NFL Handicapping Articles

Seattle Seahwaks Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/28/2014

So how soon until we call Pete Carroll one of the best football coaches of all time when counting both college and the pros? No, he's not Jimmy Johnson yet, but you have to give it up to Carroll. He rebuilt USC into the marquee program in college football, if perhaps not while following the rules. Now he has rebuilt his once-tarnished NFL reputation by bringing the Seahawks their first Super Bowl title, and thanks to shrewd drafting it should be a team that will be a force for at least the next few years.

San Francisco 49ers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/25/2014

I'm not an NFL historian and don't have a week to look this up, but has any team's three straight seasons ended as painfully as San Francisco's past three have? Yeah, don't tell me about those Bills that lost four Super Bowls in a row. They only were in place to win one of those. In 2011, the Niners won 13 games and reached the NFC title game. There's really no way they should have lost to a mediocre Giants team at Candlestick Park, but Kyle Williams picked a bad time to have two fumbles and the Niners lost in OT.

New England Patriots Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/24/2014

You can't count on much in sports these days, but one thing you can is the Patriots winning at least 10 games. They have every season since 2003, even in 2008 when Tom Brady was lost for the season in Week 1. The only time a Brady-led team has missed the playoffs was in 2002, and that club was a solid 9-7. It's still a minor miracle the Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl since repeating in the 2004 season.

2014 Odds to Win NFC North with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 7/24/2014

With all 32 NFL teams back to work with the opening of training camp, you know it will not be long before the start of another season of football. I have been previewing each of the eight division races with the help of BetOnline’s NFL futures odds, and the next stop on the tour takes us to the NFC North, where an 8-7-1 record was good enough to claim that title in 2013. The following are this season’s picks and predictions for Black and Blue Division of the NFL.

NFL Futures: Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
by CarbonSports - 7/23/2014

In what was a very deep draft class, especially on the defensive side of the ball, predicting this year's Defensive ROY won't be easy. No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney comes in as the favorite (+200) and with his freakish athleticism he would not shock many if he won it. But history suggests that it's quite tough for defensive lineman to claim the prize.

NFL Futures: Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
by CarbonSports - 7/23/2014

The 2014 NFL draft was loaded with offensive playmakers and big names. The biggest of those names (Johnny Manziel) slid in the draft but ultimately went to the team many thought he would (Cleveland) it just happened with their second 1st round pick. He is going to be locked in a QB battle during training camp and will likely be the 'popular' play for those betting this future.

Green Bay Packers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/21/2014

It's hard not to envy the way the Green Bay Packers go about their business, no matter what team you are a fan of. The Packers are owned by the people, play in the most historic stadium in the NFL and in front of the most rabid fans in the league's NFL's smallest market by far. They almost never make a huge splash in free agency (Reggie White aside), preferring to build from within and the draft and the occasional trade (Brett Favre). It's just a really smart organization.

Indianapolis Colts Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/17/2014

I don't think anyone would argue that the three best teams in the NFL during the 2013 regular season were Seattle, San Francisco and Denver in whichever order you would like to list them. One team beat all those clubs: Andrew Luck's Indianapolis Colts. Luck led the Colts to a second straight 11-5 record and the AFC South title.

New Orleans Saints Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/17/2014

I honestly the believe the Saints would have multiple Super Bowl titles, instead of just the one after the 2009 season, if they could play every game indoors like an NBA team. That's basically what the Saints of Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are: a track meet NBA team, at least offensively. No team is better suited for its home field in the NFL. There's a reason the Saints never lose in the Superdome.

NFL Handicapping: Ranking the Divisions
by Trevor Whenham - 7/17/2014

When evaluating the prospects of NFL teams in the futures market, there are few factors more important than the division they play in. Because every team plays every other team in their division twice, divisional strength can have a massive impact on how a season turns out. A weak division can lift a mediocre team to double-digit wins thanks to hollow victories. A very tough division, on the other hand, can hide a strong team behind an average record.

2014 Odds to Win NFC South with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 7/16/2014

The smell of football is in the air as all 32 NFL teams are set to open training camp over the next week or so to start preparations for the 2014 regular season. Over the past few weeks I have been taking a closer look at BetOnline’s NFL futures odds to win each of the eight divisions. This time around I will dig deeper into the betting odds to win the NFC South to come up with my picks and predictions for one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL.

NFL Betting Props Odds: Top Wide Receiver Picks and Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 7/16/2014

The seemingly endless offseason in the NFL is a good time to evaluate prop bets for value. As we get closer to the regular season there is other, more pressing handicapping to do, so this is just effective time management. And it’s fun, too. This time around let’s look at the most receiving yards prop on offer at Sportsbook.ag. The one thing we can be sure of is that we are going to have a new leader this year — Josh Gordon was tops last year, but his self-destructive tendencies have ruled out a repeat. So, who will it be? Here’s a look at the most likely suspects:

Chicago Bears Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/15/2014

When the Chicago Bears dumped successful Coach Lovie Smith after the 2012 season despite a 10-6 record, some around the NFL were a bit puzzled that GM Phil Emery replaced Smith with Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman. He had been a successful coordinator in the NFL previously, but it seemed like his chance to become a head coach in the league had passed. Plus, it was just very un-Bear like as it's one of the most conservative franchises in the league. It generally hires defensive-minded head coaches and tries to win on that side of the ball. The whole Monsters of the Midway thing.

Philadelphia Eagles Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/14/2014

Remember that first half of the Philadelphia Eagles' Monday night season opener in Washington last season? The Eagles scored 26 points, put up tons of yards and there were gaping holes everywhere in the Redskins' defense thanks to first-year Coach Chip Kelly's unique up-tempo system. It was a sight to behold, and it looked like the NFL was going to have to adjust or be run over. Well, the Eagles weren't quite the same offense in the second half of the game or the rest of the year for the most part. While Kelly's group did play pretty fast all season, it wasn't quite revolutionary.

Pittsburgh Steelers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/11/2014

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had a losing record since 2003, which shows how well-run this franchise is. However, the Steelers finished 8-8 last year for the second straight season, and missing the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns just isn't acceptable in the Steel City.

Cincinnati Bengals Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/11/2014

The Cincinnati Bengals should be celebrating probably the greatest three-year regular-season stretch in franchise history. The keywords there are: "regular-season stretch." Cincinnati has gone from nine wins in 2011 to 10 the next year and 11 in 2013, when the team won the AFC North for the first time since 2009. It was the first time in team history it reached three straight postseasons. One could argue the Bengals were the most dominant home team in the NFL last season, blowing out the final five opponents at Paul Brown Stadium to finish 8-0 there, covering the spread in all of them.

NFL Super Bowl Matchup Props Odds with Betting Picks and Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 7/11/2014

As a big horse racing fan I love the prop bet in which you try to pick the two teams that will play in the Super Bowl. It’s basically an exacta — or a combination of that and the daily double. It’s a different way of thinking about football than normal, and that’s a good thing. You have to figure out the two best teams, and you have to get them both right or you don’t get paid. It’s a good challenge -and potentially a lucrative one. Here are six of the most interesting potential pairings from Sportsbook.ag:

Odds for Every NFL Team to Make the Playoffs
by Trevor Whenham - 7/10/2014

The long, long NFL offseason is made more bearable by the collection of prop bets that can be pondered. Among the most interesting this year is at Bovada — they have set odds for each of the 32 teams to make the playoffs. As is always the case in situations like this, there are some that are more interesting than others. Here are six that stand out from the crowd and odds for every NFL team to make the playoffs are listed at the bottom:

NFL Passing Yard Props Odds and Picks for League’s Most Prolific Quarterback
by Trevor Whenham - 7/10/2014

As we look longingly into the horizon at the start of the NFL season, it is a good time to look for some value in places like NFL passing yard props. Here are some of my picks and predictions for the most interesting prices for the most prolific quarterbacks in the league in terms of yardage (odds are from Sportsbook.ag):

2014 Odds to Win NFC West with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 7/9/2014

BetOnline has you covered for the start of a new season in the NFL with a complete list of futures odds as well as team and player props. As part of ongoing series covering the betting odds to win each of the NFL’s eight division titles, I have made my way over to the National Football Conference starting with a look at the highly-competitive NFC West.