Updated NFL Handicapping Team Rankings
We’re nine weeks into the NFL season. NFL team handicapping rankings are a good gauge to find value as a bettor and to also see where slight favoritism is from oddsmakers. They can change rapidly but here are my NFL handicapping team rankings after nine weeks of football. Disagree or agree feel free to tweet me at the handle @cimini.
1. Arizona Cardinals– Arizona has covered four straight games and have been fantastic ATS all season. It helps facing team young quarterbacks and team backups, as they have with Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Brandon Weeden, and now this week with Austin Davis.
2. New England Patriots– The Patriots are clobbering teams. Those that ignored the media criticism after the Kansas City Chiefs loss are smiling well right now.
3. Indianapolis– The Colts have covered games handily and each game that they have won. Wins against the Ravens, Jaguars, Giants, Texans, Bengals, and Titans. Oh, and lets not forget their half point cover as an underdog week one against the Broncos.
4. Denver Broncos- They haven’t been the best ATS but with the talent the Broncos have there is no way they can’t be in my top five.
5. Philadelphia Eagles- At points this season they looked like a strong college basketball team; having big leads and letting them slip away to blow a cover. Lately though they’ve been on the winning side of the number.
6. Dallas Cowboys- The team may be in a conundrum right now but there is no denying that the Cowboys had the sharps and public fooled the first half of the season.
7. Miami Dolphins- Miami is on a three game ATS win-streak. They’re doing so with ease in beat downs over the Chargers, Jaguars, Raiders and Bears. Before that streak they had a narrow loss to the Packers at home that was aided by a fourth and long conversion by Aaron Rodgers.
8. Cleveland Browns- No one in their right mind thought the Cleveland Browns would have five wins and Johnny Manziel would still be on the bench. Early in the season the Browns were losing games but still covering (Ravens and Steelers games). The Browns may have just five covers ATS but they’ve won two key games outright–against the Steelers and against the Saints.
9. Pittsburgh– Oddsmakers sided against the Steelers at home the past two weeks and paid the price. It’ll be interesting to see how the shift in odds on a week to week basis works out with Pittsburgh.
10. Buffalo– Buffalo has quietly been a solid team in general and ATS. Their move to Kyle Orton likely saved Doug Marrone another season.
The Rest
11. Kansas City
12. Baltimore
13. Green Bay Packers
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. San Francisco
16. Seattle Seahawks
17. Detroit Lions
18. Houston Texans
19. San Diego Chargers
20. Minnesota Vikings
21. New Orleans Saints
22. Washington Redskins
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Chicago Bears
25. St. Louis Rams
26. NY Giants
27. Tennessee Titans
28. Atlanta Falcons
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31. NY Jets
32. Oakland Raiders