• Home
• 2010 NCAA Results
• RPJ Intro
• Live Odds
• Matchups

NFL Divisional Playoff Predictions: The Weekend of the Underdog!

Well we went 2-0 on Saturday and 0-2 on Sunday in predicting the Wild Card games so we ride our two game losing streak into the divisional round. We went back to look at some of the data and found out some surprising results. The Divisional round pits the two best teams against the wild card followers and a lot of the betting experts are quick to point out that the home team wins most of the time. Well we beg to differ. Three of the four road teams in last year’s Divisional round won straight up and all three were 3-point underdogs or greater. Each of those games fell under the posted total with the dogs holding their opponents to 13, 11 and 10 points. Two years ago, both Sunday road team won outright and three years ago two road teams won. Since 2003, the road team has won outright 11 out of 24 times.  So this thinking is not rocket science but we are simply mentioning it to make you think. When we dig deeper into the games this weekend and crunch the numbers through our proprietary system, we came to the same conclusion in picking our winners….this is the weekend of the underdog!!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Arizona at New Orleans (-7) - This is one of the toughest games to call this weekend. The Cardinals got smoked by Green Bay in week 17 then race out to a huge lead in the Wild Card rematch, blow the lead, miss a game winning FG and then win by freak play in overtime. The New Orleans Saints have lost 3 in a row. Some would argue that they had home field wrapped up and therefore let up but the problems started the first week of December. The Saints smoked the Pats to end November and then barely got by Atlanta and Washington. Then they lost to Dallas at home and followed it up by losing to Tampa at home and then Carolina on the road. So there are two things to think about: 1) Will the real Cardinals team please stand up and will they play for 4 quarters 2) Were the Saints tanking it and if so can they come out blazing? The brilliance of betting with a line spread is we do not care who wins. Can the Cardinals win? Sure they can. Can the Saints win by 3 TDs? Sure they can. Here is what we do know. The Cardinals can score on anybody at any time. The Packers had the second rated defense in the league and Warner had more TD passes than incompletions (5 to 4). Just sick numbers. Are you willing to be against him? The Saints have been out rushed in 5 of the last 6 games and the one game they were not out rushed they had 6 more rushing yards than their opponent. Not impressive. The Cardinals actually rushed for 150+ yards against the Packers and their coaching staff knows the value of rushing in the playoffs. They learned the Pittsburgh way… Rush and play defense. And on top of the Pittsburgh way, the Cards have Kurt Warner at QB and are deep in the offensive skill areas. It does not even matter if Boldin plays. We are not sure New Orleans can simply turn the juice back on, come out firing on offense, pressure on defense and impose their will. If we had to pick the team that can do this right now it is Arizona and with that….We are betting Arizona to cover!! The line looks legit. Saints opened at -7 and it has remained pretty flat. Right now 60% of the money is on the Cardinals and we are seeing some line drops out there.

Arizona

• Cardinals are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
• Cardinals are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff games.
• Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
• Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Cardinals are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Cardinals are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
• Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog.
• Cardinals are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in January.
• Cardinals are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
• Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Cardinals are 8-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Cardinals are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
• Cardinals are 23-9 ATS in their last 32 games as an underdog.
• Cardinals are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games overall.
• Cardinals are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games on fieldturf.

Baltimore at Indianapolis (-6.5) - This is the one game we have been hemming and hawing about. The Ravens looked straight nasty last weekend against the Pats. Yes their QB was 4-10 for less than 40 yards, 34 to be exact, with one INT but they did not need him to win and that is scary. Ray Rice is on a tear and is earning elite status and a top 5 pick in fantasy football next season. So we have a hot Ravens team and that brings us to the Colts. A lot of times people forget the “loser” label that Peyton Manning used to have before he won the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl gave him the pass. Here are some Peyton facts. Peyton has not won, We repeat has not won a playoff game following a first round bye. Jim Caldwell has tried to mix things up this week practicing first team O versus first team D but is that really enough? time will tell. Also, since the Colts won the Super Bowl, they have won zero playoff games. So how does this positive, hot Ravens team mesh with the “losing” label of the Colts. We need to look at their historical head to head matchups. Baltimore has failed to rush for 100 yards in five straight versus Indianapolis while getting held to 3.3 per carry. Rice has 26 attempts for 94 yards in two meetings. The Ravens have committed 25 turnovers during their seven-game skid in the series and they’ve never won in four trips to Indianapolis, falling 31-3 last season. Manning threw three touchdown passes without an interception while Flacco was picked off three times. Flacco, 15 of 29 for 136 yards over the last two weeks, is bothered by a hip injury that had him limping in practice this week. So when we combine the specific Colts versus Ravens matchup we definitely have to lean one way. We do not think the Ravens are capable of repeating their efforts of last week and a rested Colts team will come out blazing. This line is holding pretty flat at Colts -7 to -6.5. 69% of the money is on the Colts, which might smell trap. Watch to see where the money and line go as we get closer to kickoff. We are betting the Colts to win and cover!

Ravens

• Ravens are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
• Ravens are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 playoff road games.
• Ravens are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Ravens are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
• Ravens are 24-9-2 ATS in their last 35 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
• Ravens are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games following a ATS win.
• Ravens are 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 games following a S.U. win.
• Ravens are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in January.
• Ravens are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Ravens are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Ravens are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
• Ravens are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
• Ravens are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 14 points.
• Ravens are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Ravens are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
• Ravens are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
• Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Dallas at Minnesota (-3) - This will probably be one of the most viewed NFL games ever. Favre in the playoffs versus the Cowboys. Ratings City!!! A lot is being made of the Cowboys right now shaking the December and playoff bug. What is not being mentioned is how good the Cowboys are right now on both side of the ball and in the trenches. Just to recap the Cowboys 4 game winning streak and ATS winning streak….

1/9/2010 - Cowboys beat Eagles 34-14 and out rush the Eagles by 142 yards.

1/3/2010 - Cowboys beat Eagles 24-0 and out rush the Eagles by 142 yards (freaky coincidence - 142).

12/27/2010 - Cowboys beat Redskins 17-0 and out rush the Skins by 65 yards.

12/19/2010 - Cowboys win at New Orleans 24-17 and out rush the Saints by 80 yards.

Seeing a trend here? We are. Playoff football is won by rushing the ball, controlling the line of scrimmage and playing awesome defense. The Cowboys are playing sick defense and doing it without blitzing. D Ware and A Spencer are locked and loaded and destroying O-linemen. The Cowboys are running at will and Romo is playing efficient, mistake free football. Winning playoff combinations. The Vikings have an equally impressive defense but Jared Allen has slowed the last month. Not saying he will not rise up for the Cowboys game but he has not continually dominated and improved game after game like the Cowboys men down the stretch. We also get nervous for Flozell Adams. He becomes “Mr. Jump offsides” when the crowd gets noisy. Also, the Viking’s O-line is not letting A-Pete run wild like he did in the beginning of the season. It has been a loooooong time sine #28 broke 100 yards rushing. This is largely a momentum play, but we are getting points. The head-to-head stats do not support our theory so buyer beware. This line looks pretty legit. The line opened at Vikes -3 and is bouncing back and forth to -2.5 with 55% of the money on the Cowboys. We are betting the Cowboys to cover!

Dallas

• Cowboys are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
• Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
• Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NFC.
• Cowboys are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
• Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
• Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 14 points.
• Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
• Cowboys are 5-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Cowboys are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games in January.
• Cowboys are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 playoff games.
• Cowboys are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff road games.
• Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on turf.

NY Jets at San Diego (-8) - The Jets run game and defense are hot right now. Sanchez played exactly as a rookie QB needs to play in the playoffs and that is playing efficiently and playing not to lose. He was perfect last week and we look for more of the same this week. There is some danger in this game if you are a Chargers fan. The Chargers were not able to run the ball well this season and certainly will not be able to run on the Jets. If the Chargers can not run then they will be pass happy and that puts them in the way of the Jets blitzes and the Jets MVP, Mr. Revis. On the flip side, the Chargers D gave up 4.45 yards per rush and the Jets O rushed for 4.53 yards per carry. Now we are not predicting a Jets victory because we do not have to. We are here to make winning bets and 8 points are too many points for this battle. This line opened at Chargers -9 and is now down to -8 or -7.5 depending on the sports book. We are seeing 63% of the money on the Jets so we know this is a true line. We are betting the Jets to cover in this game!!!

NY Jets

• Jets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
• Jets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC.
• Jets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
• Jets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Jets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in January.
• Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
• Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
• Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
• Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
• Jets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
• Jets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Jets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
• Jets are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road underdog.
• Jets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
• Jets are 26-12-1 ATS in their last 39 games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
• Jets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.

San Diego

• Chargers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
• Chargers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
• Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games.
• Chargers are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Chargers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games in January.
• Chargers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a S.U. win.
• Chargers are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0.
• Chargers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
• Chargers are 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
• Chargers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
• Chargers are 29-13 ATS in their last 42 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.

Copyright RPJ Betting Syndicate | Theme by DailyBlogTips