Heading into Week 14 of the NFL please note these stats (all are ATS – against the spread, unless otherwise noted) are definitely items to consider as you look at the deep NFL card. However, this does not mean these are "plays" in the true sense of the word. That said, the hope is that the ATS information below helps you as you "traverse" this week’s NFL card! As always, best of luck in all your sports gaming from Scott Rickenbach
1) Buffalo is 1-4 when facing an opponent from their own division. This season the Bills are a "perfect" 0-3 in divisional play. This week they are playing the Dolphins in Toronto and the field they are playing on has already been complained about in terms of lighting (it’s a dome) as well as the turf (issues with seams). In other words, it might be wise to "tread lightly" here because the venue in Toronto is quite unique.
2) Green Bay is 6-0 when facing an AFC opponent. This week they are hosting a Houston team that has only gotten the cash six times in their last 19 games versus an NFC opponent. Also, the Texans are coming off of their big Monday Night Football win over Jacksonville so the timing could be "just right" to fade them here. The Texans are not known to travel well and are now 3-9 in their last 12 road games. Green Bay has only lost the money four times in their last 13 chances as a home favorite.
3) Kansas City is 5-2 in their last 7 road games against divisional opponents. This week they’re facing the AFC West rival Broncos and Denver is just 3-15 as a home favorite! Also, the Broncos have not fared well recently against divisional opponents as they’ve covered just two of the last eight versus AFC West opposition. Denver is off of a tough trip to the East Coast while the Chiefs could have garnered some extra confidence from last week’s rare road win. Broncos should win this but grabbing the points with Kansas City would be supported by the above trends.
4) St Louis is on a 0-5 run in divisional play. This week the Rams travel to Arizona and St Louis has covered just five of their last fifteen road games! Also, St Louis is facing a divisional opponent that has been doing just fine against its weaker NFC West competition. The Cardinals have covered four of their last five divisional match-ups. Big points here but they might be worth laying as the Rams futility continued last week in a home loss to Miami while Arizona is off of a rare blowout loss at Philly that could have them ready to inflict a similar punishing blow on somebody else. Rams could be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5) New England is on a 20-7 run when favored on the road. The Patriots are visiting a Seahawks team that just can’t seem to snap their season-long funk as they got hammered by the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day last week. Just because they’re back home may not help Seattle all that much. The Hawks have covered just three of their last nine games as a home underdog. Facing a Patriots team off of a 23 point loss at home may not help matters for the Seahawks. Pats could bring a little extra fire to the West Coast for this one!
