All posts by Kevin

2016 NFL Predictions: Which Undefeated Teams Could Go 16-0?

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Every year the hunt for perfection in the NFL starts in week and and generally about halfway through the regular season, a handful of contenders emerge with a realistic shot at running the table. We’ve only seen an undefeated regular season team twice in history – and just once in a 16-game season.

The Carolina Panthers reminded us of all the possibility a perfect run can bring to the table, as they started off last year with a 14-0 mark before losing to the rival Atlanta Falcons. They didn’t go 16-0, but they did move on to the Super Bowl.

Fast forward to the present and there are just 16 undefeated teams heading into week two (that’s simple math, folks) and a maximum of 13 teams can enter week three at 2-0. The number obviously can only dwindle from there, but one thought we had is of the current 16 undefeated NFL teams, which actually have a shot at running the table?

Let’s see at who (for the moment) has that chance:

  • New England Patriots
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Houston Texans
  • Denver Broncos
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Oakland Raiders
  • New York Giants
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Detroit Lions
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • San Francisco 49ers

It’s a strange list, seeing as it doesn’t include some powerhouse teams like the Arizona Cardinals or Carolina Panthers, among others. Even weirder is that teams like the Lions, 49ers and Eagles are still in the land of the unbeaten.

No Chance

We can probably start by safely eliminating those three squads from the hunt for perfection. Detroit was impressive in week one but doesn’t have the running game or defense to go the distance, Philly is working with a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach and the Niners are paced by Blaine Gabbert.

Digging deeper into the trenches of the teams with the best odds to go 16-0, we can safely take down the Broncos, Raiders, Buccaneers, Vikings and Texans. Denver has an elite defense and nice running game but their division has gotten more competitive and Trevor Siemian is still unproven. Oakland impressed with a clutch week one win but their defense looks shaky all of a sudden and they could just as easily all ready be 0-1. Minnesota is another team with a strong defense and running game on paper, but their passing game leaves a lot to be desired at the moment. Houston also has a defense and improved during the off-season on offense, but we still don’t know if Brock Osweiler is the answer under center.

Reasonable Doubt

After we get past the obvious teams we’re stuck in no man’s land with teams like the Giants, Ravens and Chiefs. All three of these teams have playoff potential and Kansas City is coming off a crazy 2015 season that saw them win 12 games in a row at one point. They clearly have the ability to rattle off wins, but they needed OT to get a win in week one and their defense did not look elite. New York hasn’t been to the playoffs in years, too, and they beat a Cowboys team led by two key rookies by one lousy point. Something tells us they’re going to lose a game or seven. Baltimore is in play, too, especially if the defense we saw in week one sticks around. They have too many offensive lapses to survive an entire year without a loss, though, so they’re also out of the mix.

Elite Contenders

And then there were five:

  • Patriots
  • Steelers
  • Bengals
  • Packers
  • Seahawks

If we’re being honest, none of these teams really stand out as a team that definitely can run the table. Each team has flaws or reasonable logic against them going 16-0.

New England still has three more games to go before Tom Brady returns. They could drop a game after he gets back, but the odds are pretty decent they trip up at some point in these next three contests. Pittsburgh oddly may be the best bet of this group if what we saw in week one is who they are. The Steelers offense is flat out insane and they don’t even have star rusher Le’Veon Bell yet. Of course, making it through the AFC North unscathed by itself could prove to be impossible.

The same goes for the Bengals, who actually face the Steelers right away in week two. That might cancel both teams out when you consider their odds, while Cincy is certainly the less likely to run the table of the two. The Bengals are even worse off as far as being undermanned, as they lost their offensive coordinator and two key receivers this off-season and may not have star tight end Tyler Eifert until mid-season.

Green Bay looked solid overall in week one, as they stopped a rising Jaguars team on the road and even had their defense stand firm late. That’s no easy task, but the Packers still have a lot to prove after a down 2015 season. An improved defense and the return of Jordy Nelson could give them a slight chance at perfection, but they’re still probably looking at 3-4 losses with a pretty brutal schedule ahead of them.

The same goes for Seattle, who did not look good offensively in week one and now have a less than 100% quarterback. Seattle has to face the Cardinals twice inside their own division, get Green Bay on the road later in the year and in general have a tough schedule. They’re bound to lose a few games in 2016.

Overall, we don’t see anyone realistically escaping the 2016 NFL regular season without a loss. Both conferences seem fairly wide open and at the highest level there are several quality teams that could contend for elite records and deep playoff runs. While we don’t foresee perfection, it’s likely that if it did happen, it’s coming from one of these five teams we just touched on.

Think someone is destined to go 16-0 in 2016? Let us hear your pick in the comments below!

2016-17 NBA Odds: Could Brooklyn Nets Be a Surprise Playoff Team?

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The Brooklyn Nets are in a beyond obvious rebuilding state. Trading away big man Thaddeus Young this summer and shedding veterans like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in recent years made that clear.

Bold Prediction

The Nets aren’t willing to be so receptive to 2016-17 being another year of missing out on the playoffs, however. Star guard Bojan Bogdanovic, fresh off of a dominant scoring run in the Rio Summer Olympics, suggested as much:

The big takeaway isn’t that Bogdanovic is guaranetting a Nets playoff run. He’s just expressing confidence in a freshly pieced together unit that may be slightly overlooked. The main problem with his logic is that the Nets were abysmal a year ago as winners of just 21 games.

That being said, it’s worth wondering if this is just preseason fodder, or if Bojan has a point. Are the Nets just another tanking team that will struggle to win 20 games and reach for a high draft pick when it’s all said and done, or could they shock as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference?

Reason For Optimism

Believe it or not, there are a lot of good reasons to slowly buy into the Nets as a fringe playoff team. For one, the Nets moved on at head coach and started fresh with former NBA assistant, Kenny Atkinson. How that switch goes is anyone’s guess, but a change up top was needed and could go a long way in revamping the souring culture in Brooklyn.

There is something to be said for veteran experience, raw young talent and depth – especially a very solid blend of all three aspects. The Nets definitely established some veteran presences, as they brought in Jeremy Lin to run the offense, have Bogdanovic to provide offense at either the two or three, and still have one of the game’s top centers in Brook Lopez.

The depth aspect is also key, with solid glue guys like Randy Foye, Greivis Vasquez, Luis Scola, Trevor Booker and Justin Hamilton all being brought on this past off-season. The young talent is there, too, with tantalizing prospects like Isaiah Whitehead, Yogi Ferrell and Caris LeVert all being added to the mix.

Holdover youngsters Sean Kilpatrick and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also exhibited interesting skill-sets last season and could vie for bigger roles.

It’s true that there isn’t one jaw-dropping superstar on this team, but the Nets stripped their roster of big names and replaced them with very solid depth via players that can wear multiple hats. Lin is a combo scoring guard who can shoot, penetrate and run an offense, Vasquez and Foye can both score and lead a unit, Bojan can take a big scoring role and Lopez likely will operate as the main star and offensive leader.

Brooklyn’s Odds

Brooklyn faces three huge obstacles in their plight to shock everyone and make the playoffs:

  • Chemistry
  • Lack star power
  • Defense

The Nets have a new rookie head coach, several young bodies and in general a ton of new faces. That’s great considering that last year’s team was awful, but there could obviously be a lack of high level chemistry early on. That won’t be an issue forever, but it’s worth wondering if Brooklyn digs themselves a huge hole early on because they’re not familiar enough with each other.

Even if chemistry isn’t an issue, the Nets have to worry about consistently producing offense. Lopez, Lin and Bojan can all score, but it’s pretty arguable only Lopez can do so consistently every single night. With no other proven star on this roster, this team will either need to rally around Lopez on a regular basis or someone else will have to really evolve their game to become more of a go-to scoring threat.

Of the other options, it makes the most sense for that to be Bogdanovic. Bojan was an elite scorer in an intense Olympic run and he can provide inside/outside offense. He could oddly be the perfect complement to Lopez’s inside game, while the Nets could really carve teams up if they can get consistency from outside shooters like Lin and Foye.

Still, the consistency might not be there and on paper, the Nets don’t have the proven outside shooters to hang with the top offensive teams on a regular basis.

Naturally, that takes us to defense. Brooklyn was one of the worst defensive teams last year and on paper that doesn’t figure to change. Lopez can be a decent shot-blocker when he’s focused, but he’s not a great one-on-one defender down low and can be prone to foul trouble. In all honesty, the only big man defender the Nets can get remotely excited about is Booker, but it’s unclear exactly what his role will be.

On the perimeter guys like Vasquez, Hollis-Jefferson and Foye can all defend, but of that trio RHJ is the only guy with elite ability. Lin and Bogdanovic could both be eaten alive on defense nightly.

Nets Prediction

Per Bovada, the Nets are tied with five others teams with +50000 odds to win the 2016-17 NBA Finals. We know they’re not going to defy odds that like and go on a title run, but there is still a pretty valid argument for them being deep, balanced and experienced enough to make a run at one of the bottom playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

The main reason for optimism, probably ahead of everything we’ve touched on, is the fact that the bottom of the Eastern Conference still isn’t amazing. The Detroit Pistons wrapped up the 8th and final seed last year and won just 44 games. In fact, just two of the conference’s 8 playoff teams won more than 48 games a year ago.

There is still a wide gap between that and what the Nets did during the 2015-16 season, of course. They will have to make quite the leap from last year’s production, a season that saw them put up just 98 points per game, while allowing over 106 per game.

So, what can we expect?

The Nets are as bad as a flier title bet as you can find and they’re not a threat to win their division. With teams like the Pistons, Pacers, Knicks, Bulls and Wizards all still more talented, it’s also very tough to imagine Brooklyn making a serious playoff push. Ultimately, the Nets have a better roster than they did a season ago and they absolutely have reason to believe they can win more games and be a more competitive unit, but making the playoffs feels like a pipe dream.

16 Sleepers to Consider For Monday Night’s Daily Fantasy Football Slate

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If you didn’t cash out in daily fantasy football in week one, your chances aren’t all gone. You can still make up for a bad Sunday with a Monday Night Football double-header, which offers up the potential for thousands to be made if you pick the perfect lineup at DFS sites like DraftKings.

It’s no secret who the top options are and in a slate with just two games (four teams) there are bound to be countless similar DFS lineups unless you find a way to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. Everyone will be using most of the studs like Todd Gurley, Antonio Brown and one of Kirk Cousins or Ben Roethlisberger, but to win big you may need to switch things up and roster (or fade) players you normally wouldn’t.

For Monday specifically, we’ve picked out some interesting daily fantasy football sleepers you’ll want to think about before finalizing your roster:

Quarterbacks: Case Keenum (Rams) and Blaine Gabbert (49ers)

Everyone will be all over Ben Roethlisberger and Kirk Cousins, so one strategy may be to hope that game is randomly low-scoring and they both are awful. Then you can pivot to Keenum or Gabbert and hope it’s somehow the exact opposite in the 49ers/Rams game.

Logic does not support that, but week one wasn’t high on logic in a lot of spots. You never know, the Niners could focus solely on shutting down Todd Gurley and Keenum could rip them up through the air. Or maybe the Rams stuff Hyde and go up early and Gabbert throws all night and ends with 300 yards and 2-3 scores.

The beauty could also simply be in the value, as both of these guys are over $2k less than Cousins and Big Ben, so if they’re even remotely close to them in terms of production, you’re saving cash at quarterback and spending on explosive skill position players. Again, it’s a tough sell, but to win a GPP it may be what is necessary.

Running Backs: Chris Thompson, Rob Kelley (Redskins), Shaun Draughn (49ers) and Fitzgerald Toussaint (Steelers)

Again, we all know the elites here: Todd Gurley and DeAngelo Williams. A lot of people will even use Matt Jones and Carlos Hyde (if they’re healthy enough to play). If those guys randomly are out or limited, though, it’s really going to open things up for guys like Thompson, Kelley and maybe even Draughn. Those guys could randomly produce regardless, but the starter ahead of them going down or being limited would be huge.

Of those three, Thompson is the best play, seeing as he’s Washington’s main passing down back, no matter what. If the Redskins fall behind, he could be a huge play tonight.

Toussaint may be the best pivot of all, as D-Will is set for a monster role in Pittsburgh but obviously will need a breather here and there. If that comes near the goal-line or in a passing situation, Toussaint could be a surprise DFS hero.

Wide Receivers: Eli Rogers, Sammie Coates, Darrius Heyward-Bey (Steelers), Kenny Britt, Brian Quick (Rams) and Jamison Crowder (Redskins)

It’s Antonio Brown or bust tonight, quite literally. DeSean Jackson and a few other big names are worth cursory glances, but the only guy most people care about is Brown and then how you fill in your other two receiver spots could end up being a pretty huge deal.

You can do one of two things:

  • Use Brown and he goes nuts and your other receivers also do well
  • Fade Brown and hope he sucks and just use three decent WRs

Both are somewhat feasible, but either way, going against the grain with those other two receivers may be smart – largely because the options after Brown are awful, and also obviously because this slate is so small.

Because of that, all the scrubs you see above are in play. Rogers, Coates and DHB all have more upside than everyone else simply because they seem to have a good matchup and their offense is awesome. Individually, they are all terrible plays, but it’s a good bet one of those three Steelers receivers goes nuts. Markus Wheaton is out, after all.

That being said, don’t sleep on Britt and Quick. Tavon Austin is the big name WR in Los Angeles, but he’s pretty erratic and often does absolutely nothing. Britt has scoring upside as a big-bodied receiver and Quick can make big plays down the field.

For the Redskins, Crowder might be worth a glance if you’re not into paying for D-Jax or Pierre Garcon, only to watch them sack you to the moon and back. His role isn’t very clear, but he could surprise.

Tight Ends: Lance Kendricks (Rams), Vance McDonald (49ers) and Vernon Davis (Redskins)

Kendricks and McDonald do not promote much confidence or DFS upside, but let’s face it, pretty much everyone is going for Jordan Reed tonight. If they don’t, and still maybe even if they do, they might also think they’re cute by going for Steelers tight end, Jesse James.

Obviously those two are far and away the top tight end choices, but what if the Steelers focus on shutting Reed down (or maybe he gets hurt) and James just doesn’t do much? Perhaps a new, enhanced role is all cheap options like McDonald or Kendricks could need. They seem to be entrenched in defensive battles, anyways, so it’s logical to think safety net tight ends could be targeted a bit in the second game of the night.

Then there is Vernon Davis, who seems to have fallen off a cliff but remains the #2 tight end in Washington. He is probably the worst dart ever, but on paper he’s still a good athlete and the Steelers probably won’t be looking at him as a threat. That could make him the perfect weapon in week one and he costs virtually nothing.

Team Defense: Washington Redskins

The Rams are easily the top unit on tonight’s slate (and also the most expensive). The Niners aren’t very good, but they have a good matchup at home, while the Steelers stink against the pass and are on the road against a good offense but stop the run and get sacks.

Needless to say, there is an argument for and against all of those three team defenses, so swinging for the fences with the Redskins (the cheapest defense on tonight’s daily fantasy football slate) might not be that crazy. For one, Washington can be pretty good when their aggressive blitzing works. It doesn’t hurt that the Steelers are without two key offensive weapons in Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant and that new stud corner Josh Norman might do a decent job on Antonio Brown.

If that’s all to be true, the ‘Skins tend to be quite good at home and could pressure Big Ben into some sacks and/or bad decisions. The good news is they don’t even need to rock your world or completely stifle the Steelers. They just need to be passable and good enough to the point where they’re not leaps and bounds worse than the other three available defenses. None of this says that will be the case, but there is some logic supporting it’s plausibility and if you want to win big, going super contrarian in numerous spots is a good idea.

Week 1 NFL Betting: Rob Gronkowski Injury Could Hurt Patriots

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The New England Patriots were already facing an uphill battle in week one, as star quarterback Tom Brady begins to serve the first of a four-game suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo at least had ample time to prepare for a daunting road game against the Arizona Cardinals and had a healthy supporting cast aiding him.

Emphasis on had.

Gronkowski Ailing

Per reports, Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with a hamstring injury and may be in doubt for New England’s week one contest on Sunday Night Football.

The Pats were already going to have their work cut out for them on the road against one of the best teams in the league, but now it’s starting to look like Garoppolo may be tasked with moving the ball and scoring without the game’s top tight end.

There had been whispers surrounding Gronkowski’s status over the past week, but the player himself admitted recently that he could be closer to “week to week” than ready for a big game that arrives in less than three full days.

Between the Lines

It’s obvious any extra hits that come this week could shake the Pats ahead of a huge game, but Gronkowski referring to his injury as a weekly issue doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll sit out or even be effected. He also stated in his recent comments that he wants nothing more than to be ready and on the field, so it stands to reason that he and the Pats will do what needs to be done to get him active.

There is also the possibility that while Gronkowski’s issue is nagging, it doesn’t keep him from at least showing up and taking the field. Gronkowski even at 75% or as a decoy could be quite useful to a team down their star quarterback.

Backup Plan

The silver lining here is the Pats did take measurements to ensure they were good to go at tight end, as they traded for former Bears tight end Martellus Bennett this summer to help add depth and versatility at the position. The team would prefer to be utilizing Bennett’s size and red-zone ability in two-tight end sets, but if Gronkowski does sit, they also know they have a competent starter that can step up in his stead.

Bennett was a very productive starter in Chicago and while his role is initially expected to decrease in New England, he could find himself very busy in week one if Gronkowski is out or hindered at all.

Bad Bet

With or without Gronkowski, the Pats could be in trouble this weekend. They don’t have their star quarterback, they traded Chandler Jones away to the very team they’re facing and not having Gronkowski could accompany other injuries and suspensions that may hold the team back early on this year.

New England will ultimately be fine and could still offer a competitive game on Sunday night, but they’re not safe bets in Arizona. If you’re doing any NFL betting this week, we’d advise you just steer clear from this game, altogether.

2016 NFL Betting: 5 Tips To Help You Win in Week 1

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There is always a lot to consider when preparing for NFL betting. That’s especially the case in the first week of the season, when we really don’t know yet how new faces, roles or injuries will impact teams. Contenders and pretenders can quickly switch roles and to be frank, we often don’t know a team’s true worth for several weeks – if not longer.

While that can be problematic for pro football betting, it also can be the perfect time to take advantage of spreads and totals and win some major cash. It’s often the little things we overlook that can separate the winners from the losers, and noting that fine line can be very key in picking the right upset or gauging which teams may thrive or struggle.

Nothing is ever guaranteed in sports betting, but if we consider all of the possibilities before finalizing our bets, we’re at least putting ourselves in a solid position to succeed. That’s what we aim to do ahead of week one, where we consider some interesting aspects for a variety of teams that could end up swaying how you place NFL bets:

First Timers & Rookie Impact

Trevor Siemian is being thrust into a huge role for the first time ever. Carolina actually enters their week one Thursday night tilt with Denver as the -3 favorites, and Siemian is a big reason why. We know nothing about this guy, but what we do know hasn’t been overly promising.

That can go two ways as far as NFL betting is concerned. If we know little about Siemian, that could be the case for the Panthers. Siemian still has a nice supporting cast on offense, good coaching and an elite defense backing him. He’s also at home. If he can simply play within himself, he could easily play a fine game and lead Denver to a 1-0 start.

On the other hand, Siemian could very well implode in his first career game. He tends to telegraph some of his throws and against a top notch Panthers defense, that could go very badly. Carolina will probably press the Broncos receivers and look to take away the run. If they do one/both of those things, it could be a long night for the inexperienced Siemian.

Siemian is one huge example and probably the biggest we need to pay attention to, but keep that in mind for any other guys being thrust into big roles.

That latter part is probably mostly going to refer to rookies. There are a lot of big name guys that could dramatically change outcomes of games this week, and that could be the case on either side of the ball. We’re mostly thinking offensively, where Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Carson Wentz, Corey Coleman, Will Fuller and Sterling Shepard all have an opportunity to make a huge impact in their NFL debuts.

Just like Siemian, their first games could go either way. Zeke and Dak could blow the hinges off in a big home win over the Giants, or they can get shutdown by a revamped NYG defense. Coleman and Fuller are two guys who could blow their games open with deep balls down the field, too, or they could get shutdown due to shaky hands and unproven route-running ability. Time will tell, but you’ll want to consider the roles and potential impact with these guys, among others.

Home Field Advantage

Just how big of a deal is playing at home? The impact tends to change on a weekly basis, but even the worst team has a mild edge when they get to play in front of their home crowd. Keeping up on how teams fare at home, how their opponent is on the road and tying that into the matchup and betting spreads can go a long way in helping you decide which way to lean.

The Jets (6-2), Chiefs (6-2), Broncos (6-2), Redskins (6-2) and Cardinals (6-2) are all at home to kick off the new year, and were all clearly very strong on their home field a year ago. That doesn’t guarantee them a win – especially with the Jets, Broncos, Redskins and Cardinals all specifically getting tough matchups in week one. Still, these teams fare well at home and on top of that have the talent to get the job done in week one. The Seattle Seahawks weren’t quite as good as usual at home last season (5-3), but are usually a tough out in front of the 12th Man. They’ll also be a strong bet at home this week against a seemingly inferior Miami Dolphins team.

There are also a few road teams we need to keep our eye on, with the Packers (5-3), Vikings (5-3), Panthers (7-1), Patriots (5-3) and Bengals (6-2) all sporting good to great road records in 2015. That obviously doesn’t necessarily carry over into week one or even the 2016 season, but it’s worth noting. It’s especially worth noting considering all five of these teams were in the playoffs a year ago and figure to be in the mix for a playoff spot again this season. Of course, if they’re to drop out, a road loss to start 2016 may be headed their way.

In this group, the Vikings and Patriots are the most vulnerable, with both teams not having their usual starting quarterback on hand.

Revenge & Rivalries

Bad blood can go a long way in deciding games, as it can take a matchup you think you have figured out and throw it completely out the window. This is the case with any kind of rivalry, playoff rematches and especially divisional showdowns.

We have quite a slate for rivalry consideration to get week one going, too, with a rematch of Super Bowl 50 between the Panthers and Broncos on Thursday night, as well as a slew of hate-filled showdowns. To be a little more specific, four divisional games sound off in week one, while we also have Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor taking on their former team (Baltimore), while Chandler Jones leads his Cardinals against his former team (New England).

Narrative can be very key in the NFL, as teams hone in on one team all week and ultimately leave it all on the field with just one game per week in a rather brief 16-game regular season. Every game means something, but when you add any kind of rivalry aspect, the heat gets turned up even more. For those games, you need to consider the possibility for an upset more than usual and often they may be better off left alone when it comes to NFL betting.

Shootout Potential

With NFL betting, you’re obviously always considering precisely how a game will unfold, whether it be to attack a spread, the Total or some prop bet. One of the biggest things you’ll want to do is consider which games could offer up the most offense, however, as this can do two things at once for you: help you pick the Over on Totals and also pick the right underdogs to beat the spread.

The main focus should be the latter, as the more points that go up on the board, the more likely either an upset could go down, or the underdog could at least keep the game close and possibly beat the spread.

One great example in week one is the Jaguars, who are at home against a good Packers team. Green Bay is solid on the road and in general a tough out, but Jax has a rising defense, a capable offense, they’re at home and they have a friendly +6. spread at Bovada. The odds remain pretty good that the Packers still win this game, but Jacksonville could shock with a huge week one home win and providing a tight shootout is very possibly, if not likely. In the event of a Jax win, your bet wins, and if they can just keep it close (say, 34-30), you’d win there, as well. Jacksonville isn’t an easy team to trust, but a lot of factors point to them at least being in this one, if not having a realistic shot at staging a massive upset.

Other games with shootout and upset potential are the Lions/Colts, Saints/Raiders and Browns/Eagles. Any of these games can probably go either way, so rolling with the underdog could make some sense, both in terms of a straight up pick, and against the spread.

Break Vegas

One other thing is to consider which insane upsets are actually plausible. The Bears, Dolphins (+10.5!), Patriots, Jaguars and Chargers all have a +6 spread or better (worse?) going into week one. The Money Lines aren’t out yet at Bovada, but clearly there could be some serious cash to be had if you picked the right upset(s) this week.

The main focus would be Miami, who are now under a new regime and head into Seattle to take on the Seahawks in week one. They’re probably not going to win, but +10.5 points is a pretty massive spread and it’s not completely insane to think Miami can at least lose by 10. Depending on the Money Line, picking them for the upset could be worth the risk, as well.

If we’re going with pure logic, all five of these teams are probably losing in week one. However, San Diego’s game is a divisional contest that could easily go either way, the Jags could stay close in a shootout with the Packers and the Patriots could rally behind Jimmy Garoppolo in a big week one road win. The point is to consider everything we’ve already touched on, with an eye toward picking one or two upsets via the spread or Money Line.

Ultimately, you’ll want to go with picks you trust and use bets that are more in your favor. If you use all of this information and apply it to week one, however, you should have a decent chance of starting the 2016 NFL betting season in the green.

5 Teams That Should Trade For Ronnie Hillman

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Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman has been loosely involved in trade rumors throughout the summer, but with final cuts looming, it now sounds as if he could truly be on the move.

Writing on the Wall

Per reports, the Broncos are actively shopping Hillman, who has become expendable thanks to excellent backfield depth.

C.J. Anderson returns as the team’s starter again this year, while rookie rusher Devontae Booker could factor in with a big role. The team has also yet to make a decision on fellow backups, Juwan Thompson and Kapri Bibbs, one of which would likely make the final cuts ahead of Hillman, should he be traded.

Of that group, however, Hillman has the most experience and also happens to possess the most upside. With Hillman no longer in Denver’s plans, the team is hoping to land a trade in order to get something of value back in return, rather than flat out release the running back.

Despite leading the Broncos in rushing yardage a year ago, the versatile back looks to be on his way out of town. Should a trade come to fruition, the odds are good that one of the following five teams could pull the trigger:

New England Patriots

It’s admittedly tough to envision the Broncos helping out a rival – or trading Hillman anywhere inside the AFC – but the Pats should certainly express some interest. Dion Lewis is on the shelf to start the year and the team doesn’t have much proven rushing talent beyond LeGarrett Blount. They could use a versatile, explosive back like Hillman, who could take on a big role or be used in a situational capacity.

Indianapolis Colts

The same goes here, as the Colts have an aging Frank Gore leading the way in their offensive backfield, but have little to get excited about after that. Josh Ferguson was supposed to be a tantalizing talent, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations to this point.

Hillman could serve as a nice change of pace to the slower Gore, and eventually could even supplant him should he get worn down like he tends to late in the year.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles could make a little more sense, as they’re outside of the AFC and could use another body in their offensive backfield.

Philly still likes Darren Sproles and seems to even be high on Kenjon Barner, but starter Ryan Mathews has been deemed by many to be a poor fit in rookie head coach Doug Pederson’s system. There is also the case that Sproles is aging and either of these main backs could easily go down with an injury.

Hillman would give Pederson another versatile option to turn to, which is something he loved doing with multiple backs in a run-heavy offense last year in Kansas City. Acquiring Hillman could mean ditching one of the other backs the Eagles already like, but it could be worth it.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins are far worse off than the Eagles, as they still don’t seem completely trusting of second-year rusher Matt Jones. That’s so much the case that undrafted rookie Rob Kelley may vie for a small role early in 2016.

If the Redskins really don’t trust Jones, they should consider looking elsewhere for extra help at running back. Hillman is more experience than both of their top rushers and could be useful in a variety of roles on offense.

San Francisco 49ers

Chip Kelly loves gadget backs and he also loves offensive weapons that can be used in a number of ways. Hillman’s versatility and explosiveness out of the backfield have to be highly tempting, especially since the Niners don’t have much to get excited about beyond starter, Carlos Hyde.

San Francisco seems to be high on Hyde, but if Mike Davis is their next best back, they could quickly be in trouble. Taking a look at adding a change of pace back like Hillman could be a suggested idea.

Ultimately, a trade involving Ronnie Hillman just doesn’t seem that likely. Every other team has to be pretty aware of the fact that Denver has no use for Hillman, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets cut. When that happens, the Patriots and Colts could end up being the top leaders for his services. Hillman will want to win wherever he goes next, but he’ll also want some cash and to vie for a solid role. New England could ultimately be his best bet.

6 Reasons to Watch Thursday Night’s NFL Preseason Finale

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Thursday night brings two exciting things: pro football in the form of NFL preseason games and a clear sign that the 2016 NFL regular season is upon us.

With a fully loaded 15-game schedule, we have 30 of 32 NFL teams on tonight’s docket, meaning we get to see a ton of young talent compete for a roster spot. A ton of star players will naturally be sitting tonight out to rest up for week one of the regular season, but some are expected to suit up and others could see ample playing time in the final week of preseason play.

Let’s go over which players and situations we should be focusing on the most as we tackle the top six reasons to tune into tonight’s NFL preseason finale:

Betting and DFS

The first thing we think of when preseason football hits center stage is how can we make some money off of it? Tonight we can do that easily two different ways, by either betting on individual NFL preseason games or creating a roster over at DraftKings in their preseason daily fantasy football leagues.

Neither of these are easy, as the spreads and Money Lines are understandably weak with such little information and strategy involved in these games. Take away most of the star players from the majority of these games, and we’re truly left in the dark. There are a few things that could help you out, however. For instance, if you look closer at tonight’s Jets vs. Eagles contest, New York figures to give raw rookie quarterback Christian Hackenberg a good amount of field time. Due to his erratic play, the Eagles could make for a fun DFS defense and Philly in general may have the betting edge, as well.

If you can sniff out small advantages like that, you can possibly help distance some of the betting and DFS opportunities. In that same breath, preseason NFL DFS and betting are both very volatile – even more than regular season. We wish you luck, but we don’t condone heavy betting with such little concrete information to aid you.

All Eyes on Paxton Lynch

The second biggest reason to watch the NFL preseason slate on Thursday night is Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch. The former Memphis product has had his ups and downs all summer, but with Trevor Siemian officially the 2016 starts under center, the team is going into Thursday with the full intention of giving Lynch the entire game.

Lynch will not only be fun to watch, but depending on how he performs, could also be one of the top daily fantasy football options on the night. The fact that he’s a borderline lock to see all four quarters of action makes him more reliable than most of the other quarterback options.

A Whole Lotta Tom Brady

With Jimmy Garoppolo set to start the New England Patriots’ first four games of 2016 thanks to a Tom Brady suspension, it looks like we’ll see a lot of ol’ Tom Terrific tonight. Brady doesn’t need to rest up much considering he’ll be doing a lot of sitting over the next month, so the Pats will want to get some good work in for him. He’s going to end up being rusty come week five, but at least we get to see him for a bit tonight.

Colin Kaepernick’s Next Move

What about Colin Kaepernick isn’t interesting right now? From the start of his game when we can see if he does or doesn’t sit during the National Anthem, to his actual play on the field, everyone will be watching this dude.

If you can find an online betting site that is giving odds for whether or not he sits/stands tonight, that could be an added element to checking his game out, too.

Alex Collins Gets His Chance

One of the better young running backs vying for work in the preseason, Seattle Seahawks rookie rusher Alex Collins figures to see ample work on the field tonight. Collins has thus far been disappointing, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll suggested he’d give Collins plenty of chances to prove himself on Thursday night.

Collins has the skill-set and college production to be viewed as a future feature back in Seattle, so Seahawks fans will both want to pay attention to how he does, and also hope he performs well. Given Thomas Rawls ankle injury last year and the erratic play of backup Christine Michael, it might not be crazy to think Collins could see a big role at some point in 2016.

Cuts, Baby, Cuts

The biggest aspect of preseason isn’t really who wins or loses or star players putting up big numbers. Instead, it’s the rookies and lesser known talents that are trying their hardest just to survive in the league. There are guys who flat out don’t belong and are playing probably their last down ever. There are players who probably shouldn’t make it but over achieve like crazy and you find yourself rooting for them. And there are also pedigree guys like Oakland receiver Max McCaffrey (his pops is Ed McCaffrey) that you want to watch to see if they can follow in their father’s footsteps.

Whatever the player, team or situation, it all boils down to week four. The guys that don’t know for sure if they’ll be playing in the NFL a week from now have that final 53 in mind and they’ll be playing their hearts out. Add some preseason NFL betting, preseason daily fantasy football and these other situations we’ve touched on, and Thursday night should be one heck of a ride.

Teddy Bridgewater Injury: 5 Quarterbacks the Vikings Should Consider Adding

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The Minnesota Vikings are in a bad way at the moment, as they learned on Tuesday afternoon that starting quarterback Teddy Bridgwater would be lost for the season due to a devastating knee injury.

Huge Loss

Bridgewater reportedly fell to the ground during practice with a non-contact injury on Tuesday, cutting Minnesota’s team practice short at just 25 minutes. Bridgewater was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and sedated, where the team later learned he had suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL.

The silver lining is Bridgewater did not suffer any other serious dame to his arteries or nerves, and the third-year passer is expected to make a full recovery.

Moving On

Bridgewater is officially done for 2016, however, which naturally hinders Minnesota’s Super Bowl odds. Once a media darling, the Vikings may not even be in legit contention for the NFC North now that their quarterback situation is so murky. Career backup Shaun Hill is ready to slide into the starting role, but at 36 years old, it’s arguable he will either get hurt or falter early on.

Because of the current situation, Minnesota has to be considering alternative options. While they probably don’t want to make too crazy of a splash, as Bridgewater is their franchise quarterback, they also can’t just do nothing and waste an entire season. Let’s consider their five best options as they prepare for the start of the 2016 NFL season:

Trade For Josh McCown

Cleveland has continued to hold onto the savvy veteran for two reasons: they like him as a strong backup plan behind Robert Griffin III and they probably haven’t heard a trade offer they love yet. McCown is an expensive backup and has starter experience, so it would make sense for the Browns to unload him if someone offered a quality package.

Minnesota could be that team. Reports out of Dallas suggested the Cowboys (who saw Tony Romo go down recently) aren’t chasing McCown or other passers via trade. The Vikings probably should. McCown is as old as Hill, but provides far more upside in terms of athleticism, experience, awareness and arm strength. McCown also looked like a top-15 passer at times in 2015, but simply struggled to stay healthy.

In terms of potentially available backups that could actually solve Minnesota’s current dilemma, McCown takes the cake. The big question is whether or not the Browns are willing to give him up and if Minnesota is up for sacrificing a mid-round draft choice in an attempt to salvage their season.

Kick the Tires on the Sanchize

Denver didn’t think Mark Sanchez was the answer under center for them, but Minnesota could. Sanchez is more mobile than Shaun Hill and would probably withstand a beating a little bit better. He’s not the most accurate passer and turns the ball over, but he has experience and has made it to a conference title game twice before in his career.

With a terrific supporting cast, Sanchez could actually help get the Vikings by and might offer more upside through the air than anyone they currently have on the roster. Sanchez probably won’t get the Vikes to the Super Bowl, but he should do well enough to keep them afloat and give them a chance to make the playoffs, should he be acquired.

Bring in Johnny Football

This one comes out of left field, as the Vikings didn’t really seem to love Johnny Manziel back when they scouted him in the 2014 NFL Draft. He also has been as toxic as anyone, doesn’t seem to have his priorities right and is already suspended the first four games of the year due to substance abuse.

In addition, he’s still unproven on the field and bringing Manziel in could rub Bridgewater and his camp the wrong way.

All that being said, Manziel still has undeniable talent and untapped upside. In a good environment like Minnesota with strong talent, a good defense and quality coaching, he actually could have a chance to thrive and turn his career around. Minnesota probably won’t do it for all the reasons already mentioned, but if they’re upset that they’re isn’t a single quality option left in free agency, they’re just not covering all the bases.

Call Tampa Bay

Another backup that could make sense is Buccaneers passer, Mike Glennon. Glennon has starter experience and offers great size and arm strength. He isn’t getting Minnesota to their first ever title, but he really isn’t needed in Tampa Bay with Jameis Winston around and he still has some upside to his game. The Bucs also love third stringer Ryan Griffin and have been wanting to move Glennon for a while now.

Glennon could be the ideal add, too, as he’d be the starter for 2016, but wouldn’t be viewed as a real threat to Bridgewater’s job in 2017. Some of the aforementioned options might be.

Land Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick is even more toxic than Johnny Manziel right now – and that is not easy to accomplish. That being said, he has played in a Super Bowl, is still an elite athlete and still has the upside and talent to be a difference-maker. Some think he’s done in the league, but if he’s not, the Vikes have to consider him as one of the better options.

San Francisco has refrained from trading Kaepernick to this point, but if Minnesota produced the right offer, they’d surely listen.

Other Options

There are a number of directions the Vikings could go. Numerous teams only carry two quarterbacks, so they could just wait for final cuts and have their pick of the litter. They probably want to be a little more proactive than that, of course, so it’s more likely than not that we’ll hear them swing a trade this week.

Other backup quarterbacks who could be at odds with their current team and could be worth a look include Geno Smith, E.J. Manuel and maybe even Aaron Murray. Geno Smith stands out the most as a guy who has some experience and even could potentially be a major steal. He flashed solid ability in the past with the New York Jets and could just need a change of scenery to get his career back on track. Thanks to a similar skill-set to Bridgewater, he could actually be the perfect stop-gap replacement.

Minnesota Vikings Prediction

Ultimately I doubt the Vikings do anything crazy like trade for Geno or Kaepernick or sign Manziel. Those guys all are talented and could offer some upside, but they also all are distractions and would combat the idea that Teddy Bridgewater is still the team’s future under center.

Instead, the likely scenarios are trades involving McCown, Sanchez or Glennon. It really does seem like the Browns want to hold onto McCown and Tampa Bay has also kept too steep of an asking price for Glennon. Sanchez is done in Denver and it’s only a matter of time before he’s cut or traded. With that being the case and Minnesota having an immediate need, look for the Vikings and Broncos to work something out to get Sanchez in Minnesota by the end of the week.

Colin Kaepernick and 7 Star NFL Players Likely to Get Traded in 2016

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The 2016 NFL regular season is almost upon us, but it won’t arrive without some severe roster casualties. Every year some big name players feel like locks to win a key role or at least hold onto their roster spot, and every single time someone ends up being traded or cut as teams make those tough, last minute decisions.

The writing is already on the wall for numerous players, while we’ve even seen some get cut. Paul Kruger just got let go by the Cleveland Browns and more big names are sure to follow soon, whether their departures be by flat out release or some type of trade.

With NFL trade rumors being such a big draw, we’re naturally focusing on the star NFL players that could actually get dealt before week one, and maybe even after. Let’s take a look at the top pro football players that could be on the move very soon:

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

The man of the hour (in a sense) is absolutely in the NFL trade rumor mill due to his odd stance against the National Anthem, as well as his poor play on the field. Kaepernick is not on the good side of America at the moment, but he still provides upside as a passer, potentially.

Numerous teams could show interest, with the Vikings and Cowboys specifically being in the worst spots at the moment due to injury. San Francisco is inching closer to unloading him and those teams needing extra quarterback help could lead to them pulling the trigger on a deal.

Mark Sanchez, QB, Denver Broncos

Sanchez is almost certainly on the way out of Denver, as the Broncos traded for him to win their starting quarterback job and he ended up losing out to former 7th rounder, Trevor Siemian. With Paxton Lynch likely to take over as the top backup, Sanchez no longer has a place on the roster. Add in a hefty salary due come week one, and it makes little sense for the Broncos to hold onto their failed experiment.

That doesn’t mean Sanchez doesn’t have value, of course. The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, among other teams, could very well give Denver a call about his availability and their asking price. Both of those teams could look to add some quarterback depth due to injuries at the position, while other teams could also express interest in Sanchez as a backup.

Josh McCown, QB, Cleveland Browns

If Sanchez has trade value, you better believe Josh McCown does. McCown has flashed brilliance as a starter over the last four years, but the journeyman has struggled with consistency or the ability to stay healthy. After losing the starting job to Robert Griffin III in Cleveland, there is a decent chance the Browns are ready to move on from the aging passer.

McCown simply isn’t needed in Cleveland, while several teams could stand to improve their backup situation under center. The Cowboys and Vikings remain the two most likely trade partners.

Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s the same story here, as the Bucs have a new franchise passer in Jameis Winston and don’t have much need for Glennon’s services. He’s a quality backup with starter upside, but Tampa Bay probably doesn’t need to carry three quarterbacks and they’re reportedly high on third stringer, Ryan Griffin.

The Bucs have been shopping Glennon for a while now, and it may only be a matter of time before someone is willing to trade a solid pick to make a deal happen.

Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Numerous teams could use quality talent at the running back position and whispers suggest McFadden could be on his way out of Big D.

McFadden was regarded as a cheap depth add in 2015, and ended up being just fine as part of the Cowboys’ rotation in the offensive backfield. However, he’s always struggled mightily to stay healthy and with Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar looking like the team’s top three rushers, he could be on the move.

Dallas is in need of quarterback depth, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them try to dangle McFadden as they try to bring in some passing help. In addition to teams that could try to trade a quarterback to Dallas, teams like the Dolphins, Chargers and Rams could express interest due to less than stellar running back depth.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos

Hillman will be a much hotter name than McFadden on the trading block, as he really wouldn’t be exiting Denver based on performance or ability. He simply could finally be the odd man out on a team that is loaded at running back after drafting the talented Devontae Booker this off-season.

Hillman may not be a true feature back talent, but he’s extremely versatile and explosive and absolutely could fill a big role in the right situation. Denver would be wise to trade Hillman out of the AFC if they do look to unload him.

Aaron Dobson, WR, New England Patriots

New England is suddenly shoving Dobson onto the trade market, per reports, as it just doesn’t look like the former first round pick is long for the final roster. Dobson flashed big play ability during his rookie season, but he’s never been able to put it all together while battling drops, injuries and inconsistent route-running.

Dobson still has heaping talent and could thrive in a new environment, but the Pats seem ready to get rid of him for the right offer. New England also added Chris Hogan in free agency and drafted Malcolm Mitchell, so they seem to have already moved on.

Broncos Good Betting Target With Trevor Siemian Named Starter

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It’s amazing the difference and off-season can make. The Denver Broncos, pro football royalty as last year’s Super Bowl champs, are now walking into the 2016 NFL season with Trevor Siemian under center.

Bold Move

There was no denying the steep regression of Peyton Manning, how turnover-prone Mark Sanchez has been or how raw Paxton Lynch still seems to be. But Denver’s naming Siemian as the starting quarterback feels like the team isn’t even trying.

Of course, there’s also the possibility the Broncos know their limitations here and are playing the long con. They could see Sanchez, as experienced as he is, just wasn’t stable enough to get the job done. He takes bad sacks, isn’t very accurate and makes woeful decisions bad rookies wouldn’t make. He just wasn’t a realistic option if the Broncos wanted to seriously try to repeat.

Siemian doesn’t look to be on paper, either, but he’s far more conservative of a player (and talent) than Sanchez. With an entire year under his belt as the team’s third string passer, he also has the knowledge and time in Gary Kubiak’s system to potentially make just enough plays to keep Denver afloat.

That could make sense, too, seeing as Denver’s winning philosophy – much like it was in 2015 – is to run the ball and bank on an elite defense sucking the life out of the opposing offense. Both of those things might end up happening regardless of what Denver does at quarterback in 2016, but Sanchez was going to work directly against them and possibly negatively impact their effectiveness. Siemian, although seemingly bringing almost no upside to the table as a no-hype prospect out of Northwestern, figures to simply be the safe option.

The move distances the Broncos from Sanchez and puts the focus on developing Lynch and crossing their fingers than Siemian merely keeps this car moving forward. Whether Siemian falters or not isn’t even the issue. If he doesn’t, the Broncos stay the course like they have been and maybe find a diamond in the rough that can keep a talented team in line for another deep playoff run. If he can’t, he can at least buy Lynch some extra time to learn from the sidelines and mature enough to the point where he won’t embarrass himself once he finally takes over.

Denver Broncos Betting

This still doesn’t sound good for Denver on paper. It’s also worth noting that the Broncos don’t seem like they went hard after a quarterback this off-season. Guys like Josh McCown and Colin Kaepernick could have been had in trades and it’s arguable Denver would have been wise to pay Ryan Fitzpatrick while he was holding out from the New York Jets.

Then again, maybe Denver thought Sanchez would have performed better. Maybe they actually really like Siemian. And perhaps they love Lynch, provided he can learn with a clipboard in his hand for half the year.

Whatever the case may be, Trevor Siemian doesn’t promote a ton of confidence. Needless to say, it’s going to be difficult to love Denver’s chances to repeat as Super Bowl champions, even though Bovada currently has them in a favorable spot with solid +2000 odds. They’re not a strong bet, though, and it’s fair to say with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders looking as good as ever, they’re not even a lock to win the AFC West. Vegas still likes them there, too (+200), however.

Vegas can be wrong, though. Betting on Siemian keeping the Broncos afloat feels dicey and it may not even be a good idea to bet on the Broncos in the early portion of the 2016 regular season. At worst, we should toss some cursory bets against them early on and see what sticks. But if you’re betting in favor of Denver doing anything of real merit in 2016, it certainly does feel like a risk.

Trevor Siemian in Daily Fantasy Football

There is also the case of Siemian’s impact in the daily fantasy football game. Obviously this guy is going to be super cheap in DFS games to start the year and how he plays could dramatically impact all of Denver’s top offensive options. In fact, if starting him backfires and he drowns in a sea of turnovers, it’s not crazy to think Denver’s elite defense gets backed up into a wall and under-performs.

Due to the lack of trust, Siemian is at the very best a shaky option in DFS GPPs and overall just a bad play, otherwise. He might still be able to get the ball to Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and maybe even Virgil Green, but Denver has to move forward with a run-heavy game plan if they’re serious about winning with Siemian.

For now, we have to downgrade all of Denver’s top offensive weapons. C.J. Anderson could actually get a solid boost with the Broncos likely to run more than ever, but even he will be a dangerous play in all fantasy football leagues. It will be truly interesting to see if starting Siemian blows up in Denver’s face or this huge move makes them look like geniuses. It may not be the best practice to go heavy on the Broncos while the experiment gets tested, however.