(July 2005 - Dec 2005)
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Below is a listing of articles appearing on Doc’s site sorted by date.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Football Dominates The Holiday Season
by Robert Ferringo - 12/28/2005
Greetings and Salutations. The Robert Ferringo Christmas Parade - sponsored by Daddy Jack and Jesus - was a rousing success in New York this past weekend. I trust that all of you had an equally satisfying break from Reality and enjoyed some quality time with the family. Excuse me if I'm a bit scattered (and late) with my report, but I've been on a 96-hour bender, and things are still a bit fuzzy.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
NFL Playoff Picture: AFC Basically Set While NFC Spots Up For Grabs
by Mike Hayes - 12/27/2005
As the NFL season enters the final week of regular season action playoff races have been all but decided though a few teams are still jockeying for position.
Read more about NFL Playoff Picture.
Monday Night Football: The Party's Over
by Mike Hayes - 12/21/2005
Turn off the lights the party's over. Those were the words sung by announcer "Dandy" Don Meredith during the heyday of Monday Night Football when there was little doubt left about the outcome of a game.
Read more about The end of Monday Night football on ABC.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Colts Dream of Perfect Season Quickly Unravels
by Robert Ferringo - 12/20/2005
Sunday was a solemn and conciliatory day in the National Football League. While many people - including the self-important members of the 1972 Dolphins - basked in the glow of San Diego's upset victory over the previously undefeated Colts, I, for one, was sad to see the Streak come to an end.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report
The Ferringo NFL Report - The Dogs Have Their Day
by Robert Ferringo - 12/13/2005
Is a push a win? The answer to that question depends on whom you ask, and it depends on the situation. My own experience this weekend involving the Indianapolis/Jacksonville game sure didn't feel like a victory. In fact, the random, nonsensical events that surrounded this wager and this game served as a perfect example of why it's so incredibly exciting - and amazingly frustrating - to bet on the National Football League.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Elite Teams Pull Away From The Pack
by Robert Ferringo - 12/06/2005
As the mercury continues to drop, the stakes continue to rise in the National Football League. And if you take a close look at the standings, teams fall into one of the two prescribed categories. Either you're rising to the occasion, or you're fallen by the wayside.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Kickers the Goats of Week 12
by Robert Ferringo - 11/29/2005
Depending on who you're speaking with, kickers in the National Football League are either the most overrated or underrated players in pads. No matter which side of the ledger you fall in that debate, it's a certainty that in the Gambler's World these podiatric pederasts can be the difference between a missed mortgage payment and mimosas in Monte Carlo.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Detroit Lions: Franchise Can Be Saved
by Dallas Jackson - 11/29/2005
Lions' President Matt Millen is to blame for Steve Mariucci's failure. With that said, it is Mariucci's fault he didn't adapt to what Millen gave him. The team president did give him a ton of talent. Unfortunately, it was not right for Mariucci's system. So naturally, Mooch takes the fall.
Read more about Detroit Lions.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Dominant Teams Flex Their Muscle
by Robert Ferringo - 11/22/2005
The elite teams of the National Football League once again imposed their will on helpless foes. Denver skunked visiting New York, San Diego blasted a meek Buffalo squad, and Indianapolis throttled the upstart Bengals.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Thanksgiving Football Games - 85 Year-Old Tradition
by Mike Hayes - 11/21/2005
Football on Thanksgiving Day -- a tradition that began 85 years ago -- has become as much a part of the holiday as the pumpkin pie and where there's football there's an investment opportunity so it comes as no surprise that the holiday first celebrated by Pilgrims in 1621 has become one of the most popular betting days of the year.
Read more about Thanksgiving Football Games.
NFL Playoff Picture Starting To Take Shape
by Mike Hayes - 11/18/2005
With the NFL schedule just past the mid-point the playoff picture is beginning to take shape and it appears the road to Super Bowl XL in the AFC will run through Indianapolis where the Colts are near certain to gain home field throughout the playoffs. The NFC path is not yet as clear as six teams find themselves just a game behind the conference-leading Seahawks.
Read more about NFL Playoff Picture.
The Ferringo NFL Report -- Defensive and Special teams TDs Help and Hurt Bettors
by Robert Ferringo - 11/16/2005
In our beloved National Football League, touchdowns scored via defense or special teams can be a gambler's best friend - or worst enemy. They're Instant Momentum, and generally can snap a dormant squad to life, or suck the will out of a confident underdog. Nowhere was this phenomenon more apparent than Week 10, which saw a ridiculous 10 touchdowns scored via "non-conventional" means.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Week 10 NFL Power Rankings
by Robert Ferringo - 11/10/2005
It's Week 10 and desperation is starting to set in. Middle-of-the-road teams are starting to realize that if they're going to make something of their season, time is running out. Here's a look at some key match ups this weekend that involve squads facing the proverbial backs-against-the-wall scenario.
Read more about Week 10 NFL power rankings.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Favorites Come Up Big AGAIN
by Robert Ferringo - 11/08/2005
Guts. Stones. Cajones. Moxy. Whatever you call it, there is a certain amount of recklessness and daring that is required to play in or bet on the National Football League. Week 9 did not appear any different than any other Sunday in this 2005 season. However, several bold maneuvers by players and coaches are still resonating throughout the league.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Halloween Scary For NFL Bettors
by Robert Ferringo - 11/01/2005
Halloween is a custom started by the Celtic people back in the 5th century. To them it was like our New Year's, only they believed that the disembodied spirits of those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back looking for living bodies to posses. For those poor souls, this was their only hope for securing a spot in the afterlife.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Don't Piss Off The Football Gods
by Robert Ferringo - 10/25/2005
After 36 hours of hard labor and hard drinking, by the third quarter of the Baltimore/Chicago game on Sunday I was running on nothing but adrenaline and rum. I was firmly planted on my stool at a local bar, equally enjoying both my drink and the punishment that the Bears defense was doling out on the Ravens.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
NFL Injury Report: Not Always What It Seems
by Robert Ferringo - 10/24/2005
There is a developing struggle in the National Football League between league officials and head coaches that warrants some attention. It's a situation that could have long-reaching ramifications for gamblers, fantasy football players and common fans alike. The issue at odds: the injury report.
Read more about NFL Injury Report.
Wagering On Teasers Can Be Profitable If They Are Played Correctly
by Robert Ferringo - 10/24/2005
One of the keys to being a successful gambler is the ability to accurately calculate risk. Betting requires you to research information, consult statistics, track trends and formulate the most likely outcome. But the bottom line is that it's simply a comparative analysis of potential peril vs. potential payout.
Read more about Wagering On Teasers.
Week 7 NFL Power Rankings
by Robert Ferringo - 10/19/2005
Last year, Dallas rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes to win a memorable 43-39 Monday Night shootout in Seattle. However, the Seahawks have won twice in three games against the Cowboys since Mike Holmgren has been at the helm.
Read more about Week 7 NFL Power Rankings.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Backup QBs Play Crucial Roles
by Robert Ferringo - 10/18/2005
My esteemed colleague Mike Hayes wrote a story this week for Doc's Sports outlining some facts about backup quarterbacks in the National Football League. He proved to be a soothsayer, because Week 6 saw three backups each play a critical role, for good or ill, in determining their team's fortune.
Read more about Backup QBs Play Crucial Roles.
Indianapolis Colts' Defensive Revival
by Dallas Jackson - 10/14/2005
Life keeps getting better and better for Peyton Manning. Honestly. >From birth, his dad was a professional football player, his mom was a beautiful former Homecoming Queen. He grows up upper class; in the city where his dad is beloved.
Read more about Indianapolis Colts defense.
NFL Backup Quarterbacks Can Get The Job Done
by Mike Hayes - 10/14/2005
Here's a little NFL trivia to chew on while pondering the fate of the quarterback challenged Jets, the Roethlisbergerless Steelers and last week's Matt Schaub-led Falcons.
Read more about NFL backup quarterbacks.
Bookies Don't Overreact To Roethlisberger Injury
by Jon Miller - 10/14/2005
Big Ben's bell has finally been rung in Pittsburgh. It was a matter of time really, as only a handful of quarterbacks finish an NFL season unscathed and off the injury report. The frightening hit to Ben Roethlisberger's knee Monday night in San Diego had a lot of people worried: obsessed fantasy football owners, Steelers teammates and family, not to mention the handicappers at sports books, scratching their collective heads on where to place the Steelers' next line.
Read more about Big Ben Injury.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Where's the 'O' In Chicago?
by Robert Ferringo - 10/11/2005
I can't fully explain the pain and shame I feel every time that the Chicago Bears offense takes the field. With he exception of Thomas Jones and Mushin Muhammad, it's like watching a Class D high school team. I mean, do you have any idea how excruciating it is to feel like your team has a better chance of scoring when the defense is on the field?
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
With Futures Betting, Shopping For Value Is Key
by Mike Hayes - 10/10/2005
There are several reasons the casual bettor stays away from futures wagers, but the main reason is that they don't want to have their money tied up for the course of an entire season. But some bettors have found value in playing futures and some lucky bettors have had huge paydays by picking a longshot early in the season.
Read more about Futures betting.
NFL Moneylines Becoming More Popular With Bettors
by Mike Hayes - 10/07/2005
Thanks at least in part to growing parity in the NFL betting the moneyline is becoming an increasingly attractive option to the point spread -- especially when selecting underdogs.
Read more about NFL Moneylines.
Bet for Value: Two for the Money
by Chris, the Impaler - 10/07/2005
I knew I'd enjoy the Web site for the latest sports gambling movie as I watched the page load with the words Chicago +14/Green Bay -2 and the Over move up the screen, but I figure this is just Hollyweird's way of showing how much they know about sports investment; or as they call it, sports gambling.
Read more about Bet for Value.
The Ferringo NFL Report -- Not much is Certain After Week 4
by Robert Ferringo - 10/05/2005
Slightly less than one quarter of the National Football League season is over and done with. So I ask you this: would you ever say a game has been decided before the end of the first quarter? Since the answer is clearly no, then why are people getting so excited/spastic/manic/depressed after just four games? Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Special Teams Important To Your Wagers
by Joseph Mattern - 10/04/2005
Everybody knows how important an explosive offense or a stifling defense can be for a football team, and everyone can name the big stars on both sides of the ball Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson and Terrell Owens are household names and they make headlines every Sunday. But there is another, less heralded, often overlooked part of a football team that is very important: special teams.
Read more about NFL special teams.
The Two-Point Conversion Can Make Or Break A Team's Chances
by Greg Davis - 10/03/2005
The 1984 Orange Bowl still sticks out in my memory as one of the greatest games I've ever seen. As a 13 year-old kid I watched intently as No. 4 Miami, an overwhelming underdog, stormed out to a big lead over the juggernaut Nebraska Cornhuskers. After trailing 31-17 midway through the fourth quarter, the Cornhuskers rallied with two touchdowns to pull within one, 31-30.
Read more about Two-Point Conversion.
0-2 Does Not Spell DOOM in the NFL
by Mike Hayes - 09/30/2005
For a team with playoff aspirations an 0-2 start does not necessarily spell doom in the National Football League but getting to the postseason is clearly not an easy proposition.
Read more about 0-2 Does Not Spell DOOM.
Week 4 NFL Power Rankings
by Robert Ferringo - 09/30/2005
Denver is hoping that they put up a better showing than their last trip to Florida, a 34-10 drubbing in Miami in Week 1. The Broncos looked outstanding on Monday Night, but as my friend Cody used to say, "Win on Monday, lose on Sunday". The Broncos better be prepared for a muggy, 85-degree day in the panhandle, with scattered thunderstorms throughout.
Read more about Week 4 NFL Power Rankings.
Bye-ing Time: How Should We View the Extra Week of Preparation?
by Celso T. Castilho - 09/29/2005
As we noticed last weekend, the Redskins did not build on their very quiet undefeated record, the Ravens avoided underachieving, the Lions didn't lose another road game and the Texans didn't score their weekly touchdown.
Read more about NFL bye week.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Pats Make All The Right Moves
by Robert Ferringo - 09/28/2005
Like a masterful poker player, the Patriots simply make all the proper plays while waiting for you to make an err of judgment. When that moment occurs, they quickly pounce and snatch your bankroll out from under you before you even know what happened. Pittsburgh, with the exception of a few plays, put together a strong performance on Sunday at Heinz field and displayed ample resolve with their fourth-quarter comeback.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Not All NFL Trends Help The Bettor
by Mike Hayes - 09/23/2005
If there was ever a doubt that information in the wrong hands could be dangerous just take a look at some of the so-called NFL trend analysis that litter internet sites, newspapers and television broadcasts these days.
Read more about NFL Trends.
Major Problems In Minnesota
by Dallas Jackson - 09/23/2005
At 0-2, things do not look good for the Minnesota Vikings in the early going. All of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Randy Moss departure and hoopla regarding the team unity and rebuilt defense all have seemingly become moot points after just two weeks. Sing-alongs and happy faces do not replace the best wide receiver in football, no matter what they want you to believe.
Read more about Vikings Problems.
Bet for Value: Where Do You Shop?
by Chris, the Impaler - 09/22/2005
When we look for value in Saturday afternoon sports investment, not only do we look at value conferences, but we also shop until we drop. Meaning that not only do we cap the games, but we also handicap the offshore sports brokerage houses! It is rare that every sports investment parlor will give the same tasty morsels (spreads) as the other. Take for example our two games this week; Arkansas State (-10) vs. Florida International and Marshall (-3 1/2) at Central Florida.
Read more about Bet for Value.
New York Giants Football - Is This Year's Squad For Real?
by Dallas Jackson - 09/22/2005
Two weeks does not a season make. This is the advice I have to give myself before I fully jump on the 2005 New York Giants football bandwagon. After all, we have seen this kind of hot start before. Just last year the G-Men sprinted out to a 5-2 record, only to limp to a 6-10 finish. But after two weeks, I must say, I have one leg on board and I am hopping along with the other.
Read more about New York Giants Football.
Winging It: Week 3 of a Survivor Pool
by Celso T. Castilho - 09/22/2005
Whether you're familiar with it as a survivor, suicide, or eliminator pool, the drill remains the same: pick the winner (straight up) of one game, then indulge yourself with next week's schedule. If your team loses, then you indulge yourself with other endeavors because you are out of the contest.
Read more about Survivor Pool.
Fourth Down and Inches
by Doc - 09/21/2005
Our selection service certainly turned in a nice performance last week as we picked up +20 units, showing a profit of $1,870. The college selections could have been a little better as we were only 4-3; however, our pro selections produced a 4-0 week, topped off by a big 5-unit win by the NY Giants on Monday night. As I have stated many times before, it's a tough business, but its all worth the time and effort when these kinds of weeks surface. As I look ahead, the next couple of weeks have some outstanding match-ups, and I see only bright lights ahead.
Read more about Fourth Down and Inches.
Shopping For Lines Makes Cents
by Mike Hayes - 09/21/2005
Consider this scenario. You're driving down the road with the needle pinned on EMPTY and you come across two gas stations - one on the left and one on the right - the only difference in the two stations being that the one on the left is charging 5 cents MORE per gallon than the one on the right. All other factors being equal there is no reason not to pay less for your gas because it is just as easy to turn right as it is left.
Read more about shopping for lines.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Speed Kills
by Robert Ferringo - 09/21/2005
Speed kills in the National Football League - but never forget that this sport is predicated on power. Right now, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati are each 2-0 and have won their games by an average score of 25-9. What is it that these teams have in common besides an unblemished record? That would be their complete and total dominance along the offensive and defensive lines.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
NFL Backups Could Have More Of An Impact Than The Starters
by Joseph Mattern - 09/20/2005
I have a theory regarding the NFL that runs counter to most conventional wisdom. It's only a theory, but my hypothesis is that NFL backups are often better than the starters. On its face, this claim sounds ridiculous, I know, but bear with me as I list reasons which support this theory.
Read more about NFL Backups.
Why Every NFL Bettor Should Play Fantasy Football
by Joseph Mattern - 09/16/2005
By Week 2 in the NFL, fantasy football players are scrambling to pick up the latest "breakout" player from Week One (see Willie Parker), and scavenging the waiver wire for any little perceived edge to bolster their team. This attention to the minutiae of NFL machinations could serve the sports bettor well, but the truth is that doing this amount of research can be quite tedious outside the context of fantasy football.
Read more about fantasy football-betting.
In Kansas City, Running Back by Committee is a GOOD Thing
by Dallas Jackson - 09/16/2005
Running back by committee. Four words that just typing gives me a full body shiver. Visions of Travis Minor and Sammy Morris creep up on me. It's scary, truly scary. In recent years we've had numerous disasters when the RBBC (I can't type it twice) situation occurs. I need only to flashback one season to illustrate this point:
Read more about Running back by committee.
Bet for Value: Bad Numbers in College Football
by Chris, the Impaler - 09/14/2005
A handicapper is only as good as their last pick and a gambler is only as good as the last game they bet. Both 'cappers and gamblers share in the immutable fact that a play is only as good as the number you get. Successful handicappers and bettors bet good numbers and avoid bad ones.
Read more about Bet for Value.
Fourth Down & Inches
by Doc - 09/14/2005
Our top game in both college and the NFL went into the books as big wins. Both of our selections were underdogs as Iowa State +9 and Dallas +4 ½ both earned us straight-up wins.
Read more about Fourth Down and Inches.
The Ferringo NFL Report - Saints Rise Up In Face Of Adversity
by Robert Ferringo - 09/13/2005
I'm a native New Yorker, and I've been a Mets fan all my life. They've had several phenomenal moments in my lifetime - including a World Series title. But by far, bar none, my favorite Met moment will always be the first major sporting event in New York City after the September 11th attacks. Trailing rival Atlanta 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Mike Piazza epitomized the spirit of a city and a nation when he crushed a game-winning, two-run home run to straightaway center.
Read more about The Ferringo NFL Report.
Instant Replay In Sports -- Is This Technology Good For College Football?
by Robert Ferringo - 09/09/2005
Just a few minutes into the Bowling Green-Wisconsin game last weekend, the Badgers fans came to their feet with a roar. It wasn't a deep seam completion or a slashing 30-yard run that got them going. No. It was the fans' reaction to the officials' decision to review a questionable Bowling Green touchdown.
Read more about Instant replay in sports.
Bet for Value: NCAA Football
new weekly column by Chris, the Impaler - 09/08/2005
Betting "marquee" or television games is a popular Saturday recreational activity for squares and wise guys that causes radical fluctuations in the spread and can turn a sure winner into a sure loser. To protect us from denting our bankroll in the first weeks of the season we see the value in wagering on NCAA football games that are under the radar. The more obscure the game the better.
Read more about Bet for Value.
Fourth Down & Inches - Weekly College Football Overview
by Doc - 09/07/2005
Our selection service started the season on a real positive note, as we posted a 5-2 record and picked up +12 units over the long weekend. The big disappointment came with New Mexico, who lead UNLV 17-0 in the first half, then went into a shell and had to hang on for a 24-22 victory. We did hit our Top Play of the Week as Arizona stayed with Utah throughout and even had an opportunity to win the game at the end.
Read more about Fourth and Inches.
Previous Archive NFL Football Archives before July 2005