NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/6/2016

At least one playoff losing streak will end for an AFC North team in the second of two AFC wild-card round games on Saturday night when Pittsburgh visits Cincinnati for the third meeting between the two this season. The Steelers (10-6) took the backdoor way into the playoffs as the AFC's final wild-card team. They needed the New York Jets to lose in Buffalo in Week 17 as 3-point favorites, and the Bills pulled the minor upset much to the delight of head coach Rex Ryan, who of course was fired by the Jets after last season.

NFL Playoffs Betting Advice: Ranking the Field
by Trevor Whenham - 1/6/2016

Football and power rankings go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Internet is full of them. So, of course, I'm going to do the original thing as we get ready for the start of the NFL Playoffs - add another power ranking to the bottomless pile. This one is a little different, though - I care less about how good the teams are or even directly how likely they are to win the Super Bowl.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/4/2016

In Week 7 of the NFL's 2015 regular season, the Houston Texans were crushed in Miami 44-26 to fall to 2-5. They also lost star running back Arian Foster to a season-ending injury. It looked like head coach Bill O'Brien was in some trouble.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/1/2016

Playing a winner-take-all NFC North game at is old hat for the Green Bay Packers at this point. They look for a fifth straight division title when hosting the Minnesota Vikings in the lone prime-time game of Week 17 on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings haven't won the North since 2009.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/1/2016

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) would be a team that no one would want to face in the postseason with that dynamic offense led by Ben Roethlisberger. But because of a head-scratching loss in Week 16, the Steelers might not even make the postseason field. It's quite simple for them on Sunday: beat Cleveland and pray that the Buffalo Bills upset the visiting New York Jets. Both games do kickoff at 1 p.m.

NFL Odds and Betting Week 17: Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 1/1/2016

It's my final late-week NFL update story of the 2015 season as Doc's will have you covered with in-depth playoff game previews the rest of the way. By my count, the only games that don't matter on Sunday from a playoff perspective are: Saints-Falcons, Redskins-Cowboys, Eagles-Giants, Lions-Bears and Rams-49ers. That's not to say they aren't important.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 17
by Victor Ryan - 1/1/2016

Week 17 of the NFL regular season has an adequate amount of intrigue. The New York Jets can end a four-year playoff drought with a win in Buffalo, while the Viking and Packers will have a showdown at Lambeau Field for the NFC North crown. The winner of that one also gets the No. 3 seed and accompanying home game in the playoffs' first round.

NFL Props Odds with Expert Betting Picks and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 1/1/2016

The NFL regular season comes to a close this Sunday. And while the head coaches of 12 teams will begin preparations for a possible playoff run all the way to Super Bowl 50, there will be a number of head coaches looking over their shoulder to see if they will still have a job with their current team when the 2016 regular season gets underway next September.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 12/30/2015

I'm not surprised that Sunday's regular-season finale between the Jets and Bills has playoff ramifications. It's just that I expected Buffalo to be a wild-card contender and the Jets likely to finish in the AFC East cellar.

NFL Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Betting Options for Week 17
by George Monroy - 12/30/2015

The end of the football season is always bittersweet. Week 17 means the playoffs are near, but it also signals that the entire sport is ready to take an unbearable seven-month hiatus. However, we still have a few wonderful weeks of NFL football left, so let's focus on the now and think about this week's basic strategy teaser bets. Week 17 still has a bit of intrigue with multiple teams still fighting for a playoff spot and a few others with significant seeding ramifications up in the air. However, nearly every playoff team has destiny in its hands, and a win will seal the deal and lock up those spots.

NFL Football Predictions: Week 17 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/28/2015

Final week of the NFL regular season. Wow. Really does feel like that Steelers-Patriots Thursday night season opener was about two days ago. I will be previewing most of the opening-round playoff games, so this will be my final Opening Line Report story of the season.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 16
by Victor Ryan - 12/25/2015

The NFL Week 16 slate is highlighted by a pair of games with big playoff implications in the eastern divisions of both the NFC and AFC. Each features a significant statistical matchup. In the AFC East, New England hits the road to take on the Jets for the second time this season. New York, which is a 3-point home underdog, is playing for its playoff life. The Jets must win out, and even that still might not be good enough for a wild-card berth.

NFL Expert Picks Against the Spread: Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/24/2015

I'm liking these Saturday NFL games! Last week I previewed the NY Jets at Dallas and recommended giving the 2.5 points to the Cowboys and going under the total of 42. The Jets won 19-16 to officially eliminate Dallas from the postseason and give me a profitable sweep.

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.