And down the stretch they come.
With December upon us, the 2016 NFL season heads into the final quarter of the season and with it our final take on monthly teams
trends, compliments of the 2016 PLAYBOOK Football Preview magazine. Please note that all trends are ATS (Against The
Spread) unless noted otherwise. Enjoy
the holidays… and the team trends.
HOME TEAMS
Good: Seattle is the best December
home club over the years with sterling 35-17 ATS record. In their quest to gain
no lower than a No.2 seed in the NFC, the Seahawks will face Carolina (12/4)
and division rivals Los Angeles (12/15) and Arizona (12/24).
Keep an eye on (Good): NFC champion
Carolina is having awful season, but they have performed well in December with
17-7 ATS record and has San Diego (12/11) and Atlanta (12/24) visiting
Charlotte.
Cincinnati (38-23 ATS) and Houston (17-10 ATS) have
been quite profitable in the final month of the season. Bengals get two shots
at improving record, against Philadelphia (12/4) and Pittsburgh (12/18), with
the Texans having back to back contests with Jacksonville (12/18) and Cincy
(12/24).
Despite often facing big numbers at Lambeau Field,
Green Bay has pounded out 32-19 ATS mark. The Packers will welcome three
visitors to the frozen tundra in the Texans (12/4), Seattle (12/11) and
Minnesota (12/24).
Lastly, Pittsburgh is 38-23 ATS at Heinz Field and
says "hello" the Giants on first Sunday of the month and Baltimore on
Christmas.
Keep an eye on (Bad): Cleveland is
running out of chances to win a game and is only 13-22 ATS at home and has
in-state rival Cincinnati (12/11) and San Diego (12/24) in town in search of a
victory.
As good as New Orleans has been in the Dome during
the Drew Brees era, they close the season at only 22-35 ATS in the bayou. They
will see the Lions (12/4) and Tampa Bay (12/4) not too far from Bourbon Street.
Miami and Oakland have shown great improvement in
2016 and to make the playoffs will have to win this month and do better against
the spread. The Dolphins are 24-39 ATS and have only Arizona in south Florida
on the 11th. The Raiders are 21-36 ATS and will face Buffalo (12/4) and
Indianapolis 20 days later.
AWAY TEAMS
Keep an eye on (Good): Carolina is 27-17
ATS as visitors, but given the kind of year they are having, not sure they will
better record in the Great Northwest (12/4) or in D.C. on a Monday night
(12/19).
Bad: Chicago has been pitiful in the road whites in the
final month of the season at a sickly 16-35 ATS, but catch a break with only
one assignment in the Motor City (12/11).
Keep an eye on (Bad): Dallas is having a
great campaign and is a noted away squad, just not in December. The Cowboys
will be out to change 23-37 ATS mark with trips to Minnesota (12/1) and New
York/Jersey against the Giants (12/11).
Tampa Bay is in the midst of improving and the next
step is stepping up on the road in the final month and bettering 19-36 ATS
record. The Bucs will have a trio of rugged adventures to San Diego (12/4),
Dallas (12/18) and six days later in the Big Easy.
Bay Area brethren Oakland and San Francisco have
been dreadful when leaving the home late in the season. The Raiders are 19-34
ATS and will be in Kansas City on the 8th and San Diego on 18th. The 49ers will
play all over the place, in Chi-Town (12/4), Atlanta (12/18) and L.A. on
Christmas Eve.
FAVORITES
Keep an eye on (Good): Seattle is sharp
28-18 ATS when handing out points this month and will be favored the rest of
the way with possible exception in Green Bay (12/11).
Bad: Who is the least trusted favorite in December,
none other than the Dolphins, who have only left coal in stockings with 22-48
ATS mark. Right now, only a game with the Cardinals on the 11th is a certainty
to see them as favorites.
Keep an eye on (Bad): With no Tony
Romo, Dallas is almost guaranteed to be a better favorite, as he contributed
big time to 21-35 ATS record. Home games versus the Buccaneers and Lions will
see the Boys as favorites.
If viewing Oakland's name for bad things is getting
boring, just wait… there will be more. Da Raiders are 16-27 ATS when doling out
the digits they will against the Bills (12/4) and Colts (12/24) and possibly in
San Diego (12/18).
UNDERDOGS
Good: The Panthers have been a high
quality moneymaking 30-14 ATS when receiving points. Ron Rivera's crew will
have a couple chances to improve that record in Seattle (12/4) and at
Washington (12/19).
Seattle is tremendous 40-20 ATS, but lone chance is
in Packerland on the 11th and that open for discussion.
Keep an eye on (Good): Big Blue is 34-22
ATS as December dogs and might be twice in the Keystone State (Steelers for
sure on the 4th, Philly iffy on the 24th).
With Philadelphia floundering, can they better
27-17 ATS mark as underdogs? We will find out, as they will catch points at
Baltimore (12/18) and hard to say if they will in division home games versus
the Redskins and Giants, on either side of Ravens contest.
Pittsburgh is 18-12 ATS as a pooch, but only
possibilities of making record stronger is at Buffalo and Cincinnati in the
middle contests of the month. Both are wait and see.
Keep an eye on (Bad): Who is
unthinkable 21-40 ATS as underdogs, Da Bears! And after playing the Niners on
the first Sunday, they will have chances the rest of season to do even worse.
The Raiders and Rams have something in common besides
being vagabond franchises, they stink against the spread as underdogs. Oakland
is 23-43 ATS and will be doggone dogs in K.C. on Thursday the 8th and maybe 10
days later where the Chargers still play. L.A. (22-38 ATS) will spend the first
portion of the month receiving points before San Fran pays a visit to La-La
Land.
DIVISION
Good: Carolina has torn up division
foes to the tune of 28-13 ATS and will have second shot at the Falcons (12/24).
Keep an eye on (Good): Hugely
disappointing season Arizona and bettering 29-19 ATS record when taking on
Seattle on Christmas Eve only matters if they win the game.
Seattle posts a 30-17 ATS divisional mark and has a
pair of non-Sunday affairs with the Rams (12/15) and Redbirds (12/24). One step behind is New England at 30-18 ATS
and they will have one more with Gang Green (12/24).
Bad: Miami will have to overcome itself in the AFC East,
with 18-36 ATS record and will have to travel to the Jets and Bills in Weeks 15
and 16.
Keep an eye on (Bad): The battling
Browns are 10-18 ATS in division action and realistically, their lone remaining
shot at a 'W' will be home game against the Bengals (12/11) coming of a bye.
The Rams are hardly rambunctious at 20-30 ATS and
will be in Coffee Town (12/15) and the Coliseum vs. the 49ers in search of wins
and covers.
Thought we would close this out the right way, with
Oakland, who is 21-33 ATS in December division battles and as mentioned
previously, several times, have the Chiefs and Chargers in Weeks 14 and 15.
For more of Marc Lawernce click here.