NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 9 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/31/2016

So, I was all ready to tell you that the NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday and not to expect anything major. The NFL deadline is nothing like those in the NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball because of salary-cap issues and all those bonuses paid out to players that are stretched out over years in cap form. You don't have those bonus issues in the other sports because those players' contracts are guaranteed. Last year, the biggest name to go around the deadline in the NFL was past-his-prime tight end Vernon Davis.

NFL Odds: Week 8 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 10/28/2016

I would really like to go work for Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan in any capacity because that guy is incredibly loyal. I could show up to work dressed as a Little Bo Peep and drunk and he probably wouldn't fire me. Not that I would do either.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 8 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 10/28/2016

I'm running out of great things to say about the Basic Strategy Teaser. After going 3-0 in Week 5 and 3-0 in Week 6, the BST outdid itself in Week 7. It went 2-0 with the top plays and 3-0 with the extra options. If your counting at home, which I know you are, that brings the system's record to a mind-blowing 13-1 (17-2 if you count the extra options). The BST is hitting at a .928 winning percentage, which is higher than I could have imagined when I took on this system.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 8 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 10/28/2016

The "over" has gone 58-49 through the first seven weeks of the NFL season, a profitable win-rate of 54.2 percent. That would seem to make sense. Mild early-fall weather, fresh athletes and the like would all seem to benefit offensive units. Not to mention the lack of any game tape early on for the league's newcomers, such as this year's unknown young quarterbacks (Prescott, Siemian, Wentz, etc.).

Free NFL Picks: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/26/2016

I am not supposed to use the word "lock" in any of my prediction stories here at Doc's. And with good reason as there are no locks in sports betting or I'd be a multi-millionaire. But I'm promising you one thing regarding this week's Sunday Night Football game: it will not end in a 6-6 tie like last week's Seahawks-Cardinals matchup did.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 8
by Victor Ryan - 10/26/2016

There are a handful of intriguing divisional matchups in Week 8, including the second AFC East battle of the season between the Patriots and Bills. A month ago, Buffalo went into New England and shutout the Tom Brady-less Patriots, 16-0. The rematch, which figures to be vastly different with Brady now back under center, is featured in this week's look at the NFL's biggest mismatches.

Free NFL Picks: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans Odds & Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/25/2016

Look, I get that the NFL wants every team to get one national appearance on Thursday each season. But please stop force-feeding us Jaguars-Titans! This is the third straight year these two downtrodden franchises will meet on Thursday Night Football. And the NFL wonders why ratings are sagging. But even a pretty lousy NFL matchup will draw good ratings and certainly strong betting action at sportsbooks as your only other live betting options on Thursday with no World Series game that night are the NHL, NBA or a couple of Major League Soccer playoff games.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 8 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/24/2016

OK, I'm now at the point where I actually feel sorry for New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith. Some guys just have bad luck. Smith was such a good player at West Virginia and I thought he might be a good pro some day. He just happened to land with about the worst possible franchise for a quarterback east of Cleveland. And now Smith's Jets career is probably over and perhaps his NFL one.

NFL Odds: Week 7 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 10/21/2016

I was pretty adamant when Tom Brady's four-game suspension was reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals that Brady would have no shot of winning a third career NFL MVP Award this season. You can't possibly win an MVP when you play just 75 percent of a season, right?

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 7 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 10/21/2016

If you haven't started tailing the Basic Strategy Teaser, I suggest you do so now because this system is on fire. After firing a 3-0 Week 5, the BST produced another unblemished record of 3-0 in Week 6. That brings the system's record to a mind blowing 11-1 (12-2 if you count the "extra options" I mentioned last week, but didn't play).

Free NFL Picks: New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/19/2016

Not a Patriots or Steelers fan in the least. But I like watching good NFL action, and this Sunday's game between New England and Pittsburgh I circled right when the schedule was released in late April. These looked to be the two best teams in the AFC with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger, who have combined for six Super Bowl rings. The winner here would have a big upper hand for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

NFL Betting and Handicapping: Best ATS Teams Against the Point Spread
by Victor Ryan - 10/19/2016

Through the first six weeks of the NFL season, one trend is clear: good teams are covering. This isn't always the case given lines are set with the idea of making each matchup a 50-50 proposition (so the bookies collect on the juice). But when it comes to the Vikings, Cowboys, Patriots and Falcons--division leaders all-the spread has been but a minor hindrance. Led by Minnesota's perfect start to the season, that quartet is a combined 20-3 both straight up and against the number.

Free NFL Picks: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers Odds & and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/18/2016

Bears fans hate the Packers more than any other team, especially for the past two decades or so because Green Bay has had a stellar quarterback beating the Bears regularly since Brett Favre took over in 1992 and was replaced by Aaron Rodgers in 2008. Chicago hasn't had a franchise quarterback arguably since Jim McMahon. I mention this because a Bears-Packers game normally would draw massive TV ratings in the Windy City.

NFL Handicapping and Betting: Luck just can't be Handicapped
by Trevor Whenham - 10/18/2016

Luck is a huge challenge to handicappers - it is the one thing handicappers can't account for when analyzing games. Teams need luck to win in the NFL, and the absence of luck can cost teams - and bettors - immensely. We can't possibly predict which teams will get lucky next week or which ones won't. All we can do is look at which teams have had strong luck so far, which haven't, and hope the trends continue. Here are two very lucky teams and two others that have had plenty of luck but all of it has been bad:

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 7 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/17/2016

Clearly the most newsworthy thing to happen in the NFL in Week 6 was the torn meniscus suffered by Ben Roethlisberger in the Steelers' puzzling loss in Miami on Sunday. Big Ben underwent surgery on Monday and unfortunately will miss this Sunday's home showdown with New England. That's all I will say about that injury for now as I will preview Pats-Steelers as the Sunday game of the week later here at Doc's, although it's not quite as intriguing with Landry Jones facing Tom Brady.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 6 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 10/15/2016

Week 6 of the NFL opened with Broncos-Chargers going comfortably "under" the final line of 46 points. The rest of this week's slate features three games where the "over/under" line has undergone notable changes. Colts-Texans has risen to 48.5 from a 46 opening line; Ravens-Giants has risen 1.5 points to 45; and Jaguars-Bears has been bet down a full point to 46.

NFL Odds: Week 6 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 10/14/2016

Can you imagine if the Denver Broncos had somehow scored after recovering that late onside kick Thursday night in San Diego and sent the game into overtime? I have zero doubt in my mind if that happened that Bolts coach Mike McCoy would be out of a job today. The Chargers tried yet again to blow a big fourth-quarter lead but held on to improve to 2-4.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 6 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 10/14/2016

The Basic Strategy Teaser seemingly can do no wrong. The system produced its second 3-0 week in three weeks and now holds a record of 8-1. Pittsburgh was able to dismantle the Jets at home on the back of four touchdown passes by Ben Roethlisberger. Two of those were to Sammie Coates, who had a breakout game, going for six catches, 139 yards and two touchdowns. Buffalo travelled across the country to take care of business against the Rams, who couldn't get much going offensively.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 6
by Victor Ryan - 10/13/2016

It's a rather juicy slate of NFL games in Week 6. Seahawks-Falcons, Cowboys-Packers, Bengals-Patriots, Eagles-Redskins, Chiefs-Raiders could actually all be considered potential playoff previews when you think about it. When the dust finally settles in 10 more weeks, those games could wind up playing a key role in playoff seeding, home-field advantage, etc.

Free NFL Picks: Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/12/2016

Another winning Sunday last week as I recommended the one-victory Lions getting 3 points at home against the unbeaten Eagles, and Detroit won 24-23 -- sadly, going one point over the total. Let's keep up the Sunday success this week with the marquee game on the schedule (sorry Cowboys-Packers) as Atlanta visits Seattle in the only matchup of division leaders in Week 6.