NFL Handicapping Articles

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 11 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 11/18/2016

After a one-week hiatus, the Basic Strategy Teaser weekly article is back and ready to fire off some winners. When you last read this article in Week 9, the BST offered up two top-rated plays with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. The system only split those plays to bring its season record to 18-2. You can check the result for yourself here - Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, and Week 9.

Expert NFL Picks: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/16/2016

It's always helpful when the lead item in a story writes itself, and that was the case this week when the Minnesota Vikings released kicker Blair Walsh, something that was overdue. It's 100 percent fitting Walsh was cut loose this week because the Vikings are hosting the Arizona Cardinals in an important NFC game Sunday. You see, if Walsh makes a chip-shot 27-yard field goal in the final seconds of last season's wild-card game against Seattle, the third-seeded Vikings advance to a divisional-round game at No. 2 Arizona.

Free NFL Picks: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers Odds & Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/15/2016

Here we go again, another Thursday night matchup that leaves a lot to be desired this week as New Orleans visits NFC South rival Carolina in a matchup of teams with losing records. But I'm pretty happy with the NFL right now after an absolutely fabulous Sunday of action that saw some pretty incredible finishes. Unfortunately for the Saints and Panthers, they were on the wrong end of two of the most gut-wrenching regular-season losses you will ever see.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 11 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 11/14/2016

Why am I glad the Pats lost? Two reasons. First, I didn't want all their fans, and they sure are a whiny bunch, to be complaining all year that a 16-0 regular-season might have been possible again if Tom Brady hadn't been suspended the first four games because of you-know-what-gate (I refuse to type it any longer). And my second reason for being happy is that I don't believe Brady should win the NFL MVP by playing in just 12 games and after being suspended. That's just me.

NFL Odds: Week 10 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 11/11/2016

These weekly stories are meant to look ahead to the weekend, but I have to address what happened Thursday night in Baltimore. I preview every Thursday night game here at Doc's, and I'll admit I was wrong in taking Cleveland +11 as the Browns lost 28-7 to the Ravens, who for the time being are in solo first place in the AFC North. Obviously I didn't expect Cleveland, now 0-10 for the first time in team history, to win but thought it could lose by 10. I was right on the total staying "under" 45.5.

Free NFL Picks: Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/9/2016

When the NFL schedule is released each April, you will quickly find a Top-10 (or 15 or whatever number) list of the best regular-season matchups for that coming season at several sports sites, including this one. And good luck finding one of those lists from this past spring that didn't have this Sunday night's Seattle-New England game -- a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX -- at the top. It's the second straight stellar matchup on NBC as in Week 9 it was Denver at Oakland for the AFC West lead, and I correctly backed the Raiders and "over" the total of 43.5.

Free NFL Picks: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens Odds & Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/8/2016

I'm not going to sit here and hammer the NFL schedule-makers again because I've done that plenty this season amid declining ratings. I totally understand why the league wants every team to get a national spotlight on a Thursday once a season and why you can't put the Patriots or Cowboys in prime time every week because CBS and Fox paid big money for AFC and NFC rights, respectively, and they want to show New England and Dallas during their Sunday window too.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 10 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 11/8/2016

Past the halfway point in the season and the NFL totals picks in this space continue to turn a profit. Last Sunday resulted in another 3-0 week when Broncos-Raiders finished 30-20 to eclipse the "over/under" of 44.5 as the 5-unit best bet. It was the second perfect week in the previous three, resulting in another 11 units in profits.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 10 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 11/7/2016

Arguably the most important thing to happen in the NFL this week won't occur on the field but at the ballot boxes in San Diego. Ballot Measure C in that city Tuesday is asking voters whether San Diego's hotel room tax should increase from 12.5 to 16.5 percent, with the proceeds helping fund a new $1.8 billion NFL stadium and convention center complex. The NFL has already promised to put $300 million toward the project, while the Chargers would be expected to put $350 million toward the cost of the stadium.

NFL Odds: Week 9 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 11/4/2016

You hear of teams changing coordinators all the time, but it's when said team is struggling. The Detroit Lions replaced their offensive coordinator during last season, for example. The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars have done it this year. What those teams had in common was they were all struggling.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 9 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 11/4/2016

The "over" continued to be a profitable proposition in Week 8 of the NFL season as nine of the 13 games (69.3 percent) sailed over the posted total. For the season, the "over" has rewarded bettors at a healthy 55.5 percent clip. With those numbers in tow, it's time to look forward. Below is analysis, predictions and wagering strategies for select games on the Week 9 slate.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 9 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 11/4/2016

Week 8 in the National Football League went down as one of those rare weeks where the betting public actually got the better of Las Vegas sportsbooks. Fortunately, for those who follow this column regularly, Week 8 was the Basic Strategy Teasers' fourth consecutive winning week. The system went 2-0 with its top plays and 0-1 with the extra game that qualified but one that I told you to lay off. Those results bring the systems record to a staggering 15-1 (19-3 if you count the extra options. You can check the result for yourself here - Week 5, Week 6, Week 7.

NFL Betting and Wagering Advice: Biggest Mismatches Week 9
by Victor Ryan - 11/3/2016

Each week there are specific statistical mismatches in select NFL games that are wise to identify and analyze. For example, this week there is a really big one when Ezekiel Elliott, the league's leading rusher, takes on the Browns and the NFL's second-worst run defense (143.8 YPG). That's one of the more obvious mismatches of the Week 9 slate, but here are a few more to help with your handicapping.

Free NFL Picks: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/2/2016

I think the fairly new NFL overtime rule is much better than the one in college, where each team gets a possession at the opponent's 25. Of course in the pros, if the team that gets possession first kicks a field goal then the game isn't over. The other team gets a shot to tie and if it does, then it's sudden death. But if the club first possessing the ball scores a touchdown or the opposing defense scores, the game is over.

Free NFL Picks: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds & Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 11/1/2016

I'm just going to pretend that last Thursday's game between the Jaguars and Titans didn't happen, even though I was right on my spread pick, because that was pretty darn unwatchable -- and not just because of the garish uniforms. I actually think NFL ratings will pick up soon because the MLB playoffs will be over by Wednesday night at the latest and the presidential election will come to a merciful conclusion next Tuesday.

NFL Betting Predictions: Week 9 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 10/31/2016

So, I was all ready to tell you that the NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday and not to expect anything major. The NFL deadline is nothing like those in the NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball because of salary-cap issues and all those bonuses paid out to players that are stretched out over years in cap form. You don't have those bonus issues in the other sports because those players' contracts are guaranteed. Last year, the biggest name to go around the deadline in the NFL was past-his-prime tight end Vernon Davis.

NFL Odds: Week 8 Line Movements & Last-Minute News
by Alan Matthews - 10/28/2016

I would really like to go work for Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan in any capacity because that guy is incredibly loyal. I could show up to work dressed as a Little Bo Peep and drunk and he probably wouldn't fire me. Not that I would do either.

Basic Strategy Teasers: Best Week 8 NFL Betting Options
by Chris Vasile - 10/28/2016

I'm running out of great things to say about the Basic Strategy Teaser. After going 3-0 in Week 5 and 3-0 in Week 6, the BST outdid itself in Week 7. It went 2-0 with the top plays and 3-0 with the extra options. If your counting at home, which I know you are, that brings the system's record to a mind-blowing 13-1 (17-2 if you count the extra options). The BST is hitting at a .928 winning percentage, which is higher than I could have imagined when I took on this system.

NFL Totals Betting Picks: Week 8 Over and Under Odds and Expert Predictions
by Victor Ryan - 10/28/2016

The "over" has gone 58-49 through the first seven weeks of the NFL season, a profitable win-rate of 54.2 percent. That would seem to make sense. Mild early-fall weather, fresh athletes and the like would all seem to benefit offensive units. Not to mention the lack of any game tape early on for the league's newcomers, such as this year's unknown young quarterbacks (Prescott, Siemian, Wentz, etc.).

Free NFL Picks: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 10/26/2016

I am not supposed to use the word "lock" in any of my prediction stories here at Doc's. And with good reason as there are no locks in sports betting or I'd be a multi-millionaire. But I'm promising you one thing regarding this week's Sunday Night Football game: it will not end in a 6-6 tie like last week's Seahawks-Cardinals matchup did.