NFL Handicapping: Run the Football!

“Run the football more times, and you win.” I hear this all the time, on television and on radio, even in 2011, which has been a passing season in the NFL. When examining key games, analysts often conclude one team failed to run the football enough times, and the opponent pulled won the game simply because they had more rushing attempts. We heard this a lot after Super Bowl 36. In that game, the two-touchdown favorite Rams saw star running back Marshall Faulk get just two carries, while Patriots... 

The Overlooked Edge: Football Depth

Depth is such an essential element of success in pro and college football, and one that is easily overlooked. Big college programs have this as a huge advantage over smaller programs. The Florida Gators got off to a strong 4-0 start this season, but then a serious injury against Alabama to starting QB John Brantley changed everything. They lost 4 in a row and end up stumbling into a bowl thanks to a win over Furman last week. Not exactly what the Gator fateful were hoping for under new coach Will... 

2011 NFL Power Rankings – Week 12

Family and feelings are the enemy of good gambling and good writing about gambling. So I apologize for the soggy lead in this week, but I am trapped in Northern New York with my kin and only have a quick moment here in between dodging passive-aggressive barbs from my in-laws and skirting out to refill my cocktail from my depleting liquor supply to pass on this week’s NFL Power Rankings. Here is my Week 12 version of Doc’s Sports Power Rankings: 1. Green Bay Packers (10-0) – This is Green Bay’s... 

NFL Handicapping: Quarterbacks & Defense

There’s really no truer adage in pro football than the importance of quarterbacks and defense. Betting lines take these factors into account, and you can understand why. The offense revolves completely around the play of the quarterback, the only player on offense who touches the ball every play. QBs need touch, and accurate, split-second decision making all the time to keep the offense moving. They also require leadership skills, clutch ability on third and fourth downs, and even are asked to... 

NFL Parity and 20 Point Blowouts

For years, pro football has been the sports leader when it comes to parity. Pete Rozelle was credited with, “On any given Sunday any team can beat another.” The last few years it seems as though parity has disappeared from the NFL. The Packers this season are dominating, the 2008 Saints and Colts started a combined 16-0 SU/11-5 ATS and the 2007 Patriots had a remarkable 16-0 regular season. A close look, however, shows that parity is alive and well. The Packers may have started 8-0,... 

NFL Mid-Season Report Card 2011

We’re approaching Week 10 in the NFL, it’s still ‘mid-season’ for a bunch of teams that have played just eight regular games so far, which is why I’m now offering up my annual NFL mid-season report card on every team in the league! From the good (Green Bay, San Francisco), to the bad (Minnesota, Cleveland, Seattle, Arizona) – and the downright ugly (Indianapolis, St. Louis and Miami), I’m covering all of the bases in an attempt to enlighten NFL fans and betting enthusiasts everywhere... 

Home Field Advantage & Road Travel in the NFL

It’s probably not discussed as much as home court in basketball and even college football, but teams in the NFL often have significant edges at home and liabilities on the road. A key part of sports is emotion. Even though NFL players are professional athletes getting paid to do a job to the best of their abilities, playing well before the home fans really is more important than playing as well on the road. The hometown fans are the ones who, in essence, are paying their salaries. No player wants... 

NFL Betting: Home vs. Road Disparity

How about those Baltimore Ravens? In back to back game they looked like world beaters, shutting down the Jets (34-17) and the Texans (29-14), covering both with ease. That put them at 3-0 Su/ATS at home this season, including that opening day shellacking of the Steelers, 35-7. Then again, a different Baltimore team can show up on the road, as we saw on Monday night in a 12-7 loss at Jacksonville…as a 10-point road favorite! That’s common with some pro and college football teams as the home/road...