NFL Handicapping Articles

2014 New York Jets Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/4/2014

If there is one thing the New York Jets know how to do, it’s create quarterback drama. Only days after releasing the perpetually-underachieving Mark Sanchez, New York, who had finally seemed to rid itself of its toxic quarterback situation, signed the always drama-filled Michael Vick to a one-year, $5 million deal. Vick will now compete with second-year and starting-quarterback Geno Smith in what will probably turn into another media circus in New York—particularly if the starting quarterback, whomever that may be, begins to struggle.

2014 Denver Broncos Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by Darin Zank - 4/4/2014

The Denver Broncos rode a record-setting offense all the way to the Super Bowl last season; unfortunately, they ran into the best defense in the league, and in a chilling reminder of Super Bowls past for many older Broncos fans, got blown out.

2014 New England Patriots Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/4/2014

The New England Patriots always seem to be on the right side of the free agent market even when it seems like they might have lost a key player or two. For the second straight year the Denver Broncos poached an essential player from the Patriots’ roster when they signed defensive-stopper Aqib Talib to a six-year, $57 million deal. New England, however, immediately bounced back with a huge free agency signing of its own when the team nabbed Darrelle Revis after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2014 Cincinnati Bengals Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/4/2014

The Cincinnati Bengals suffered their third consecutive first-round playoff loss last season, and they may be destined to be one of those teams that are very good but not a legitimate threat to ever win a Super Bowl or even go deep into the playoffs. That idea is why Cincinnati’s decision to essentially sit on its mountain of salary cap space this offseason was so disappointing for fans of the team.

2014 Washington Redskins Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by Aaron Smith - 4/4/2014

After winning the NFC East in 2012, the Redskins had a questionable outlook entering 2013 due to Robert Griffin III’s health. Even those who were most pessimistic about the Redskins in 2013 didn’t envision this team being as bad as they were. Washington completely fell apart and finished 3-13 last year.

2014 Baltimore Ravens Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/4/2014

The Baltimore Ravens may have given away their chance to chase a second straight Super Bowl win by signing quarterback Joe Flacco to a massive contact last offseason. The team, however, finished 2013 with a solid 8-8 record, nearly made the playoffs and carried $6.97 million dollars in salary cap room into the free-agent market this offseason.

2014 New York Giants Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by Aaron Smith - 4/3/2014

It’s been feast or famine for the New York Giants over the past few years. The Giants have won the Super Bowl in two of the last seven years, but they have only been to the playoffs in three of the last seven years. It’s strange for a team that has won the Super Bowl twice in that short of a span to have missed the playoffs altogether the majority of the time.

2014 Cleveland Browns Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/3/2014

The Cleveland Browns spent the first part of the offseason looking for a head coach, and if the rumors are true, they almost landed San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh in the process. Cleveland eventually hired former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine after being the final team in the NFL without a coach. The hiring may not have been the high-profile decision that many fans were hoping for, but Cleveland does bring in a solid coach with a decent track record to the fold.

2014 Philadelphia Eagles Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by Aaron Smith - 4/1/2014

For the majority of the 2013 season, it appeared no one wanted to win the NFC East. Eventually, the Philadelphia Eagles broke out of the pack and won the division with a 10-6 record. The Eagles have made some interesting moves in the offseason. Releasing DeSean Jackson was definitely the most notable thus far.

2014 Dallas Cowboys Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by Aaron Smith - 4/1/2014

The NFC East was as wide-open as you’ll ever see last year, and the Dallas Cowboys had a shot to win it all the way up until their final game, but they came up just short. Dallas has come up just short tons of times in the last few years, and their large fan base is starting to grow a bit frustrated.

2014 Pittsburgh Steelers Opponents and Schedule Highlights
by George Monroy - 4/1/2014

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed the first month of the 2013 NFL season to collect their first win after starting out 0-4 and essentially ending the year before it even started. The team eventually picked up its pace during the final eight weeks of the season, but it never became a legitimate playoff threat after ending the year with an 8-8 record and a full game out of the final wild card spot in the AFC.

NFL Free Agency Betting Impact
by Trevor Whenham - 3/20/2014

It is a real mistake to attach too much significance to free agency in the NFL at the time that it happens. There is so much else that happens between now and the regular season that these changes are only a small part of the changes teams will face. Still, you can’t help but look at the deals that have been done from a betting perspective.

NFL Combine Quarterbacks of Note
by Trevor Whenham - 2/24/2014

The quarterback class in the NFL Draft this year is very interesting. There are three guys all fighting to be the top pick in the draft — if the Texans do choose to take a quarterback. The two who aren’t picked first are likely to go very early in the draft. Outside of that, though, there is a whole lot of quarterback need but even more uncertainty about what order the quarterbacks available will be chosen.

Where Will Michael Sam be Drafted? Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 2/11/2014

Leave it to the creative folks at Bovada to turn the biggest sports story in America right now, the Michael Sam revelation of his sexual orientation, into a betting prop. I certainly never thought in my career I would be writing about the draft stock of an openly gay college football player. Sam is set to be the first active NFL player out of the closet, although there have been few guys who came out after their careers. And common sense tells you there are probably dozens of gay players currently in the league.

NFL Handicapping: What’s Ahead for Broncos in 2014-15
by Trevor Whenham - 2/6/2014

Well, that was ugly. Really, really ugly. I was negative about the Denver Broncos all year and never once believed that they were going to win the Super Bowl. Despite all my doubt and negativity, though, I could never have even remotely imagined an outcome like we saw on Sunday. They were crushed. Peyton Manning was insulted when someone suggested that the effort was “embarrassing,” but if that wasn’t embarrassing then no team in the history of football has ever been embarrassed.

NFL Handicapping: Can the Seahawks Repeat as Super Bowl Champions?
by Trevor Whenham - 2/5/2014

Now that the Seattle Seahawks not only won the Super Bowl but dominated it in ridiculous, almost impossible fashion we are left with one question above all others — can they do it again? They played so well in the big game that it seems hard to believe that there is another team even in the same league as they are. But repeating is never easy. Here’s a look at arguments for and against the start of a dynasty:

NFL Conference Championship Special Props Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/17/2014

Before I get into some props for the best Sunday of the NFL season, the two conference championship games, know this: the weather looks like it won't be a factor in either Seattle or Denver, at least from what you would expect in mid-January in both locations. It should be mid-40s with almost no chance of rain in Seattle. Shockingly, it will be even nicer in Denver, with temperatures in the mid-50s and sunny. Those conditions should affect both games in that they shouldn't.

NFL Conference Championship Odds and Line Movement
by Trevor Whenham - 1/17/2014

There are just two games for the betting public to focus on in the NFL this weekend, and both are wildly-attractive and intriguing. That means heavy action. Any time a lot of money is thrown at a game there is a lot for bettors to learn from looking where that money lands and how the lines are affected by it. Both of the games this weekend offer some surprises on that front:

NFL Handicapping: Browns Coaching Quandary
by Trevor Whenham - 1/16/2014

I wasn’t sure it was possible, but I think that since the season ended the Cleveland Browns have actually found a way to sink to a new all-time low as a franchise. Rob Chudzinski didn’t exactly redefine the career of coaching in his one season with the Browns — he was 4-12, after all — but he certainly didn’t deserve to get fired. There was a lot he did that you could like, he suffered through a QB crisis, and he had a major deficit in talent to overcome. No one deserves to be fired after one year, but Chudzinski deserved it much less than most.

NFL Conference Championships Betting: Key Stats and Wagering Trends
by Dave Schwab - 1/15/2014

There are just three games left in the NFL this season, and the first two are this Sunday in the conference championships to determine which two teams will meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 3. Football is a game of matchups, so the following is a closer look at a few of the key stats and betting trends that have the best shot at having a major impact on the outcome of each of these two battles. All NFL betting odds have been provided by BetOnline.