LAS VEGAS FOOTBALL REVIEW
THE NEW LAS VEGAS FOOTBALL REVIEW.......
Volume V, Issue 23 (For Games Of Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 1999) $20.00
This newsletter is published weekly throughout the
football season and is the copyright property of its owner,
Kelso Sturgeon. No part of it may be reproduced without
written permission. Each edition will be posted here late
Wednesday night of each week.
The newsletter offers the college and NFL best bets of Kelso
Sturgeon, plus his opinion on every game on the board. It also
includes other important elements of handicapping that hopefully will
assist readers in analyzing games and picking their own winners.
Successful handicapping is result of fine-tuning the various elements
of handicapping and the newsletter attempts to present the factors
which play an important part in the pointspread outcome of games.
Editorial Staff
Publisher Kelso Sturgeon
Editor David A. Sturgeon
Senior Writer Kelso E. Sturgeon, Jr.
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Questions/Thoughts to:
Kelso Sturgeon (E-Mail) Kelso@Earthlink.net
Or (Mailing Address) Kelso Sturgeon. P.O. Box 530096, Henderson, NV
89012
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Kelso Sturgeon is a professional handicapper who
also has several "900" lines and a toll free office (1-800-
521-1869) in Las Vegas. He reserves the right to change any
of these selections for those "900" lines, or for his "800"
service should later information or circumstances make that
the right decision. This will seldom, if ever, happen, but
readers must be aware of it.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Next Week, We Will Have Our Super Bowl Predictions,
And Will list all the Proposition Bets on the game. For the record,
we are going to have Best Bet Plays on
Side
Total
Money Line
5 Top Proposition Bets
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IMPORTANT: This is the final edition of this newsletter for the season.
Kelso Sturgeon and the entire crew thank you for your support during this
football season. We've had a good one and we do hope you enjoyed the
fruits of our labor. We appreciate your business and hope you will be
back with us next year. In the mean time, Kelso Sturgeon has his daily
basketball selections available at 1-900-454-4425...a $10 call, charged
to your telephone. Again, we thank you.
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ATLANTA SOLID PICK IN SUPER BOWL.....
By Kelso Sturgeon
ATLANTA FALCONS (+7) by 7 over DENVER BRONCOS--This handicapper
has no dispute with the fact Denver is the favorite to win Super Bowl
XXXIII. Afterall, lines are made to split the action on both sides,
and this number does it. But the basic question in the minds of
handicappers should be: Is Denver really 7 points better than Atlanta
on a neutral field and the answer is an obvious and loud, NO!
Both teams go into this game with 16-2 records and the only real
difference between them is the fact Denver is a popular team--and thus
a touchdown favorite--while Atlanta is still perceived as being a
failed franchise. History says that bettors who live in the past are
certain to get buried--and this looks like one of those spots.
In analyzing the Super Bowl, the one single fact that stands out
over all others is the fact Atlanta DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE WEAKNESS.
It is no accident an Atlanta team which was picked to finish up the
track has lost only to San Francisco and the New York Jets this
season--and both games were on the road.
The Falcons have an outstanding running game led by Jamal
Anderson, an outstanding passing game led by quarterback Chris
Chandler--and they play great defense against both the run and the
pass. We will be the first to admit Denver running back Terrell Davis
is the best running back in the NFL, but we also believe Atlanta
quarterback Chris Chandler is better at his job than is John Elway.
Defensively, the edge all goes to the Falcons.
Our analysis of how each team played over the past six weeks
shows Atlanta getting stronger with each game, but with Denver playing
to a weaker number in each outing. Denver crushed a crippled Miami
Dolphin team, 38-3, to get here and then was life-and-death to beat
the New York Jets in a game that was much closer than the final score
of 23-10 appeared. Had the Jets not repeatedly turned over the
football, they, and not Denver, would be in Miami for this one.
Atlanta is here on the strength of a strong 20-18 victory over
San Francisco and then a powerful, gritty 30-27 overtime road win over
a Minnesota Viking team that many had as the odds-on favorite to win
the Super Bowl. In other words, the Falcons arrive in high gear, and
one cannot say that about Denver.
One can find reasons to be on both these teams, but Atlanta is
the play on the basis of just two things:
1. It is playing better football right now.
2. It is, overall, the better football team.
Thus, the only thing one can do in the game is to take Atlanta
plus the points, but that's not all.
*****************************************************************************
THE TOTALS PLAY....
While there has been a slight movement among bettors on the
"Over" in this game, it figures to go under. Atlanta is a team that
is devoted to just grinding it out, playing field position and making
the other side work for every yard it gets. Denver traditionally
tightens up its play at this juncture of the season and it is no
accident the Dolphins scored just 3 points and the Jets 10 in the
Broncos 2 playoff games.
If ever there was a Super Bowl that had UNDER written all over
it, it is this one. Play the under.
*******************************************************************************
THE MONEY LINE....
This is almost a no-brainer, but, first, for those who have only
limited knowledge of money line betting, a little explanation. When
one bets the money line on a game, he is taking one team to beat
another, period. No points are involved.
At this writing, if you want a money line bet on favored Denver,
you will have to bet $300 to win $100. If you like underdog Atlanta,
you will have to bet $100 to win $240. This handicapper likes Atlanta
to win straight up, which means the only play is on the Falcons. Lay
the $100 to win $240.
THE PROPOSITION BETS....
You can find dozens of so-called proposition bets on the Super
Bowl, but here are the ones we suggest:
MARGIN OF VICTORY.....
At most Las Vegas casinos, you can bet on the margin of
victory. Since we like Atlanta to win outright, we are going to make
two wagers here.
The odds that Atlanta will win by from 1 to 6 points are 6-1.
The odds that Atlanta will win by 7-12 points is 8-1.
We will make a $100 wager on both. This means we are risking a
total of $200 to win $1,200 at 6-1 or $1,600 at 8-1.
TOTAL INTERCEPTIONS BOTH TEAMS.....
At most Las Vegas casinos, the interception total (both
teams combined) is 2 1/2. If you like over 2 1/2, you will lay $100
to win $120. If you like under 2 1/2, you will have to bet $140 to
win $100. Both quarterbacks are extremely accurate and we will take
under 2 1/2, laying the $140 to win $100.
WILL THERE BE A SUCCESSFUL 2-POINT CONVERSION.....
At most Las Vegas casinos, you will have to lay $240 to
win $100, if you believe there will not be a successful 2-point
conversions. If you think there will be, you will bet $100 to win
$190. We say the odds are overwhelmingly against a 2-point and we
will say there will not be one and lay the $240 to win $100.
There are many other ways to bet the Super Bowl, but we think
these bets have the best chance to win. Good luck to you, and enjoy
the game.
BETTING SUPER BOWL XXXIII
(Almost all the material included in this story has been taken
from "The Complete Guide To Football Betting", co-authored by Kelso
Sturgeon and fellow handicapper Jim Feist. These words on The Super
Bowl are considered, by far, as the most insightful ever written.
While the statistical data used in the story is complete only through
the 1997 Super Bowl, every handicapping thought and theory is relevent
today and will help you handicap Super Bowl XXXIII.
As an update, here are the results of the last Super Bowl,
which are not shown in the charts, with the exception of the "Betting
History of the Super Bowl". The results of last year's Super Bowl
does not alter any of the analytical processes shown in this story.
The results of last years' game:
Denver (+11 1/2) 31, Green Bay 24 Total Over
*******************************************************
By Kelso Sturgeon
The Super Bowl is the biggest single betting event in all of
sports. Legal sports books in Nevada routinely book more than $70
million on the game and the federal government estimates more than $4
billion is wagered on it in the illegal subculture of the United
States. By comparison, just over $10 billion is bet legally on horse
racing in the country each year, and it is a sport conducted 365 days
a year in more than 30 states. The Super Bowl is, at the same time,
the biggest sports betting game of the year and, by far, a most
difficult game to handicap.
History shows, for whatever the reason, analyzing this game and
picking the winner requires far more insight than one needed during
the regular season and even into the playoffs. The Super Bowl is a
game that defies logic and renders useless time-tested methods of
analysis. It seems to be in a world all its own and annually puts
even the most sophisticated of handicappers into a mode of doubt and
denial.
"This is just another football game, isn't it?" handicappers
ask. "It is the Super Bowl and the lines are a little tighter, but it
is just another football game, isn't it?" they ask. "The two teams
playing in it established a predictable performance profile during the
regular season, didn't they?" they asked. And on it goes as
handicappers who have successfully analyzed week after week of college
and pro football during the regular season try to convince themselves
the Super Bowl is no different than any other game. But they know it
is, and they still try to deny it.
If the Super Bowl is not an exception to many of the rules of
NFL analysis, how can one explain:
1. Why the National Football Conference representative has won
the last 13 Super Bowls, outscoring the American Football Conference
representative by an average of 38.0 points per game to just 17.0
points per contest.
2. Why picking the outright winner of the Super Bowl gives you
a 90 percent chance to cover the number. The actual winner of this
game is 27-3-1 against the Las Vegas line in the first 31 games
played.
3. Why the game's total score has gone over nine times in the
last 13 games--a 69 percent clip, averaging 57 points per contest.
These may seem to be somewhat insignificant questions, but they
are not. When a bettor can find such one-sided figures going in his
favor, he has the edge and the bookmaker just can't seem to catch up
with him. Figures and percentages which so strongly support a trend
are the best friend a bettor ever had--and are the most feared enemy
of a bookmaker.
While it would be intellectually dishonest to say one can use
these trends by themselves to win a Super Bowl bet, they certainly are
strong enough to send a bettor in the right direction. How strong is
it when one knows the outright winner is 27-3-1 against the Las Vegas
Line? How strong can total betting be when one knows the last 13
games have seen an average of 57 points scored? How strong can a
money line bet be when one realizes the NFL is 13-0 straight up in
this game over the last 13 years and has, in fact, won the game
outright in 15 of the last 16 years?
What makes acceptance of these trends so difficult for seasoned,
successful and logical bettors is the fact they deny the foundation
rule of handicapping--that every single betting category and
proposition, regardless of what it is, will over a period of time win
50 percent of the time and lose 50 percent of the time. It does not
happen in the Super Bowl. Most bettors deny the facts of the past 13
years and keep thinking the game will average itself out.
Maybe--and just maybe--that started to happen in 1996. In the
1996 and 1997 Super Bowls, the underdog AFC teams covered the number
and one of the games went over, while the other one went under. Is a
betting correction underway? Only time will tell.
Before getting into handicapping the details and discussing some
of the more important facts of the past 13 years of NFC dominance in
this game, a discussion of the playoffs which lead up to the big game
are in order.
The betting public edge at playoff time, since the limited
number of games leaves no margin for error and does not give the book
anyplace to make it up if he is wrong. During the regular season, a
bookmaker can make a mistake on a game or two and still have 80 other
contests on which to make back the money he lost on a couple of soft
lines. There are no places for him to hide at playoff time.
After one studies the number, and tries to make a case for both
teams in the game, it is time to move on to some basics of
handicapping.
The first thing one should determine is just how hard a team had
to play to get to the playoffs, although the 1996 Denver Broncos
proved to be an exception to this rule.
Jacksonville is a perfect example to use in studying this
important element of analysis. First of all, the Jaguars opened the
1996 season 4-7 and were given no chance to get into the playoffs.
But they closed out the regular season 5-0 to get there. It is
important to note the biggest winning margin in any of the last five
games was 7 points and the average winning margin in the games was
just 4.4 games. In other words, none of the wins came easily.
Even for those who liked the fact Jacksonville was on a roll,
and thought the Jaguars might be a playable team for bettors in the
playoffs, in the back of their minds they had to ask just how long the
Jaguars could go before the either ran out of gas, or lost their focus
and exploded. No team can play its guts out in game after game
forever and keep winning and covering.
The pressure continued to build for Jacksonville when it won at
Buffalo. The pressure cooker was really building up steam after it
upset Denver. Heading into New England for the AFC championship game
against the Patriots, Jacksonville had played both playoff games on
the road and had been the upset winner of both. Jacksonville then
lost at New England, 20-6, not because it was not as good a team as
were the Patriots but because it came unglued, lost its focus and made
the mistakes that destroyed it.
The Jacksonville example is in its own way the exception, rather
than the rule. Most teams that had struggled to get to the playoffs
probably would have lost in the Wild Card round. It is important for
bettors to note the harder a team has to play to win a game, the less
prepared it usually is for its next outing (see Chapter 9--The Bounce
Factor). This statement means just what it says and bettors must
study the previous game/games and try to determine just how much they
took out of the winning team..
It would be intellectually dishonest not to mention the Denver
Broncos of 1996. This was a team that had destiny written all over
it. It opened the season 12-1, with only a 17-14 loss at Kansas City
blemishing its record. The Broncos wrapped up a playoff berth so
early in the season that they just went through the motions in their
last three games--winning one and losing two--so they could rest for
the playoffs. If ever a team was rested and ready to go the distance,
it was Denver. But, for whatever the reason, the Broncos came out
flat against Jacksonville, never got untracked and lost. This
situation will go down in NFL annals as one of the biggest blown
opportunities in the history of the pro sport. As we noted earlier,
Denver was an exception to the rule--the one that says rested teams
have all the edges at playoff time. Bettors must still give a team
which is either rested, or which is winning its games easily, a big
edge over a team which has been as straight as a string to get the job
done in the previous game/games.
Many bettors actually sit out the Wild Card round of the NFL
playoffs, and then bet against any team--especially if it was an
underdog--that had to play its guts out to advance to the next round.
If the team gets lucky and wins a second playoff game, there are
volumes of statistical data which says one can take a major stand
against that team in its third game.
We must continually remind ourselves that each team has only so
much energy to give and at some point will run out of gas--if it is
pushed to the limit in each game. It is no accident only one team--
the 1980 Oakland Raiders--are the only wild card team to ever win a
Super Bowl. The rigors of play eliminated all the rest.
Many football fans say the fact the 1980 Raiders could win a
Super Bowl as a wild card team is one of the miracles of sports. The
Raiders lost three of their last five regular season games that year
and then had to play their guts out in the playoffs to get to the
Super Bowl. They were a 1-point underdog to Houston in the wild card
round and won, 27-7. In their second game, they were a 2-point
underdog to Cleveland and won, 14-12. In the AFC championship game,
the Raiders were 4-point underdogs to San Diego and won, 34-27.
The feat accomplished by this group of Raiders probably will not
be duplicated, for the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against any
team which has to battle up hill every step of the way to get to the
big one.
Another thing playoff bettors must understand is that, if a team
has a weakness, it will be exploited by better teams (some say this is
the reason the NFC dominates the Super Bowl). For instance, the 1996
Pittsburgh Steelers were very weak at the quarterback spot and, after
beating a crippled Indianapolis team, 42-14, in the first game of the
playoffs were crushed, 28-3, at New England as the Patriots took
advantage of that weakness.
It also is important for handicappers to understand no team is
as good as it looks in winning at the playoff time of the year, nor
will it be as bad as it appeared. Beware of falling into the trap of
believing you will get this week what you saw last week. Again, we
need only look to the 1996 playoffs, and the Dallas Cowboys, to
understand this. The Cowboys opened their drive for a fourth trip in
five years to the Super Bowl by crushing Minnesota, 40-15, as a 10-
point favorite. The next week they were at Carolina, were installed a
3-point choice, and had their head handed to them, 26-17, by a rested
Panther team.
At the other end of the spectrum, a team that played poorly in a
playoff game, but still won, may have given itself a "wake-up" call.
It may appreciate the fact it survived the close call, realize no
opponent can be taken for granted, re-focus itself and come back with
an outstanding game in its next outing. After all, there is no margin
for error in the playoffs. One loss and you are out.
As each team progresses through the playoffs, coaching becomes a
more important factor. Stick with coaches who have proven they can
win big games. Each season is no different than the one before it in
that good coaches figure out ways to win, sometimes even with an
inferior football team, while mediocre coaches find ways for their
teams to beat themselves.
Pay attention to weather in playoff games. It can often be a
factor, since games are played in the dead of winter. Do not forget
snow and slippery playing surfaces favor teams with passing attacks.
Many think bad weather favors running teams, but it does not.
Defensive secondaries are extremely vulnerable as they try to read
receivers and then make the necessary cuts and shifts in direction to
keep up with them.
Keep up to date on injury reports and remind yourself every team
will break down and lose its effectiveness in direct relationship to
the number of starters sidelined with injuries. Injuries at the skill
positions have a much greater negative impact at playoff time than
they do during the regular season. Why? Because only the best teams
are still playing, and every single one of them is determined to got
the distance. And, yes, there are no second chances. One loss and
you are out.
BETTING THE SUPER BOWL.....
The Super Bowl always is a real battle of wits between
bookmakers and bettors, with each working overtime to edge the other.
Picking the pointspread winner of the big game is a difficult task for
bettors each year. Making money on the game is just as difficult for
bookmakers. Still, both bettors and bookmakers hate ties--something
that happened in the 1997 Super Bowl.
The Green Bay Packers opened as 13 1/2-point favorites over New
England in the 1997 game and were almost immediately bet out to 14,
where the number stayed for the 13 days leading up to the game. When
the Packers won, 35-21, the game fell right on the number, giving most
bettors a push and meaning the bookmakers would have to refund more
than $50 million of the $74 million in wagers they took on the game.
Nobody was happy.
But, the "14" had many bettors asking if Las Vegas has finally
caught up with reality--and that the tie was a sign the honeymoon was
over? In handicapping the Super Bowl, one can never lose sight of
the fact, as was discussed earlier, the NFC has dominated this game
for 13 straight years, making a mockery of betting lines and football
handicapping. The "14" was definitely the right number in 1997 and
the fact bookmakers would not move off it for almost two weeks says
they knew it, had confidence in it and stayed the course.
This is a far cry from the many years, when bookmakers, tired of
getting whacked in the Super Bowl, moved the line all over the board
in dealing with bettors. The wholesale movement of the past showed
they had not figured out how to deal with the NFC dominance of this
game, nor did they have any confidence in the line.
In the 13-year period from 1985-97, the NFC was a perfect 13-0
straight up in the Super Bowl, was 10-2-1 against the number and the
total on the game had gone over in nine-of-13 games. It was difficult
for bookmakers to buck figures like this, especially against a trend-
betting public. Think about it: the NFL was 100 percent straight up
in the game, covered the number 83 percent of the time and saw the
total go "over" 69 percent of the time. Those are figures the public
loves and figures which destroy bookies.
Only time will tell if NFC dominance of the game is ending. If
it is, bettors will have to go back to actually handicapping the game,
which means the battle of wits between bookies and players will at
least begin on a level playing field. No one disputes that in recent
years, the game has belonged to the bettors.
The Super Bowl can be bet in several different ways. The most
popular bet on the game will be to take one team against another.
Bettors also will be playing the total on the game, betting the money
line, trying to take an edge with half-time betting and using some of
the hundreds of gimmick bets, or propositions, offered on every game.
Once one deals with the stranglehold the NFC has had on the
Super Bowl for 13 years, the handicapper can use four basic elements
to analyze the game.
1. What do smart handicappers and bettors have to say.
2. Which side do bookmakers need?
3. The history of the Super Bowl.
4. What each team brings to the table.
Former Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram, who took his team to
the first Super Bowl and then won Super Bowl IV when the Chiefs beat
Minnesota, 23-7, offers excellent insight into handicapping the game.
"Many people think the Super Bowl is different from all the
other games you've played during the season, but it is not," Stram
said. "Coaches begin every football season with each game they play
being the most important game on the schedule--and they work to get
better with each game the play. When the Super Bowl is the next game
on the schedule, it too is the most important."
Stram says this attitude in no way downplays the importance of
the Super Bowl, but merely reflects the fact every single game during
the regular season is important and that one has to improve with each
game to get to the playoffs, through them and into the championship
contest.
"You do exactly the same thing to get ready to play the Super
Bowl that you did in every single game of the season," he said. "You
emphasis the strengths and weak spots your opponent has and you try to
come up with something that works against them."
He went on to say that, while many people think the coach is an
important factor in winning a Super Bowl, it is the players who will
win or lose the game.
"During the regular season, you continually remind your players
a football game is not 60 minutes' of play, but a game of short
segments of four to six seconds each, where the player must be focused
and give it everything he has," Stram said. "You simply ask your
players in the Super Bowl to make certain they give you that four to
six seconds of intensity on every single snap of the ball."
Stram said he has made up an analysis sheet on every single
Super Bowl. He breaks every team down in dozens of ways, analyzing
individual positions, team offenses, team defenses, special teams,
matchups and how teams perform under certain circumstances. It was
interesting to note that Stram's rating system for the 1997 game
between Green Bay and New England graded the Packers 41 "plus points"
higher than the Patriots. He pointed out that in the 30 previous
Super Bowls, only one team had more plus points and that was the
Chicago Bears of 1986 who crushed New England, 46-10, in game XX.
While Stram offered the insightful perspective of a former
winning Super Bowl coach, the sharpest handicappers in Las Vegas each
year also have their say and more often than not they are right. The
conclusions they drew on the Green Bay-New England game shows their
thinking.
--Almost to the person, the wiseguys said Green Bay should win
the game outright, but they were not enthusiastic about the Packers
covering the -14. To them, this was strictly a money line play.
--Their doubt about Green Bay getting the cover was reinforced
by the presence of Patriot coach Bill Parcells, who they said had
brought both an NFC offense and NFC defense to New England and would
thus have his team better prepared to deal with an NFC team.
--They also believed Parcells was too much of a gambler with his
offense and would take unnecessary chances in trying to move the ball.
They also believe this would compromise Patriot quarterback Drew
Bledsoe even more, since he already had a history of mental lapses
that caused him to put the ball up for grabs too many times during a
game.
As we said earlier, Las Vegas linemakers were tired of losing
big on the Super Bowl and in 1997 put up a number in which they had
confidence. Bookmakers who wanted to gamble a little with their
clients teased them early with Green Bay -13 1/2 at the opening,
while the more conservative bookies did not open at all, until they
saw where the line was going. They got that information a few hours
later and settled in on Green Bay -14.
Despite an early influx of Green Bay action, the line had not
moved much heading into Super Bowl Sunday. A handful of bookmakers,
knowing they were going to get bombarded with Green Bay action from
hundreds of thousands of "squares" did move the Packers out to -14 1/2
in order to get some early New England action from big bettors.
"I just thought it was the smart thing to do," said one
bookmaker. "I want to build up a little cushion because, no matter
how much money the wiseguys bet on New England--and that is where they
will be--they can't bet enough to overcome the money I'll get on Green
Bay. Every bet I take on the Patriots right now at +14 1/2 is just a
little bit of insurance."
The bookmakers took every edge they could in 1997.
Like almost everyone else, they took the position Green Bay
would be the outright winner. They didn't mind that, because they
were making those betting the money line lay $575 to $600 to win $100
on the Packers. If you wanted to bet the money line on New England,
you got $450 for your $100.
They did need New England to cover the spread to prevent them
from taking a major hit from all the Green Bay action on straight bets
and parlays. They also needed the under in the game and thought they
would get it, even though things did not turn out that way.
Heading to kickoff, the worse case scenario facing Las Vegas
bookmakers was for Green Bay to cover and for the game to go "over"
the total, since that is where 80 percent of the parlay action was.
Two-team, or two-proposition, parlays pay off at $13 to $5, which
means a winning parlay on Green Bay and the over would get a bettor
$260 for every $100 he bet.
In looking at the 1997 Super Bowl from strictly a handicapper's
point of view, the value bets appeared to be a money line bet on Green
Bay and taking New England plus the points. Had a bettor wanted to
bet on what the bookmaker needed, he would have bet on New England
plus the 14 and then made a parlay of New England and the under. For
the record, one would have pushed the game itself and lost the parlay,
since the game went over.
The history of the Super Bowl also is important and must be
taken into consideration. Whether history is applicable in all
situations is quite debatable, but it certainly tells us where games
have gone in the past. But, as they say on Wall Street, last year's
performance is no guarantee of what is to come.
Here are some additional Super Bowl facts which might be of
interest:
1. Favorites in the Super Bowl are 18-12-1 against the Las
Vegas Line.
2. The NFC is 17-13-1 overall against the spread and is 10-2-1
in this category over the past 12 seasons.
3. The team with the better regular season won-lost record is
20-7 against the spread.
4. Favorites of 10 or more points are 8-3-1 against the Las
Vegas line.
5. In games played on artificial turf, the total has gone under
eight times and over four times.
6. In the first 31 Super Bowls, the margin of victory has been
17 or more points 12 times.
7. The team scoring first is 23-8 against the number.
8. The team leading at half-time is 23-8 against the number.
9. The team with more total yards is 30-1 against the number.
(The only exception was Pittsburgh in 1996)
10. The teams with fewer turnovers are 20-5 against the number.
At the end of this chapter we show some rather enlightening
statistical studies of past Super Bowls. In looking at the rundowns
for the 13 years of NFC dominance, from 1985-1997, one can see
dramatic differences in the performances of teams from the two
conferences. But two categories standout over all others. In rolling
to 13 straight wins in the big game, teams from the NFC have throw but
three interceptions and lost the ball on fumbles just seven times. In
the meantime, in turning in 13 straight losing performances, teams
from the AFC have thrown 30 interceptions and lost the fall 14 times
on fumbles.
Think about those numbers. The AFC has thrown 10 times as many
interceptions and lost the ball on fumbles twice as many times as have
teams from the NFC in the 13-year period being discussed. This gives
the NFC a turnover ratio of plus 34, which translates into 98.26
additional points. We arrived at this figure by taking 34 X 2.89
(which is what one of the most brilliant analysts in football
handicapping decided a turnover was worth). Since the NFC outscored
the AFC 490 to 219 points in that time frame, turnovers don't account
for all difference in the points but they certainly make up for more
than one-third of them.
Using the theory that each turnover equals 2.89 points, the
final winning margin in the 13 games would have dropped from 21 points
per game (the NFL won the 13 games by an average score of 38-17) to
just 12.33 per game (21 - 3 x 2.89 = 12.33) had turnovers been equal.
NFC offenses also dominated in both rushing and passing. In the
13 years, NFC teams averaged 148 yards per game rushing to just 75 for
the AFC. In the passing department, quarterbacks for NFC team also
were much more productive and accurate than their counterparts from
the AFC. NFC quarterbacks completed an average 20 of 30 passes (66%)
for an average of 277 yards in each game. AFC signal-callers
completed 22 of 42 passes (52%) for an average of 241 yards per game.
Just these basic figures suggest the NFC dominates the Super
Bowl because it has a much better, and more balanced offense, a better
defense and simply is better fundamentally in that it seldom turns the
ball over. One might suggest that, in reality, the AFC is an inferior
conference and still has a long ways to go before it can catch up with
NFL powerhouses.
While there are no simple answers, the Super Bowl data at the
end of the chapter suggests the profile of the winning team will:
1. Have a good running game that can help control the tempo and
open up the passing game.
2. Have the more accurate quarterback.
3. Have a recent history which says it seldom turns over the
ball.
At least history gives us a beginning.
The 1997 Super Bowl also offers an excellent example of actually
examining individual and overall talent of each team. A look at every
Super Bowl team would offer this same insight.
In looking at Green Bay and New England:
--The Green Bay offensive line averaged 303 pounds per man and
had a combined 28 years of experience. The New England offensive line
averaged 296 pounds per man and had combined NFL experience of 29
years. The Packer offensive line gave up an average of 2.29 sacks per
game during the season, while New England gave up 1.88 per game.
--Only two Green Bay offensive linemen, center Frank Winters (10
years) and tight end Mark Chmura (5 Years) had five years or more of
playing experience. At New England, three of the six starters, left
tackle Bruce Armstrong (10 years), left guard William Roberts (13
years) and tight end Ben Coates (6 years) had more than five years of
experience.
--At the quarterback spot, Green Bay offered Brett Favre, a 6-
year veteran who had the second best efficiency rating in the NFL
(95.8). He had thrown for 3,899 yards, 39 touchdowns and had just 13
interceptions. Each Favre pass averaged 7.18 yards. New England
countered with 4-year veteran Drew Bledsoe (8th in efficiency rating
with an 83.7). Bledsoe had thrown for 4,086 yards, 27 touchdowns and
15 interceptions. Bledsoe averaged 6.56 yards per completion.
--At the running backs, New England had Curtis Martin, two years
out of Pittsburgh, who had rushed the ball 316 times for 1,152 yards,
averaging 3.6 yards per carry, with 14 touchdowns. Green Bay
countered with 5-year veteran Edgar Bennett, who carried the ball 224
times for 899 yards, an average of 4.0 yards per carry, and two
touchdowns, and Dorsey Levins, a 3-year pro who carried the ball 121
times for 566 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per rush, and had five
touchdowns.
--At the wide receivers, Green Bay had second-year pro Antonio
Freeman and eight-year veteran Andre Rison. Freeman, who spent
several games on the bench because of injuries, caught 56 passes for
933 yards and nine touchdowns. New England countered with rookie
Terry Glenn, the second leading pass receiver in the AFC, with 90
catches for 1,132 yards and six touchdowns.
--As for tight ends, Green Bay had two of the best--6-5, 250-
pound Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson (6-2, 258), a nine-year pro. New
England countered with Ben Coates, who had caught 62 passes for 682
yards and nine touchdowns.
--On the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay was anchored by
ends Reggie White (12 years) and Sean Jones (13 years). This was a
unit which had basically played together all season, with only Jones
missing any playing time, until George Koonce had to miss the last
game because of an injury. In that game, Koonce was effectively
replaced by former Chicago Bear Ron Cox, who has seven years of NFL
experience.
Green Bay went into the game ranked first in the NFL in defense
against the points, giving up an average of just 13.1 per game. Green
Bay also ranked first against yards allowed per game, giving up just
260 per game, and was first in turnover ratio, with +15. New
England's defense had improved dramatically in the last six weeks of
the season, giving up an average of 11 points per game in those
contests. In the two playoff games against Pittsburgh and
Jacksonville, the Patriots had surrendered a total of nine points and
had not given up a touchdown in the last 10 quarters of play.
Green Bay appeared to have a slight edge in special teams, but
the two teams were dead-even in the kicking department.
This was an analysis of the personnel for Super Bowl XXXI and
shows the kind of rundown handicappers should give each team in each
Super Bowl. A long hard look at the offensive talent of each team
should indicate where each team has a superior player and which team
is better equipped to control the pace of the game. The experience
factor is important on both offense and defense.
SUPER BOWL BETTOR'S CHECKLIST.....
In summary, here is a bettor's checklist to use in analyzing
each Super Bowl.
1. Ask yourself which team the bookmakers need. The line will
always be tilted in favor of the least popular team in the game, since
a bookmaker's success is determined by his ability to split the action
on the game. Until NFC dominance is ended, value in the Super Bowl is
going to come with taking the AFC team.
2. What is the experience level of the two teams? There is
something about a classic event such as this that gives the edge to
the team with proven big game experience. Experienced teams seem to
better handle the pressure and are more likely to play the same good
game that got them there.
3. What about injuries to key people? Offensive injuries are
much more difficult to deal with than are most defensive injuries.
This is because timing is very much a part of a team's offense, while
it has little to do with team defense. It takes several practices and
games to get one's timing right.
4. In analyzing the injury factor, remember a team will lose
its effectiveness in direct relationship to how many players are hurt.
A team with an injured player has an excellent chance of surviving--
unless that player happens to be the starting quarterback, running
back or wide receiver. A team with two starters out is somewhat
suspect. A team with three starters from the same unit out is in
trouble.
5. How has the coach performed in big games? Good coaches
figure out ways to win games, even the ones they should not win. They
design game plans to to utilize their team's strength and neutralize
that of the opposition.
6. Which team is playing better right now? It is a foundation
rule of handicapping that the team which is playing well has some
edge. Look at both teams closely and try to make some judgment on
this matter.
7. If the line makes it difficult to make a decision as to
which team to bet, then look for other ways to bet the game. Maybe
the edge is the "over", or with the money line, or even in a parlay
coupling side and total.
8. If you like the underdog to win outright, bet the money line
on the game. Instead of getting even-money for your bet, you can get
odds, which should be no less than 4-1 or 5-1 in a Super Bowl.
9. In looking at the talent for each team, ask yourself whether
the underdog can win the game, if it plays its best football. Avoid
the temptation to blindly bet a favorite.
10. Take a long look at the gimmick, or proposition, bets
on a game. You will see many propositions which make sense and on
which you can take an edge.
HALF-TIME BETTING......
One of the fastest growing wagers in Las Vegas is that of
betting what is known as a "half-times". This bet is simple and is
now being offered on all NFL and all National Basketball Association
(NBA) games. It also is offered on some major college football and
basketball games.
There is nothing confusing about a half-time bet--and it offers
its best value on any day on which there is just one game being
played, i.e. Thursday night, Monday night and Super Bowl Sunday. The
half-time bet is posted at half-time of each game and is merely a bet
on which team will win the second half of the game. One bets the
second half, laying or taking the points, as if it were a separate
game.
The wager is extremely important to bookmakers on Super Bowl
Sunday. They can spend the first half of the game analyzing all the
bets they are holding and then, if necessary, offer a betting line on
the second half that will help them offset any potential losses. This
means they will sometimes hang up a bizarre number on a half-time line
in order to get heavy one-way action.
If the bookmaker needs the favorite in a game, and a legitimate
half-time line would be -6, he might make it -3 just to get the action
he needs to balance his book. By the same token, if he needs the
underdog, and the legitimate line is -6, he might make it -10, again
to attract enough half-time money to balance his book.
The half-time bet most certainly is offered to bettors in hopes
the house will make money. But it also is one of the best ways a
bookmaker can buy insurance against his losses. Find out which side
your bookmaker needs in a Super Bowl game, and get that side at half-
time, regardless of which team you have in your other bets. It is an
edge.
BETTING HISTORY OF SUPER BOWL
Year Favorite Line Total Underdog Winner O/U Result
1998 Green Bay 11 1/2 49 Denver Denver 31-24 Over
1997 Green Bay 14 52 New England Green Bay, 35-21 Over
1996 Dallas 13- 52 Pittsburgh Dallas, 27-17 Under
1995 San Francisco 18 53 San Diego San Francisco, 49-26 Over
1994 Dallas 10- 50 Buffalo Dallas, 30-13 Under
1993 Dallas 6 44- Buffalo Dallas, 52-17 Over
1992 Washington 7 49 Buffalo Washington, 37-24 Over
1991 Buffalo 6- 40- N.Y. Giants N.Y. Giants, 20-19 Under
1990 San Francisco 11- 48 Denver San Francisco, 55-10 Over
1989 San Francisco 7 48 Cincinnati San Francisco, 20-16Under
1988 Denver 3- 47 Washington Washington, 42-10 Over
1987 N.Y. Giants 8- 40 Denver N.Y. Giants, 39-20 Over
1986 Chicago 10 37- New England Chicago, 46-10 Over
1985 San Francisco 3 53- Miami San Francisco, 38-16 Over
1984 Washington 3 48 L.A. Raiders L.A. Raiders, 38-9 Under
1983 Miami 3 36- Washington Washington, 27-17 Over
1982 San Francisco Even 48 Cincinnati San Francisco, 26-21Under
1981 Philadelphia 3 37- Oakland Oakland, 27-10 Under
1980 Pittsburgh 10- 36 L.A. Rams Pittsburgh, 31-19 Over
1979 Pittsburgh 3- 37 Dallas Pittsburgh, 35-31 Over
1978 Dallas 5 39 Denver Dallas, 27-10 Under
1977 Oakland 4- 38 Minnesota Oakland, 32-14 Over
1976 Pittsburgh 7 36 Dallas Pittsburgh, 21-17 Over
1975 Pittsburgh 3 33 Minnesota Pittsburgh, 16-6 Under
1974 Miami 6- 33 Minnesota Miami, 24-7 Under
1973 Washington 1- 33 Miami Miami, 14-7 Under
1972 Dallas 6 34 Miami Dallas, 24-3 Under
1971 Dallas 2- 36 Baltimore Baltimore, 16-13 Under
1970 Minnesota 12 39 Kansas City Kansas City, 23-7 Under
1969 Baltimore 18 40 N.Y. Jets N.Y. Jets, 16-7 Under
1968 Green Bay 13 40 Oakland Green Bay, 33-14 Over
1967 Green Bay 14 NL Kansas City Green Bay, 35-10 NL
*****************************
COLLEGE BASKETBALL BEST BETS
By Kelso Sturgeon
Home Teams In CAPS
(In betting these games, just compare our projected margin of
victory to the Las Vegas line and bet accordingly)
Thursday, Jan. 28
GEORGIA TECH by 12 over Clemson
Xavier by 4 over CINCINNATI
WASHINGTON by 14 over Southern Cal
Friday, Jan. 29
NO BEST BETS
Saturday, Jan. 30
DAYTON by 9 over Xaiver
ST. JOHN'S by 6 over Connecticut
Iowa by 5 over MICHIGAN
KANSAS by 25 over Colorado
California by 5 over ARIZONA
Sunday, Jan. 31
RUTGERS by 19 over West Virginia
WASHINGTON by 7 over UCLA
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK by 15 over South Alabama
Monday, Feb. 1
CONNECTICUT by 17 over Syracuse
KANSAS STATE by 14 over Kansas
Utah by 5 over NEW MEXICO
Tuesday, Feb. 2
GEORGETOWN by 12 over Pittsburgh
Tennessee by 4 over ARKANSAS
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Wisconsin by 8 over INDIANA
Wake Forest by 7 over VIRGINIA
Maryland by 3 over DUKE
1998-99 COLLEGE BASKETBALL POWER RATINGS
Graded By Kelso Sturgeon
(The following power ratings were prepared and graded by Kelso
Sturgeon. They contain four elements--the experience factor of each
team, a coach's rating for each team, a home power rating and a road
power rating for each team. The experience factor and the coaching
factor can be extremely important in handicapping close and important
games. Experience also can be a major factor in winning or covering
on the road, or in winning and covering at home as an underdog. In
close games, these two elements may be used as the deciding factor on
which team to bet. The power ratings are simple to use. The lower
the rating, the better the team's talent. Note the power rating of the
home team and the power rating of the road team and subtract the
smaller number from the larger. This will give you the projected
final margin. Compare that margin with the official betting line on
the game and then wager accordingly. Always remember the power rating
reflects only the raw numerical value (strength) of each team and does
not take any consideration any other element of handicapping.)
(Graded Tuesday, Jan. 27)
TEAM EXPERIENCE COACH'S HOME POWER ROAD POWER
FACTOR RATING RATING RATING
Air Force 3 3 28.0 31.0
Akron 5 3 17.5 20.5
Alabama 3 4 12.0 15.0
Ala-Birmingham 4 4 12.5 15.5
American 4 2 23.0 27.0
Arizona 3 5 7.5 10.5
Arizona St. 3 3 13.0 16.0
Arkansas 4 4 9.0 11.5
Ark-Little Rock 3 5 15.5 18.5
Arkansas St. 3 3 15.0 18.5
Army 4 2 26.0 31.0
Auburn 4 5 6.5 9.5
Ball State 3 4 15.0 18.5
Baylor 2 2 21.0 24.0
Boise State 3 3 18.5 21.5
Boston College 1 4 21.0 24.0
Boston U. 4 4 19.0 21.5
Bowling Green 5 3 17.5 21.0
Bradley 4 4 16.0 18.0
Brigham Young 3 3 16.0 19.0
Brown 3 3 37.0 40.5
Buffalo 1 3 33.0 36.0
Butler 0 4 23.0 27.0
California 4 5 9.0 12.0
Cal-Irvine 3 2 27.0 30.0
Cal-San L.B. 5 4 15.5 19.0
Cal-Santa Barbara 2 3 28.0 32.0
Canisius 4 3 25.0 27.5
Central Michigan 3 1 24.0 27.5
Cleveland State 1 4 20.5 23.5
Coll. of Charleston 1 5 19.0 22.5
Cincinnati 3 5 6.0 9.0
Clemson 3 4 14.0 16.5
Colorado 2 5 17.0 20.0
Colorado St. 1 3 15.5 18.5
Columbia 4 3 30.0 33.0
Connecticut 5 5 4.0 6.5
Coppin St. 1 5 19.0 21.5
Cornell 3 2 28.5 31.5
Creighton 3 4 14.0 17.0
Dartmouth 3 3 33.0 37.0
Davidson 4 2 16.5 20.5
Dayton 4 5 11.5 14.5
DePaul 4 5 11.0 13.5
Detroit 2 5 16.0 19.5
Drake 4 3 18.5 22.0
Duke 4 5 1.0 3.0
Duquesne 3 3 20.0 23.0
East Carolina 1 4 23.0 26.0
Eastern Michigan 0 3 30.0 33.0
Evansville 1 5 15.0 18.0
Fairfield 4 3 18.0 21.0
Florida 3 4 11.0 14.0
Florida Int. 5 5 20.0 23.0
Florida St. 1 4 13.0 15.0
Fordham 4 3 22.5 25.5
Fresno State 3 5 13.0 16.0
Fullerton St. 2 3 22.0 25.5
George Mason 5 3 18.5 21.5
George Washington 4 4 11.0 14.0
Georgetown 4 4 16.0 19.0
Georgia 4 2 10.5 13.5
Georgia Tech 3 2 17.0 20.0
Gonzaga 4 4 13.5 16.5
Harvard 4 4 28.0 32.0
Hawaii 1 3 19.0 22.0
Houston 4 3 19.0 23.0
Idaho 4 4 17.0 21.5
Illinois 0 5 12.0 15.0
Illinois-Chicago 1 3 21.5 24.0
Illinois St. 1 5 13.0 16.0
Indiana 5 5 8.0 11.0
Indiana St. 3 3 18.5 22.0
Iona 3 4 22.5 26.0
Iowa 4 4 11.0 14.0
Iowa St. 4 5 14.0 17.0
Jacksonville 4 5 20.0 23.0
James Madison 4 1 21.0 25.5
Kansas 3 5 8.0 11.5
Kansas St. 3 4 8.0 11.0
Kent 5 4 17.0 21.0
Kentucky 3 5 4.0 6.5
La Salle 3 4 24.0 27.5
Lamar 3 3 19.0 21.0
Long Beach St. 2 3 24.0 27.0
Louisiana St. 3 3 18.0 21.0
Louisiana Tech 3 4 19.0 22.0
Louisville 4 4 6.0 9.0
Loyola-Chicago 4 3 30.0 34.0
Loyola-Maryland 4 3 33.0 36.0
Loyola-Marymount 2 3 23.0 25.5
Manhattan 2 2 32.0 35.0
Marist 2 4 22.5 25.5
Marquette 2 5 15.0 18.0
Marshall 5 3 16.0 19.0
Maryland 4 5 3.0 5.5
Massachusetts 4 4 11.0 14.0
Memphis 3 2 15.5 18.5
Miami-FL 4 3 12.5 15.5
Miami-OH 5 4 10.0 13.0
Michigan 2 0 13.0 16.0
Michigan St. 5 4 4.0 6.5
Minnesota 4 5 9.0 12.0
Mississippi 3 3 11.0 14.0
Mississippi St. 3 3 14.0 17.5
Missouri 3 5 12.5 15.5
Murray St. 3 3 13.0 16.0
Navy 2 5 24.0 28.0
Nebraska 4 4 14.5 17.5
Nevada 0 5 21.0 24.5
New Mexico 3 4 8.0 11.0
New Mexico St. 2 4 15.0 18.0
New Orleans 1 3 22.0 25.0
Niagara 3 3 27.0 9.5
North Carolina 3 5 7.5 10.5
N.C.-Charlotte 2 3 14.5 17.5
North Carolina St. 3 5 11.5 14.5
N.C.-Wilmington 4 4 24.0 27.0
North Texas 1 3 30.0 34.5
Northern Illinois 4 4 19.0 21.5
Northern Iowa 3 4 18.0 22.5
Northwestern 4 5 13.5 17.0
Notre Dame 3 3 19.0 23.0
Ohio St. 4 5 10.0 13.0
Ohio U. 3 4 12.5 16.0
Oklahoma 3 4 13.0 16.0
Oklahoma St. 4 5 12.0 15.0
Old Dominion 4 3 9.0 12.0
Oral Roberts 3 3 14.5 17.5
Oregon 2 4 14.0 18.0
Oregon St. 2 3 16.0 19.5
Pacific 1 3 19.0 22.5
Penn St. 4 4 13.5 16.5
Pennsylvania 4 3 14.0 17.5
Pepperdine 3 3 17.0 20.5
Pittsburgh 5 4 11.0 14.0
Portland 4 3 16.0 19.5
Princeton 2 4 14.5 17.5
Providence 5 3 11.5 14.0
Purdue 3 5 8.0 11.0
Rhode Island 2 5 12.0 15.0
Rice 3 2 22.5 25.5
Richmond 3 4 17.5 20.5
Rider 4 4 20.0 23.0
Rutgers 4 3 13.5 17.0
St. Bonaventure 3 3 17.5 20.5
St. John's 3 5 7.0 10.0
St. Joseph's 2 4 15.5 18.5
St. Louis 4 5 13.0 16.0
St. Mary's 4 3 17.0 20.5
St. Peter's 0 3 27.5 31.0
San Diego 2 3 20.0 22.5
San Diego St. 2 3 27.5 30.5
San Francisco 3 3 21.0 24.0
San Jose St. 4 3 20.0 23.0
Santa Clara 3 4 16.0 23.5
Siena 5 4 14.0 17.0
Seton Hall 3 3 14.0 17.0
South Alabama 1 3 22.0 25.0
South Carolina 3 5 17.0 12.0
South Florida 4 4 14.5 17.5
Southern Cal 2 3 13.5 16.5
Southern Illinois 3 2 22.0 25.0
Southern Methodist 3 2 18.0 23.5
Southern Mississippi 2 1 13.0 16.0
SW Missouri St. 4 4 13.5 17.0
SW Louisiana 1 3 20.0 23.5
Stanford 5 5 3.5 6.5
Syracuse 4 5 11.5 14.5
Temple 3 5 12.0 15.0
Tennessee 5 5 11.5 14.5
Texas 4 5 11.0 14.0
Texas A&M 3 5 16.0 19.0
Texas Christian 3 5 9.0 12.0
Texas-Pan Am. 4 3 30.0 33.0
Texas Tech 1 4 17.0 20.0
Toledo 4 4 14.5 17.5
Tulane 3 5 13.5 16.5
Tulsa 4 3 12.0 15.0
UCLA 2 3 11.0 14.5
UNLV 4 4 14.5 18.0
Utah 4 5 9.0 12.0
Utah St. 2 4 15.5 18.5
UTEP 4 5 16.0 19.0
Valparaiso 1 4 17.5 21.0
Vanderbilt 2 2 9.5 12.5
Villanova 5 2 9.5 11.5
Virginia 3 5 16.0 19.0
Va. Commonwealth 3 3 23.0 27.0
Virginia Tech 4 3 15.0 18.0
Wake Forest 4 4 13.5 16.5
Washington 4 5 11.0 14.0
Washington St. 4 5 16.5 19.5
West Virginia 0 4 18.0 21.0
Western Kentucky 3 3 21.0 25.0
Western Michigan 1 5 19.0 22.0
Wichita St. 3 4 16.0 19.0
William & Mary 3 5 22.0 25.0
Wisconsin 4 5 8.0 10.5
Wis-Green Bay 3 3 19.5 22.0
Wyoming 2 4 19.5 23.0
Xavier 3 5 11.0 14.0
Yale 3 3 38.0 42.0
THE NUMBERS GAME......NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
TEAM RECORDS....STRAIGHT UP (SU) AND AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
(SU means teams actual won-lost record this season. ATS is the
team's record agains the spread, or the Las Vegas Line. O/U is team's
totals record. "O" represents the number of times a team's games have
gone over the total. "U" represents the number of games in which a
team's games have gone under the number)
Through Games of Jan. 17, 1999
TEAM SU ATS O/U
Atlanta Falcons 16-2 13-4 8-9
Denver Broncos 16-2 11-7 12-6
************************************************************
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SELECTIONS
Graded By Kelso Sturgeon
CURRENT NFL POWER RATINGS
(Kelso Sturgeon's NFL Power Ratings are simple to use.
Just keep in mind he lower the number, the better the team.
To use the ratings, take the lower power rating and subract
it from the higher power rating. The difference between the
two will project the win margin of the team with the lower
number. If teams are playing on a neutral site, use the
road rating of each team. Power ratings reflect the
numerical value of the talent each team has and do not take
into account any other handicapping factors, such as the
schedule, injuries etc. They can be used by themselves with
good results, or can be used as one of many factors used in
handicapping)
Graded by Kelso Sturgeon
FINAL RATINGS FOR 1999
TEAM HOME POWER RATING ROAD RATING
Arizona 12.0 13.5
Atlanta 6.0 8.0
Baltimore 11.0 13.0
Buffalo 7.0 9.5
Carolina 13.0 15.0
Chicago 12.0 14.0
Cincinnati 13.0 16.0
Dallas 7.5 9.5
Denver 1.5 3.0
Detroit 10.5 13.0
Green Bay 6.0 8.5
Indianapolis 13.0 15.0
Jacksonville 5.0 7.5
Kansas City 9.0 11.0
Miami 8.0 10.0
Minnesota 3.5 5.0
New England 8.0 10.0
New Orleans 9.5 11.5
N.Y. Giants 11.0 13.0
N.Y. Jets 8.0 10.0
Oakland 9.5 11.5
Philadelphia 16.0 18.0
Pittsburgh 11.0 13.5
St. Louis 13.5 15.5
San Diego 15.0 17.5
San Francisco 6.0 8.0
Seattle 7.0 9.5
Tampa Bay 10.0 12.0
Tennessee 6.0 8.0
Washington 12.5 15.0
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
(Legend: Home team in CAPS. W: A win against the Las Vegas Line.
L: A loss against the Las Vegas Line. P: A push or tie against the Las
Vegas Line. OT: Overtime.)
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Sept. 6 Pittsburgh 20, BALTIMORE (+3) 13 L
Sept. 13 Baltimore (+5 1/2) 24, N.Y. JETS 10 W
Sept. 20 JACKSONVILLE 24, Baltimore (+6 1/2) 10 L
Sept. 27 BALTIMORE (-4 1/2) 31, Cincinnati 24 W
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 11 Tennessee 12, BALTIMORE (-3 1/2) 8 L
Oct. 18 PITTSBURGH 16, Baltimore (+5 1/2) 6 L
Oct. 25 GREEN BAY 28, Baltimore (+12) 10 L
Nov. 1 Jacksonville 45, BALTIMORE (+4) 19 L
Nov. 8 BALTIMORE (+1) 13, Oakland 10 W
Nov. 15 SAN DIEGO (Pick) 14, Baltimore 13 L
Nov. 22 Baltimore (+1 1/2) 20, CINCINNATI 13 W
Nov. 29 BALTIMORE (-6 1/2) 38, Indianapolis 31 W
Dec. 6 TENNESSEE 16, Baltimore (+6 1/2) 14 W
Dec. 13 Minnesota 38, BALTIMORE (+10) 28 P
Dec. 20 CHICAGO 24, Baltimore (-1) 3 L
Dec. 27 BALTIMORE (-2 1/2) 19, Detroit 10 W
BUFFALO BILLS
Sept. 6 SAN DIEGO 16, Buffalo (+2) 14 P
Sept. 13 MIAMI 13, Buffalo (+7) 7 W
Sept. 20 St. Louis 34, BUFFALO (-4 1/2) 33 L
Sept. 27 Open Date
Oct. 4 BUFFALO (+10) 26, San Francisco 21 W
Oct. 11 Buffalo (-2 1/2) 31, INDIANAPOLIS 24 W
Oct. 18 BUFFALO (+3) 17, Jacksonville 16 W
Oct. 25 Buffalo (+2) 30, CAROLINA 14 W
Nov. 1 BUFFALO (-3) 30, Miami 24 W
Nov. 8 N.Y. JETS 34, Buffalo (+4) 12 L
Nov. 15 BUFFALO (-3)13, New England 10 P
Nov. 22 BUFFALO (-7 1/2) 34, Indianapolis 11 W
Nov. 29 NEW ENGLAND 25, Buffalo (+2 1/2) 21 L
Dec. 6 Buffalo (-6) 33, CINCINNATI 20 W
Dec. 13 BUFFALO (-8 1/2) 41, Oakland 21 W
Dec. 19 N.Y. Jets 17, BUFFALO (-2 1/2) 10 L
Dec. 27 Buffalo (-2 1/2) 45, NEW ORLEANS 33 W
Jan. 2 AFC Playoffs
MIAMI 24, Buffalo (+2 1/2) 17 L
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Sept. 5 Tennessee 23, CINCINNATI (-1) 14 L
Sept. 13 Cincinnati (+7) 34, DETROIT 28 (OT) W
Sept. 20 Green Bay 13, CINCINNATI (+6) 6 L
Sept. 27 BALTIMORE 31, Cincinnati (+4 1/2) 24 L
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 11 CINCINNATI (+3) 25, Pittsburgh 20 W
Oct. 18 TENNESSEE 44, Cincinnati (+3) 14 L
Oct. 25 OAKLAND 27, Cincinnati (+2) 10 L
Nov. 1 Denver 33, CINCINNATI (+11) 26 W
Nov. 8 JACKSONVILLE 24, Cincinnati (+10 1/2) 11 L
Nov. 15 MINNESOTA 24, Cincinnati (+11) 3 L
Nov. 22 Baltimore 20, CINCINNATI (-1 1/2) 13 L
Nov. 29 Jacksonville 34, CINCINNATI (+7) 17 L
Dec. 6 Buffalo 33, CINCINNATI (+6) 20 L
Dec. 13 INDIANAPOLIS 39, Cincinnati (+4) 26 L
Dec. 20 Cincinnati (+10 1/2) 25, PITTSBURGH 24 W
Dec. 27 Tampa Bay (-6) 35, Cincinnati 0 W
DENVER BRONCOS
Sept. 7 DENVER (-9) 27, New England 21 L
Sept. 13 DENVER (-7) 42, Dallas 23 W
Sept. 20 Denver (-7) 34, OAKLAND 17 W
Sept. 27 Denver (-4) 38, WASHINGTON 16 W
Oct. 4 DENVER (-14) 41, Philadelphia 16 W
Oct. 11 Denver (-5 1/2) 21, SEATTLE 16 L
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 DENVER (-8 1/2) 37, Jacksonville 24 W
Nov. 1 Denver (-11) 33, CINCINNATI 26 L
Nov. 8 DENVER (-16) 27, San Diego 10 W
Nov. 16 Denver (-4) 30, KANSAS CITY 7 W
Nov. 22 DENVER (-11 1/2) 40, Oakland 14 W
Nov. 29 Denver (-12 1/2) 31, San Diego 16 W
Dec. 6 DENVER (-13 1/2) 35, Kansas City 31 L
Dec. 13 N.Y. GIANTS 20, Denver (-13) 16 L
Dec. 21 MIAMI 31, Denver (-5) 21 L
Dec. 27 Denver (-10) 28, Seattle 21 L
AFC Playoffs
Jan. 9 DENVER (-14) 38, Miami 3 W
AFC Championship
Jan. 17 DENVER (-8 1/2) 23, N.Y. Jets 10 W
SUPER BOWL XXXIII
Jan. 31 Atlanta (In Miami)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Sept. 6 Miami 24, INDIANAPOLIS (+4 1/2) 15 L
Sept. 13 NEW ENGLAND 29, Indianapolis (+10 1/2) 6 L
Sept. 20 NEW YORK JETS 44, Indianapolis (+8 1/2) 6 L
Sept. 27 New Orleans 19, INDIANAPOLIS (Pick) 13 (OT) L
Oct. 4 INDIANAPOLIS (-1) 17, San Diego 12 W
Oct. 11 Buffalo 31, INDIANAPOLIS (+2 1/2) 24 L
Oct. 18 SAN FRANCISCO 34, Indianapolis (+18) 31 W
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 1 New England 21, INDIANAPOLIS (+6) 16 W
Nov. 8 MIAMI 27, Indianapolis (+9) 14 L
Nov. 15 INDIANAPOLIS (+7) 24, N.Y. Jets 23 W
Nov. 22 BUFFALO 34, Indianapolis (+7 1/2) 11 L
Nov. 29 BALTIMORE 38, Indianapolis (+6 1/2) 31 L
Dec. 6 ATLANTA 28, Indianapolis (+12) 21 W
Dec. 13 INDIANAPOLIS (-4) 39, Cincinnati 26 W
Dec. 20 SEATTLE 27, Indianapolis (+7) 23 W
Dec. 27 Carolina 27, Indianapolis (-6 1/2) 19 L
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Sept. 6 Jacksonville (-10) 24, CHICAGO 23 L
Sept. 13 JACKSONVILLE (-4 1/2) 21, Kansas City 16 W
Sept. 20 JACKSONVILLE (-6 1/2) 24, Baltimore 10 W
Sept. 27 Jacksonville (-2 1/2) 27. TENNESSEE 22 W
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 12 JACKSONVILLE (-6 1/2) 28, Miami 21 W
Oct. 18 BUFFALO 17, Jacksonville (-3) 16 L
Oct. 25 DENVER 37, Jacksonville (+8 1/2) 24 L
Nov. 1 Jacksonville (-4) 45, BALTIMORE 19 W
Nov. 8 JACKSONVILLE (-10 1/2) 24, Cincinnati 11 W
Nov. 15 JACKSONVILLE (-6 1/2) 29, Tampa Bay 24 L
Nov. 22 PITTSBURGH 30, Jacksonville (+3) 15 L
Nov. 29 Jacksonville (-7) 34, CINCINNATI 17 W
Dec. 6 JACKSONVILLE (-7) 37, Detroit 22 L
Dec. 13 Tennessee 16, JACKSONVILLE (-4) 13 L
Dec. 20 MINNESOTA 50, Jacksonville (+13 1/2) 10 L
Dec. 28 JACKSONVILLE (-3) 21, Pittsburgh 3 W
AFC Playoffs
Jan. 4 JACKSONVILLE (-8 1/2) 25, New England 10 W
Jan. 10 N.Y. JETS 34, Jacksonville (+9) 24 L
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Sept. 6 KANSAS CITY (-7 1/2) 28, Oakland 8 W
Sept. 13 JACKSONVILLE 21, Kansas City (+4 1/2) 16 L
Sept. 20 KANSAS CITY (-10 1/2) 23, San Diego 7 W
Sept. 27 Kansas City (-7 1/2) 24, PHILADELPHIA 21 L
Oct. 4 KANSAS CITY (-4) 17, Seattle 6 W
Oct. 11 NEW ENGLAND 40, Kansas City (+3) 10 L
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 26 Pittsburgh 20, KANSAS CITY (-6) 13 L
Nov. 1 New York Jets 20, KANSAS CITY (-5) 17 (OT) L
Nov. 8 SEATTLE 24, Kansas City (+3) 12 L
Nov. 16 Denver 30, KANSAS CITY (+4) 7 L
Nov. 22 SAN DIEGO 38, Kansas City (-2) 37 L
Nov. 29 KANSAS CITY (-3 1/2) 34, Arizona 24 W
Dec. 6 DENVER 35, Kansas City (+13 1/2) 31 W
Dec. 13 KANSAS CITY (-2 1/2) 20, Dallas 17 W
Dec. 20 N.Y. GIANTS 28, Kansas City (+2) 7 L
Dec. 26 Kansas City (+3) 31, OAKLAND 24 W
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Sept. 6 Miami (-4 1/2) 24, INDIANAPOLIS 15 W
Sept. 13 MIAMI (-7) 13, Buffalo 7 L
Sept. 20 MIAMI (-2 1/2) 21, Pittsburgh 0 W
Sept. 27 Open Date
Oct. 4 N.Y. JETS 20, Miami (+2) 9 L
Oct. 12 JACKSONVILLE 28, Miami (+6 1/2) 21 L
Oct. 18 MIAMI (-7) 14, St. Louis 0 W
Oct. 25 MIAMI (-2) 12, New England 9 (OT) W
Nov. 1 BUFFALO 30, Miami (+3) 24 L
Nov. 8 MIAMI (-9) 27, Indianapolis 14 W
Nov. 15 Miami (-3) 13, CAROLINA 9 W
Nov. 23 NEW ENGLAND 26, Miami (+3) 23 P
Nov. 29 MIAMI (-7 1/2) 30, New Orleans 10 W
Dec. 6 Miami (-2 1/2) 27, OAKLAND 17 W
Dec. 13 N.Y. Jets 21, MIAMI (-3) 16 L
Dec. 21 MIAMI (+5) 31, Denver 21 W
Dec. 27 ATLANTA 38, Miami (+3) 16 L
AFC Playoffs
Jan. 2 MIAMI (-2 1/2) 25, Buffalo 17 W
Jan. 9 DENVER 38, Miami (+14) 3 L
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Sept. 7 DENVER 27, New England (+9) 21 W
Sept. 13 NEW ENGLAND (-10 1/2) 28, Indianapolis 6 W
Sept. 20 NEW ENGLAND (-6 1/2) 27, Tennessee 16 W
Sept. 27 Open Date
Oct. 4 New England (-7) 30, NEW ORLEANS 27 L
Oct. 11 NEW ENGLAND (-3) 40, Kansas City 10 W
Oct. 19 New York Jets 24, NEW ENGLAND (-6 1/2) 14 L
Oct. 25 MIAMI 12, New England (+2) 9 (OT) L
Nov. 1 New England (-6) 21, INDIANAPOLIS 16 L
Nov. 8 Atlanta 41, NEW ENGLAND (-5 1/2) 10 L
Nov. 15 BUFFALO 13, New England (+3) 10 P
Nov. 23 NEW ENGLAND (-3) 26, Miami 23 P
Nov. 29 NEW ENGLAND (-2 1/2) 25, Buffalo 21 W
Dec. 6 New England (+6) 23, PITTSBURGH 9 W
Dec. 13 ST. LOUIS 32, New England (-7) 18 L
Dec. 20 NEW ENGLAND (+7) 24, San Francisco 21 W
Dec. 27 N.Y. JETS 31, New England (+7) 10 L
AFC Playoffs
Jan. 3 JACKSONVILLE 25, New England (+8 1/2) 10 L
Jan. 10 N.Y. JETS 34, Jacksonville (+9) L
NEW YORK JETS
Sept. 6 SAN FRANSISCO 36, N.Y. Jets (+8 1/2) 30 (OT) W
Sept. 13 Baltimore 24, N.Y. JETS (-5 1/2) 10 L
Sept. 20 N.Y. JETS (-8 1/2) 44, Indianapolis 6 W
Sept. 27 Open Date
Oct. 4 N.Y. JETS (-2) 20, Miami 9 W
Oct. 11 ST. LOUIS 30, New York Jets (-3) 10 L
Oct. 19 N.Y. Jets (+6 1/2) 24, New England 14 W
Oct. 25 N.Y. JETS (-6 1/2) 28, Atlanta 3 W
Nov. 1 N.Y. Jets (+5) 20, KANSAS CITY 17 (OT) W
Nov. 8 N.Y. JETS (-4) 34, Buffalo 12 W
Nov. 15 INDIANAPOLIS 24, N.Y. Jets (-7) 23 L
Nov. 22 N.Y. Jets (+1) 24, TENNESSEE 3 W
Nov. 29 N.Y. JETS (-10) 48, Carolina 21 W
Dec. 6 N.Y. JETS (-7) 32, Seattle 31 L
Dec. 13 N.Y. Jets (+3) 21, MIAMI 16 W
Dec. 19 N.Y. Jets (+2 1/2) 17, BUFFALO 10 W
Dec. 27 N.Y. JETS (-7) 31, New England 10 W
AFC Playoffs
Jan. 10 N.Y. JETS (-9) 34, Jacksonville 23 W
AFC Championship
Jan. 17 DENVER 23, N.Y. Jets (+8 1/2) 10 L
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Sept. 6 KANSAS CITY 28, Oakland (+7 1/2) 8 L
Sept. 13 OAKLAND (-2) 20, N.Y. Giants 17 W
Sept. 20 Denver 34, OAKLAND (+7) 17 L
Sept. 27 Oakland (+4 1/2) 13, DALLAS 12 W
Oct. 4 Oakland (+1 1/2) 23, ARIZONA 20 W
Oct. 11 OAKLAND (-5 1/2) 7, San Diego 6 L
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 OAKLAND (-2) 27, Cincinnati 10 W
Nov. 1 Oakland (+7) 31, SEATTLE 18 W
Nov. 8 BALTIMORE 13, Oakland (-1) 10 L
Nov. 15 OAKLAND (+1 1/2) 20, Seattle 17 W
Nov. 22 DENVER 40, Oakland (+11 1/2) 14 L
Nov. 29 Washington 29, OAKLAND (-7) 19 L
Dec. 6 Miami 27, OAKLAND (+2 1/2) 17 L
Dec. 13 BUFFALO 41, Oakland (+8 1/2) 21 L
Dec. 20 Oakland (+3) 17, SAN DIEGO 10 W
Dec. 26 Kansas City 31, OAKLAND (-3) 24 L
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Sept. 6 Pittsburgh (-3) 20, BALTIMORE 13 W
Sept. 13 PITTSBURGH (-11) 17, Chicago 12 L
Sept. 20 MIAMI 21, Pittsburgh (+2 1/2) 0 L
Sept. 27 PITTSBURGH (-3) 13, Seattle 10 P
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 11 CINCINNATI 25, Pittsburgh (-3) 20 L
Oct. 18 PITTSBURGH (-5 1/2) 16, Baltimore 6 W
Oct. 26 Pittsburgh (+6) 20, KANSAS CITY 13 L
Nov. 1 Tennessee 41, PITTSBURGH (-5 1/2) 31 L
Nov. 9 PITTSBURGH (+3 1/2) 27, Green Bay 20 W
Nov. 15 TENNESSEE 23, Pittsburgh (+2) 14 L
Nov. 22 PITTSBURGH (-3) 30, Jacksonville 15 W
Nov. 26 DETROIT 19, Pittsburgh (-2) 16 (OT) L
Dec. 6 New England 23, PITTSBURGH (-6) 9 L
Dec. 13 TAMPA BAY 16, Pittsburgh (+2 1/2) 3 L
Dec. 20 Cincinnati 25, PITTSBURGH (-10 1/2) 24 L
Dec. 28 JACKSONVILLE 31, Pittsburgh (+3) 3 L
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Sept. 6 SAN DIEGO (-2) 16, Buffalo 14 P
Sept. 13 San Diego (+8) 13, TENNESSEE 7 W
Sept. 20 KANSAS CITY 23, San Diego (+10 1/2) 7 L
Sept. 27 N.Y. Giants 34, SAN DIEGO (+1 1/2) 16 L
Oct. 4 INDIANAPOLIS 17, San Diego (+1) 12 L
Oct. 11 OAKLAND 7, San Diego (+5 1/2) 6 W
Oct. 18 SAN DIEGO (-3) 13, Philadelphia 10 P
Oct. 25 Seattle 27, SAN DIEGO (+6 1/2) 20 L
Nov. 1 Open Date
Nov. 8 DENVER 27, San Diego (+16) 10 L
Nov. 15 SAN DIEGO (Pick) 14, Indianapolis 13 W
Nov. 22 SAN DIEGO (+3) 38, Kansas City 37 W
Nov. 29 Denver 31, SAN DIEGO (+12 1/2) 16 L
Dec. 6 WASHINGTON 24, San Diego (+3) 20 L
Dec. 13 SEATTLE 38, San Diego (+7) 17 L
Dec. 20 Oakland 17, SAN DIEGO (-3) 10 L
Dec. 27 ARIZONA 16, San Diego (+7) 13 W
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Sept. 6 Seattle (-5 1/2) 38, PHILADELPHIA 0 W
Sept. 13 SEATTLE (-8) 33, Arizona 14 W
Sept. 20 SEATTLE (-8 1/2) 24, Washington 14 W
Sept. 27 PITTSBURGH 13, Seattle (+3) 10 P
Oct. 4 KANSAS CITY 17, Seattle (+4) 6 L
Oct. 11 Denver 21, SEATTLE (+5 1/2) 16 W
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 Seattle (-6 1/2) 27, SAN DIEGO 20 W
Nov. 1 Oakland 31, SEATTLE (-7) 18 L
Nov. 8 SEATTLE (-3) 24, Kansas City 12 W
Nov. 15 OAKLAND 20, Seattle (-1 1/2) 17 L
Nov. 22 DALLAS 30, Seattle (+4 1/2) 22 L
Nov. 29 SEATTLE (-2) 20, Tennessee 18 P
Dec. 6 N.Y. JETS 32, Seattle (+7) 31 W
Dec. 13 SEATTLE (-7) 38, San Diego 17 W
Dec. 20 SEATTLE (-7) 27, Indianapolis 23 L
Dec. 27 DENVER 28, Seattle (+10) 21 W
TENNESSEE OILERS
Sept. 6 Tennessee (-1) 23, CINCINNATI 14 W
Sept. 13 San Diego 13, TENNESSEE (-8) 7 L
Sept. 20 NEW ENGLAND 27, Tennessee (+6 1/2) 16 L
Sept. 27 Jacksonville 27, TENNESSEE (+2 1/2) 22 L
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 11 Tennessee (+3 1/2) 12, BALTIMORE 8 W
Oct. 18 TENNESSEE (-3) 44, Cincinnati 14 W
Oct. 25 Chicago 23, TENNESSEE (-6 1/2) 20 L
Nov. 1 Tennessee (+5 1/2) 41, Pittsburgh 31 W
Nov. 8 Tennessee (-3) 31, TAMPA BAY 22 W
Nov. 15 TENNESSEE (-2) 23, Pittsburgh 14 W
Nov. 22 N.Y. Jets 24, TENNESSEE (-1 1/2) 3 L
Nov. 29 SEATTLE 20, Tennessee (+2) 18 P
Dec. 6 TENNESSEE (-6 1/2) 16, Baltimore 14 L
Dec. 13 Tennessee (+4) 16, JACKSONVILLE 13 (OT) W
Dec. 20 GREEN BAY 30, Tennessee (+6) 22 L
Dec. 26 Minnesota 26, TENNESSEE (+7) L
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Sept. 6 DALLAS 38, Arizona (+5 1/2) 10 L
Sept. 13 SEATTLE 33, Arizona (+8) 14 L
Sept. 20 ARIZONA (-5) 17, Philadelphia 3 W
Sept. 27 Arizona (+3) 20, St. Louis 17 W
Oct. 4 Oakland 23, ARIZONA (-1 1/2) 20 L
Oct. 11 ARIZONA (-3) 30, Chicago 7 W
Oct. 18 N.Y. GIANTS 34, Arizona (+2) 7 L
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 1 Arizona (+6) 17, DETROIT 15 W
Nov. 8 ARIZONA (-4 1/2) 29, Washington 27 L
Nov. 15 Dallas 35, ARIZONA (+4) 28 L
Nov. 22 Arizona (+1) 45, WASHINGTON 42 W
Nov. 29 KANSAS CITY 34, Arizona (+3 1/2) 24 L
Dec. 6 N.Y. Giants 23, ARIZONA (-5) 19 L
Dec. 13 Arizona (-3) 20, PHILADELPHIA 17 (OT) P
Dec. 20 ARIZONA (-3 1/2) 19, New Orleans 17 L
Dec. 27 ARIZONA (-7) 16, San Diego 13 L
NFC Playoffs
Jan. 2 Arizona (+7) 20, DALLAS 7 W
Jan. 10 MINNESOTA 41, Arizona (+16 1/2) 21 L
ATLANTA FALCONS
Sept. 6 Atlanta (+4 1/2) 19, CAROLINA 14 W
Sept. 13 ATLANTA (-8) 17, Philadelphia 12 L
Sept. 20 Open Date
Sept. 27 SAN FRANCISCO 31, Atlanta (+11 1/2) 20 W
Oct. 4 ATLANTA (-3) 51, Carolina 23 W
Oct. 11 Atlanta (+2) 34, NEW YORK GIANTS 20 W
Oct. 18 ATLANTA (-7) 31, New Orleans 23 W
Oct. 25 N.Y. JETS 38, Atlanta (+6 1/2) 3 L
Nov. 1 ATLANTA (-7) 37, St. Louis 15 W
Nov. 8 Atlanta (+5 1/2) 41, NEW ENGLAND 10 W
Nov. 15 ATLANTA (+3) 31, San Francisco 19 W
Nov. 22 ATLANTA (-11 1/2) 20, Chicago 13 L
Nov. 29 Atlanta (-4) 21, ST. LOUIS 10 W
Dec. 6 ATLANTA (-12) 28, Indianapolis 21 L
Dec. 13 Atlanta (-4)27, NEW ORLEANS 17 W
Dec. 20 Atlanta (-6 1/2) 24, DETROIT 17 W
Dec. 27 ATLANTA (-3) 38, Miami 16 W
NFC Playoffs
Jan. 9 ATLANTA (-3 1/2) 20, San Francisco 18 L
NFC Championship
Jan. 17 Atlanta (+10) 30, MINNESOTA 27 (OT) W
SUPER BOWL XXXIII
Jan. 31 Denver (At Miami)
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Sept. 6 Atlanta 19, CAROLINA (-4 1/2) 14 L
Sept. 13 NEW ORLEANS 19, Carolina (-5) 14 L
Sept. 20 Open Date
Sept. 27 Green Bay 37, CAROLINA (+7) 30 P
Oct. 4 ATLANTA 51, Carolina (+3) 23 L
Oct. 11 DALLAS 27, Carolina (+7) 20 P
Oct. 18 TAMPA BAY 16, Carolina (+7) 13 W
Oct. 25 Buffalo 30, CAROLINA (-2) 14 L
Nov. 1 CAROLINA (-3) 31, New Orleans 17 W
Nov. 8 SAN FRANCISCO 25, Carolina (+11 1/2) 23 W
Nov. 15 Miami 13, CAROLINA (+3) 9 L
Nov. 22 Carolina (+1 1/2) 24, ST. LOUIS 20 W
Nov. 29 N.Y. JETS 48, Carolina (+10) 21 L
Dec. 6 San Francisco 31, CAROLINA (+9 1/2) 28 (OT) W
Dec. 13 Washington 28, CAROLINA (-3) 25 L
Dec. 20 CAROLINA 20, St. Louis (+3) 13 W
Dec. 27 Carolina (+6 1/2) 27, INDIANAPOLIS 18 W
CHICAGO BEARS
Sept. 6 Jacksonville 24, CHICAGO (+10) 23 W
Sept. 13 PITTSBURGH 17, Chicago (+11) 12 W
Sept. 20 TAMPA BAY 27, Chicago (+7 1/2) 15 L
Sept. 27 Minnesota 31, CHICAGO (+6) 28 W
Oct. 4 CHICAGO (-2) 31, Detroit 27 W
Oct. 11 ARIZONA 20, Chicago (+3) 7 L
Oct. 18 CHICAGO (+3) 13, Dallas 12 W
Oct. 25 Chicago (+6 1/2) 23, TENNESSEE 20 W
Nov. 1 Open Date
Nov. 8 St. Louis 20, CHICAGO (-3) 12 L
Nov. 15 DETROIT 26, Chicago (+6 1/2) 3 L
Nov. 22 ATLANTA 20, Chicago (+11 1/2) 13 W
Nov. 29 Tampa Bay 31, CHICAGO (+3 1/2) 17 L
Dec. 6 MINNESOTA 48, Chicago (+16) 22 L
Dec. 13 GREEN BAY 26, Chicago (+13 1/2) 20 W
Dec. 20 CHICAGO (+1) 24, Baltimore 3 W
Dec. 27 Green Bay 16, CHICAGO (+6 1/2) 13 W
DALLAS COWBOYS
Sept. 6 DALLAS (-5 1/2) 38, Arizona 10 W
Sept. 13 DENVER 42, Dallas (+7) 23 L
Sept. 21 Dallas 31 (+4 1/2) N.Y. GIANTS 7 W
Sept. 27 Oakland 13, DALLAS (-4 1/2) 12 L
Oct. 4 Dallas (+1 1/2) 31, WASHINGTON 10 W
Oct. 11 DALLAS (-7) 27, Carolina 20 P
Oct. 18 CHICAGO 13, Dallas (-3) 12 L
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 2 Dallas (-7) 34, PHILADELPHIA 0 W
Nov. 8 DALLAS (-8) 16, N.Y. Giants 6 W
Nov. 15 Dallas (-4) 35, ARIZONA 28 W
Nov. 22 DALLAS (-4 1/2) 30, Seattle 22 W
Nov. 26 Minnesota 46, DALLAS (+3) 36 L
Dec. 6 NEW ORLEANS 22, Dallas (-6 1/2) 3 L
Dec. 13 KANSAS CITY 20, Dallas (+2 1/2) 17 L
Dec. 20 DALLAS (-10 1/2) 13, Philadelphia 9 L
Dec. 27 DALLAS (+1 1/2) 23, Washington 7 W
NFC Playoffs
Jan. 3 Arizona 20, DALLAS (-7) 7 L
DETROIT LIONS
Sept. 6 GREEN BAY 38, Detroit (+9) 19 L
Sept. 13 Cincinnati 34, DETROIT (-7) 28 (OT) L
Sept. 20 MINNESOTA 29, Detroit (+6 1/2) 6 L
Sept. 28 DETROIT (+2 1/2)27, Tampa Bay 6 W
Oct. 4 CHICAGO 31, Detroit (+2) 27 L
Oct. 11 Open Date
Oct. 15 DETROIT (+7) 27, Green Bay 20 W
Oct. 25 Minnesota 34, DETROIT (+4 1/2) 13 L
Nov. 1 Arizona 17, DETROIT (-6) 15 L
Nov. 8 PHILADELPHIA 10, Detroit (-4) 9 L
Nov. 15 DETROIT (-6 1/2) 26, Chicago 3 W
Nov. 22 Detroit (+6) 28, TAMPA BAY 25 W
Nov. 26 DETROIT (+2) 19, Pittsburgh 16 (OT) W
Dec. 6 JACKSONVILLE 37, Detroit (+7) 22 L
Dec. 14 SAN FRANCISCO 35, Detroit (+10) 13 L
Dec. 20 Atlanta 24, DETROIT (+6 1/2) 17 L
Dec. 27 BALTIMORE 19, Detroit (+2 1/2) 10 L
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Sept. 6 GREEN BAY (-9) 38, Detroit 19 W
Sept. 13 GREEN BAY (-7) 23, Tampa Bay 15 W
Sept. 20 Green Bay (-6) 13, CINCINNATI 6 W
Sept. 27 Green Bay (-7) 37, CAROLINA 30 P
Oct. 5 Minnesota 37, GREEN BAY (-7) 24 L
Oct. 11 Open Date
Oct. 15 DETROIT 27, Green Bay (-7) 20 L
Oct. 25 GREEN BAY (-12) 28, Baltimore 10 W
Nov. 1 GREEN BAY (-3) 36, San Francisco 22 W
Nov. 9 PITTSBURGH 27, Green Bay (-3 1/2) 20 L
Nov. 15 Green Bay (-7) 37, N.Y. GIANTS 3 W
Nov. 22 MINNESOTA 28, Green Bay (+3) 14 L
Nov. 29 GREEN BAY (-19) 24, Philadelphia 16 L
Dec. 7 TAMPA BAY 24, Green Bay (-3 1/2) 22 L
Dec. 13 GREEN BAY (-13 1/2) 26, Chicago 20 L
Dec. 20 GREEN BAY (-6) 30, Tennessee 22 W
Dec. 27 Green Bay (-6 1/2) 16, CHICAGO 14 L
NFC Playoffs
Jan. 3 SAN FRANCISCO 30, Green Bay (+3) 27 P
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Sept. 6 MINNESOTA (-3) 31, Tampa Bay 7 W
Sept. 13 Minnesota (-8) 38, ST. LOUIS 31 L
Sept. 20 MINNESOTA (-6 1/2) 29, Detroit 6 W
Sept. 27 Minnesota (-6) 31, CHICAGO 28 L
Oct. 5 Minnesota (+7) 37, GREEN BAY 24 W
Oct. 11 Open Date
Oct. 18 MINNESOTA (-13 1/2) 41, Washington 7 W
Oct. 25 Minnesota (-4 1/2) 34, DETROIT 13 W
Nov. 1 TAMPA BAY 27, Minnesota (-6 1/2) 24 L
Nov. 8 Minnesota (-14 1/2) 31, New Orleans 24 L
Nov. 15 MINNESOTA (-11) 24, Cincinnati 3 W
Nov. 22 MINNESOTA (-3) 28, Green Bay 14 W
Nov. 26 Minnesota (-3) 46, DALLAS 36 W
Dec. 6 MINNESOTA (-16) 48, Chicago 22 W
Dec. 13 Minnesota (-10) 38, BALTIMORE 28 P
Dec. 20 MINNESOTA (-13 1/2) 50, Jacksonville 10 W
Dec. 26 Minnesota (-7) 26, TENNESSEE 16 W
NFC Playoffs
Jan. 10 MINNESOTA (-16 1/2) 41, Arizona 21 W
NFC Championship
Jan. 17 Atlanta 30, MINNESOTA (-10) 27 (OT) L
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Sept. 6 New Orleans (+4) 24, ST. LOUIS 17 W
Sept. 13 NEW ORLEANS (+5) 19, Carolina 14 W
Sept. 20 Open Date
Sept. 27 New Orleans (Pick) 19, INDIANAPOLIS 13 (OT) W
Oct. 4 New England 30, NEW ORLEANS (+7) 27 W
Oct. 11 San Francisco 31, NEW ORLEANS (+10) 0 L
Oct. 18 ATLANTA 31, New Orleans (+7) 23 L
Oct. 25 NEW ORLEANS (+3) 9, Tampa Bay 3 W
Nov. 1 CAROLINA 31, New Orleans (+3) 17 L
Nov. 8 MINNESOTA 31, New Orleans (+14 1/2) 24 W
Nov. 15 NEW ORLEANS (-3) 24, St. Louis 3 W
Nov. 22 SAN FRANCISCO 31, New Orleans (+13 1/2) 20 W
Nov. 29 MIAMI 30, New Orleans (+7 1/2) 10 L
Dec. 6 NEW ORLEANS (+6 1/2) 22, Dallas 3 W
Dec. 13 Atlanta 27, NEW ORLEANS (+4) 17 L
Dec. 20 ARIZONA 19, New Orleans (+3 1/2) 17 W
Dec. 27 Buffalo 45,NEW ORLEANS (+2 1/2) 33 L
NEW YORK GIANTS
Sept. 6 N.Y. GIANTS (-2 1/2) 31, Washington 24 W
Sept. 13 OAKLAND 20, N.Y. Giants (+2) 17 L
Sept. 21 Dallas 31, N.Y. GIANTS (-4 1/2) 7 L
Sept. 27 N.Y. Giants (-1 1/2) 34, SAN DIEGO 16 W
Oct. 4 TAMPA BAY 20, N.Y. Giants (+4 1/2) 3 L
Oct. 11 Atlanta 34, N.Y. GIANTS (-2) 20 L
Oct. 18 N.Y. GIANTS (-2) 34, Arizona 7 W
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 1 WASHINGTON 21, N.Y. Giants (-2 1/2) 14 L
Nov. 8 DALLAS 16, N.Y. Giants (+8) 6 L
Nov. 15 Green Bay 37, N.Y. GIANTS (+7) 3 L
Nov. 22 N.Y. GIANTS (-6 1/2) 20, Philadelphia 0 W
Nov. 30 SAN FRANCISCO 31, N.Y. Giants (+14) 7 L
Dec. 6 N.Y. Giants (+5) 23, ARIZONA 19 W
Dec. 13 N.Y. GIANTS (+13) 20, Denver 16 W
Dec. 20 N.Y. Giants (-2) 28, Kansas City 7 W
Dec. 27 N.Y. Giants (-3 1/2) 20, PHILADELPHIA 10 W
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Sept. 6 Seattle 38, PHILADELPHIA (+5 1/2) 0 L
Sept. 13 ATLANTA 17, Philadelphia (+8) 12 W
Sept. 20 ARIZONA 17, Philadelphia (+5) 3 L
Sept. 27 Kansas City 24, PHILADELPHIA (+7 1/2) 21 W
Oct. 4 DENVER 41, Philadelphia (+14) 16 L
Oct. 11 PHILADELPHIA (+2 1/2) 17, Washington 12 W
Oct. 18 SAN DIEGO 13, Philadelphia (+3) 10 P
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 2 Dallas 34, PHILADELPHIA (+7) 0 L
Nov. 8 PHILADELPHIA (+4) 10, Detroit 9 W
Nov. 15 WASHINGTON 28, Philadelphia (+4 1/2) 3 L
Nov. 22 N.Y. GIANTS 20, Philadelphia (+6 1/2) 0 L
Nov. 29 GREEN BAY 24, Philadelphia (+19) 16 W
Dec. 3 PHILADELHIA (-2) 17, St. Louis 14 W
Dec. 13 Arizona 20, PHILADELPHIA (+3) 17 P
Dec. 20 DALLAS 13, Philadelphia (+10 1/2) 9 W
Dec. 27 N.Y. Giants 20, PHILADELPHIA (+3 1/2) 10 L
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Sept. 6 New Orleans 24, ST. LOUIS (-4) 17 L
Sept. 13 Minnesota 38, ST. LOUIS (+8) 31 W
Sept. 20 St. Louis (+4 1/2) 34, Buffalo 33 W
Sept. 27 Arizona 20, ST. LOUIS (-3) 17 L
Oct. 4 Open Date
Oct. 11 ST. LOUIS (+3) 30, New York Jets 10 W
Oct. 18 MIAMI 14, St. Louis (+7) 0 L
Oct. 25 San Francisco 28, ST. LOUIS (+9 1/2) 10 L
Nov. 1 ATLANTA 37, St. Louis (+7) 15 L
Nov. 8 St. Louis (+3) 20, CHICAGO 12 W
Nov. 15 NEW ORLEANS 24, St. Louis (+3) 3 L
Nov. 22 Carolina 24, ST. LOUIS (-1 1/2) 20 L
Nov. 29 Atlanta 21, ST. LOUIS (+4) 10 L
Dec. 3 PHILADELHIA 17, St. Louis (+2) 14 L
Dec. 13 ST. LOUIS (+7) 32, New England 18 W
Dec. 20 CAROLINA 20, St. Louis (+3) 13 L
Dec. 27 SAN FRANCISCO 38, St. Louis (+13) 19 L
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Sept. 6 SAN FRANCISCO (-8 1/2) 36, New York Jets 30 (OT) L
Sept. 14 San Francisco (-6 1/2) 45, Washington 10 W
Sept. 20 Open Date
Sept. 27 SAN FRANCISCO (-11 1/2) 31, Atlanta 20 L
Oct. 4 BUFFALO 26, San Francisco (-10) 21 L
Oct. 11 San Francisco (-10) 31, NEW ORLEANS 0 W
Oct. 18 SAN FRANCISCO (-18) 34, Indianapolis 31 L
Oct. 25 San Francisco (-9 1/2) 28, ST. LOUIS 10 W
Nov. 1 GREEN BAY 36, San Francisco (+3) 22 L
Nov. 8 SAN FRANCISCO (-11 1/2) 25, Carolina 23 L
Nov. 15 ATLANTA 31, San Francisco (-3) 19 L
Nov. 22 SAN FRANCISCO (-13 1/2) 31, New Orleans 20 L
Nov. 30 SAN FRANCISCO (-14) 31, N.Y. Giants 7 W
Dec. 6 San Francisco (-9 1/2) 31, CAROLINA 28 (OT) L
Dec. 14 SAN FRANCISCO (-10) 35, Detroit 13 W
Dec. 20 NEW ENGLAND 24, San Francisco (-7) 21 L
Dec. 27 SAN FRANCISCO (-13) 38, St. Louis 19 W
NFC Playoff
Jan. 3 SAN FRANCISCO (-3) 30, Green Bay 27 P
Jan. 9 ATLANTA 20, San Francisco (+3 1/2) 18 W
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Sept. 6 MINNESOTA 31, Tampa Bay (+3)7 L
Sept. 13 GREEN BAY 23, Tampa Bay (+7) 15 L
Sept. 20 TAMPA BAY (-7 1/2) 27, Chicago 15 W
Sept. 28 DETROIT 27, Tampa Bay (-2 1/2) 6 L
Oct. 4 TAMPA BAY (-4 1/2) 20, N.Y. Giants 3 W
Oct. 11 Open Date
Oct. 18 TAMPA BAY (-7) 16, Carolina 13 L
Oct. 25 NEW ORLEANS 9, Tampa Bay (-3) 3 L
Nov. 1 TAMPA BAY (+6 1/2) 27, Minnesota 24 W
Nov. 8 Tennessee 31, TAMPA BAY (-3) 22 L
Nov. 15 JACKSONVILLE 29, Tampa Bay (+6 1/2) 24 W
Nov. 22 Detroit 28, TAMPA BAY (-6) 25 L
Nov. 29 Tampa Bay (-3 1/2) 31, CHICAGO 17 W
Dec. 7 TAMPA BAY (+3 1/2) 24, Green Bay 22 W
Dec. 13 TAMPA BAY (-2 1/2) 16, Pittsburgh 3 W
Dec. 19 WASHINGTON 20, Tampa Bay (-3) 16 L
Dec. 27 Tampa Bay (-6) 35, CINCINNATI 0 W
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Sept. 6 N.Y. GIANTS 31, Washington (+2 1/2) 24 L
Sept. 14 San Francisco 45, WASHINGTON (+6 1/2) 10 L
Sept. 20 SEATTLE 24, Washington (+8 1/2) 14 L
Sept. 27 Denver 38, WASHINGTON (+4) 16 L
Oct. 4 Dallas 31, WASHINGTON (-1 1/2) 10 L
Oct. 11 PHILADELPHIA 17, Washington (-2 1/2) 12 L
Oct. 18 MINNESOTA 41, Washington (+13 1/2) 7 L
Oct. 25 Open Date
Nov. 1 WASHINGTON (+2 1/2) 21, N.Y. Giants 14 W
Nov. 8 ARIZONA 29, Washington (+4 1/2) 27 W
Nov. 15 WASHINGTON (-4 1/2) 28, Philadelphia 3 W
Nov. 22 Arizona 45, WASHINGTON (-1) 42 L
Nov. 29 Washington (+7) 29, OAKLAND 19 W
Dec. 6 WASHINGTON (-3) 24, San Diego 20 W
Dec. 13 Washington (+3) 28, CAROLINA 25 W
Dec. 19 WASHINGTON (+3) 20, Tampa Bay 16 W
Dec. 27 DALLAS 23, Washington (-1 1/2) 3 L
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