NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Odds and Betting Week 16: Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 12/24/2015

Believe it or not, there are 18 teams still in contention for a playoff spot entering Week 16, with only three -- Arizona (NFC West), Carolina (NFC South) and New England (AFC East) -- having clinched their division. Cincinnati, Green Bay and Seattle all have clinched playoff spots as well, meaning there are still six up for grabs.

NFL Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Betting Options for Week 16
by George Monroy - 12/24/2015

The basic strategy teaser options for Week 16 of the NFL season are quite simple, because there are only two games on the board. Carolina takes its undefeated record into Atlanta to face a division rival, while Detroit will host San Francisco in a matchup with draft implications on the line and nothing more. Basic strategy teasers are two-team, six-point wagers that use favorites of 7.5 to 8.5 points and underdogs of 1.5 to 2.5 points. The bet uses the power of three and seven, the most common margin of victory in the NFL, to anchor those specific spread by a touchdown or field goal.

NFL Props Odds with Expert Betting Picks and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 12/24/2015

This is the time of the year in the NFL where a team is either in the playoffs or still fighting for a spot, or they are already making plans for next season. It is also the time of the year when backups are suddenly thrust into a starting role for one reason or the other. That is the case this Sunday with a pair of quarterbacks playing in completely different circumstances.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/22/2015

It's very possible that both these teams could be in Los Angeles next season as they have partnered on a plan for a joint stadium in Carson, Calif. Obviously no new stadium would be ready for a few years, but there's going to be at least one team in L.A. next season and all signs point to it being one of these two California clubs instead of the St. Louis Rams. One challenge if both the Chargers and Raiders go would be that one club would then have to switch to the NFC West for scheduling/TV purposes.

2016 Possible Super Bowl Matchups: Handicapping the Top 10
by George Monroy - 12/22/2015

With the regular season yet to be settled, a number of teams still have their playoff hopes alive, while others continue to battle for position. However, the principle players for the 2016 Super Bowl have long been set. Bettors can posture all they want, but the truth is only a handful of teams can compete for a Super Bowl, and after 15 weeks of NFL football we already know who they are. In the NFC, the list consists of the undefeated Carolina Panthers, the red-hot Arizona Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

NFL Football Predictions: Week 16 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/21/2015

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has some explaining to do. Guy is a great coach and in the Coach of the Year conversation. But why on earth did he have star safety Tyrann Mathieu still on the field late in Sunday night's blowout win in Philadelphia? Mathieu had a meaningless interception of Sam Bradford on Arizona's final defensive play, but his right leg twisted a bit as he went down.

NFL Odds and Betting Week 15: Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 12/18/2015

Entering Week 15, a whopping 25 teams are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, which ties for the fourth-most teams remaining in contention with three weeks to play since the NFL instituted the 16-game schedule in 1978. Do all 25 teams really have a shot? Of course not.

NFL Props Odds with Expert Betting Picks and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 12/18/2015

The 10-3 Cincinnati Bengals were barreling their way towards the AFC North title and a possible first-round bye for the playoffs, but that all changed in last Sunday's 33-20 loss to rival Pittsburgh as one-point home favorites. This is mainly because quarterback Andy Dalton went down with a serious hand injury.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 12/17/2015

I had planned to preview Houston at Indianapolis as my Sunday featured game this week, but that line still isn't posted as of this writing because of the uncertain status of Colts backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. He's dealing with rib and arm injuries, but Coach Chuck Pagano expects him to go Sunday in place of Andrew Luck yet again as it's a vital game for the AFC South lead. And Hasselbeck will be countered by Texans backup T.J. Yates with Brian Hoyer out with a concussion.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 15
by Victor Ryan - 12/17/2015

This should be an exciting week in the NFL, as by our count all but two matchups on the 16-game slate have playoff implications (Miami-San Diego, Detroit-New Orleans). This week's look at the NFL's biggest mismatches features a couple of road underdogs with a significant advantage in a particular area as well as a team that is going on the road and laying points.

NFL Handicapping: Playoff Scenarios and Predictions
by George Monroy - 12/17/2015

The NFL Playoff picture is starting to clear up heading into the final few weeks of the year. At the top of the AFC postseason bracket, three teams are jockeying for position, while three other teams are battling for two wild-cards spots. Over in the NFC three of the four divisions are essentially locked up, along with the two wild-card representatives. The only thing left is to battle for position. Let's take a closer look at the division matchups and make a few predictions about which teams will make the playoffs.

NFL Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Betting Options for Week 15
by George Monroy - 12/16/2015

Most bettors love a good teaser. Moving spreads around can be an enticing and fun way to wager late in the NFL season after you've spent 13 straight weeks making the same types of bets. Teasers, however, can be trouble and lead many bettors into make "bad" wagers. The easiest and most profitable way to tease a game is to simply follow the basic strategy teaser rules. The wager is a two-team, six-point teaser that uses favorites of 7.5 to 8.5 points and underdogs of 1.5 to 2.5 points and moves each spread past the NFL key numbers of three and seven.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/15/2015

Last week we were treated to a terrific Thursday night matchup between Minnesota and Arizona, two likely playoff teams. This week... not quite as good. Tampa Bay (6-7) has been a pleasant surprise in tripling last year's win total, and it has a franchise quarterback in place in 2015 No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston. He's your NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite and should be the first Buc to win that award since running back Cadillac Williams in 2005. This team has a bright future.

NFL Football Predictions: Week 15 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/14/2015

No league's champion seems to hinge more on injuries than in the NFL. And the Cincinnati Bengals may have learned that the hard way on Sunday when quarterback Andy Dalton, who is having his best season, broke his right (throwing) thumb while making a tackle of a Pittsburgh Steeler after throwing an interception. All the Bengals are saying now is that Dalton won't play this Sunday at San Francisco, doesn't need surgery (so that's a good break) and is week-to-week.

NFL Odds and Betting Week 14: Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 12/11/2015

I don't have a dog in the NFC East battle. And I'll admit I took these scenarios from other sites. But I am praying that all four teams in that division finish at 6-10, although if this scenario I list below plays out then the Dallas Cowboys would be the champs and get to host a wild-card playoff game against probably Minnesota or Seattle. And I hate Dallas.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 14
by Victor Ryan - 12/11/2015

A trio of teams fighting for their playoff lives have reason for optimism this week as they hold at least one significant matchup advantage over their opponents. Among these are the Bills, who will look to keep their Wild Card hopes alive against the Eagles; the Chiefs, who currently holds the AFC's first Wild Card slot and are big favorites at home against the division-rival Chargers; and finally, the Buccaneers, who are a game-back of a Wild Card spot and take on New Orleans.

NFL Props Odds with Expert Betting Picks and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 12/11/2015

It's Week 14 in the NFL, and two of the top story lines heading into Sunday's games are the return of quarterback Johnny Manziel to the Cleveland Browns starting lineup and the return of Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy to his old stomping grounds in Philadelphia. Bovada is all over both of these situations with a pair of special props involving these two players.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/10/2015

The Cincinnati Bengals have never won back-to-back division titles in a full NFL season. Yes, they won the AFC Central in 1981 and again the next year, but 1982 was a strike-shortened season. The Bengals will repeat in the AFC North on Sunday if they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to complete the season sweep. The Bengals also will clinch at least a playoff spot even with a loss as long as the New York Jets or Kansas City Chiefs lose.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/9/2015

The Thursday night NFL schedule has left a lot to be desired this season, although last week's ending in Detroit between the Lions and Packers was sensational. But this week's matchup is one of the best of the year and could be a potential playoff preview between Minnesota and Arizona.

Early Super Bowl Point Spread: AFC Currently Slight Favorite
by George Monroy - 12/9/2015

The NFL playoffs are still a few weeks away and the Super Bowl is not until February of next year, so we still have quite a bit of time before football truly gets interesting. But that time frame isn't long enough to stop us from thinking about the big game and making a few predictions. Luckily, since most bettors think alike, a few sportsbooks have already released an early set of Super Bowl lines before most teams have even clinched a playoff spot. Let's take a closer look at those early odds and figure out if we can produce any value by wagering on the Super Bowl before we know who is playing.