NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Season Win Totals Bettors Bullish on Kansas City Chiefs
by T.O. Whenham - 7/30/2010

The public often surprises me with their opinions and love affairs. Rarely, though, have they surprised me as much as they have this year with their enthusiastic early embrace of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won just four games last year and had a whole lot of woes - they didn’t underachieve at that win total. Despite that, their NFL season win total was set aggressively at 6.5 this year by oddsmakers. That’s a big step forward from last year, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the betting public.

2010 Carolina Panthers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2010

There has never been a repeat champion of the NFC South Division – beware, New Orleans Saints – and the Carolina Panthers were the victims of the South curse last season, following up their 2008 12-4 record and division title with an 8-8 record and no playoff visit last year. And really that 8-8 record was a bit misleading because Carolina had to win its final three games to manage a .500 mark.

2010 Chicago Bears Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2010

The usually frugal Chicago Bears, it was said, didn’t fire Coach Lovie Smith following last season’s incredibly disappointing 7-9 season because the team didn’t want to have to pay Smith to not coach for the next two years left on his contract.

NFL Betting: Sam Bradford Rookie Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 7/28/2010

As I write this the first pick in the NFL Draft, Sam Bradford, has not yet signed his contract, but there is no reason to think that he won’t do so soon, or that he won’t join his new team in St. Louis for most or all of training camp. Negotiations are underway and both sides realize that a record deal is going to be signed, so there is little contention.

NFL Quarterback Predictions: Five Signal Callers That Can Shine
by T.O. Whenham - 7/27/2010

There are few things that can turn around the fate of an NFL team faster than a quarterback who dramatically improves their game. It’s not just that a team gets better play from the QB position that fuels the improvement. Better quarterbacking causes the team to be more confident, and it forces opposing defenses to work harder and question more. Here’s a look at five guys who could take major steps forward in their development this year:

2010 New York Jets Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

I would argue that no team changed more during last season than the New York Jets. They and rookie QB Mark Sanchez were the talk of the NFL early last season as New York started 3-0, beating all potential playoff teams (although only one – the Pats – made it). Then Sanchez sort of hit the wall and New York went into the tank, losing six of seven to seemingly put the playoffs out of reach.

2010 New York Giants Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

The credit that New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin has in the metaphoric bank with the New York Giants thanks to that Super Bowl victory in the 2007 season is reportedly about gone now following last year’s 8-8 record (following a 5-0 start). By most accounts – including former linebacker Antonio Pierce – Coughlin is squarely on the hot seat if the G-Men don’t get back to the playoffs in 2010.

2010 San Francisco 49ers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

In their first full season with Mike Singletary as coach, the San Francisco 49ers definitely showed signs that they might be a team to be reckoned with this season with some stellar pieces in place. For example, the Niners swept the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals last season on their way to finishing 8-8.

2010 Denver Broncos Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 7/26/2010

Thanks in large part to a fluke last-minute play in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Denver Broncos got off to a surprising 6-0 start under rookie coach Josh McDaniels in 2009 and people were calling McDaniels a mini-Bill Belichick. But then Kyle Orton remembered he was Kyle Orton and the Broncos started playing more to the level of their overall talent, winning just two more games the rest of the year to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs yet again.

2010 Houston Texans Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/26/2010

The Houston Texans had the best season in franchise history in 2009, finishing with their first winning record at 9-7 after back-to-back seasons at 8-8. Still, most around the team would still call it a disappointment because the playoffs were expected – Houston did have a chance to get in on the final Sunday of the 2009 season with a little help but it didn’t happen.

NFL Betting: Possible Results of Two Big WR Aquisitions
by T.O. Whenham - 7/26/2010

We’re used to seeing wide receivers move around every NFL offseason. It’s not often, though, that we see two of the caliber that we have seen in this offseason find new homes. Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall are both difference makers - elite pass catchers in rare company. They both have some real attitude issues as well, but what receiver doesn’t these days?

2010 Baltimore Ravens Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/24/2010

The Baltimore Ravens went into the regular-season finale in 2008 needing a win to reach the playoffs and last season was no different as an 8-7 Ravens team went to Oakland knowing a loss would keep them at home. But being as it was the Raiders, Baltimore had little trouble in a 21-13 victory that got it a Wild-Card round matchup with New England.

NFL Betting: Running Game and ATS Success
by T.O. Whenham - 7/24/2010

Big time running backs have always been major stars in the NFL, and with guys like Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson around there certainly isn’t a shortage of ridiculous talent in the league right now. As fun as it is to watch a running back have a huge game, though, if you’re a sports bettor you unquestionably have to be more concerned about how a good running game translates to betting success for teams. Here’s a look back at how top running teams last year performed against the spread:

2010 Green Bay Packers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/21/2010

The 2009 season has to be considered pretty successful for the Green Bay Packers, as they won five more games than in 2008 – Aaron Rodgers’ first year as the starting QB – and earned a playoff spot before their defense was gutted by Kurt Warner in the Wild-Card round against the Arizona Cardinals.

2010 Atlanta Falcons Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/21/2010

The Atlanta Falcons were one of the surprise teams in the NFL in 2008 as Matt Ryan had one of the best rookie seasons ever for a quarterback and Michael Turner lit up the league in his first season in Atlanta, and out of LaDainian Tomlinson’s shadow in San Diego.

2010 San Diego Chargers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/21/2010

The San Diego Chargers’ regular season was a huge success last year as the Bolts ended it on an 11-game winning streak to match the best single-season streak in franchise history. San Diego’s 13 wins were the second-most in franchise history. But once again the playoffs were a disappointment, as the Bolts – the AFC’s No. 2 seed -- were upset at home by the New York Jets.

2010 Philadelphia Eagles Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/21/2010

A new era is definitely under way in Philly as the Eagles will be without long-time stars Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook when they open the 2010 season. McNabb helped lead the Eagles to a 11-5 regular-season record last season, but back-to-back poor performance by the quarterback in the season finale and Wild-Card playoff game against Dallas led to his shocking trade to the Washington Redskins.

2010 Arizona Cardinals Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/16/2010

The Arizona Cardinals, and in particular Kurt Warner, have been a nice story the past two seasons. Of course, in 2008 Warner led the Cards to their first Super Bowl and just one Santonio Holmes catch from one of the great Super Bowl upsets.

2010 Cincinnati Bengals Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/16/2010

The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the surprises of the NFL last year as they won the AFC North at 10-6 and swept the other three division opponents. It was the first season the Bengals reached double-digit wins since 2005. In my opinion, it was all a mirage.

Rankings and Predictions for NFL Divisions
by T.O. Whenham - 7/16/2010

I don’t know about you, but the endless wait for the start of football season is killing me. The offseason for both college football and the NFL is just too long to handle. The season is getting close, and training camps will soon open, but there is still a whole lot of time to kill. To help pass that time I like to find every way I can to think about football and get ready for the upcoming seasons.