Floorball Betting Tips: Smart Advice for Betting on Floorball

Floorball is one of the variations of hockey, and most often floorball is thought of as just hockey with the ball. In this article, let's consider the main features of betting on this sport, as well as to talk about which American sportsbooks, despite its unpopularity, are ready to take bets on floorball.

What is Floorball? Scandinavians Love and Hegemony

This dynamic sport was mostly developed in the Scandinavian countries, although the first information about floorball came from here in the United States in 1958. Cosom released sticks similar to what is now seen in modern floorball, and what was called cosom hockey become popular among children and teenagers.

The new kind of hockey did not require ice, and the equipment was greatly simplified, so the discipline attracted attention at the amateur level. In the 70s Cosom clubs were brought to Sweden, and the inhabitants of this country, passionately fond of both ice hockey and active rest, launched the development of floorball on all fronts.

Floorball in the game format is similar to hockey with the puck: games consist of three periods of 20 minutes each, the court has a similar size, and on the court each team consists of five players and one goalie.

Clubs in floorball, as in hockey with a puck, have a rounded hook. The ball in the floorball is round and holey, with 26 holes, it is very light, and sometimes its speed in the game exceeds 124 miles per hour.

The strongest floorball tournaments are the Swedish and Finnish championships, as well as the European Cup and the World Cup. Despite the qualitative development of ice hockey in recent years, Scandinavians still have an overwhelming advantage in floorball.

At the World Championships, held every two years, Swedes and Finns often compete with semi-amateur teams, and the probability of a final between the northerners each time is extremely high.

Types of Floorball Bets

• Betting on the outcome. A line found in games of all different sports. As for ice hockey, in floorball, sportsbooks usually take bets on the outcome of the game without overtime.  There are three options: one of the teams either winning or losing, or a draw. In national championships, a draw is more common than in world competitions.
• Double chance. Here you can give yourself a little insurance by making a prediction that one of the teams at least will not lose. If you bet on a team with double chance, they either have to win or draw for you to not lose your bet. 
• Betting on the Spread. Sometimes the team approaches a certain game in good form, but still not good enough to ensure a victory. Thus, with the help of a 1.5 or 2.5 spread, a fair opportunity to decide that the lesser team is worthy of betting on is presented. Underdogs in floorball often press the favorites.
• Over Under Bets. Betting on the number of goals in the main time is usually either over or under a set standard. For example, in the Swedish men's championship, they score an average of 11 goals per game, and therefore the most common totals among sportsbooks are 10.5 and 11.5.
• Period Betting. All of the above bets can usually be made not only for the entire game, but also for the results of individual periods. Some teams roll into the game quickly finding good results, while others play more cautiously, so the line for betting on each period may be of interest.
• Floorball Futures Bets. It is not as easy to determine the winner of the tournament in more popular sports in advance. However, in Floorball, if we are talking about the World Championship, the situation is different. The whole analysis here is basically reduced to comparing the line-ups, preparation and current form of two teams (Finland and Sweden), and for the final championship of the Swedes the odds are usually set below -110.

Floorball Betting Strategies: Which Details Matter

Starting Lineups. In floorball, as in other game types, there are star players. Therefore, in the case of an injury or illness of a good floorball player, you should be the first to know about it in order to properly assess the line for the game. 

In the off-season of the Swedish and Finnish leagues there are transfers, which also need to be followed: a weaker team strengthened with good signings can suddenly turn into a contender for the title.

Particular attention should be paid to the goalkeeper's form. In floorball, the goalkeeper experiences a triple work load and is a very important part of the team. The best goalkeepers of clubs do not often have a comparable replacement, so an unexpected injury to the goalie can seriously affect the chances of one of the sides.

Current Form. The fatigue factor is not that important in floorball, as the break between games, as a rule, is a whole week. But some teams may be in a dark psychological hole and consecutively perform below their level, which can be caused by problems with the coach, management and other unknown factors.

It is worth noting that women's floorball is more prone to such positive and negative runs of form, while in the men's championships the teams perform more evenly.

Playstyle. This is the statistic that is easiest to find on the Internet, and it will help you in betting on over unders.

Some teams try to create more and stun opponents with fast combinations, while others rely more on goalkeeper swagger and massive defense. Most teams play better in the third period, but there are rare exceptions.

Suspensions Statistics. In floorball, too, there are suspensions, as some teams and players tend to play rougher and regularly earn fines.

Often it is a strategic choice, as numerical superiority in floorball does not give you that big of an advantage, as it does hockey. But this factor still has a price when assessing odds and totals.

Tournament Stage. First of all, you need to understand the difference between male and female floorball. Women break the rules much less often, and in their games the quality of performance is not as high as that of men.

Also important is the stage of the tournament - group stage, regular championship or playoffs. Teams have different motivations at different stages of the season and tournaments.

For example, in the group stages of tournaments for national teams the totals are much higher due to the relaxed and open game of favorites against heavy underdogs.

In the national championships at the end of the regular season, a struggling team is likely to have been winning for a long period to make it to the final. In the playoffs, the games are more tactical, and the likelihood of a blowout is noticeably reduced. 

Which American Sportsbooks Take Bets on Floorball?

Many American sportsbooks in different states will offer bets on all kinds of niche sports, including floorball. The best place to look to find the best chances of a sportsbook offering these bets would be in the 'Lines Rating', where Legalbet keeps track of which sportsbooks feature the most sports, lines and bet types.

Some of the top sportsbooks who are consistently in high places in our lines rating, and who we would expect to feature bets on floorball will be featured there.