NFL Handicapping Articles

Betting Trends and Advice for NFL Picks for the Wild Card Round
by T.O. Whenham - 1/7/2011

Wild Card Weekend is here again. A lot of bettors will tell you that this is the best weekend of the playoffs for making a big profit. That may or may not be true, but like every weekend of the NFL season you are better off approaching it with as much knowledge as you can. In this case one of the best means we have of learning about how to bet the Wild Card games is from history.

NFL Picks: Saints at Seahawks Predictions and Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/7/2011

If there’s one game that looks like a dog this weekend – that’s dog as in a canine with fleas not underdog, although I guess the latter is also true – it’s Saturday afternoon’s New Orleans at Seattle matchup. After all, the Seahawks are probably the worst playoff team in NFL history and just became the first division champion ever with a losing record and first below-.500 playoff team in a non-strike season.

Free NFL Picks: Ravens at Chiefs Predictions and Betting Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 1/7/2011

One team that was definitely supposed to be a playoff team will play one team that is a surprise to many in the early game on Sunday. Baltimore looked like a serious contender coming into the season, and unlike some who shared that distinction they are still standing and looking proud. Kansas City, on the other hand, is far more unexpected. By now everyone will say they saw the resurgence coming -- 4-12 last year to hosting a playoff game this year. Those people are, of course, lying. It was clear that the Chiefs would be better, but the combination of how much better they were and how lousy the Chargers would be couldn’t have been foreseen.

NFL Playoff Picks: Predictions for Offensive Props
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 1/7/2011

After the 17-week NFL regular season, 20 teams have been sent home and 12 move forward to the NFL playoffs. The playoffs begin with the Wild Card round this Saturday at 4:15 p.m. EST when the New Orleans Saints visit the Seattle Seahawks. Eight teams will be action this weekend: four division winners and four teams who earned Wild Card berths. Sportsbook.com has released a number of props that involve all eight teams competing on Saturday and Sunday. Here are some NFL Playoff picks for these props.

NFL Betting Trends for Wild Card Playoffs: Rematches
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 1/7/2011

Both NFC Wild Card round matchups this weekend are rematches of regular-season meetings. If that seems odd, it’s not. Last season all four Wild Card round games were rematches. The last three seasons all the AFC Wild Card round games have been rematches.

NFL Odds and Predictions for Next San Francisco 49ers Coach
by Alan Matthews - 1/6/2011

Bodog offers a prop on who the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers will be, and for my NFL predictions I would tell you that two developments on Thursday made the favorite of in that prop much, much less likely to take the Niners job.

NFL Picks: Packers at Eagles Odds and Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 1/6/2011

The NFL has the Green Bay Packers to thank for unleashing Michael Vick onto them this season. Now the Packers may reap the whirlwind. The Packers head to Lincoln Financial Field this weekend to take on Philadelphia in a Wild Card Playoff game. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and this is a rematch of a Week 1 matchup.

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts Predictions and NFL Betting Odds
by Robert Ferringo - 1/6/2011

Time to put up or shut up. At the outset of this NFL season the New York Jets, and an obliging media, crowned Gang Green as one of the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites. The early result has been a backed-into Wild Card slot and an opening round shot at the defending conference champions.

NFL Playoffs: Best Teams Against the Spread
by T.O. Whenham - 1/6/2011

I don’t know about you, but when the playoffs start I become obsessed with looking at all of the teams in every way possible. It’s almost a sickness -- or at least a way to pretend to be productive while killing time until the big games finally get under way. Today’s useful way to pass time is to look at the performance against the NFL point spread of the 12 playoff teams to see what can be learned:

NFL Week 1 Lines - Looking Back Can Help Early Handicapping for Next Season
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/31/2010

In its NFL preview issue, Sports Illustrated nailed five of the six AFC playoff teams, incredibly enough. But one of those playoff teams, the New England Patriots, was predicted to go 10-6 and land a Wild Card berth. In the NFC, it was another story for the magazine. They left the NFC East champion Eagles, NFC North champion Bears and NFC South champion Falcons out of the playoffs.

NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 17
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/29/2010

Nine of 12 playoff berths are clinched and so are four of the eight divisions, but heading into the final week of the regular season there is still very much up for grabs in terms of the NFL playoff picture. We will lay out some NFL Playoff scenarios to paint a clear picture for you.

NFL Picks: Vikings vs. Eagles Betting Odds and Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 12/23/2010

To say the Vikings are a disaster would be a massive understatement. Adrian Peterson is banged up. Brett Favre is hurt. Tarvaris Jackson is on the IR. They have an interim coach that is not making a good argument for having the interim tag removed. Favre hasn’t officially been ruled out of this game, and his massive ego could easily lead him to play. However, what we have learned in recent weeks is that even if he does start he’s not at all likely to finish.

NFL Wild Card Predictions Which Teams Will Make Playoffs
by T.O. Whenham - 12/21/2010

We are into the nitty gritty of the NFL season. There are just two weeks left, and there is a lot left to be decided in the playoff picture. There are a few things we do know for sure - Chicago is a division champ, and New England, Atlanta and Philadelphia likely will be as well. There is still a lot to be figured out, though. Here are five NFL Wild Card predictions for the teams that will make the postseason and what will happen in the Wild Card round of the playoffs:

NFL Picks: Top Quarterback Yardage Betting Prop for Week 15
by Alan Matthews - 12/15/2010

Here’s something I wish I had started earlier in the NFL season, but will keep it in mind for 2011. Sportsbook.com offers props on the top quarterback, running back and wide receiver yardage performances each week. So for Week 15 let’s take a look at the quarterback odds and your best value bet.

Is Michael Vick a Legitimate NFL MVP Contender?
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/9/2010

Michael Vick has transformed himself from an imprisoned felon to a trendy pick to win NFL Most Valuable Player. He certainly has been valuable to the Philadelphia Eagles, who are 8-4 and atop the NFC East. The Eagles turned to Vick when starter Kevin Kolb went down with an injury and they turned to him again when Kolb was struggling.

Week 14 NFL Picks and Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 12/7/2010

It was a strong week for these NFL picks last week - the Falcons mounted a late comeback to win and cover, and the Rams didn’t need any late heroics to put away the lousy Cardinals. Here’s hoping that the momentum carries over to these Week 14 NFL picks and odds:

NFL Totals Betting: The Year of the ‘Over’
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/7/2010

Nearly every rule change made in the past three seasons has benefited the offense. The increased fines levied against multiple defenders and the scrutiny on those defenders throughout the league has even benefited the offense. Defenders are weary of more fines and potential suspensions. Harrison, Pittsburgh’s top linebacker, has already racked up $125,000 in fines.

Week 13 NFL Picks and Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 12/2/2010

It was yet another split weekend. The good news is that St. Louis had a great game - they not only covered the spread as underdogs, but won outright to pay off on the moneyline. The bad news was that the Bills continued to be impressively tough, and they kept it very close against Pittsburgh so the Steelers couldn’t cover. Actually, Pittsburgh was lucky not to lose outright - the winning TD was in a Buffalo receiver’s hand and absolutely should have been a catch.

Week 12 NFL Picks and Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 11/24/2010

As seems to be the unfortunate trend lately, the picks last week were a split affair. The Bills were brilliant in beating up on a pathetic Bengals team, but the Browns couldn’t quite handle the Jaguars. Hopefully, these Week 12 NFL picks and odds will be one step more successful than last week. It’s a nice week of action, so I am optimistic:

NFL Futures Odds: AFC West NFL Picks
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/23/2010

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) are in first place in the AFC West. By rule of tiebreaker the Oakland Raiders (5-5) are second in the division. The Chiefs and Raiders both own wins over the Chargers. Yet it’s third-place San Diego (5-5) that is the favorite to win the division, according to NFL futures odds, and it’s easy to see why.