NFL Handicapping Articles

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.

Cleveland Browns Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/13/2014

The Cleveland Browns haven't made the playoffs in 12 years. That's not the longest drought in the NFL as that belongs to Buffalo. But Browns fans would likely be thrilled with even the moderate success the Bills have had the past few years -- i.e. six wins.

2014 Buffalo Bills Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/13/2014

It's been a rough offseason for Buffalo Bills long-time fans. Owner Ralph Wilson, the only reason the city still has a team and will likely keep it, passed away. The club is still up for sale and a new stadium will be needed to keep it in the area but Wilson smartly included a location clause for when the club was sold whenever he died. Jim Kelly, the greatest player in franchise history, is battling cancer. So this franchise deserves some good karma.

2014 Odds to Win AFC West with Picks and NFL Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 6/11/2014

The NFL offseason continues to grind along with rookie minicamps and OTAs (organized training activities), but before you know it, the start of another exciting season of NFL action will be upon us. 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, starting with the AFC West, with picks and predictions for betting.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/11/2014

It's quite possible that the Tampa Bay Bucs have been the biggest mess in the NFL since the start of the 2011 season. The end of the Raheem Morris era couldn't have gone much worse as Tampa started the 2011 campaign 4-2 before losing 10 straight. That led the Bucs to fire Morris and turn to Rutgers' Greg Schiano, presumably because he could install some discipline.

Tennessee Titans Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/10/2014

I like to compare the Tennessee Titans to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Tennessee is usually a pretty solid team but never much of a championship threat (that Super Bowl loss in the 1999 season notwithstanding). However, the Titans also never get bad enough to land a franchise player. Just like Atlanta.

Minnesota Vikings Odds to Win the Super Bowl and Betting Futures
by Alan Matthews - 6/6/2014

It's almost as if the Minnesota front office expected to lose last season. Sure, the Vikings were a surprising 10-6 in 2012 and played in the wild-card game. However, that club was carried by NFL MVP Adrian Peterson, who had one of the best seasons ever for a running back. The Vikings did little to address their questions about Christian Ponder at quarterback and traded their other best offensive player, receiver Percy Harvin.

Oakland Raiders Odds to Win the Super Bowl
by Alan Matthews - 6/5/2014

I'm sure the various sportsbooks will release the First NFL Coach to be Fired prop on the eve of the season, and if Oakland's Dennis Allen isn't the favorite, he shouldn't be any worse than No. 2. The Raiders have had back-to-back four-win seasons under Allen, who wasn't exactly a sexy choice when hired. It's not Allen's fault really as no team was in worse salary cap shape in terms of dead money a few years ago than Oakland.