NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Predictions: Hall of Fame Game Odds and Picks Bengals vs. Cowboys
by Robert Ferringo - 8/7/2010

It is fitting that the NFL will again kick off its season in the shadow of its legends, its myths, and its history. Football is the new national pastime in this nation, and it has reached its chimerical level in part because of the consistent, communal, and seasonal nature of the sports. The whims and amusement of summer is winding to a close and our consciousness is slowly settling back into another focused fall and, inexorably, an unwavering winter.

NFL Predictions: Green Bay Packers May Be In For Turnover Hangover
by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

Turnovers are the fickle mistress of the NFL. Inexplicable fumbles, fluke bounces for interceptions, muffed punts, bumbled snaps, tipped passes into unexpected arms; these are weekly occurrences in NFL betting and they can be the difference between winning and losing, insanity and exaltation, and the stench and weight of sheer and utter failure or the unstoppable confidence and high of unimpeded success.

NFL Handicapping System: Yards Per Point
by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

Yards Per Point is an excellent statistic to utilize in NFL handicapping because, in its own way, it accounts for much of the “hidden yardage” that is otherwise difficult to quantify on game day. Although it’s actually pretty basic to calculate, Yards Per Point isn’t a common NFL statistic and there aren’t any mainstream databases that regularly track and update it throughout the season. However, it is a number that many professional handicappers rely on to give them greater insight into what is actually going on down on the gridiron each week.

NFL Predictions: NFC North Odds and Preview with Football Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

The “Norris” Division is what football is all about. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are two of the pillars of American football. The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are two more venerable organizations that made their mark the same way as the Pack and as The Monsters of the Midway: by playing a brutish, cannibalistic brand of football that laid the foundation of the modern game. Pound the ball on the ground and play great defense, that was the mantra and that’s what these teams did. They did it in the elements. They did it outdoors, in the bitter cold, in the woodland areas of the Midwest. And they set the standard for physical play in the NFL for half a century

NFL Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 8/6/2010

With the NFL exhibition season kicking off Friday and Brett Favre already dominating the NFL news cycles – I’m sure that story won’t be over until Opening Day – it’s time for the writers here at Doc’s Sports to start inundating you with NFL predictions and player prop picks stories.

2010 NFL Predictions: Detroit Lions Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 8/5/2010

Well, if their trend continues, the Lions will reach four wins this season after going an infamous 0-16 in 2008 and then “improving” to 2-14 last year. Unfortunately the Lions weren’t able to break their road-losing streak, which is now at 20 games in a row (2001-’03 Lions own record of 24 in a row). And Detroit actually lost at home to St. Louis last year for the Rams’ lone win of the 2009 season and their first road win since midway through the 2008 season.

NFL Predictions: Defensive Rookie of the Year Props Picks
by Alan Matthews - 8/5/2010

There aren’t many guarantees in life and, unfortunately, not in sports betting, either. But here’s one thing I can absolutely guarantee you when betting on this year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner: there will never be a player to match 2008 winner Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans.

NFL Predictions: NFC East Odds and Preview with Football Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 8/4/2010

In the last five years there have only been three occasions where a team from the NFC East has finished below .500. That’s just three losing records out of a possible 20 for the clubs in this division. That is a testament to just how tough, talented and focused the teams from the NFC East have been over the last half-decade in what is the most competitive division in the sport.

2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/4/2010

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started their rebuilding process last year and it showed with a 3-13 record. But the scary part is that the Bucs will be even younger in 2010 so even a .500 record, much less a playoff spot, is a pipe dream.

2010 St. Louis Rams Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/4/2010

It’s probably fair to say that the St. Louis Rams have become the sad-sack franchise in the NFL. Last year the Rams went 1-15 for their third straight losing season (a total of six wins in that stretch). Fans in St. Louis haven’t witnessed a Ram victory in person in that city since Oct. 19, 2008. And ESPN had a cool stat: every team in the NFL has at least four players who have been to at least one Pro Bowl. Every team but the Rams, who have one: running back Steven Jackson, and he’s coming off offseason back surgery.

NFL Handicapping: Top Free Agent Signings in 2010
by Robert Ferringo - 8/2/2010

Right now the signing of T.O. by Cincinnati is making waves and getting headlines. But all of that hype is coming from people either outside of the sport or from people that are worried more about the entertainment aspect of America’s Pastime than they are the execution aspect. The reality is that while Owens is now more caricature than pass catcher he doesn’t really address the core needs that the Bengals offense has.

NFL Handicapping: Least Improved Teams
by T.O. Whenham - 7/31/2010

This is the time in the NFL when everyone is optimistic about everything. People around the league believe that this is the year that their team is going all the way, and that all of its players will emerge as superstars. In a lot of cases it makes sense to be at least a little optimistic as teams have worked hard to improve and become more competitive. Some teams, though, just didn’t do enough to warrant any optimism. Here’s a look at the two teams - one in each conference - that haven’t done nearly enough to improve in the offseason:

2010 Seattle Seahawks Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/30/2010

At least in the front office and on the coaching staff, it’s hard to argue any team underwent a bigger facelift in the offseason than the Seattle Seahawks. And it was time for a change, as following a 2007 record of 10-6 and a division title, the Seahawks have won just nine games since, including a 5-11 record last season that was full of injuries all over the field.

NFL Season Win Totals Bettors Bullish on Kansas City Chiefs
by T.O. Whenham - 7/30/2010

The public often surprises me with their opinions and love affairs. Rarely, though, have they surprised me as much as they have this year with their enthusiastic early embrace of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won just four games last year and had a whole lot of woes - they didn’t underachieve at that win total. Despite that, their NFL season win total was set aggressively at 6.5 this year by oddsmakers. That’s a big step forward from last year, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the betting public.

2010 Carolina Panthers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2010

There has never been a repeat champion of the NFC South Division – beware, New Orleans Saints – and the Carolina Panthers were the victims of the South curse last season, following up their 2008 12-4 record and division title with an 8-8 record and no playoff visit last year. And really that 8-8 record was a bit misleading because Carolina had to win its final three games to manage a .500 mark.

2010 Chicago Bears Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2010

The usually frugal Chicago Bears, it was said, didn’t fire Coach Lovie Smith following last season’s incredibly disappointing 7-9 season because the team didn’t want to have to pay Smith to not coach for the next two years left on his contract.

NFL Betting: Sam Bradford Rookie Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 7/28/2010

As I write this the first pick in the NFL Draft, Sam Bradford, has not yet signed his contract, but there is no reason to think that he won’t do so soon, or that he won’t join his new team in St. Louis for most or all of training camp. Negotiations are underway and both sides realize that a record deal is going to be signed, so there is little contention.

NFL Quarterback Predictions: Five Signal Callers That Can Shine
by T.O. Whenham - 7/27/2010

There are few things that can turn around the fate of an NFL team faster than a quarterback who dramatically improves their game. It’s not just that a team gets better play from the QB position that fuels the improvement. Better quarterbacking causes the team to be more confident, and it forces opposing defenses to work harder and question more. Here’s a look at five guys who could take major steps forward in their development this year:

2010 New York Jets Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

I would argue that no team changed more during last season than the New York Jets. They and rookie QB Mark Sanchez were the talk of the NFL early last season as New York started 3-0, beating all potential playoff teams (although only one – the Pats – made it). Then Sanchez sort of hit the wall and New York went into the tank, losing six of seven to seemingly put the playoffs out of reach.

2010 New York Giants Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

The credit that New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin has in the metaphoric bank with the New York Giants thanks to that Super Bowl victory in the 2007 season is reportedly about gone now following last year’s 8-8 record (following a 5-0 start). By most accounts – including former linebacker Antonio Pierce – Coughlin is squarely on the hot seat if the G-Men don’t get back to the playoffs in 2010.