NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Rushing Leader Odds, Picks and Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 7/9/2014

One good way to make the endless NFL offseason seem bearable is to look ahead to the next season. A great way to do that is to look at player props — rushing props in this case (odds are from Sportsbook.ag). Here are some picks and predictions for betting on the top rusher this upcoming season.

Baltimore Ravens Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/8/2014

I thought the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl win two seasons ago was a bit of a fluke because Joe Flacco played out of his mind for four games. I had no expectations of them repeating as champions last year, but I certainly was surprised this was just a .500 team. Of course, Flacco got his monster extension before last season and that cost the Ravens a handful of players. The losses of future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed also hurt, perhaps more from a leadership standpoint than their actual production on the field at this point in their careers.

NFL Futures Odds: Best Bets for the AFC
by CarbonSports - 7/8/2014

The AFC isn't as top-heavy as the NFC is, and the AFC Futures odds reflect that. Based on these odds it looks like one of last year's AFC Championship game participants (New England/Denver) will be in the Super Bowl this year. However, with some very good teams in a wide-open field behind these two squads, I'm not so sure we will see Manning or Brady back in the big game.

NFL Futures Betting: Top Odds from the NFC
by CarbonSports - 7/8/2014

With the calendar hitting July, it's time to start turning our attention to the upcoming NFL season as the Seattle Seahawks aim to defend their crown. Seattle will have to go through a deep NFC conference once again, but they enter this season as the favorites to do so.

Detroit Lions Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/7/2014

The Detroit Lions have had some awesome offensive talent over the past two decades. Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson to name four. But something seems to always go wrong to keep this franchise as a perennial underachiever. There have been questionable coaching hires for sure. True, the quarterbacks haven't been great before Stafford. The defense has often not been up to par to the offense.

Carolina Panthers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/4/2014

When the Carolina Panthers were blown out in Week 5 at Arizona last season, following the Panthers' bye week, to fall to 1-3, I thought there was zero chance that embattled Coach Ron Rivera would last the season. I believe he topped those "first coach to be fired" props released around then by Bovada.

New York Giants Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/3/2014

The New York Giants appear likely to lose the battle for the back page of those New York tabloids this season as this looks like a rather bland, mediocre group. At least the Jets made some big offensive splashes in free agency this offseason, and of course Rex Ryan is a little more fun than Tom Coughlin.

2014 Odds to Win AFC East with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 7/2/2014

As part of a complete list of NFL futures odds, BetOnline has recently updated its board for the betting odds to win each of the NFL’s eight division titles in the 2014 regular season. This week I am wrapping up my trip through the AFC with a closer look at the current odds to win the AFC East.

Dallas Cowboys Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/1/2014

I am rather surprised at this statistic: Did you know that no team in NFL history has finished with a .500 record four straight seasons? The Dallas Cowboys are going for mediocrity infamy in 2014 after a third straight 8-8 season in 2013. That must just drive owner/GM Jerry Jones nuts. You get the feeling he would rather be an interesting bad team than an irrelevant average one.

Arizona Cardinals Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 7/1/2014

It probably doesn't feel like it to Arizona Cardinals fans, but you can't call last season anything other than a big success. Entering last year, this franchise had won 10 games just once since 1976. The Cards were 5-11 in 2012, which led to the firing of Coach Ken Whisenhunt, the only man to lead the team to the Super Bowl, and hiring of Bruce Arians, the 2012 Coach of the Year as an interim guy with the Indianapolis Colts.

Kansas City Chiefs Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/27/2014

Has there ever been a more fraudulent 9-0 team in NFL history than the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs? Indeed, Kansas City was the last team to lose last season, thanks to a conservative offense that asked new quarterback Alex Smith simply to manage the game, not make mistakes and get the ball as often as possible to star running back Jamaal Charles. The defense was also excellent the first half of the season, led by pass-rushing outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Andy Reid looked like the lock NFL Coach of the Year.

San Diego Chargers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/27/2014

So, did the Chargers send Kansas City kicker Ryan Succop a gift basket or buy him a nice watch or anything this offseason? Thanks to him, the Bolts snuck into the 2013 playoffs, the team's first extra football since 2009.

St. Louis Rams Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/25/2014

This is a big season for the St. Louis Rams franchise. The team believes it is about to turn a corner after back-to-back seven-win seasons under head coach Jeff Fisher. In addition, this will likely be a make-or-break year for former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford. The Rams had two shots to take Johnny Manziel in the first round of May's draft -- and they reportedly loved him -- but are keeping their eggs in Bradford's fragile basket for one more season.

2014 Odds to Win AFC North with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 6/25/2014

BetOnline has recently updated its futures board for the betting odds to win each of the NFL’s eight division titles that will be up for grabs in the 2014 regular season. This time around I will be previewing and making predictions for one of the tightest races on the board, the AFC North.

Atlanta Falcons Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/24/2014

The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the NFL's most stable, successful organizations since the team hired former Patriots college scouting director Thomas Dimitroff in 2008 as the general manager and he then hired Mike Smith as the team's head coach and took quarterback Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The Falcons won 11 games that season and never less than nine in the following four. They were the NFC's top seed in the 2012 season and came-oh-so-close to a comeback win over San Francisco in the NFC title game at the Georgia Dome.

Houston Texans Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/24/2014

If you predicted the Houston Texans were going to have the worst record in the NFL last season, then you should be writing these stories and not me. I didn't peg the Texans as a Super Bowl champion last season, but I certainly thought they had a great chance of returning to the playoffs for a third straight year. Things started off well enough at 2-0, but if you looked closely the Texans were very fortunate to win those two, and it perhaps portended bad things to come.

Washington Redskins Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/24/2014

The Washington Redskins probably can't wait until camp opens -- anything to take the spotlight off whether the team's nickname should be changed in the wake of the U.S. Patent and Trade Mark Office rescinding federal trademark protections for the Redskins moniker. I don't really know what that means other than what I read, and it doesn't appear to do much, at least for now, as the team will appeal. But it's pretty clear that the pressure is going to force owner Dan Snyder to change it at some point over the next five years even though he has been steadfast that won't happen.

Miami Dolphins Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/24/2014

The Dolphins finished 8-8 last season, yet in some respects they had the most disappointing season in the NFL. Let me explain. First off, you had that whole Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin bullying mess that ESPN bloviated about for weeks and became national news. It will lead/has led to new locker room rules all over the league, and neither Incognito nor Martin is still with the team. The former probably won't get another NFL job, while the latter was traded for a late-round pick to San Francisco.

New York Jets Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/19/2014

I'll admit it: When I did these NFL previews last year, I thought the Jets would be one of the worst teams in the AFC. They were throwing rookie quarterback Geno Smith to the wolves right away because of a preseason injury to Mark Sanchez. The running backs looked bland, the receivers far below average. The defense looked OK. Coach Rex Ryan was at the top of those "first NFL coach to be fired props."

2014 Odds to Win AFC South with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 6/19/2014

As the march towards the start of another NFL regular season continues, all 32 teams remain busy with their offseason preparations that will hopefully propel them to a run to the Super Bowl. A great starting point to any championship run is first securing your individual division title. To get you ready for all the action, I am going to take a closer look at BetOnline’s NFL futures odds to win each of the eight divisions; with this installment covering the AFC South along with my betting picks and predictions.