NFL Handicapping Articles

NFL Betting and Handicapping: Can Arizona Cardinals Bounce Back?
by Trevor Whenham - 10/12/2016

Last year the Arizona Cardinals went a very solid 13-3 during the season. This year is a different story - they would have to win their final 11 games just to match that record. Losing to the Patriots at home when New England was starting a first-timer at QB wasn't at all ideal. Losing at Buffalo was worse, though, and losing at home to the Rams was worst of all - both because the Rams are not very good and because it was a divisional game.

Free NFL Picks: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers Odds & Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/11/2016

So how much does a head coach contribute to his team's success on game day? Some NFL coaches are like CEOs as they delegate most everything to free themselves up to make big-picture calls during a game. Some do call plays. I ask this because the Broncos (4-1) are going to be without head coach Gary Kubiak for Thursday night's AFC West matchup in San Diego, perhaps Denver's final game ever in its rival's city if the Chargers don't get approval for a new stadium next month.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 6 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/10/2016

Raise your hand if you predicted the Minnesota Vikings would be the final unbeaten team standing through the first five weeks of the 2016 NFL season. Guessing your hand is down unless you are a completely biased Vikings fan. It's shocking to me this team is 5-0 considering the season-ending injuries suffered by QB Teddy Bridgewater and running back Adrian Peterson.

NFL Odds: Week 5 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 10/7/2016

Could we be down to zero unbeatens by the end of the weekend? Possible but unlikely as all three unbeatens are favored this weekend. Two of the three are in great shape to make the playoffs as since the current playoff format was adopted in 1990, 64 of the previous 77 teams (83.1 percent) to start 4-0 have made the playoffs.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 5 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 10/7/2016

It was another solid week for Basic Strategy Teasers. After going a perfect 3-0 in Week 3, the BST gave you a 2-1 weekend, and the games weren't ever in doubt. The Jacksonville Jaguars were able to get their offense going against a very bad Indianapolis Colts team. They put up 30 in a 30-27 win. which got them their first victory of the season. Over in Washington, the Redskins were able to get the better of the Browns by a 31-20 score.

Will the Real Odell Beckham Jr. Please Stand Up?
by Mike Davis - 10/6/2016

Have you ever had the dream where you are standing in front of your high school classroom completely naked? Everything is there for the world to see and you are scurrying to cover it up. It's something that has happened to many of us during REM sleep; it's happening to Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. in real life.

Monday Night Football Picks: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers Odds & Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/6/2016

I was right where it counted but wrong in one respect on last week's Monday Night Football game between the Giants and Vikings in Minneapolis. I hit on giving the Giants the 5 points and going "under" the total of 43.5 in the Vikings' 24-10 win. But I also thought we would have our first competitive, single-digit game on Monday nights this season and I obviously missed on that one. Could we finally have a dramatic ending this week when Tampa Bay visits NFC South rival Carolina? Really depends on whom the Carolina quarterback is. More on that in a minute.

Free NFL Picks: Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/4/2016

The Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles as the NFC's only two unbeaten teams entering Week 5? Sure, I had that! Not. I almost hope those teams do reach the postseason and play each other because they are going to be intertwined all year in the wake of the Eagles sending starting quarterback Sam Bradford to Minnesota after Teddy Bridgewater's late training camp injury.

Free NFL Picks: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/4/2016

I'm not sure if such a prop existed before the season -- although I'm sure you could have requested it from some books -- but hopefully you didn't plop down any significant money on the Arizona Cardinals playing the Carolina Panthers in an NFC Championship Game rematch this January.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 5 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/3/2016

Not sure if you have heard the news, but arguably New England's best player on one side of the ball will return from his four-game suspension this week when the Patriots visit the Cleveland Browns. Of course I'm talking about defensive end Rob Ninkovich. He was suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. Ninkovich had played 116 consecutive games (including playoffs) for the Patriots since signing with the team as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2009. Ninkovich had 52 tackles and 6.5 sacks last year.

NFL Odds: Week 4 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 9/30/2016

That "new-thinking" Cleveland Browns front office that includes a former MLB "Moneyball" executive isn't off to a good start. Maybe the team's trade of the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft for a haul of draft picks from the Eagles will work out in the long run. But for now, it looks like a mega-bust with how good Carson Wentz has been in Philly.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 4 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 9/30/2016

The first three-plus weeks of the NFL season has seen the "over" cash at a profitable 55.1 percent. This is above the historical norm, and note Week 4 opened Thursday night with an easy "under" cover. As for the rest of the Week 4 slate, three games have had the total moved by more than a point as of Friday morning. Lions-Bears (48) opened at 46; Seahawks-Jets (40) has moved from 41.5; and Broncos-Bucs (43) has fallen from 44.5.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 4 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 9/30/2016

How beautiful is the Basic Strategy Teaser? Each one of my three selections last week were able to cover the adjusted spread, despite going 0-3 against the Las Vegas line. Green Bay was able to hold off a late rally from Detroit for a 34-27 win as 7.5-point favorites. Tennessee should have had a better fate, but penalties cost them a chance to win the game outright. They failed to cover the +1.5 mark, but getting those six extra points assured that the Titans were a winner.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 4
by Victor Ryan - 9/29/2016

An 0-4 start in the NFL is a virtual death sentence. Each year at this time, the stat is brought out that since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only one team went winless the opening month and still reached the playoffs. That was the 1992 Chargers under coach Bobby Ross.

Free NFL Picks: Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 9/28/2016

I didn't expect Denver to repeat in the AFC West this season but also wasn't expecting QB Trevor Siemian to play as well as he has at quarterback. And with that defense as good as ever, you'd have to call the Broncos the team to beat out there again, and they lead the Raiders and Chiefs by a game. Incidentally, with a pretty easy schedule for a while, the Broncos could well be unbeaten when they visit Oakland in Week 9.

Free NFL Picks: Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 9/27/2016

If you are looking for this Thursday night's game on CBS or Twitter, you won't find it. The NFL Network keeps a few Thursday game to itself each year to boost the value of that channel, and this week's game between the Dolphins and Bengals is only on the NFL Network.

NFL Betting Trends for Help with Pro Football Wagering
by Victor Ryan - 9/27/2016

After three weeks of the NFL season, there are still four teams with perfect records against the spread. This group includes defending Super Bowl champion Broncos, upstart Eagles, Vikings and Patriots. Conversely, just one team remains winless against the spread entering Week 4. The scuffling Bears fell to 0-3 ATS after losing in Dallas 31-17 as a 6.5-point road underdog. Bettors know all streaks come to an end at some point; will this be the week? Chicago is installed as a 3.5-point home 'dawg against the Lions this week.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 4 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 9/26/2016

I'm not saying that Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley will be fired after this week's game if the Jaguars lose to Indianapolis in London .... but, yeah, Bradley will be fired after this week's game if the Jaguars lose to Indianapolis in London.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 3 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 9/24/2016

The start of the NFL season has seen the "over" cashing in the majority of matchups. In the maiden voyage of this space last week, the NFL total picks went 2-2 yet still produced a unit of profit. How is this possible, you ask? Doc's unit system. Last week's 5-unit best bet waltzed to victory when Titans-Lions finished 16-15-a full 17 points below the posted total-to put us in the black.

NFL Odds: Week 3 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 9/23/2016

I touched on the chances of 0-2 and 2-0 teams historically making the playoffs in my Opening Line Report on Monday, but now I have actual props from Bovada to use for those unbeaten teams. The site gives an "over/under" of 1.5 for the eight teams that started 0-2 making the playoffs, with the under a big -250 favorite. And I'd go under there as I'm not sure any will except maybe the Colts or Jaguars.