar weather conditions? Identify tendencies in teams’ performance to make more informed betting decisions
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Consider Betting On Home Teams Rather Than Visiting Ones.
Take a home field advantage into account. A home team is usually better accustomed to certain weather conditions than a visiting one. On the website Football Predictions for Everyday, you’ll find the information on the 10 world’s biggest football stadiums that are homes for certain football clubs.
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Check The Stadium.
The very first information to research during pre-match analysis is the stadium of the upcoming football match. Check if the stadium has draining systems and other facilities to reduce the impact of the weather conditions.
Lastly, it is important to be aware of weather changes. Since the weather can change rapidly. It may be extremely difficult to predict the outcome of the football match. However, this knowledge may gain you an edge and increase the chances of making successful bets!