Covering the Spread: Archives

Archives

2008.09.07: Vegas assumes Tom Brady isn't playing next week...
2008.09.07: Sunday Various and Sundry Thoughts: The Lions as bullies? Really?
2008.09.06: Week One thoughts: Ravens, Browns may be up against it
2008.09.03: A closer look at ... Carson Palmer
2008.08.29: The Colts: Dependable favorites
2008.08.25: The Jets and their high-scoring openers...
2008.08.19: For Rams, a good start on the road has been hard to come by
2008.08.14: An easy way for handicappers to cover an important base...
2008.08.08: The Arizona Cardinals: A 'Super' longshot?
2008.08.08: Updated Super Bowl XLIII odds
2008.08.07: How two Las Vegas casinos responded to the Favre trade
2008.08.06: Preseason Over-Unders are on the low side...
2008.08.05: The Boller Effect?
2008.08.03: The season(s) begin...
2008.07.24: Sixteen NFC handicapping stats and trends...
2008.07.23: One good handicapping stat for all 16 AFC teams...
2008.07.18: Updated Super Bowl XLII odds: Here comes the Pack; plenty of room on that Tennessee bandwagon
2008.07.18: You might finally be able to use that cell phone in the sports book...
2008.07.10: Of Art Rooney and of horses...
2008.07.03: With Favre considering a return, it's time for handicappers to start preparing...
2008.06.24: Sundays, with less at stake...
2008.06.13: Passing on the Bills...
2008.06.10: Early (very, very early) Week One lines...
2008.06.06: NFL title odds talk: Smart shopping key
2008.05.28: The handicapping blog heads West...
2008.05.23: Update: Pacman has paid his debt to Caesars...
2008.05.23: The Casino Marker Files, Vol. 2: Pacman Jones
2008.05.15: On the subject of casino markers, Charles Barkley and Super Bowl XLII...
2008.05.09: 2009 Super Bowl Odds: From Patriots (3-1) to Falcons (125-1) and everyone in between...
2008.04.25: Don't underestimate the impact of the Jared Allen trade on the NFC playoff picture...
2008.04.24: Betting on the NFL Draft: One thing you can't do in Las Vegas
2008.04.10: Prop discussion: Tomlinson, Peterson favorites to win the rushing title
2008.03.26: The No Offseason Files, Vol. 1: Receiving Yards Prop
2008.03.19: A look at how Vegas sports books used to be
2008.03.18: And now, a few words about March Madness...
2008.03.07: How one sports book adjusted to Brett Favre's retirement
2008.03.05: Here's to hoping you didn't make that Super Bowl wager on the Packers ...
2008.02.20: It's never too early: Playoff props are already out at the Venetian
2008.02.05: Looks like the house lost big on Super Bowl XLII.
2008.02.03: Which way will the "whales" swim on Super Sunday?
2008.02.03: Sunday morning line update: Super Bowl XLIl line unchanged, but Over/Under likely to be a record
2008.02.01: The Kevin Boss Prop
2008.01.27: Patriots, Giants Super Bowl ATS records; programming note
2008.01.24: Super Bowl XLII: Could the line fall below 12?
2008.01.23: Remembering "Black Sunday"
2008.01.22: Could the Super Bowl XLII Over/Under be the highest ever?
2008.01.21: Super Bowl XLII: Patriots favored by 12; early money on Giants
2008.01.18: Historically, big favorites have cleaned up in the conference-title round -- but not so in the last 10 years
2008.01.16: Playing the role of money-burners, the New England Patriots...
2008.01.15: Ice Bowl II?
2008.01.13: Conference-Title Games Opening Bell: Chargers again huge underdogs
2008.01.13: Sunday morning update: Colts now favored by more than 10; Cowboys favored by a TD
2008.01.10: An incentive to bet the Cowboys? Wow.
2008.01.07: Patriots, Colts getting lots of play early
2008.01.06: Interesting Norv Turner statistic; opening lines for the divisional round
2008.01.04: Wild-card line discussion
2007.12.29: Who's trying now?
2007.12.24: Week 17 Opening Bell: When starters are expected to rest, chaos reigns
2007.12.22: Week 16 weather, injury update
2007.12.20: Thursday trifecta: Another round of weather games?
2007.12.18: Stat of the week: Colts aren't (regular-season) closers
2007.12.13: Recent history shows the Falcons may be up against it on Sunday...
2007.12.12: Early line on Dolphins-Patriots: 22.5
2007.12.11: How high could that Dolphins-Patriots line go? And will weather be a factor in the First Annual Spygate Bowl?
2007.12.10: Week 15 Opening Bell: The Dolphins' last chance for V-I-C-T-O-R-Y?
2007.12.10: Patriots favored by 24 vs. Jets...
2007.12.05: Week 14 Lines: Vikings, Browns favored by more than a FG on the road in December...
2007.11.27: Week 13 Opening Bell: The Lions' big chance
2007.11.26: Book it: Las Vegas rather liked the Eagles covering the 25-point spread
2007.11.25: Favorites covering like crazy; will PHIL-NE line hit 26?
2007.11.25: Eagles-Patriots spread hits record level
2007.11.22: A few words on Thanksgiving totals while keeping an eye on that Pats line...
2007.11.19: Update: The Patriots are likely to be favored by more than three TDs vs. the Eagles. Yes, you read that correctly.
2007.11.19: Week 12 Opening Bell: A short list of games in which the oddsmakers are begging you to take the points.
2007.11.18: Sunday sightings: Three lines to watch
2007.11.16: Friday rant: Niners turn to Dilfer. Sigh. (And avert ye eyes.)
2007.11.13: Week 11 Opening Bell: What to do about the Colts and Vikings?
2007.11.12: Let's hope the cameras are secured tonight in Seattle...
2007.11.05: Week 10 Opening Bell: Patriots -21 vs. BYE
2007.11.03: Looking for a midseason spark? A new handicapping tool might be the ticket...
2007.10.30: Week Nine Opening Bell: Tony Dungy knows who's favored in Patriots-Colts...
2007.10.28: Sunday morning notes: Bettors send it in on the Bears, Redskins
2007.10.26: Will Colts overlook Panthers?
2007.10.23: Week Eight Opening Bell: London Calling
2007.10.21: Sunday update: Young won't start for Titans
2007.10.20: Saturday links: Are Broncos up against it vs. Steelers?
2007.10.16: Week Seven Opening Bell: Patriot Reign
2007.10.11: The Vinny Effect?
2007.10.08: Packers lose, books win; salute to a champion
2007.10.08: The Stanford Effect?
2007.10.07: Sunday morning update: Chargers, Saints and Packers getting support
2007.10.05: Friday reading: Time to stop backing the Packers?
2007.10.01: Week Five Opening Bell: The Titans Are Underdogs No More
2007.09.30: Sunday morning thoughts: NFC North games intrigue
2007.09.27: Road favorites galore in Week Four
2007.09.18: Week Three Totals Talk: Lowest ... Chiefs ... Total ... Ever?
2007.09.17: Week Three Opening Bell: The Texans get their big shot, but likely without Johnson
2007.09.15: A Las Vegas hypothetical: What if Belichick were suspended?
2007.09.14: LVSC power rankings; line thoughts
2007.09.11: Week Two Opening Line: QB confusion means Jets-Ravens is off the board; does anyone want to bet on a team led by the 'Hefty Lefty?'
2007.09.09: Sunday morning update: Rams now favored
2007.09.06: Notes on some interesting props, Colts-Saints, etc.
2007.08.26: Title odds analysis: As regular season approaches, consensus lacking on NFC will shake out
2007.08.24: The NFL's version of the dress rehearsal
2007.08.20: Another preseason quirk: Bears favored in "rematch" with Colts
2007.08.18: On forgetting the Vikings...
2007.08.17: Wagering on preseason games? Know your backups...
2007.08.08: AFC/NFC title odds
2007.07.23: The handicapper's preview: NFC West
2007.07.20: The handicapper's preview: Keeping score and catching up
2007.07.19: The handicapper's preview: NFC South
2007.07.18: The handicapper's preview: NFC North
2007.07.17: The handicapper's preview: NFC East
2007.07.16: The handicapper's preview: AFC West
2007.07.13: The handicapper's preview: AFC South
2007.07.12: The handicapper's preview: AFC North
2007.07.11: The handicapper's preview: AFC East
2007.07.05: Time to study...
2007.06.10: "Ocho Cinco" defeats "Oh-for-Cinco"
2007.06.06: The Patriots: The (betting) public's choice
2007.04.27: Why you can't wager on the draft in Las Vegas
2007.04.19: Updated title odds
2007.03.20: "2008 Pro Football Championship" odds
2007.03.15: Check out our new digs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PFW senior editor Mike Wilkening has kept PFW’s handicapping blog since its inception in 2005. Wilkening also authors various features on handicapping history, theory and trends for PFW’s print edition and web site. He offers his top plays of the week in PFW’s handicapping column, which runs every Friday on ProFootballWeekly.com during the NFL season. During basketball season, Wilkening is the co-host of the nationally syndicated Pro Football Weekly and Basketball News radio show.

Wilkening is not a professional handicapper, though he would gladly play one on television for little or no money or perhaps even just a vague promise of toll change and the validation of his parking. He regularly talks to oddsmakers and handicappers, and he is a voracious reader of all things NFL handicapping. It is his honor and pleasure to be paid to do this.