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One of the most underrated hinderances to a successful handicapper is the ability to look ahead. No human being on this face of the Earth can escape the thought of the future. Present day thoughts may include what’s for dinner, what you are going to watch later, or what you’ll be doing that evening. Future thoughts can include various things as well, like vacations, goals, etc.

When handicapping, some cappers and non-professional bettors will get locked in to that present day only. They don’t glance at the injury report, the amount of travel a team has endured, or how many consecutive games they’ve played at home. It’s an odd thing I see happen almost strictly for handicapping the NFL.

It must have something to do with a shortened season compared to other professional sports. Knowing a teams travels from September through December is a must.

Athletes are human too. They like to be at home around their families for as long as they can. We see teams come out on fire in September all because of a great schedule. Here are a few teams that have a favorable stretch of home games or a tough job ahead of them on the road in September.

For the most part the NFL does a great job intermixing home and away games, but there are always a few teams that suffer a bit or get a scheduling boost.

Chicago Bears
Four of the Bears first six games are on the road. This will help the Bears in November and December as teams have to travel to Solider Field in the brutal cold. But it’s not going to help them get off to a sound start. Three of their away games the Bears will surely be underdogs. Against the 49ers, Falcons, and Panthers. The other is in New York against the Jets. Bears bettors that placed the over on 8.5 wins will be gritting their teeth early on in the season.

Green Bay Packers
Another NFC North team that has to travel early-season. Green Bay will be on the road three of their first four games. Not only does that probably make Mike McCarthy unhappy but they kickoff the NFL season on Thursday at Seattle. On the brighter side for the Packers the other two road games are against divisional opponents.

New Orleans
Though New Orleans has three of their first four games on the road as well, they have favorable matchups. They’ll face the Browns, Cowboys, and Falcons. Atlanta is game one which has historically been a great showdown. All three teams are coming into this season off of lows a year ago. To get three road games out of the way early against these teams may benefit the Saints.

Tampa Bay
Currently the Bucs win total are floating between 7 and 7.5. Optimism around this team circles around their youth maturing after a year ago. It may be possible, but they’ll be tested in the early stages of the season. After two home games the Bucs get three straight on the road. A week three Thursday game against the Falcons, followed by Pittsburgh and the Saints. Ouch!

New England
I’ll have to slate the Patriots first three of four on the road in the same category as the Saints. Rather mediocre. The Patriots opponents will be Miami, Minnesota, and Kansas City on the road. Sandwiched in their third game is a home game against the Raiders. It’s safe to say the Patriots will be road favorites against both the Dolphins and Vikings. Depending on how KC starts the season that spread will be tilted slightly likely in the Chiefs favor.

Jets
Maybe Rex Ryan has finally caught a break. Three of their first four games are at home. Not only that but the Jets get their NFC opponents almost all out of the way. They’ll face the Packers, Lions, and Bears from week two to week four.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Have you already made that bet on the Steelers over their 2014 set win total? They won’t be on my official list to do so. Four of their first six games are on the road. It is followed up by three straight home games but I’ll pass on this Steelers team. Their type of football and the division their in always makes the Steelers a pass versus bet team in my book.

Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco and the Ravens get three of their first four games at home. Albeit, against divisional rivals in the Bengals and Steelers. Week four they face Carolina at home. The Ravens need this strong start to not play chase in their division all season.

Tennessee Titans
Boy the Titans are not happy campers with their September schedule. For a team that didn’t make the playoffs you’d think they did. They only get one home game in September and that’s against the Dallas Cowboys. Their three road games are against the Bengals, Colts, and Chiefs.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Blake Bortles welcome to the NFL….or veteran Chad Henne, prepared to get supplanted in a hurry. Whoever starts off the bat for the Jaguars gets to face the Redskins, Eagles, and Chargers three of the first four games of the season. If Henne is named starter (probably will) watch the Eagles line move closer to 14. The double-whammy for Henne as he will be thinking about his opponents and his job being taken.

Denver Broncos
Denver’s early season schedule has an eery “hmmm” feel to it. Sort of like the Cavaliers getting the first pick yet again. Denver has two home games followed by one on the road. Then they have a bye week in which they return to play at home again in week five. Theoretically including their bye week, Denver will be at home six of the first eight weeks. A plan to keep Manning fresh is inevitable. Fantasy football owners better expect a scaled back season.

Others: St Louis–It’s not early in the season but they have four of five road games in November.