NFC East Week 17 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

Before the 2013 NFL regular season got underway, I predicted that the NFC East title would come down to the final week. I had Dallas and New York both finishing 9-7 with the tiebreaker going to the Giants for the division championship. I also had Philadelphia and Washington finishing a close second at 8-8. The Redskins never lived up to the hype created by last year's unexpected title run and a disastrous 0-6 start by New York ended its chances at competing for the division crown.

As for the Cowboys, that was a pretty easy pick considering they have been in this exact same position the last two seasons; losing the division to the Giants in the final week of 2011 and falling to Washington last season in a Week 17 loss to miss the playoffs. The big story out of this bunch was Philadelphia; however the turn around from a 4-12 record in 2012 to the brink of the playoffs this year should not have been that big of a surprise. Most of the talent was already in place and it just had to be harnessed and redirected by a fresh face at head coach.

Andy Reid did all he could in Philadelphia and found himself burnt out after 14 seasons with the same team. The proof is in what he did with Kansas City this year. The Chiefs only won two games in 2012 and they have already clinched a playoff spot in the AFC with a record of 11-4 heading into the final week. Chip Kelly came into Philadelphia hell-bent to change just about everything from last year except key personnel. He staged a very public battle at the quarterback position between a veteran Michael Vick and a second-year upstart Nick Foles. As expected, Vick's body could not hold up and Foles got an opportunity to flourish in a system that capitalizes on all of his strengths. In a previous post I stated that when all the smoke clears from whatever happens with this team, the biggest accomplishment of Kelly's first year at the helm is finding and developing a franchise quarterback that can lead this team for years to come.

As far as Sunday night's game, I have made the Eagles my final NFC East 'Pick of the Week' with a predicted double-digit victory over Dallas. I would have made the same pick even if Tony Romo was playing quarterback as this game comes down to the matchup between Philly's high-octane offense going up against one of the worst defenses in the league. Forget about the 17-3 loss at the Linc the first time these two teams met and focus on what Foles has been able to accomplish over the past seven weeks. Even in that terrible loss to Minnesota in Week 15, he led this offense to 30 points which is usually enough to win most games. LeSean McCoy has also been a huge factor in the Eagles' success this season as he closes in on a NFL rushing title. DeSean Jackson returned to form and the emergence of Riley Cooper in the place of an injured Jeremy Maclin and rookie tight end Zach Ertz have helped make this unit one of the best in the league. The biggest difference between last year's collapse and this season's winning run is a healthy offensive line that is opening huge holes in the running game as well as doing an excellent job at protecting Foles in the pocket.

Below is a link to my weekly NFC East preview that will be the final installment of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports. As far as my 'pick of the week' I bring a highly profitable 12-4 record into Week 17 that would have earned $2,970 on a $100 wager using Doc's Unit Betting System. I plan on going out with a bang by making this week's selection a 5-unit play!

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 17

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 17

For the past 16 weeks of the NFL season I have released my top 3 "Over/Under" picks as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports. For the most part the results have been profitable and with last Sunday's 2-1 mark I am 27-20-1 heading into Week 17. The betting trends have been all over the board in the NFL recently with the total going OVER in 10 of the 16 games in Week 15 followed by 11 of 16 games staying UNDER last week. There are quite a few matchups on this Sunday's slate that have major playoff implications so who knows what to expect.

I personally see things tightening up a bit with so much on the line, so look for the UNDER trend to continue in the regular season finale. The one game that could easily go OVER the 52-point total is the Eagles vs. Cowboys' showdown for the NFC East Division title. Philadelphia should be able to move the ball up and down the field and score with ease against one of the most porous defense's in the league, but also look for some big scoring plays by Dallas. It really does not matter whether it is Tony Romo or Kyle Orton behind center as either quarterback should be able to test the Eagles' secondary with their arm.

As far as my top three picks for this week, I did not go with this game so please consider this prediction a belated Christmas gift. To check out my "Over/Under" picks for this Sunday's games in the NFL just click the link below.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 17 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 16 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys have been on a collision course for the NFC East title almost since Day 1 of this year's NFL regular season and it will all come to ahead next Sunday when the two square off against one another in Big D. Even though the Cowboys are mired in another December swoon with back-to-back losses to Chicago and Green Bay, all they need to do is get by the hapless Redskins this Sunday to set up next Sunday's tilt against the Birds for the division title and a spot in this year's Super Bowl tourney.

The Eagles had an opportunity to put some serious distance between themselves and their bitter rivals with a win over Minnesota last Sunday, but sticking true to form, they dropped the ball in one of their worst showings of the year. This Sunday night's game against Chicago could be meaningless if Dallas topples Washington earlier that day, but in reality that could not be further from the truth. Philly is a good team, but it is also one that needs to play its absolute best to get a win no matter who it is playing. The letdown against Minnesota sapped quite a bit of the momentum that was generated from the Eagles' recent five-game winning streak. A loss to the Bears at home this Sunday night would completely drain that bank account heading into their Week 17 showdown against Dallas. Chip Kelly’s team is still learning how to win and victories this time of year can be worth their weight in gold in getting his team to the next level; the level where wins are expected and delivered on a regular basis.

I continue to drag my feet when it comes to getting completely on the Eagles’ bandwagon this season. I believe they have all the tools to stand up to the best teams in the NFC, but they also have that ability to implode at a moment’s notice. This is the main reason I have completely stayed away from using them as one of my weekly NFC East picks with the exception of a total line play.

I am staying away from this week’s matchup against Chicago as well, but if you are interested in a preview of all the games in the NFC East this Sunday as well as my ‘pick of the week’ please check out the link below to my Week 16 article as part of an ongoing series for Doc’s Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 16

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 16

After ending up on the wrong side of all three of my total line picks for Week 14 of the NFL regular season, as promised I bounced back with a clean sweep in last Sunday's selections. This turnaround raised my year to date record to 25-19-1 which is about par for the course for a wannabe handicapper like myself. The OVER has dominated the total line the past two weeks with 20 of 32 games going OVER the closing total line. Sometimes streaks like this will carry over to another week, but more times than not it presents an opportunity to go big in the other direction. Over the course of the 17 week NFL season you would be amazed how the Oddsmakers have a knack for evening things out.

I did not make a conscious effort to go with the UNDER in all three of this Sunday's picks, it just so happened to work out that way. None the less, I head into Week 16 with a high level of confidence that I will turn in another winning performance with the right call in what should be three low scoring contests.

To check out all three of this week's total line selections just click the link below to my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 16 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 15 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The Cowboys loss to Chicago this past Monday night put the Eagles in complete control of their playoff destiny but they will probably have to win out to actually lock-up the division and earn one of the five remaining spots in the NFC (Seattle already clinched). Dallas still holds the edge with a victory in the first meeting this season as well as a perfect 4-0 record in the division.

The Cowboys play Green Bay this Sunday (without Aaron Rodgers at quarterback) and the hapless Redskins in Week 16 before welcoming Philly to town in the season finale. The Eagles are on the road this Sunday against Minnesota in a game they are favored by 5.5 points. They will be back home next Sunday night against Chicago before making that trip to Big D. Unless one of these teams completely falls apart in their next two contests, the Week 17 showdown between the two will be for the division title. Dallas has been in this same exact situation the past two seasons and came up short against the Giants in 2011 and Washington last year. We have to hope that history continues to repeat itself at least one more time.

The Birds' five-game winning streak has been a great ride, but given their past history, I am still leery of completely jumping on their bandwagon. So much so, that have not used them as my NFC East 'pick of the week' during this run other than a play on the UNDER against Arizona in Week 13. Nick Foles continues to perform at a high level, LeSean McCoy is having the best season of his career and the defense has not allowed more than 21 points in the last nine games. The biggest difference with this team could be a head coach that continues to defy the odds with his unconventional style. I was always a big Andy Reid fan, but he did have trouble keeping his team loose in pressure situations. Chip Kelly looks like he is having fun both on and off the field and this is reflected in the demeanor of his entire team. Last Sunday against Detroit they looked like a bunch of kids playing in the snow and more importantly there was no sense of panic even when they trailed 14-0 early in the third quarter.

It has always been hard being an Eagles' fan especially in situations like this, but I cannot help but get the feeling that this team is on its way to accomplishing far more than it was ever expected to this year. I am not going as far to say that I am making arrangements for an early February trip to see some old friends in North Jersey, but I am excited at the prospect of seeing Jerry Jones' face when his team blows a third straight chance to win the NFC East against three different teams.

For my complete preview of all the games in the NFC East this Sunday as well as my 'pick of the week' click the link below for this week's article that was previously posted at Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 15

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 15

Last Sunday I played the UNDER in three games where weather was a major factor with cold temperatures, snow and heavy wind and all three games easily went OVER the total. So much for the theory that bad field conditions slow these elite athletes down.

The Eagles' game against Detroit was not one of my picks although I probably would have went with the UNDER in that game as well. It actually ended up as a PUSH on a closing line of 54 after Philly played its best fourth quarter of the season. This team had made an art of jumping out to a fast start in the first four victories of its current five game winning streak, but against the Lions, the Birds saved their best for last with a 34-point explosion after trailing 14-0 early in the third quarter. This just goes to show you that when it comes to betting the total line in the NFL, nothing is in the bag until the final gun.

Just ask the Eagles' opponent this week about that. Heading into the final quarter, the Ravens had a 7-6 lead over Minnesota so the UNDER in this game was well in hand. With a little over two minutes left in the game Baltimore went up 15-12, which was still way below the 41.5-point closing line. Over the next two minutes, the Vikings scored twice and the Ravens scored twice to take the game way OVER the total with a final score of 29-26 in favor of Baltimore.

It was back to the drawing board after last week's 0-3 fiasco, but I feel confident that it will be a complete turnaround after this Sunday's games. Below is a link to my NFL Week 15 Over/Under picks as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 15 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 14 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The battle for the NFC East title heats up this week with Philadelphia playing host to Detroit at the Linc on Sunday afternoon followed by a Monday night battle between Dallas and Chicago. These are crucial games for all four teams considering that the Eagles and Dallas are tied at 7-5 and the Lions (7-5) lead over the Bears (6-6) in the NFC North is just one game.

The key to the Eagles' chances to extend their current winning streak to five games will be once again jumping out to an early lead. They have been able to do this in their last four games and, despite the fact that the defense tried to make things a bit too interesting against both Washington and Arizona, the net result has been a win. Detroit is a team that can put points on the board in a hurry, but it also has a tendency to shoot itself in the foot with costly turnovers, penalties and mistakes. This trend could be heightened if it is forced to play from behind on the road.

The other key is the play of Nick Foles. During this four-game run he has thrown for 1,169 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing an impressive 67.9 percent of his 106 attempts. Even more impressive is the fact that he has put the ball up 196 times this season and has yet to be intercepted. I would be thrilled to see Philadelphia go on and win the division at the expense of the Cowboys, but unless it ends up winning the Super Bowl, the biggest accomplishment in Chip Kelly's first season at the helm will still be the discovery of a franchise quarterback that can successfully run his complex offensive scheme. I think that even the most skeptical Eagles' fan out there would have to agree that the second-year gunslinger out of the University of Arizona is the real deal.

As far as which team will win on Sunday, I have to go with the Birds in what is actually a homer call. They have a huge advantage playing this game at home against a dome team. Weather is expected to be a factor with rain and snow in the forecast, but even if nothing is falling from the sky, the December winds at the Linc could reek havoc on a Lions' offense that relies heavily on the pass. If the Eagles' secondary can somehow contain Calvin Johnson (nobody stops him) and if they can get another huge effort from LeSean McCoy and a rushing attack that is ranked second in the NFL in yards per game (146.8) the winning streak reaches five.

For my complete preview of all the games in the NFC East in Week 14 as well as my 'pick of the week' follow to link below to Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 14

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks Week 14

Lower than expected scores ruled the day in Week 13 of the NFL regular season with 10 of the 16 games on the schedule staying UNDER the closing line. I was a victim of this trend with a 1-2 record in my top picks, but my lone win was the UNDER on the Eagles' 24-21 victory over Arizona.

I thought I had this game easily in hand with a total line of 48, but once again the Birds decided to make things interesting by blowing a comfortable lead. The defense came up with the plays when it had to, but to get to the playoffs Philadelphia is going to have to learn how to keep its foot on the throat once it gets a big lead. This week's game against Detroit is an interesting matchup between two teams that know how to quickly rack-up points. I almost bit on the OVER, but with the line set at 54.5 it was just a bit too high for my taste. It also looks like weather could be a factor at the Linc this Sunday so I am glad I decided to pass.

I did find three other matchups that I really like so look for a return to my winning ways. To get the inside scoop on all three picks be sure to click the link below to my weekly article for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 14 Over and Under Predictions

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 13

A last second field goal not only put a major dent in the Giants' playoff hopes in last Sunday's 24-21 loss to Dallas, it was just enough to take the total OVER on a closing line of 44.5. This fortunate turn of events raised my record to 2-1 for my Week 12 total line picks.

The Cowboy's win over New York coupled with their Thanksgiving Day victory over Oakland has dialed-up the pressure on Philadelphia to come away with a win this Sunday over Arizona to keep pace in the NFC East title race. The Eagles come into that game as three-point home favorites with the "over/under" set at 48.5. While I stayed away from a pick on a side in Sunday's game, I do like the UNDER on the total line. So much so that I made it one of my top three plays of the week.

Below is a link to this week's top picks as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 13 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 13 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

There finally appears to be some separation in the NFC East with the Eagles and the Cowboys both at 6-5 and two games ahead of New York, which fell to 4-7 after last Sunday's loss to Dallas. The Redskins sunk to 3-8 after getting pummeled by San Francisco 27-6 this past Monday night. My bold prediction for Washington is that it will not win another game this year as this team has already quit on its coach and its quarterback.

As is the case every season, the Cowboys will host an annual Thanksgiving Day game. This year they welcome the 4-7 Raiders to Big D which I would have to pencil-in as a win for the home team. That means the Eagles will have to get past the surging 7-4 Arizona Cardinals this upcoming Sunday at the Linc to keep pace in the title race. Dallas currently holds the tie-breaker on an earlier head-to-head win and it also has a better division record at 4-0.

The good news is that Philadelphia's home losing streak was snapped with the win over Washington in Week 11. The bad news is that even when the Cardinals were lousy back in the days when they were still in the NFC East, they had a way of beating Philly on the road. This will actually be a true test to see if the Birds are a legitimate playoff team. This is the kind of game they should win at home, especially coming off a bye. Much was made about Andy Reid's 13-1 record after a bye week (last season the Eagles lost to Atlanta to snap that winning streak). It is now Chip Kelly's turn to start his own winning streak with a victory this Sunday.

I stayed away from picking the Eagles this week as I still have one leg dragging on the ground off of this bandwagon, but I do like this game's chances to stay UNDER the 48.5-point total line. Arizona has been playing great on defense all season long and Philly's defense has not allowed more than 21 points in its last seven games. This Sunday's matchup has the feel of a grinder as the cold winds of December start whipping around the Linc.

To read my complete NFC East Week 13 preview and "pick of the week" as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports just click the link below.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 13

NFC East Week 12 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The first 11 weeks of the Eagles' season are in the books and while it has been a bumpy ride at times, the road is starting look pretty smooth for the stretch run. Heading into this week's bye, the Birds are riding a three-game winning streak that has them in first place in the NFC East. I know it is a half game lead with a record of 6-5 but it is still a major improvement from last season's 3-8 mark at this point.

The two most encouraging things about the prospect for a successful stretch run is that Nick Foles has firmly established himself as the team's starting quarterback and the defense continues to get better each week. This unit tried to make things a bit too interesting last Sunday against the Redskins, but it has now gone seven games without giving-up more than 21 points and it has actually held teams to 17 points or less in four of its last five games.

Looking ahead to this Sunday's games in the NFC East, I like the Giants' chances to keep their winning streak alive and the 49ers should pretty much close the door on Washington's chances to repeat as division champs. To read my complete preview for this Sunday's games check out the link below to this week's article as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 12

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 12

I got back in the black last week with a 2-1 record on my top three NFL total line picks after getting blanked in Week 10 so my overall winning percentage for the year is almost back to 60 percent. They say that the top handicappers in the country come in around 70 percent, but I can guarantee that no one ever referred to me as a handicapper. The best thing I like about plays on the total line is that more often than not, if you dig deep enough into the numbers for any NFL matchup they will almost paint a picture of a high or low scoring game. To me, this is much easier than trying to pick winners against the spread in a league where parity is very much alive and well.

Other than Seattle in the NFC and Denver in the AFC, it remains a wide open race for the other 14 playoff spots as even teams such as the Redskins at 3-7 are still in the hunt. Before this season began I predicted that New York would win the NFC East at 9-7 on a tie-breaker over Dallas, with both Philadelphia and Washington a game back at 8-8. Now that we are 11 weeks into the new season, I would amend that scenario with the Eagles coming out on top at 9-7, but it will take a season-ending victory over Dallas to pull off this feat. Washington is the only team that should fade out of the picture over the next few weeks and I still see the Giants losing at least two more games to finish 8-8.

Obviously this has nothing to do with my "Over/Under" picks for this week, so check out the link below to this week's article as part of my part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 12 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 11 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

When it comes to breaking down a matchup for any sporting event past results can sometimes indicate future outcomes as history does tend to repeat itself. A perfect example of this would be the Eagles' performance at Lincoln Financial Field over this season and last. If you would have bet $100 against the Birds in their last 10 home games you would be up a cool grand. Last season's six-game losing streak at the Linc is somewhat understandable given that the team only won four games all year long. This year has been a whole other story so far with an impressive 5-1 record on the road complementing a dismal 0-4 start at home. What makes this scenario even more troubling is that with the exception of last-second loss to San Diego, the Eagles were completely outplayed in the other three games.

History does repeat itself, but I also believe that all good (in this case bad) things must come to an end. Philly has finally gained some traction over the past two weeks with Nick Foles at the helm and its defense has not allowed more than 21 points in the last six outings. Washington is just a game and half back in the division at 3-6 but its season took a turn for the worse last Sunday in a 34-27 loss to Minnesota. The Redskins completely dominated the first half of that game to build a 24-14 lead, but things quickly came unglued over the final two quarters especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Below is a link to my complete preview of this Sunday's games in the NFC East as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 11

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 11

I head into Week 11 of the NFL season in search of a fresh start after crashing and burning on all three of my total line picks last Sunday. For the first time this season I was completely off the mark on my analysis on how I had each of these games playing out. I took the OVER on a 10-9 score in the Carolina vs. San Francisco game and I went with the UNDER in New Orleans' 49-17 romp over Dallas. The only game that was remotely close was Jacksonville's 29-27 victory against Tennessee with a closing line of 41 if you consider missing the mark by 15 points remotely close.

I had my nose to the grindstone this past week in an effort to get back on track so be sure to check out all three of this week's picks which I personally guarantee will be better than last week. The following is a link to this week's NFL total line picks as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 11 Over and Under Predictions

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 10

The NFL heads into Week 10 of the regular season and despite my 1-1-1 record last week on my total line picks I am still riding a 63 percent winning percentage into this Sunday's games. I was going to use the UNDER on the Philadelphia vs. Oakland game as one of my picks last week but decided to pass. Earlier in the season I took the UNDER on the first Eagles vs. Giants game this season and the final score was 36-21. I quickly learned that the Birds were going to be one of those unpredictable teams.

Before the Raider' game, they had scored a grand total of 10 points in back-to-back losses to Dallas and New York. In what I thought was going to be another low-scoring battle, Nick Foles decides to go out and throw seven touchdowns to tie an NFL mark that suddenly puts him in some very elite company. As far as this week's game I have Philly stealing a win in Green Bay in the absence of Aaron Rodgers picking its secondary apart. With a predicted final score of 27-23 the game would also go OVER the current 47-point line. However, if you go on to read the article for this week's picks you will not see that game on my list.

The link for that article is copied below. It is part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports in which I provide a brief betting report for my Top 3 NFL picks of the week on the total line

NFL Totals Betting: Week 10 Over and Under Predictions

NFL East Week 10 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The Washington Redskins will help kickoff Week 10 of the NFL season with a Thursday night matchup against Minnesota. The Redskins escaped with a 30-24 overtime victory over San Diego last Sunday to improve to 3-5 on the year. That leaves them just a game and a half behind Dallas for first place in the NFC East.

The Eagles stayed just a game behind the Cowboys with a lopsided 49-20 victory over Oakland in their most complete effort this season. Nick Foles tied a long standing NFL record with seven touchdown passes and for the third week in a row the defense kept the opposing team's offense in check for the entire four quarters. This week the Birds visit fabled Lambeau Field to face a Green Bay Packers' team that has to forge on without Aaron Rodgers running the show on offense. The impact of his loss took the Eagles from being 10-point road underdogs in this matchup to the game being a PICK on 5Dimes latest board. It is now up to Philly to take full advantage of the situation by getting a W in a game that just about everyone (including myself) had penciled-in as a loss. I like their chances to get it done so much that I made the Birds my NFC East 'Pick of the Week'. Last week I took the UNDER on the Eagles game, which was basically a loser by halftime, but I am still 7-2 on the year with my picks.

The following is a link to my complete preview of Week 10 in the NFC East as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 10

NFC East Week 9 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The 4-4 Cowboys' lead over Philadelphia in the NFC East is just one game, but you cannot help but get the feeling that this Sunday's Eagles' game against Oakland is a 'must win' situation if they want to stay in the division title race. If they fall to 3-6 with a third-straight loss this week, the Birds would have to win six of their final seven games to get to 9-7 which is what it will probably take to win the East this season.

I am probably getting way ahead of myself even thinking about a division title as right now I would be happy with an offensive touchdown. I am impressed with a solid performance from the defense in the last two games, but unfortunately it was a wasted effort in light of a complete power failure by Chip Kelly's high octane offense. To me, the fate of the Eagles' season lies in the hands and throwing arm of Nick Foles. I am going to give him a pass on that Dallas game and trust that he can return to the form that earned him 'NFC Player of the Week' in the victory over Tampa Bay. The Raiders are by no means a pushover and this Sunday's game is bound to be a nail biter to the final gun, but I do like the Birds' chances to get out Oakland with a win. That being said, I am still going with the UNDER 45 in this contest as my official pick of the week.

The following is a link to my complete preview of Week 9 in the NFC East as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 9

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 9

I have been red-hot on my top three total line picks in the NFL the past three weeks with a highly profitable 7-2 record. This past Sunday I went a perfect 3-0 on the strength of the Cowboys' collapse against Detroit. The best thing about that loss was it kept the NFC East title race extremely tight despite the fact that three of the four teams have a losing record.

One of those teams is our beloved Birds who have managed to score a grand total of 10 points in its last two games with seven of them coming on a Giants' turnover. The only bright spot has been the play on defense. After allowing 26 points or more in four of their first six games, the Eagles held Dallas to 17 points and forced New York to kick five field goals in last Sunday's 15-7 loss. I do see Philadelphia coming away with a win this week partially because it is playing Oakland but mainly because it is playing on the road. The better play in this game is the UNDER on the total line as both teams will continue to struggle to put points on the board.

The following is a link to my top three picks on the total line for this Sunday's NFL games as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 9 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 8 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The NFC East reached some level of respectability this past week now that the team in first place actually has a winning record. Unfortunately it is the Cowboys after the Eagles pulled another no-show at the Linc in the 17-3 loss. This latest setback extended the Birds' losing streak at home to a ridiculous nine games. This home field disadvantage will be tested again this Sunday against the Giants.

I have no real feel for that matchup given the inconsistent, up-and-down nature of both of these teams. The normally reliable Philly offense completely crashed and burned in the Dallas game with Nick Foles at the helm. Michael Vick may be back in the lineup, but I do not have a ton of confidence that he will fare much better. This is especially true if his recent hamstring injury is going to confine Vick to throwing the ball strictly out of the pocket. Philadelphia's defense turned in a tremendous performance last week by holding Tony Romo and Co. in check for most of that game, but it remains anyone's guess what we will get from this group this Sunday.

In the other two NFC East games on the slate, Dallas will have to prove it belongs at the top of heap in the division with a tough road game against Detroit and it is time for Washington to take its beating at the hands of Denver. The Broncos will be going for the season sweep after hammering both New York and Philadelphia and squeezing by the Cowboys in a shootout.

The following is a link to my preview and pick for all of Sunday's NFC East games as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 8

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 8

I am happy to report that after a second straight week of cashing-in on two of my three total line picks, my year-to-date winning percentage is now a respectable 62 percent. That is not too bad considering that even the best sports handicappers in the country hover around 70 percent at best and as anyone who follows this blog on a regular basis knows; I am no sports handicapper!

I decided to stay away from last week's Cowboys vs. Eagles game and I am glad I did. I thought this was going to be a high scoring shootout from the opening kickoff that would easily go OVER an already inflated 56-point line. That just goes to show you that on any given Sunday in the NFL anything is possible. I was actually more disappointed in Nick Foles' performance than the final score. I have always been a huge Michael Vick fan, but he continues to be injury prone and at age 33 he is nearing the tail-end of his career. Foles showed signs of seizing the starting job from Vick after leading the team to victories over the Giants and Tampa Bay, but he took a major step backwards last week against Dallas. I am not saying that Vick would have done much better since the Cowboys appeared to have Chip Kelly's playbook on their sidelines, but he would have kept this game close and winnable with Philly's defense stepping up to keep Tony Romo and Co. in check.

I am staying completely away from this Sunday's game against the Giants as it is anyone's guess what happens in that matchup. I am going back to Dallas for one of my total line picks this week as there is no way this high-flying offense stays grounded for two weeks in a row. The fact that it is playing Detroit is just an added bonus as both these teams have had little problem finding the end zone this year.

The following is a link to all of my "Over/Under" picks for Week 8 in the NFL as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 8 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 7 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

I have been nailing it with my NFC East picks through the first six weeks of the regular season with a highly profitable record of 5-1. Last week I had Dallas over Washington and the Cowboys easily covered the 5.5-point spread. Turning to this week's NFC East slate of games, I stayed away from the Dallas vs. Philadelphia game as this one is too close to call. Both teams have the ability to light up the scoreboard on offense, but neither has been able to slow their opponents down on the opposite side of the ball.

Both Dallas (2nd) and Philadelphia (4th) are ranked in the top five of the league in scoring and both are bringing up the rear on defense in total yards allowed. The Cowboys are giving-up an average of 413.2 yards a contest which is ranked 31st followed by the Eagles' 420.2 yards allowed which is ranked dead last. I did think about a play on the OVER in this game with the current line set at 56. I still think that these two will combine for over 60 points this Sunday, but there was another game that I liked better. For the fourth time this season I am using the Giants' game as my NFC East 'Pick of the Week". I went against New York the first two weeks of the season and cashed-in, but they did cost me my only loss of the season when I picked the 0-6 G-Men to win in Week 3.

The following is a link to my complete preview and pick for Week 7 in the NFC East as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 7

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 7

After posting a dismal 0-3 record in Week 5 on my NFL total line picks, I bounced back with a 2-1 record last week that has me a profitable 11-7 on the year. I was tempted to use this Sunday's Cowboys vs. Eagles clash as one of my picks for this week with a play on the OVER despite the fact that the current line is set at 56, but I found three other matchups that I liked better.

This Sunday's showdown at the Linc features two of the highest scoring teams in the league, who also happen to have a defense that has really struggled to keep its' opponents out of the end zone. To me this all adds up to an outright offensive assault that lights-up the scoreboard all day long.

The following is a link to the top three picks on the total line that I did come up with for Week 7 in the NFL as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 7 Over and Under Predictions

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 6

It has been feast or famine over the past two weeks for my NFL total line picks with a perfect 3-0 record in Week 4 followed by three picks on the wrong side of the total in last week's games. I had the Eagles vs. Giants game staying UNDER which is a mistake I will not make twice until either of these team's defense decides to show up for a game. The good news from last Sunday's much needed victory is that it appears that Nick Foles is more than capable running Chip Kelly's high-octane offense after turning-in a solid half of football in relief of Michael Vick.

I completely stayed away from this week's game against Tampa Bay, as I have no idea what to expect from either of these teams. The Buccaneers have yet to win in their first four games, but they still have a defense that is playing rather well. The Eagles should be able to do a better job this week on defense against rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, but that is never a given with this squad. If I had to make a pick I would take Philadelphia on the road minus the one-point spread, but everyone knows I am a homer so what else would you expect me to say.

Getting back to my top 3 "over/under" picks for Week 6 in the NFL, the following is a link to this week's piece on Doc's Sports as part of my ongoing series.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 6 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 6 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The much maligned NFC East will have two prime time matchups this week starting with the winless Giants on the road against Chicago on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. It is hard to argue against all the football experts out there calling this division the worst in the NFL. The numbers speak for themselves with a combined 5-14 record through the first five weeks of the season. Making and even stronger case for this claim is that three of the five wins came against teams within the division itself.

The Eagles accounted for two of them with book-end victories against Washington and New York wrapped around an ugly three-game stretch of football against the AFC West. This run has been good enough to tie Dallas for the lead in the East at 2-3. This week Philadelphia stays on the road to face winless Tampa Bay. This is going to be a much tougher trip than expected when you take a closer look at just how well the Buccaneers have played this season on defense. This unit is ranked ninth in the NFL against the run and eighth in points allowed. The big question for the Eagles is whether or not Michael Vick will be healthy enough to play after tweaking his hamstring against New York. If Nick Foles does get the start in his place, look for head coach Chip Kelly to ramp-up the passing game like he did in the second half against the Giants with Foles at the helm.

The following is a link my weekly NFC East preview and top pick as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 6

NFC East Week 5 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

This Sunday's showdown between the Eagles and the Giants at MetLife Stadium has to be considered a 'must win' game for both teams considering that through the first four weeks of the season they have combined for just one win. The Birds got everyone all fired up with their rout of Washington on opening day, but those feelings quickly dissolved with three straight losses to teams from the AFC West. New York could have won its opener against the Cowboys if it did not turn the ball over six times. Since then things have gone from bad to worse with three more losses by a combined 80 points.

The big question for this Sunday's game is just how bad are both these teams? I would have to say from the early results that the Giants are in much deeper trouble than Philly given that their problems run straight across the board and in almost every phase of the game. I have not given up on Chip Kelly's up-tempo offense just yet because we have already seen it work when it is properly executed. The Eagles' defense has obviously raised some serious concerns, but you have to remember that this is a whole new scheme with quite a few new faces in the starting lineup. I have to believe that it is still a work in progress that hopefully gets better with time.

I did not make an official 'pick' for this matchup, but I did use it as one of my top plays on the total line this week. I am envisioning a sloppy game with mistakes and misques by both teams that keep the final score close and low.

The following is a link to my complete preview and 'pick of the week' for this week's games in the NFC East as part of my ongoing series for Doc's Sports.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 5

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under" Picks for Week 5

As a die hard Eagles' fan I am not too thrilled with last week's slaughter at the hands of the Broncos; however I have to take a moment to pat myself on the back for the correct call on the outcome. I knew that Peyton Manning would have a field day against Philly's secondary and I also knew that Denver's defense would give up enough points to take the total way OVER the 57.5-point line. What I did not expect was how lopsided the final score would actually be. I guess we have to take solace in the fact that the Birds did keep things competitive until halftime.

Moving on to this Sunday's games, I am looking for another big week with my "over/under" picks after going a perfect 3-0 in Week 4. That bit of genius took my overall record to 9-3 on the year, which is the best start I have ever had since I began making these weekly 'total line' picks back in 2009.

I decided to use the Eagles/Giants game in this week's picks after some strong trends for a low scoring game led me in that direction. Both teams are giving-up a ton of points this season, but they are also turning the ball over in bunches which often times will actually work to keep the scoring down. The following is a link to my weekly article for Doc's Sports covering all three of this week's picks.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 5 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 4 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The NFC East is rapidly becoming one of the weakest divisions in the NFL with an overall record of just 3-9 through the first three weeks of the season. New York and Washington are still looking for their first win of the year and the Eagles have reverted to their old ways with back-to-back losses to San Diego and Kansas City.

In one of the more unique scheduling twists in the NFL, all four teams will face an AFC West opponent on the road this Sunday afternoon. The Giants square off against the Chiefs in a 1 p.m. start and the Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys all have late afternoon tilts out west. Philadelphia has the unenviable task of facing the best overall team in the AFC with a trip to Mile High to play Denver. It has been listed as a 12-point underdog for this matchup and will struggle to keep things that close.

Over the years Peyton Manning has had a field day playing the Birds in his days as the Colts' quarterback. With arguably the best receiving corps in the league, he should have no problem lighting-up the scoreboard this time around as well against an Eagles' pass defense that is ranked 29th in the league. My only hope for this game is that Chip Kelly's offense resembles the one that sliced and diced the Redskins on opening day and not that one that gift wrapped the game last week against Andy Reid's Chiefs with five turnovers. I think both teams are going to light it up this Sunday afternoon so much so that I have made this game my NFC East "Pick of the Week" with a play on the OVER 57 on the total line.

The following is a link to my complete preview of Week 4 in the NFC East as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports. I am 2-1 on my weekly pick in the division this season after going against the Giants in the first two weeks before getting suckered in on taking them against Carolina last week. I am more than confident that this week's pick will get me back to my winning ways.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 4

NFL Top 3 "Over/Under Picks for Week 4

The total stayed UNDER in nine of 16 games last week as points were a bit harder to come by for quite a few teams including the Eagles. They only managed to score 16 points against Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs in a rather ugly 26-16 loss.

The Birds racked-up 33 points against Washington in their season opener and 30 points in a losing cause against San Diego. Less points may be directly proportional to more turnovers considering that they turned the ball over five times against the Chiefs after committing just two turnovers in their first two games. This has been the Eagles' Achilles' Heal the past two seasons so lets hope that last Thursday night's game was just an aberration and not the start of another season long trend.

Getting back to scoring points, Philly faces the highest scoring team in the NFL this Sunday with a defense that is ranked 26th in the league in points allowed. To make matters worse, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning's first three games puts the future 'Hall of Famer' on pace to shatter almost every single-season passing record on the books. The only thing standing in his way of another monster day in front of the home-town crowd at Mile High is a Philadelphia secondary that is ranked 29th against the pass. There is no way that the Eagles can win this game and it is highly doubtful they will even cover the 12-point spread on the road. That being said, I am looking for a much better effort from Chip Kelly's high-octane offense that easily takes this game OVER the current 57-point total line. I am so confident that both of these teams will light-up the scoreboard to the tune of 60+ combined points that I made it one of my top three "Over/Under" picks for Week 4.

The following is a link to all three of my picks as part of my weekly series for Doc's Sports. Be sure to check back this upcoming Saturday for my complete preview of all the games in the NFC East this week.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 4 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 3 Preview and "Pick of the Week"

The Eagles started Week 3 of the NFL regular season with an ugly 26-16 loss to Kansas City this past Thursday night. They are now 1-2 on the year after such an encouraging start against Washington in their season opener. Turnovers were the Birds undoing in their last game, but a reoccurring theme the past two weeks has been a defense that cannot get off the field when it needs to the most. Fumbles and interceptions will never win you too many games in this league, but Philly's defense had the Chiefs pinned down at their own five yard line in a 3-and 15 situation and proceeded to let Andy Reid's new team drive right down the field for the game clinching field goal.

It does not get any easier for the Eagles from here with a date with the best team in the NFL on the slate next Sunday. After the road game against Denver they have both the Giants and the Cowboys lurking on the schedule the following two weeks in what will suddenly be must-win games after a projected start of 1-3.

The following is a link to my preview of all the games in the NFC East in Week 3 along with my 'pick of the week' as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports. I am off to a 2-0 start after going against New York the first two weeks, but I am hoping to ride the Giants this Sunday to keep my unbeaten streak alive.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 3

NFL Top "Over/Under" Picks for Week 3

The Eagles have been a dream team this season when it comes to wagering on the OVER on total line with an offense that can almost score at will complementing a defense that loves to give points up in bunches. Even when Philadelphia had a 33-7 lead over Washington on opening day, this defense tried to make things interesting but giving-up three late touchdowns to take the final score way OVER the 51.5-point closing line.

In a shootout against San Diego, the offense made the mistake of scoring too fast and too soon. The result was another Chargers' march downfield to set-up the game winning field goal with just seconds left on the clock. This Thursday night the Eagles welcome former head coach Andy Reid and his 2-0 Kansas City Chiefs to the Linc in what should be an intriguing matchup. New head coach Chip Kelly will get a chance to run his high-octane offense against a Chiefs' defense that is currently ranked third in the NFL. I do not have a formal pick for this game, but I would keep riding the OVER on the Birds with the total set at 49.5 points as both teams should be able to put up some points in this one.

The following is a link to my top three picks on the total line for Week 3 in the NFL as originally posted on Doc's Sports. After a clean sweep last week I am now 5-1 on the year and feeling really good about this Sunday's plays.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 3 Over and Under Predictions

NFC East Week 2 Preview & "Pick of the Week"

If everything goes according to plan this Sunday in terms of favorites winning and underdogs losing, the Eagles will have carved-out an early lead in the NFC East through the first two weeks of the season. They are listed as 7.5-point favorites for Sunday's home opener at the Linc against San Diego, while Dallas, Washington and New York are all underdogs in their Week 2 matchups.

The Cowboys have a good shot at knocking-off Andy Reid's Chiefs, but I cannot see the Redskins getting past Green Bay on the road and the Giants have a tall task on hands taking down Denver in Manning Bowl III. The one thing I have learned about the NFL over these many years is that once you starting thinking that things are going to go one way, they go in a completely different direction, so the main goal for Sunday is Philadelphia to take care of its business and get the win over the Chargers.

I like the Birds' chances in this matchup, but giving 7.5 points to any NFL team in just the second week of the season is always a risky proposition. Philly should be able to put points on the board behind Chip Kelly's high-octane offense, but I will need to see another dominating performance on the other side of the ball before I start believing my eyes. Do not get me wrong, watching the likes of Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson light-up the scoreboard with big plays is exciting stuff, but if the Eagles are going to be a legitimate factor in the NFC East title race it will be behind a defense that can put pressure on the quarterback, make solid tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and create turnovers. For the first time in a long time all three of these factors were present in an Eagles' defense that almost brought tears to my eyes in last Monday night's win.

The following is a link to my complete preview and 'pick of the week' for all the Week 2 games in the NFC East as originally posted on Doc's Sports.


NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 2

NFL Top "Over/Under" Picks for Week 2

The Oddsmakers nailed the total line on opening day in the NFL with eight games going OVER and eight staying UNDER the closing lines. I managed to squeeze-out a 2-1 record on my top plays on the strength of Chip Kelly's offensive masterpiece on Monday night.

I was actually expecting big things from the Birds on the offensive side of the ball against the Redskins, but I had my doubts about their defense after a less than stellar performance in the preseason. Like I mentioned last week, nothing is won or lost in Week 1, but it is always encouraging to jump out of the gate with a win, especially as a road underdog against a division opponent.

I will post my complete preview and “pick of the week” for Week 2 in the NFC East on Saturday, but for now here is a link to my top picks on the total line for this week’s NFL games as part of my ongoing series for Doc’s Sports.

NFL Top "Over/Under" Picks for Week 2

NFC East Pick of the Week

As part of a new weekly series for Doc's Sports I will be previewing every game in the NFC East with a detailed look at my pick of the week. The new NFL season kicks things off with a bang in the division with a Sunday night clash between the Giants and the Cowboys followed by the Eagles' season opener against Washington on Monday night.

Nothing is won or lost in Week 1 of the season, but the winners in the NFC East this week will have an immediate edge in the title race considering just how competitive this division is shaping up to be. New York is a slight favorite heading into the season but Dallas and Washington are a very close second and third. The Birds are predicted to once again bring up the rear, but that is mainly because of last year's epic collapse. When you look at the projected win totals for all four teams (New York-9, Dallas and Washington-8, Philadelphia-7) the difference between finishing first or last should come down to the final few weeks of the season.

Getting back to the NFL season openers, the following is a link to my complete preview and pick for the NFC East in an article that was posted on Doc's Sports earlier this week.

NFC East Weekly NFL Betting Picks: Week 1

NFL Top "Over/Under" Picks for Week 1

For the past two NFL seasons I have been making weekly predictions for my top three matchups on the total line for Doc's Sports. While you would have not gotten rich following my picks you would not have lost money either with back-to-back winning records for each season.

Starting this week I am putting my winning record on the line in an effort to extend the streak to a third-straight year. To review all my picks for Week 1 in the NFL just click onto the link below to go an article that was posted on Doc's Sports earlier this week. Just as a bit of a preview, one of my top picks in on Monday night's Eagles game against Washington.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 1 Over and Under Predictions

2013 NFL Preview & Predictions

The final preseason games are in the book so it is officially time to turn our full attention to the much anticipated start of the NFL regular season. The NFC East will be in the spotlight right off the bat with the Giants and Cowboys squaring off on Sunday Night Football followed by a Monday night clash between the Eagles and the Redskins. While division titles are never won on opening day, the results of these two games could go along way towards determining which two teams will be the lead dogs in what should be an extremely competitive title race that goes all the way to Week 17.

Last season I did a preview and pick for every Eagles' game as part of an ongoing series for Doc's Sports. Anyone who followed my previews as the Birds' season went on already knows that I do not make my living as a handicapper. To say I was 'off the mark' with my picks would be putting it mildly. I was downright awful and a 'bankroll buster' for anyone who actually bet the games the way I suggested. The good news heading into the 2013 season is that Doc's did not fire me, but they did expand this season's article to include all the games in the NFC East on a week-to-week basis. Be sure to check back later this week for my opening day pick.

Looking at the 2013 NFL season as a whole, I am ready to go on record with my official prognostications for division winners, wildcard teams and results for this year's Super Bowl Derby.

Starting in the AFC, I have Denver winning the West with ease while securing the No.1 seed for the playoffs. Houston should have a pretty clear path to the AFC South title as Indianapolis takes a step backwards from last year's 11-5 record. The Texans will win enough games to lock-up the other first round bye as the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Patriots still have more than enough talent to win the AFC East, but a record of 10-6 will have them playing in the Wildcard Round against Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs. There will be a changing of the guard in the AFC North as Cincinnati takes the division title while both Baltimore and Pittsburgh miss the playoffs altogether. The Bengals will face Miami in the other wildcard game.

The Divisional Round in the AFC will have Denver hosting Cincinnati and New England on the road against Houston. This sets up a conference championship showdown between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady with the Broncos earning the trip east to New Jersey for the Super Bowl.

The Green Bay Packers will prove to be the cream of the crop in the NFC as the No. 1 seed while Seattle claws its way past the 49ers to claim the NFC West title and No. 2 seed in the conference. The return of Sean Payton to New Orleans will make all the difference in the world as the Saints battle their way past Atlanta for the NFC South crown. Once all the smoke clears in the NFC East, the Giants will end-up tied with Dallas at 9-7, but earn the division title on a tie-breaker.

I have the Falcons beating New York in one wildcard game while New Orleans ends the 49ers' season in the other. Turning to the Divisional Round, both of the top seeds will prevail with Green Bay beating Atlanta and the Seahawks ousting the Saints. When it comes to the NFC Championship Game, I have the Packers earning a trip to the frozen tundra of Met Life Stadium by sneaking past the Seahawks on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.

My official pick for Super Bowl XLVIII is Denver over Green Bay in a game that stays UNDER the total as a result of a blinding snow storm that pummels the entire Northeast.

2013 Philadelphia Eagles Regular Season Game by Game Predictions

The start of a new NFL season is less than two weeks away and this year the Eagles open things up with a prime time matchup against Washington in the first of two Monday Night Football games. In a recent issue of ESPN the Magazine, the predicted outcome for this game was a Redskins romp by the score of 41-0. The writer went on to pencil the Birds in at 6-10 on the year and a fourth-place finish in the NFC East.

One of the best predictions I read about the Eagles this season is that they will be unpredictable. Their current win total projection is 7.5 with most of the betting public's early money going towards the UNDER. I have already gone on record as predicting an 8-8 finish but the race for the division title will remain tight until the final week of the season. I have the Giants winning the East at 9-7 with the Cowboys going 9-7 as well and the Redskins tying Philly at 8-8. A couple of breaks here and there could mean the difference between a fourth and first place finish in the division. Regardless of what actually transpires over the course of this season, the NFC East should remain the most competitive division in the NFL.

The following is my official game by game prediction for the Eagles 2013 regular season schedule in terms of wins and losses.

2013 Philadelphia Eagles Regular Season Schedule

1 Mon, Sep 9 @ Washington LOSS

2 Sun, Sep 15 vs San Diego WIN

3 Thu, Sep 19 vs Kansas City WIN

4 Sun, Sep 29 @ Denver LOSS

5 Sun, Oct 6 @ New York LOSS

6 Sun, Oct 13 @ Tampa Bay WIN

7 Sun, Oct 20 vs Dallas WIN

8 Sun, Oct 27 vs New York LOSS

9 Sun, Nov 3 @ Oakland WIN

10 Sun, Nov 10 @ Green Bay LOSS

11 Sun, Nov 17 vs Washington WIN

12 BYE WEEK RECORD 6-5

13 Sun, Dec 1 vs Arizona WIN

14 Sun, Dec 8 vs Detroit LOSS

15 Sun, Dec 15 @ Minnesota WIN

16 Sun, Dec 22 vs Chicago LOSS

17 Sun, Dec 29 @ Dallas LOSS

2013 NFL Futures Odds to make Playoffs

Bovada has set the odds for the Eagles' projected win total of 7.5 at +105 for the OVER and at -135 for the UNDER which tells me that the betting public is not that bullish on their chances to go better than 7-9 this season. If that is the case then it will be the third season in-a-row that the Birds will miss the playoffs.

Speaking of the NFL playoffs, it stands to reason that if Philadelphia's projected win total is 7.5 then it is little wonder that its odds to make it into the postseason are +225 for YES and -285 for NO. One of the biggest things working against the Eagles this season is a highly competitive NFC. You have teams such as San Francisco, Seattle, Green Bay and Atlanta that have been penciled-in as locks to go along with solid contenders such as New Orleans and Chicago. Somebody has to win the NFC East, which could be Philadelphia's only way into the playoffs; however the three other teams in the division have better odds to win the title heading into the new season.

Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis already knows that there is no bigger homer when it comes to the Birds than me, but even I would consider an 8-8 mark in 2013 as a successful season. This team still has enough talent to squeeze-out nine victories which should be enough to win the East this season, but almost every break would have to fall Philly's way for that to happen.

The biggest opportunity for a team that missed the playoffs last season to get in this year exists in the AFC. I am high on our old friend Andy Reid's chances to turn things around in a hurry in Kansas City if Alex Smith can play up to his potential at quarterback and I agree with a majority of the experts that Miami is poised for a playoff run this year.

The following is a link to an article I recently wrote for Doc's Sports Service covering my top three value picks when it comes to making the playoffs this year.


Top Props of the Week: 2013 NFL Futures Odds to make Playoffs

2013 NFL Player Props

Each year before the start of a new NFL regular season BetOnline will release what are called player 'prop odds' for passing, running and catching the ball in terms of who will accumulate the most yards in each category over the course of the 16-game schedule. Last season New Orleans' quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL in passing yards with 5,177, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson was the league's leading rusher with 2,097 yards and Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson led the NFL with 1,964 receiving yards. All three have been opened at the top of the list as the odds-on-favorite win this year's crown, but they will face some stiff competition from a few worthy contenders.

The following is a link to an article I recently wrote for Bang the Book covering the favorites in all three categories.

2013 NFL Player Props

NFL Previews- 2013 Odds to Win the NFC East

Over the past few weeks I have been taking a closer look at each NFL team's odds to win its division this season. Saving the best for last, it is time to breakdown the NFC East to see which of the four teams will break through the pack to claim the 2013 division title.

The current favorite is the New York Giants, but I honestly feel that all four teams have a legitimate shot at winning the NFC East this year. As much as I want to be a homer and tell everyone that the Eagles are going turn things around from last year's 4-12 record with a stunning run back to the playoffs, that will not be the case. What I do see happening this season for the Birds is as many losses as wins that keeps them in the title hunt until the final week of the regular season.

My official prediction for the NFC East this season is a four-team log jam that ends up sending just one team to the postseason. I have Philadelphia and Washington going 8-8 while Dallas and New York finish 9-7. The tie-breaker goes to the Giants. This is the first time since I started this blog in 2009 that I have the Eagles missing the playoffs, but it is what it is. I see big things in Philadelphia's future under Chip Kelly, as his innovative style is going to eventually bring the glory days back to the Linc, but patience remains the key as it may take a couple of seasons to get there.

The following is a link to my preview of the NFC East in an article that was previously posted on Cappers Picks.

NFL Previews – 2013 NFC East Betting

NFL Previews- 2013 Odds to Win the NFC North

Over the past decade or so when you thought of the dominant power in the NFC North you immediately thought of the Green Bay Packers. That is still the case heading into this season, but the gap between the Packers and the Chicago Bears could be much tighter than you may think.

Green Bay still has one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers which will always make it a legitimate contender for the division title, but a change at the top in Chicago could have the Bears back on track for a playoff run. Longtime head coach Lovie Smith was fired at the end of last season despite leading his team to a 10-6 record. The Bears decided to bring in a more offensive-minded coach that would be able to squeeze the most production out of their quarterback, Jay Cutler. They went 'north of the border' and hired Marc Trestman, who was the coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes at the time. It is hard to tell how well this duo will gel this season, but all signs point to a much more dynamic offensive attack then we have seen from Chicago in the past.

The following is a link to my complete preview of the NFC North in an article I recently wrote for Cappers Picks:

NFL Previews – 2013 NFC North Betting

NFL Previews – 2013 Odds to Win the NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons ran away with the NFC South last season with a record of 13-3, while the other three teams in the division all finished at 7-9. The Falcons are once again the preseason favorite to win the NFC South title this season, but rest assured it will be a much tighter race this time around.

The New Orleans Saints have their head coach back after the NFL decided to suspend Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season for his role in a player bounty scandal. You know that he is coming back with a huge chip on his shoulder which will definitely carry over to his players as well.

Both Tampa Bay and Carolina used this past offseason to hopefully add the missing pieces to the puzzle that gets them back to the postseason. The Buccaneers traded for All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis which should go a long way towards turning around a defense that was ranked last in the league in 2012 against the pass. The Panthers added wide receivers' Domenik Hixon from New York and Ted Ginn from San Francisco to giver third-year quarterback Cam Newton a few extra targets in the passing game.

The following is a link to an article I recently wrote for Cappers Picks covering the futures odds for each one of these team's chance to win the NFC South this season.



NFL Previews – 2013 NFC South Betting

2013 Odds to Win the NFC West

As training camps start to open all around the NFL it is time to get serious about the start of a new season of football. The Eagles decided to break a 17-year tradition of holding their summer camp at my old Alma Mater, Lehigh University to train in the cushy surroundings of the NovaCare Complex and Lincoln Financial Field. New head coach Chip Kelly appears to be hell-bent on putting his unique stamp on everything that has to do with this team, which hopefully in the long run results in an early February parade down Broad Street in the not too distant future.

Before we get to the meat of the order in the NFC East, I will take a closer look at the other three divisions in the conference starting with the NFC West. This division is shaping-up as a two-horse race between legitimate contenders to win it all this year. San Francisco has the slight inside edge over the Seattle Seahawks heading into the preseason, but you get the feeling that this race is going to remain too close to call all the way to Week 17 of the regular season.

As part of a four-part series for Cappers Picks, the following is a link to my NFC West preview that was recently posted on the site.

NFL Previews – 2013 NFC West Betting Odds

NFC West - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

The NFC West contains two of the top three favorites to win the conference this season in San Francisco and Seattle. Just a half game separated these two teams last season for the division title, so it is safe to assume that this year's race will probably rage on until the final week of the regular season.

In order to keep you up to speed for all the roster changes in the NFC West this offseason, the following is a link to an article covering the key player transactions in the division as part of an ongoing series for Sporting Charts.


NFC West - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

2013 AFC Preview – Conference Odds and Predictions

Over the past few weeks I have been previewing the odds for each team in the AFC in terms of their chances to win their respective division as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book. Before moving on to the NFC, I put together a summary of the entire conference in a piece that was recently posted on Cappers Picks.

It is still too early to release my official predictions for the 2013 season; however if I had to pick the four divisional winners in the AFC, I would lean towards New England in the East, Cincinnati in the North, Houston in the South and Denver in the West. My two wildcard teams would be Pittsburgh and Miami. This is hardly going out on a limb as this is pretty much chalk across the board, but everything is still subject to change. The Patriots are suddenly looking pretty weak at the tight end position and I am still not sure which direction the Colts will go in this season. The Broncos should run away with the West but it could be a three-way race to the final week of the regular season in the North.

The following is a link to my summary of the AFC and be sure to check back in July when I begin my preview of the NFC.

2013 AFC Preview – Conference Odds and Predictions

2013 Odds to Win the AFC East

The Oddsmakers are predicting a one horse race in the AFC East this season with New England listed as a prohibitive favorite to win yet another division crown. While the New York Jets appear to be headed in wrong direction with the loss of some key personnel and major question marks at the quarterback position, look for Miami to take their place as the top contender to take the Patriots' place at the top of the heap. The Dolphins have a number of pieces in place on both sides of the ball, but much of their success will hinge on the continued development of their quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Buffalo is a team that could go either way in 2013 after winning just six games for the second year in-a-row in 2012. The Bills are banking heavily on rookie EJ Manual as the answer at quarterback, but like many other experts, I feel that taking him in the first round was a reach at best.

The following is a link to a complete look at the odds for all four teams to win the AFC East this season as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.


2013 Odds to Win the AFC East

AFC East - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

Continuing with my series for Sporting Charts covering some of the bigger player transactions in the NFL this offseason, this week I turn my attention to the AFC East.

The New England Patriots are once again heavy favorites to win this division, but there has to be some concern with their passing game with the departure of Tom Brady's favorite target Wes Welker. The Patriots did add Danny Amendola from St. Louis to take his place, but he will have some pretty big shoes to fill given the fact that Welker hauled-in 100 or more receptions in five of his six seasons with his old team.

Many experts are touting Miami as the team to watch in this division as it continues to surround second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill with additional weapons. The biggest addition was wide receiver Mike Wallace as a free agent from Pittsburgh. The Dolphins also signed former Jets' tight end Dustin Keller.

Buffalo took a big chance in the draft by drafting quarterback EJ Manual from Florida State with the 16th overall pick in the first round considering he was originally projected as a second round pick at best. The Jets' defense is primed to take another step backwards this season after parting ways with their best player, Darrelle Revis, who was traded to Tampa Bay. They could also be headed in a new direction at quarterback after drafting Geno Smith from West Virginia early in the second round.

The following is a link to my complete recap of the major transactions in the AFC in an article that was originally posted on Sporting Charts.

AFC East - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

2013 Odds to win the AFC North

The AFC North is easily the most competitive division in the conference with three of the four teams just about equally favored to win the title this season. Baltimore is coming off a Super Bowl win which carries its own unique challenges to repeat and Pittsburgh's once-vaunted defense could be considered in a rebuilding mode so it is no longer a given that one of these two perennial favorites will win the North this year.

The third team in the mix is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have qualified for the playoffs the last two seasons as one of two wildcards in the AFC. They boast a solid defense against both the pass and the run to go along with a young gun at quarterback in Andy Dalton, which could very well signal the changing of the guard at the top of this division.

The following is a link to an article that takes a closer look at all four teams in the division in terms of their current odds to win the AFC North in 2013 as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.

2013 Odds to win the AFC North

AFC South - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

After taking a look at the futures odds to win the AFC South this season in my previous post, I decided to stay with this division to take a closer look at some of the key additions and losses for all four teams as part of an ongoing series for Sporting Charts.

Houston made an immediate splash by adding veteran safety Ed Reed from Baltimore which should hopefully provide some much needed leadership to a unit that struggled down the stretch last season.

The Colts let Dwight Freeney sign with San Diego, but they turned to the draft to add defensive lineman Bjoern Werner from Florida State to plug a hole up front.

Jacksonville needs major help on both sides of the ball after winning just two games last season and it took a step in the right direction by starting with its offensive line. The Jaguars selected Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel with the second overall pick in the draft.

Another Ravens' safety has relocated to the AFC South with Bernard Pollard signing with Tennessee. The Titans also added running back Shonn Green from the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from Buffalo to add some depth on offense.

The following is a link to the complete round-up of AFC South offseason transactions as originally posted on Sporting Charts.


AFC South - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

2013 Odds to Win the AFC South

The Houston Texans have won the AFC South the past two seasons and are favored to win it again in 2013, but the up and coming Indianapolis Colt might just have something to say about that. Behind the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts went from winning just two games in 2011 to 11-5 and a wildcard spot in the playoffs last season. The big question heading into the 2013 campaign is what direction do they go from here. The dreaded 'sophomore slump' has taken its toll on some other high-profile quarterbacks in the past so the pressure will be on Luck to take another step forward in 2013.

As part of an ongoing series, I am taking a deeper look at the current odds for all 32 NFL teams in terms of their chances of winning their division this upcoming season. The following is a link to the latest installment as previously posted on Bang the Book covering all four teams in the AFC South.

2013 Odds to Win the AFC South

2013 Odds to Win the AFC West

Most of the major sportsbooks have already released their futures odds for every NFL team's chances to win their division in 2013. As part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book, I am starting out west in the AFC to take a closer look at all 32 team's individual odds. While I am not ready to make any out-and-out bold predictions, you can easily tell which way I am leanings as to which team I believe will end up on top in each of the eight divisions.

Not to jump too far ahead as the NFC East will be the last division I will be previewing, the Eagles have been opened as the fourth-favorite in a division of four teams. All I can tell you right now is that the Birds will be finishing much better than that so stay tuned.

The following is a link to my first installment as previously posted on Bang the Book.

2013 Odds to Win the AFC West

AFC West - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

Since free agency has pretty much been picked over and the college draft is in the books, I have decided to go division-by-division to highlight some of the key additions and losses for all 32 NFL teams as part of an eight-part series for Sporting Charts. Starting in the AFC with the West, I will save the best for last by finishing things up with the NFC East.

The following is a link to my first installment as originally posted on Sporting Charts.

AFC West - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season

Finding Value in the NFL Draft

Now that the NFL draft is in the books it is a good time to take a closer look at just how well some of the favorites to win next season's Super Bowl did at filling a couple of crucial needs that might just end-up putting them over the top.

Unfortunately as 33/1 longshots to win Super Bowl XLVIII the Eagles did not make the cut for the teams that I covered in this article for Bang the Book, but I thought it would still be an interesting read for all you draft junkies out there.

Finding Value in the NFL Draft

2013 NFL Draft Recap- Top Five Teams

It is next to impossible to properly grade a NFL draft right away as it will take at least two or three seasons to see how each team's picks actually panned out. One way to measure just how well a particular team did in a draft is to match the players it selected with its most pressing needs. The other way is to measure the value in a team's selections looking at what position a player was taken in relation to when they were projected to go. Getting first-round talent in the second or even third round is a major plus, while reaching for players earlier than projected counts heavily against their overall assessment.

I will go on record right now as saying that I absolutely loved Chip Kelly's first draft as the new Eagles coach. He did the right thing in the first round by taking the best offensive lineman on the board and then proceeded to add some very interesting pieces to the championship-run puzzle on both sides of the ball. As an added bonus, first-round pick Lane Johnson is the perfect athletic fit for Kelly's fast-paced offensive scheme.

In a few pre-draft blog posts I was hot on outside linebacker Dion Jordan as a first round pick. After closer inspection that would have been a major mistake given that he is a pass-rushing specialist at best, while Johnson is a player that can anchor the Birds' offensive line for the next 10 years.

The following is a link to a recent article I wrote for Sports Betting Review's blog covering my top five teams for this year's draft. I would have put the Eagles at the top of that list, but I did not what to come off as a complete homer.

2013 NFL Draft Recap- Top Five Teams

2013 Philadelphia Eagles Draft Picks

2013 Philadelphia Eagles Draft Picks


Round 1, Pick 4 (4th overall)

Johnson, Lane OT



Round 2, Pick 3 (35th overall)

Ertz, Zach TE



Round 3, Pick 5 (67th overall)

Logan, Bennie DT



Round 4, Pick 1 (98th overall)

Barkley, Matt QB



Round 5, Pick 3 (136th overall)

Wolff, Earl SS



Round 7, Pick 6 (212th overall)

Kruger, Joe DE



Round 7, Pick 12 (218th overall)

Poyer, Jordan CB



Round 7, Pick 33 (239th overall)

King, David DE

Handicapping the 2013 NFL Draft

By all accounts it appears that the Eagles have settled-in on offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan as their selection with the fourth overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

While I understand that the offensive line remains a major area of need for the Birds, I was still hoping they would take Oregon linebacker/defensive end Dion Jordan to add a major spark to a rather listless defense. This still may happen if Jacksonville and Oakland decide to pass on the 6-foot-6, 248 lb stud, but I am not going get my hopes up too high.

This Thursday night will be exciting enough given how wide-open the first round of the draft should be this year, but if you are looking to add a little action to the proceedings, the following is a link to my handicapping guide for a few of the more popular prop bets available from Bovada Sportsbook as originally posted on Bang the Book.

Handicapping the 2013 NFL Draft

2013 Philadelphia Eagles Schedule

2013 Preseason Schedule

Friday, August 9

New England Patriots

7:30 PM

6ABC/94 WIP



Thursday, August 15

Carolina Panthers

7:30 PM

6ABC/94 WIP



Saturday, August 24

@Jacksonville Jaguars

7:30 PM

6ABC/94 WIP



Thursday, August 29

@New York Jets

7 PM

6ABC/94 WIP






2013 Regular Season Schedule

Monday, Sept. 9

@Washington Redskins

7:10 PM*

ESPN/94 WIP



Sunday, Sept. 15

San Diego Chargers

1 PM

CBS/94 WIP



Thursday, Sept. 19

Kansas City Chiefs

8:25 PM*

NFLN/94 WIP



Sunday, Sept. 29

@Denver Broncos

4:25 PM*

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Oct. 6

@New York Giants

1 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Oct. 13

@Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Oct. 20

Dallas Cowboys

1 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Oct. 27

New York Giants

1 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Nov. 3

@Oakland Raiders

4:05 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Nov. 10

@Green Bay Packers

1 PM

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Nov. 17

Washington Redskins

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Nov. 24

BYE WEEK







Sunday, Dec. 1

Arizona Cardinals

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Dec. 8

Detroit Lions

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Dec. 15

@Minnesota Vikings

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Dec. 22

Chicago Bears

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP



Sunday, Dec. 29

@Dallas Cowboys

1 PM+

FOX/94 WIP

NFL Free Agents and Super Bowl Futures

While all eyes will be focused on Radio City Music Hall next Thursday night for the start of the annual NFL Draft especially us Eagles' fans with the Birds picking fourth overall in the first round, this year's free agent market has already produced some very interesting results for a number of teams.

Philadelphia has used free agency to make a concerted effort to address some pressing needs on defense especially in the secondary with the addition of linebacker Conner Barwin from Houston and a pair of safeties in Kenny Phillips from the Giants and Patrick Chung from New England. These few moves are far from solving all of the problems on this side of the ball, but hopefully Chip Kelly and Co. will do the right thing next week and use that fourth overall pick to select defensive lineman/outside linebacker Dion Jordan from Oregon if he is still on the board. This is the kind of impact player you can build a top-notch defense around (but let's save that whole discussion for another day).

In the meantime, the following is a link to a closer look at some of the biggest free-agent signings this offseason as well as their impact on the Super Bowl futures for the teams involved as originally posted on Bang the Book.

NFL Free Agents and Super Bowl Futures

Impact Players in the 2013 NFL Draft

This year's draft has really caught the attention of Eagles' fans given that the last time the Birds had a pick this low in the first round was all the way back in 1999 when rookie head coach Andy Reid selected Donovan McNabb with the second overall pick in the first round.

Looking at the predictions for a few of the more popular draft gurus out there, Mel Kiper Jr. still has the Eagles taking West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith while Todd McShay has them selecting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei out of Utah. A few other names that have been tossed around over the past few weeks are Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan and Oregon outside linebacker Dion Jordan. There are obvious holes on the offensive line and defensive secondary for new head coach Chip Kelly to fill, but whichever player the Eagles do decide to take will be under the gun to make an immediate impact on a winning franchise that has suddenly lost its way over the past two seasons.

The one thing that we know for sure is the fateful name that NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell announces fairly early in the evening on Thursday, April 25 as the fourth overall selection of the 2013 draft will forever define the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia. These two are destined to be tied at the hip just as Reid and McNabb were during what should be thought of as a rather lengthy and successful run in this town. The main difference will be that this time around, this duo will have the added pressure of finally bringing home that elusive a Super Bowl title.

The following is a link to an article I recently wrote for Bang the Book taking a closer look at few potential impact players that are available in this year's draft.

Impact Players in the 2013 NFL Draft

2013 NFL Draft- Top Defensive Value Picks

The 2013 NFL draft is just three weeks away and Eagles' fans have no idea what is really going on in the team's 'war room' as far as what they are going to do with the fourth overall pick in the first round. Speculation has ranged from offensive lineman Eric Fisher, cornerback Dee Milliner to quarterback Geno Smith, but no one knows for sure which name Commissioner Roger Goodell will announce once the pick is turned in.

If Andy Reid was still the head coach the choice would be fairly easy; the biggest offensive or defensive lineman on the board, but with Chip Kelly running the show it is hard to tell which direction the Birds will go once they are officially on the clock. The one thing we know for sure is that Kelly's legacy with Philadelphia could very well be determined by this pick. The last time the Eagles has a selection this low in the draft was in 1999 which also happened to be Reid's first year at the helm. Amid a chorus of boos from the Radio City Music Hall crowd, Philadelphia used the second overall pick in the draft to select Donovan McNabb. In retrospect it proved to be the right choice considering how all of the other options panned out, however Reid and McNabb will forever be linked together as oneof the best head coach-quarterback combination in the NFL to never win a Super Bowl.

While the majority of the attention leading up to the draft tends to focus on the top five or ten players on the board, the real value can often be found in the later rounds. The following is a link to my top defensive values in this year's draft in an article I recently wrote for Sporting Charts.

2013 NFL Draft- Top Defensive Value Picks

NFL 2012 Betting Trends Against the Spread

It was bad enough that the Eagles only won four games last season, but given the high expectations for the team heading into the regular season, they were absolute murder to wager on. The Birds had the worst record in the league last season against the spread at 3-12-1. Things were even worse at home where they failed to cover in seven of eight games with the other one ending as a PUSH. You could have made a fortune fading the Birds last season to the tune of $870 for every $100 wagered assuming that you went against them in all 16 games.

The following is an analysis of the NFL's 2012 ATS results in terms of a few betting trends that remained consistent throughout the entire regular season. It also points out some basic handicapping tips that you can easily incorporate into your wagering strategy for next season. This article was originally posted on Bang the Book as part of my ongoing series 'NFL Betting Trends'.

NFL 2012 ATS Results by the Numbers

2013 NFL Draft - Top Offensive Value Picks

When this year's NFL College Draft rolls around later this April, the Eagles wait for their turn to officially be 'on the clock' will unfortunately be one of the shortest since the dawn of the new millennium.

Chip Kelly will have a golden opportunity to put his stamp on the team as its new head coach by landing one of the top five players in the country in this year’s class. This could be a blessing or a curse depending on how that pick fares in his career with the team. Many of the experts have Philadelphia addressing its need at offensive line with Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher, but if both of those players go in the top three picks, then cornerback Dee Milliner could a logical choice to address its other pressing need in the defensive secondary.

Regardless of which player the Eagles take in the first round, Kelly and the Birds’ front office will be under the gun to add a number of potential starters with the rest of their picks. This team is not in need of a complete overhaul, but could use an injection of a couple of young studs who want nothing more than to fly around the field and make plays.

The true measure of a successful draft is the ability to sniff out those types of players in all seven rounds. Somewhere in this year’s draft class there could be another Brian Dawkins that is chomping at the bit to make his mark on the NFL.

In a two-part series for Sporting Charts, I dig a bit deeper into the list of prospects on both sides of the ball to find a couple of players that might fit the bill. Below is a link to this week’s article covering the value players on offense.

2013 NFL Draft - Top Offensive Value Picks

2013 NFC Championship Futures

The 2013 NFL free agent market is open for business as all 32 teams embark on the mission of adding the missing pieces that they believe will be the key to earning a trip to the playoffs and possibly the conference championship game. The way that parity has gripped the NFL over the past decade or so, it is very conceivable that a team could go from worst to first next season if it adds the right pieces over the next few weeks.

Two years ago the Eagles proved that the free agent process is not all what it is cracked up to be. As a result of a prolonged labor dispute, the free agent signing period was delayed to August and reduced to two weeks. Like a drunken sailor on leave, they went out and spent everything they had in their pocket in an effort to buy a NFC championship and possible Vince Lombardi Trophy. The results were a complete disaster as all this high-priced talent never gelled. It also marked the beginning of the end for the Andy Reid era in Philadelphia with an 8-8 record that year.

Heading into this season’s free agent frenzy, the new boss in town, Chip Kelly brought this tragic chapter in franchise history to a close by parting ways with a number of those free agents including Cullen Jenkins and Nnamdi Asomugha, who just so happened to be two of the biggest names signed back in 2011.

So far, the Eagles have taken a pretty conservative approach to this year’s free agent market by adding a piece here and there that is hopefully the first step towards a return to a winning season. Overall, the Birds remain a mild longshot at best to win the NFC next season, but that is actually a good thing. With players like Jenkins and Asomugha on the roster, they were opened as one of the top three or four favorites to win a conference title and proceeded to prove the Oddsmakers completely wrong by crashing and burning in grand fashion.

A few weeks back I wrote a piece for Bang the Book covering the opening futures odds for winning the NFC in 2013. While it may be a bit outdated considering some of the player movement over the past few days, it should still paint a pretty good picture of the legitimate contenders for next season’s conference crown.

2013 NFC Championship Futures Odds