NFL Handicapping Articles

Odds for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Road Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 7/9/2015

I know the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most stable franchises in the NFL. When they hire a head coach, he tends to stay there for many years. But I believe that Mike Tomlin would have been in major trouble last season had his team struggled. Pittsburgh was coming off back-to-back 8-8 campaigns, missing the playoffs in both. Another season like that and I think the Steelers had to at least think about making a move -- hey, Bill Cowher is available!

Odds for the 2015 Dallas Cowboys NFL Road Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 7/8/2015

What a difference a year makes for Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. He was among the betting favorites this time one year ago to be the first NFL coach fired in 2014. And I'll be honest in that I thought he would be as I didn't have much faith that the Cowboys would have a good season. But they did, going 12-4 -- the only team without a road loss -- and winning the NFC East title.

Odds for the 2015 New England Patriots NFL Road Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 7/7/2015

We still don't know what the situation with Tom Brady's appeal is as of this writing. Reports are that Commissioner Roger Goodell won't decide until late this month, likely on the eve of the Patriots reporting to training camp, which they do on July 29. It really depends on whom you believe on whether Brady's suspension is dropped.

2015 NFL Season Win Totals Picks: Dallas Cowboys
by Dave Schwab - 7/7/2015

Dallas had been a very average team for most of Jason Garrett's tenure as head coach with three straight records of 8-8, but that all changed last season behind the second-ranked rushing offense in the league that helped produce a 12-4 record that won the NFC East by two full games over Philadelphia.

Odds for the 2015 Oakland Raiders NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 7/2/2015

Ah the Raiders. I lived nowhere near California as a kid, but it was hard not to sort of like the Silver & Black just because they were so menacing and cool. Now? I still live nowhere near California, and all I feel is pity. Last season was Oakland's 12th straight without a winning record -- all coming after losing Super Bowl XXXVII to Tampa Bay and former Oakland head coach Jon Gruden.

Odds for the 2015 St. Louis Rams NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 7/2/2015

I'm sure this will come as little solace to Rams fans, but I certainly believe that St. Louis was the best last-place team in the 2014 season. In fact, I don't think it's close (even though Cleveland had one more win). I was big on the St. Louis bandwagon last preseason with what looked like a killer defense, but I jumped off as soon as quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a season-ending torn ACL (again). At least Rams fans don't have to worry about the brittle Bradford any longer.

2015 NFL Season Win Totals Picks: Philadelphia Eagles
by Dave Schwab - 7/2/2015

Chip Kelly will be starting his third season at the helm as the Philadelphia Eagles' head coach after his team posted back-to-back 10-6 records in his first two years. The oddsmakers over at Bovada have set the betting odds for this year's projected wins at 9.5 with an even +100 moneyline on the "over" and a -130 moneyline favoring the "under". The Eagles' futures odds to win the NFC East this season have been set at +180 as second favorites behind Dallas (+125).

Odds for the 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/30/2015

Want proof that "winning" free agency usually doesn't end well? I give you the 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Most experts loved nearly everything that the Bucs did last offseason, plus they had a proven successful new head coach in Lovie Smith. What could go wrong? Pretty much every big signing flopped, none more so than quarterback Josh McCown, and the Bucs finished tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-14.

2015 NFL Season Win Totals Picks: New York Giants
by Dave Schwab - 6/29/2015

The New York Giants have been a tough team to figure out over the past few seasons, and handicapping their outlook for 2015 is starting to prove almost as equally as challenging. Bovada has set their odds to win the NFC East at +300 as third-favorites, and their projected win total is set at 8.5 with a -115 moneyline set for the both the "over" and the "under".

Odds for the 2015 Tennessee Titans NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/25/2015

Are you a casual and not diehard NFL fan? If so, name me one Tennessee Titan other than rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft. Yeah, didn't think so. It's certainly the most nondescript franchise in the NFL -- my current comparisons in the NBA would be the Utah Jazz and in MLB the Arizona Diamondbacks. I'd feel pretty confident wagering that you don't even know who the Titans' head coach is. That would be Ken Whisenhunt.

NFL Week 1 Betting Odds: Updated Lines for First Week of Football Season
by Dave Schwab - 6/24/2015

The start of a new season in the NFL is still more than two months away, but shortly after the league announced the 2015 schedule in early spring the oddmakers released the betting lines for Week 1. The odds have been slightly tweaked since then by some early action from the betting public and the following is a look at where they stand right now on BetOnline for some of the top matchups on the board.

Odds for the 2015 Cleveland Browns NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/23/2015

I'm trying to think of a more dysfunctional franchise in the four major American sports leagues than the Cleveland Browns right now. Still thinking. Yeah, I got nothing. Where to begin? The Browns had two first-round picks last year and appear to have blown them both on cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel. Both were great players in college but came with off-field baggage. Maybe they are salvageable, but Manziel had to go to rehab this summer.

2015 NFL Season Win Totals Picks: Washington Redskins
by Dave Schwab - 6/23/2015

I will once again be covering the NFC East for Doc's Sports this NFL season, and the team that is projected to bring up the rear in this division is the Washington Redskins. Bovada has set their odds to win the NFC East at +1400, and their projected win total is set at 6.5 and trending downward with a -150 moneyline on the "under" against a +120 line on the "over"

Odds for the 2015 Chicago Bears NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/23/2015

I'll admit that I was terribly wrong about the 2014 Chicago Bears. I fell into the Marc Trestman trap from the year before when the Bears had one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history. Trestman even made journeyman quarterback Josh McCown look like a Pro Bowler in his time replacing an injured Jay Cutler (and McCown is still cashing in just from that seven-game stretch).

Odds for the 2015 Washington Redskins NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/19/2015

I went to a Washington Redskins game at their former home, RFK Stadium, years ago, and it was a great time even though I was rooting for the other team. It had nothing to do with who won the game (mine didn't) but just the atmosphere there was as close to a big-time college game at Alabama or Ohio State or wherever that you could ask for. Alas, things aren't the same at FedEx Field, but RFK was getting outdated. It's too bad we will never see bandboxes like that or the former Boston Garden or Chicago Stadium again -- now they all cater to corporations.

Odds for the 2015 New York Jets NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/18/2015

The Jets have missed the playoffs four years in a row, so maybe they will be better this season with new head coach Todd Bowles, but I don't see how this franchise can be as interesting without exiled coach Rex Ryan, now in Buffalo. That guy made any press conference entertaining. I haven't heard Bowles yet promise a Super Bowl, and I'm guessing I won't. Even Rex learned his lesson with that.

Odds for the 2015 San Francisco 49ers NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/17/2015

No team has ever played in a Super Bowl in its home stadium. Back in May 2013 when the NFL awarded Super Bowl 50 -- no Roman numerals this year! -- to the San Francisco 49ers' then-unopened Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, you could have easily convinced me that the Niners would have been the first to play a true home-field Super Bowl. Back then, this was a powerhouse franchise with one of the NFL's best defenses and head coach as well as potential rising superstar at quarterback.

Odds for the 2015 San Diego Chargers NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/16/2015

Could this be the final year that the Chargers play their home games in San Diego? It certainly might be as there will be at least one team in Los Angeles in 2016, and the Bolts are contending with the Raiders and Rams to get there. The NFL will consider relocation proposals in January. San Diego officials this week proposed a stadium vote on Dec. 15. The Chargers have been trying to get a new stadium for years.

Odds for the 2015 Atlanta Falcons NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/15/2015

Remember when the Falcons used to be very tough to beat at the Georgia Dome? Quarterback Matt Ryan was drafted out of Boston College with the No. 3 overall pick in 2008. The Falcons were 7-1 at home that year, followed by marks of 6-2, 7-1 (top seed in NFC playoffs in 2010), 6-2 and 7-1 (top seed in NFC playoffs again).

Odds for the 2015 Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Home Schedule
by Alan Matthews - 6/12/2015

I don't think it can be argued that the Jacksonville Jaguars have the worst home-field advantage in the NFL at EverBank Field. They don't sell out that often -- at least the NFL lifted its blackout ban in home markets this season -- but it's hard to blame the fans. This franchise hasn't had a winning season since 2007 or won more than five games since 2010. The fall/early winter in Florida is quite nice, so there are plenty better things to do than go watch your home team lose big in football.