NFL Handicapping Articles

Free NFL Preseason Picks for Week 2 from Expert Pro Football Handicappers
by Chris Vasile - 8/17/2016

Week 1 of the NFL Preseason played out just as we should have expected it. It was very slow and sloppy, with plenty of third- and fourth-stringers playing the majority of the snaps. There were a few things bettors could take away from these games, but it must be taken with a grain of salt, as preseason Week 1 only serves as a glorified scrimmage. The top two storylines for Week 1, in my opinion? Watching how the first and second overall draft picks fared.

2016 Baltimore Ravens Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/15/2016

Murphy's Law most definitely applied to the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, so if you are one of those believers that luck evens itself out, then Coach John Harbaugh's club should have a great 2016 season. But until I see all those key guys who suffered season-ending injuries last year on the field, it's hard to handicap this team.

2016 Detroit Lions Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/12/2016

On Thursday I looked at the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2016 home schedule and my lead was about how Gus Bradley is among the favorites on the "First NFL Coach Fired" prop. He was priced at +1200. Well, the second-favorite on that prop at +400 is Detroit's Jim Caldwell, and many are still surprised that Caldwell is still in charge in Motown. But the Lions were a playoff team under Caldwell in 2014, and after a 1-7 start last year the team played much better and finished at 7-9.

NFL Week 1 Lines: Handicapping and Expert Pro Football Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 8/12/2016

This is a pretty good time to be looking at first week lines in the NFL. Training camps are underway, and the preseason is slowly getting rolling, but the general betting public has not yet been bitten by football fever - at least not compared to what they will be like in a few weeks. The lines that have been posted for a few weeks now have been hit hard by sharp bettors, then, but have not yet been attacked by the public. That makes it potentially easier to find some interesting value than it will be in a month when the season starts. Here are the six most interesting lines available at this point from BetOnline:

2016 Jacksonville Jaguars Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/11/2016

On the "First NFL Coach Fired" prop, Jacksonville's Gus Bradley is one of the favorites at +1200. And I agree that Bradley is squarely on the hot seat entering 2016. After all, the former Seahawks defensive coordinator is just 12-36 in his three seasons.

How to Handicap and Wager on NFL Teams with Coaches on the Hot Seat
by Trevor Whenham - 8/11/2016

All 32 NFL head coaches are in the midst of training camp. They are, they hope, preparing for a long and successful season. They dream of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and making their jobs secure for as long as they want them. Things will only play out that way for one guy, though. And on the other hand there are several guys who are going to be out of a job by the end of the year - or sooner.

2016 New Orleans Saints Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/10/2016

So here's about all I can guarantee you regarding the 2016 Saints: Drew Brees will be in contention for another passing title after winning his record sixth last year; he's the early betting favorite again at sportsbooks. Receiver Brandin Cooks will likely be a first- or early second-round pick in your fantasy draft. Running back Mark Ingram is solid. And the defense will stink.

How to Bet on Preseason NFL Football: Expert Handicapping and Betting Advice
by Chris Vasile - 8/9/2016

Sunday night was supposed to be a night of celebration and excitement as the 2016-17 NFL Season kicked off in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Instead of being able to watch second-, third- and fourth-string players compete for a chance at a roster spot, players and spokespeople for the NFL were reigned down on with boos. It was quite the embarrassment, and it was the first NFL game cancellation due to field conditions since 2001.

2016 Oakland Raiders Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/8/2016

I don't believe that taxpayers in any city should have to pay several hundred million dollars so some rich NFL owner can get a new stadium and get even richer. I actually understand a bit more regarding a baseball stadium because that building will be used at least 81 times a year for regular-season games. An NFL team hosts, of course, eight regular-season games, and sometimes for teams like the Jags, who play a game in London each year, only seven.

2016 Los Angeles Rams Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/5/2016

Indeed, it will be a special year in Los Angeles as the NFL finally returns to America's second-biggest media market. Heading into this past offseason, it sure appeared that NFL owners were going to vote for a project where the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders were going to share a stadium in Los Angeles instead of Rams owner Stan Kroenke's bold vision for his own complex. After all, St. Louis appeared ready to build Kroenke a new stadium.

NFL Playoffs Predictions: Props Odds for Certain Teams to Make Postseason
by Trevor Whenham - 8/5/2016

The NFL Preseason hasn't even started yet, and already every single coach and player knows that they have to make the playoffs or their seasons, to some extent or another, will be considered a failure. It is, of course, more likely that some teams will make the playoffs than others. And, not surprisingly, oddsmakers have found a way to bet on just how likely that is. Bovada has posted odds on whether each NFL team will make the playoffs or not.

NFL Division Winners Props Odds with Expert Betting Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 8/5/2016

Training camps have only just begun, and the truly pointless NFL Preseason has not yet started. It's far too early, then, to really know what is going to happen during this NFL season. That doesn't mean we can't speculate, though, and there is no better way to speculate than to look at futures odds for interesting value. The target this time around is the division winner props posted by BetOnline. Let's take a look at each of the eight divisions in turn - actually seven, because odds for the NFC West are not currently posted:

2016 New York Jets Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/4/2016

When I previewed the Jets' 2016 road schedule back in late May, I wrote that "I have a hard time believing they will enter the season with a trio of Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and 2016 second-round pick Christian Hackenberg as their quarterbacks." And, expectedly, the Jets did sign last year's starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, to a one-year, $12 million deal on the eve of training camp with another $3 million possible in incentives.

2016 Philadelphia Eagles Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/3/2016

I think it's going to be a long winter in Philadelphia. The 76ers are going to be terrible again, although at least it appears they finally have a plan around potential superstar Ben Simmons. The Flyers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season and likely will again.

2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/1/2016

If the NFL would just make marijuana legal like a few states have, then the Pittsburgh Steelers could have an all-time offense in the 2016 season. Alas, that's not the case. OK, I don't really know what No. 2 receiver Martavis Bryant was suspended for -- although I do know that weed is prevalent in the NFL (and NBA). He had to miss the first four games of last season due to suspension yet still had 50 catches for 765 yards and six touchdowns.

2016 Green Bay Packers Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2016

The Packers were 12-4 in 2014 and NFC North champions for a fourth straight season. They probably should have reached the Super Bowl but gagged late in the NFC Championship Game in Seattle and lost in overtime. Nelson was easily Aaron Rodgers' top target that year, catching 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns in earning first-team All-Pro honors. He and Randall Cobb were the NFL's best receiving duo. Rodgers won his second NFL MVP Award that year and the Packers led the NFL in scoring at 30.4 ppg.

2016 Indianapolis Colts Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/28/2016

When I previewed the Colts' road schedule for the coming season back at the start of June, the team hadn't locked up star quarterback Andrew Luck to a new extension yet, but I wrote that he would be the highest-paid player in league history by the time the team reported to camp. And that happened at the end of last month as Luck got a whopping six-year, $140 million deal. In reality, NFL contracts aren't worth the total value released. It's all about guaranteed money, and Luck got $87 million, by far the most in league history. The mark had been $65 million, but then Broncos linebacker Von Miller got $70 million guaranteed earlier this month to top all defensive players.

2016 Atlanta Falcons Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2016

The Georgia Dome opened in 1992, yet already the Atlanta Falcons will be playing their final season in the downtown Atlanta stadium this year. They are moving to the spectacular $1.4 billion Mercedes Benz Stadium (the roof is amazing) in 2017, but at least staying downtown unlike the Braves, who are moving to the suburbs.

NFL Betting Impact of New Coaching Hires
by Victor Ryan - 7/27/2016

There are six new head coaches in the NFL this season, and that group includes four first-time NFL head coaches (Adam Gase, Dirk Koetter, Ben McAdoo, Doug Pederson) and two retreads (Hue Jackson, Chip Kelly). There are two commonalities among this group: all six come from an offensive background and all six takeover rosters deplete of talent. While it's likely to be a tough campaign for each, change in sports does breed optimism. Improvement is certainly possible.

2016 Kansas City Chiefs Home Schedule Odds and Picks with Win Total Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/25/2016

It has never been a secret that I'm not a huge fan of Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, and I'm not. I still say he's too mediocre to lead a team to a Super Bowl, but perhaps if the talent around him is good enough maybe he can win a title as a game manager like a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson.