NFL Handicapping Articles

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.

NFL Playoffs Betting Advice: Traps to Avoid in Conference Championships
by Trevor Whenham - 1/14/2014

When you sit down to handicap the NFL conference championships this weekend, the biggest key is to avoid falling into the traps that are lurking out there. The media coverage of these two games is very intense, and it can be very easy to get distracted by some heavily-covered storylines — storylines that aren’t nearly as important to the outcome of the game as they may seem.

NFL Divisional Round Special Props Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/9/2014

The former Florida International star was a third-round steal for Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and has emerged as one of the NFL's top young receivers. He's also clearly Andrew Luck's No. 1 guy with Reggie Wayne out for the season.

NFL Handicapping: Impact of Coaching Changes
by Trevor Whenham - 1/9/2014

The coaching carousel is spinning as wildly as ever this year in the NFL. Seven coaching changes have been made already, and there is no guarantee that we are done yet. Only three of the seven positions have been filled — a surprisingly glacial pace that shows no major signs of speeding up in any hurry. While there will be plenty of time to dissect the specific hires and what they mean for the teams, I want to take a higher-level look from a betting perspective now.

NFL Playoff Betting Advice: Avoid these Wagering Traps
by Trevor Whenham - 1/8/2014

By now we are all sick of hearing how San Diego coach Mike McCoy was Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator last year in Denver. While it’s a good story, and you can be sure that both guys are motivated just a little bit more to get the best of the matchup, it’s easy for bettors to overcompensate for the significance of this situation.

NFL Divisional Round Playoffs Key Stats and Betting Trends
by Dave Schwab - 1/8/2014

The race to Super Bowl XLVIII continues this Saturday and Sunday with the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. The top two seeds in both the AFC and the NFC will face off against the survivors of last weekend’s wild-card round. To get you ready for all the action, the following is a brief look at some key facts and figures for each matchup, with NFL betting odds provided by BetOnline.

NFL Totals Betting: Divisional Playoffs Over and Under Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 1/7/2014

The quest for Super Bowl XLVIII got underway last weekend with the wild-card round of this season’s NFL Playoffs. Three of the four games were nail-biters that came down to the final seconds of the game, and three of the four also stayed “under” the closing total line.

NFL Wild-Card Special Props Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/3/2014

I haven't done any "mosts" special props this season because there were usually so many other unique options, but this looks like a good weekend to start with four wild-card games -- three of which look very evenly matched. The only one that doesn't, in my mind, is San Diego at Cincinnati. But even a Bolts win there wouldn't exactly be a shocker.