NFL Stretch Run Offers Profitable Opportunities

The home stretch is underway in the NFL. As some teams battle for division titles, home field advantage and wild card berths, there are other teams that are in line for none of the above! The only battles they are in are for who comes up with the number one pick in Aprils’ NFL Draft. The idea that these teams are just playing out the string or simply trying to “build for next season” holds true to an extent. This should definitely throw a red flag in their direction when it comes to betting on them. We have listed three teams below that are ones to stay away from, or at least be cautious of, as the season winds down.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers started the season with definite playoff hopes but a slow start and a season ending injury to quarterback Chris Simms blew their season up in a hurry! The offense has been terrible and you may think that should make it easy for the favorite to cover in all their games. However, last week Tama Bay kicked a field goal on the last play of the game to avoid a shutout. The three points meant nothing as far as winning the game or covering the spread. However, if Jon Gruden will do it down 20-0 you better believe he will do it again and next time it might actually matter. Might be best to just stay away when it comes to the Bucs.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have now lost three in a row and the offense has been almost as bad as Tampa Bay’s. The difference here is that the offensive line starts four first year starters including three rookies. Brett Favre, when he finally has time to throw, has nobody to throw to as teams have taken away Donald Driver and he is the Packers only true weapon. As bad as the offense has looked the defense has looked at least as bad as they’ve given up 35, 34 and 38 points in their last three losses! The Packers defense has simply not found it’s identity this year. A team without an identity this late in the season is a team to stay away from as you just do not know what you are getting week in and week out. When you have four games left in the season and you are still trying to figure out a team that is not a good sign. The Packers also have a rookie coach and the youngest team in the league. That said, who knows what to expect from this inconsistent group. It’s also important to recognize that Favre certainly is not playing for a job. Throwing the ball up for grabs has always been his M.O. and a team with a quarterback that is absolutely not afraid to throw a pick means it just may be best to stay away!

Detroit Lions

The Lions have only won two games this year and are looking at divisional games the rest of the way (Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago) plus a game against Dallas. The NFC North was the first division to crown a winner with the Bears. As for the Lions, this team should be avoided just like the others. Why? See above as the Lions headaches seem to be similar in many cases to the teams above. You can site a rookie coach who is looking for anything positive but doesn’t now how to get it. You can site a defense that can not show up or when they do they still manage to get mixed up in coverages. You can site a quarterback that is really struggling and desperation leads to mistakes from signalcallers. To sum it up, the Lions are bad and be careful investing any dollars on this team no matter what line you can get!

Hopefully this look at who to be very wary of down the stretch run will make sorting out the last four weeks of the NFL schedule a little easier. Just remember there a lot of profitable opportunities each and every weekend so be careful where you place your hard earned dollars! Best of luck from Scott Rickenbach of Rickenbach’s Players Advantage.

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