NFL Handicapping Articles

Circa Sports Payouts $14 Million in the 2023 Million and Survivor Games
by Dave Schwab - 5/29/2023

Circa Casino and Sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas recently announced it is raising its stakes for the Million contests and Survivor money pool in the 2023 NFL season. Last Thursday on May 25, Circa Sports made it official that the sportsbook has opened its sign-up period for both the Million contests and the Survivor Pool. These two games run until Sept. 9 of this year.

NFL Week 1 Spreads with Expert Betting Predictions
by Matt Zitt - 5/16/2023

NFL Week 1 lines are on the board, and what an amazing sight! The 2023-2024 season is set to begin on September 7 with a showdown between the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions. The first Sunday Night Football matchup features the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, while the NFL will finish the week with Aaron Rodgers making his New York Jets debut on Monday Night Football. We will look below at some opening lines that catch our eyes!

NFL International Games 2023: Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
by Matt Zitt - 5/16/2023

Roger Goodell and the NFL has announced its 2023 five-game international schedule that features some intriguing matchups. London will play host to three games over a three-week span during Weeks 4-6. Frankfurt, Germany, will see the final two international games in Week 9 and 10, respectively. London will get to see quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson over those three weeks while Germany might have the best matchup in the Dolphins vs the Chiefs in Week 9. We will look at the full slate of international games below for the 2023 NFL season.

NFL Draft Grades 2023
by Robert Ferringo - 5/1/2023

NFL draft grades are tricky because you can never really tell how a class is going to shake out until four or five years down the road. But I am grading teams based on how they did with the information they had in the here and now. So, with that in mind, here are my 2023 NFL Draft grades:

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Safety Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/26/2023

Safety is no longer the premium position that it used to be. Last year, two safeties were drafted in the first round. However, the two prior drafts saw zero safeties taken on Day 1. It takes a rare athlete at safety to garner an organization’s first round pick. This year, I expect only Brian Branch from Alabama to go in the first round. Another may sneak in at the tail end of the first. However, with the massive talent at wide receiver and running back, teams like Buffalo and Cincy could lean that route instead of safety.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Defensive Linemen Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/26/2023

Last year’s defensive line class was one of the weakest in recent NFL Drafts. Only makes sense that 2023’s class follows up with one of the better classes, with three heavy hitters at the top of the board. Two pass rushers have been drafted with the No. 1 pick since 2014: Jadeveon Clowney (2014, Texans) and Myles Garrett (2017, Browns). In two of the last three drafts, pass rushers went second in the draft behind a quarterback: (Nick Bosa and Chase Young).

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Cornerbacks Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/17/2023

Last year and this year bring back-to-back solid classes at the cornerback position. With the young wide receiver talent the past few seasons, and now at cornerback, should make for some good matchups in the future of the NFL. Last year four corners were taken in the first round, with two of them going in the first four selections.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Linebackers Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/17/2023

Once considered the most important defensive position in the NFL, teams have shifted to edge rushers to apply more pressure on starting quarterbacks. In the modern NFL, linebackers need to be able to blitz and cover slot receivers’ sideline to sideline. Top players at the position in 2023 include Arkansas’ Drew Sanders and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson. Last year, five linebackers were drafted in the first round, although some of them like Micah Parsons are OLB/DE hybrid players.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Tight Ends Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/14/2023

For the first time in a while, the 2023 tight end market is an exciting one to watch heading up to the NFL Draft. There is a ton of talent all around, from Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta. In four of the last six NFL Drafts, a tight end has been selected in the first round. 2023 will provide one of the best classes for tight ends in recent memory, assuring at least one or more should fall off the board on Day 1. Teams that are in need that could pull the trigger in the first round include the Packers, Cowboys, and Bengals.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Running Backs Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/14/2023

As every year passes, the running back position loses more and more value in the NFL Draft. Top-projected backs have garnered late first-round consideration if they are lucky. Ownership seems content using second round or later draft picks on ball carriers. This is a far cry from Top 5 considerations like Ezekiel Elliot in 2016 and Saquan Barkley in 2018. Look at Jonathan Taylor, a premier starting running back in the NFL but was taken in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Offensive Linemen Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/14/2023

Offensive lineman is among the most premier positions in the NFL Draft. Obviously, it’s not valued as high as the quarterback. However, teams often fork up a lot of money to lineman as an investment to protect their franchise QB. This year’s class is a tossup of who could be the first linemen off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft. In recent years, we have seen Super Bowl contenders disintegrate down the stretch without an effective offensive line, most recently the Chiefs in 2020 and the Bengals in 2021.

2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Wide Receivers Odds
by Matt Zitt - 4/13/2023

In a league that values the passing game, there will be a few wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Even though this year’s class is not on par with recent classes, there still should be four to six WRs taken on Day 1. For this upcoming NFL season, the Bears, Texans, Ravens, Patriots and Chiefs are in definite need of pass catchers. You can also throw in the Vikings with the departure of Adam Thielen and the Green Bay Packers since they lost Allen Lazard.

Where will Lamar Jackson Play Next Season? Odds and Expert Predictions
by Sean Barnard - 2/16/2023

While Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr may dominate the headlines, Lamar Jackson is the true prize of the potential quarterback class. The 26-year-old and former MVP took the season to bet on himself and prove he is worthy of the lucrative contract he desires. The Ravens and Jackson are still as far as $100 million apart, although allowing him to walk would set the franchise back a major way. The Ravens are 49-21 in games in which Jackson has played, and their entire offense has been built around his unique running ability and versatile play.

Where will Derek Carr Play Next Season? Odds and Expert Predictions
by Sean Barnard - 2/16/2023

At the top of the list of ugly breakups among quarterbacks/teams is Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders. Carr has been the franchise's starter since 2014 and set several records for the organization. However, he was shut down before the season ended and the writing was on the wall for his future in Las Vegas. He was officially released from the organization before his $40.4 million contract became guaranteed and now has begun his search for a new team.

Where will Aaron Rodgers Play Next Season? Odds and Expert Predictions
by Sean Barnard - 2/15/2023

Few players have captured the media's attention (for better or worse) than Aaron Rodgers. The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback has seemingly made his career decision a key storyline of the offseason in each of the past few seasons. This year is no different. And after a frustrating 8-9 record on the season, with Jordan Love continuing to overlook Rodgers’ shoulder, it is fair to wonder if a location change is in the cards.

NFL Betting Predictions: Championship Weekend Opening Line Report and Picks
by Spencer Toth - 1/23/2023

The conference championship games have been set, as the NFL season approaches its conclusion. In the divisional round, we went 2-1 from a betting perspective. The Bengals easily covered the +5 spread as they demolished the Bills, cashing our +200 moneyline bet in the process. The 49ers defense flexed their muscles on Dallas, covering the 4-point spread, while our only blemish of the week was taking the Chiefs -8.5, as the Jaguars covered the spread thanks to a meaningless field goal with 30 seconds to play.

NFL Betting Predictions: Divisional Weekend Opening Line Report and Picks
by Spencer Toth - 1/17/2023

An eventful Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs is in the books. The league’s powerhouses all survived. And from a betting perspective, we went 1-2 last week, bringing our season record to 21-18-1. On Saturday, the 49ers trailed at halftime before blowing the Seahawks out of the water, easily covering the 10-point spread. On Sunday, the Vikings lost to the Giants, 31-24, in a close game throughout, losing and failing to cover as slight favorites.

NFL Playoff Predictions 2023: San Francisco 49ers Futures Odds and Picks
by Spencer Toth - 1/12/2023

The 49ers have had a roller coaster season, starting 3 different quarterbacks yet still finishing 13-4. They come into the postseason with +550 odds attached to their potential Super Bowl victory and are on a 10-game win streak dating back to October 23. They are the No. 2 seed in the NFC and will have their first two playoff games at home, before the NFC championship, which will likely be in Philadelphia. A strong defense and high-quality skilled players have been enough to carry this team despite the carousel at quarterback.

NFL Playoff Predictions 2023: Philadelphia Eagles Futures Odds and Picks
by Spencer Toth - 1/12/2023

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the postseason with the 3rd best Super Bowl odds at +500 and are the favorites to win the NFC at +160. The Eagles started off the year 8-0, before losing to the Commanders, and then improving to 13-1. They finished the season 14-3, which was good enough to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC, despite Jalen Hurts’ late season injury. Hurts was the MVP favorite for portions of the year, but his late injury tilted the scales in Patrick Mahomes’ favor.

NFL Playoff Predictions 2023: Buffalo Bills Futures Odds and Picks
by Spencer Toth - 1/11/2023

The Buffalo Bills enter the postseason with the second-best Super Bowl odds at +400. After being the favorites for the entire season, the Bills have seen their odds tick downwards since the +275 high of Week 7. They locked up the #2 seed in the AFC, ensuring their first two playoff games will be at home, before the AFC Championship game at home or at a neutral site.