Training camps have opened all across the NFL, and the annual preseason slate will soon be upon us. Considering these factors, it's time for NFL bettors to take a close look at some teams that may offer value before
the games kick in for real.
Trends
It's
tough enough to handicap regular season games, so many bettors believe
anyone wagering on preseason affairs is either an action junkie or simply
delusional. Well, I am here to tell you
that there might, just might, be something to reviewing recent history and
formulating an approach for this preseason.
I
will now attempt to illustrate this by plucking a few gems from these very
murky waters. Let's take a look and see
if the way a coaching staff approaches preseason has anything to do with covering
the point spread. Without further ado,
let's take a peek.
Let's talk about the
coaches
Let's
face it, every coach will tell you that preseason games are nothing more than glorified tryouts for players on the bubble and a chance to remove the offseason
rust for the battle tested veterans. But, doesn't every head coach want to see their team with a W at the end of the
game? Hell, most of these guys would bury
the Make-A-Wish kid in the team's charity mini-golf tournament.
Join me, won't you, as we take a look at two coaches who traditionally have done well in the
preseason. Please note, however, that these
records are based on straight up wins and not against the spread (normally
the team that wins these games winds up beating the small point spread assigned
to the games as well.) Hey, you've gotta work
with me here.
Mike Shanahan (Washington
Redskins)
Old
Mr. Sunshine has a 40-19 record since 1997 in the preseason and he's 12-5 in
Week 1. His Redskins mortgaged the
future and then some for the opportunity to trot out RG3 in a 'Skins
uniform. Do you really think Dan Snyder,
executive director of the Billionaire's Boys Club, wants to lose on the road in
Buffalo with all the attention and expectation that Washington fans will be
demanding of their new savior? He's
going to give Mike Shanahan a poison pill to swallow if they walk off the field
and RG3 doesn't look like the second coming of Sonny Jurgensen.
Also
circle Wednesday August 29th
on your calendar since Shanahan is 11-3 in Week 4 of his preseason
career. The Redskins will be hosting the
lowly Tampa Bay Bucs, and this one could get ugly if Shanahan decides to turn
the dogs loose.
Bill Belichick (New
England Patriots)
The
man inside the hoodie has a rather pedestrian 18-18 mark in preseason weeks 2 - 4. In Week 1, however, he likes to make a statement. His teams are 9-4 since he's been a head
coach (which includes his rather ignominious stint as the Browns field general); plus, the Pats will be hosting the scandal ravaged New Orleans Saints in
Foxboro.
This
looks like a decent game to get down on the home team as the Saints are in
complete disarray and the Patriots defense looks like it got a whole lot better
from last season. New Orleans did not
have many picks in this year's draft, but they do have Drew Brees all locked up
for the next five seasons so that will give Who Dat Nation something to hang
their collective hats on. Nevertheless,
Tom Terrific is still stinging from his Super Bowl stupor and will look to
start 2012 on a positive note.
Bottom line
I
know there is a coterie of gamblers who profess that preseason is like stealing
money. I've heard it before and I still
don't buy it. However, there are
sharpies who seem to make money wherever they go; if that happens to be
preseason ball, where nobody knows how long the starters will run or if the
scrubs getting the lion's share of the time will play themselves right into a 9
to 5 job, then God bless them.
As for me, I'm going to sit back and watch the
show. If I do decide that a game is
worth a buck or two, then I'll consider it a cover charge to watch the game with
a few friends of mine named Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker and, of course, my dear
Old Grand Dad.