2 write ups by the Happy Hippo

tuck321

Not all those who wander are lost
Happy is currently
12-5-2 ATS
3-1 OU

Charger- Jaguars

#8 Happy Hippo
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Chargers-Jaguars

The Chargers will travel east to face the winless Jaguars this week. San Diego is coming off a Monday night win over a good Colts team. Teams that are at least five weeks into the season and are coming off a win against a quality opponent (team with a winning record), and are now playing against a poor team (less than 25% wins on the season) struggle to cover the spread, going 37-57-2 (39.4%) since the 2002 season. If they have less rest, they are 4-15 ATS (21.1%). This holds true going back to the 1992 season, as teams are 11-30-1 ATS (26.8%) in this situation with less rest.

The Chargers also have to travel to the east coast to play in an early game. Teams playing in the eastern time zone after a game where they covered the spread in the pacific time zone are 15-29 ATS (34.1%), and 3-7 ATS (30%) as a favorite since the 2005 season. The Chargers are coming off a hard fought win against a quality opponent, and their stock went up because of this. When teams have a .500 or better record and are coming off a home win as a dog, they are 17-36-1 ATS (32.1%) when playing as a favorite over the last ten seasons. Teams coming off a home win as a dog where they won by less than 17 points are 59-91-1 (39.3%) when playing as a favorite since the 1989 season (and this win percentage decreases in recent years).

The Jaguars are not good, but Henne and Blackmon have developed some good chemistry. The Chargers secondary struggled against the Colts, but they were granted a few poorly dropped passes to spare them some points. The Jaguars finally covered a spread for the first time last week (even though they still lost by sixteen points). Teams playing as a dog that are at least six games into the season and have covered one game or less ATS, and have a win percentage under 25%, are 67-31-5 ATS (68.4%) when coming off a loss and playing at a different site from their last game since the 1991 season.

The Chargers may not have a lot of motivation for this game, and may come out a little flat after their last win. Teams playing on the road in a non-divisional game as a favorite of 6.5 or more are 31-49-1 ATS (38.8%) over the last five seasons, and if they are off a home win, these teams are 12-25 ATS (32.4%). The Chargers are headed into their bye week, and teams playing in weeks 3-7 that have a bye week on deck are 39-60-1 ATS (39.4%), and if they have a win percentage of .500 or less they are 18-33 ATS (35.2%) since the 2009 season. For some reason, the Chargers really struggle when playing as a favorite after playing as a dog. They may make too many adjustments, or have a certain arrogance in games as a favorite, but with Rivers they are 4-16 (20.0%) when playing as a favorite after playing as a dog, including 0-11 ATS in their last 11. On the road, they are 0-3 SU and ATS.

The Jaguars certainly deserve to be a dog in this game, but home dogs can be a good bet in certain spots. Over the last five seasons, home dogs of more than a touchdown are 44-27 ATS (62.0%), and as a dog of nine or more 32-15 ATS (68.1%)

Jaguars +9


We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. ~Bukowski~


Patriots-Jets
#2 Happy Hippo
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Patriots - Jets

The Patriots and Jets will square off on Sunday for their second game this season. In an extreme contrast, the Patriots are coming off a last second stunner over the formerly undefeated Saints, while the Jets unglamorously gave the Steelers their first win on the season. The Jets were off a win as a big dog against the Falcons, and the game against Pittsburgh was a perfect spot for a letdown, as there may have also been some look ahead to the Patriots. With the Jets off a bad loss and the Patriots off a great win, this game sets up well for the Jets to take advantage and get the cover, and perhaps even the straight up win.

In their first meeting this season, the Patriots won in Foxboro 13-10. The Patriots scored a touchdown on their first drive of the game, then scored just two field goals in the remainder of the first half, and were held scoreless in the second half. Most impressive, the Jets held them to only nine first downs. That is the only time in Brady’s career that the Patriots have been held to less than ten first downs, which highlights the great job the Jets did against them defensively. In fact, if we review the numbers, the Jets dominated nearly every category in the game. Brady’s completion percentage was just 48.7% (he has been held under 50% only 11 times in his 183 games played, and his career average completion rate is 63.5%). The Jets had better third down efficiency, and held the Patriots to just 22%. They more than doubled them up in total rushing yards, and even beat them in passing yards. They held the Patriots to 0-3 in red zone efficiency, while completing 1 of 2 themselves. The Patriots also were 0-2 in goal to go efficiency. Finally, the Jets dominated the time of possession, getting the ball offensively for eight more minutes than the Patriots.

Given all this, how did they possibly lose that game? Easy - they turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions from Geno Smith. The Jets also allowed four sacks. Teams that sack the opponent four or more times and create three or more turnovers when playing as a home favorite cover the spread 86.9% of the time over the past ten seasons, and yet the Patriots failed to cover and barely won. Sometimes, the opponent beats themselves, and this is exactly what happened to the Jets in that game.

Now, the Jets have a chance to redeem themselves at home. Teams that are seeking same season revenge for a loss of less than a touchdown where they were sacked four or more times are 37-20-3 ATS (64.9%) when playing as a dog over the last twenty seasons. Teams seeking same season revenge for a loss where their opponent had two or more red zone failures and at least one goal to go failure are 65-38-5 ATS (63.1%) over the last ten seasons when playing as a divisional dog. As just a home dog (any division), these teams are 30-15-3 ATS (66.7%). When a team is playing as a dog and seeking revenge for a same season loss of a touchdown or less, when they had three or more turnovers in that loss, they are 63-38-3 ATS (62.4%) over the last twenty seasons. Finally, when playing a team again in the same season where they allowed ten or less first downs, teams are 21-10-2 ATS (67.7%) since the 1990 season. All these trends speak to the fact that the Jets really gave that game away, and they have a good chance to win and cover by limiting their own mistakes and playing good defense.

The Patriots have really struggled in their passing game this season. Yards per pass attempt is a good measure of who is going to win, and usually cover a game. Teams that have more yards per pass attempt in a game are 74.5% straight up, and 69.5% ATS over the last five seasons. The Patriots are third to last this season in yards per pass attempt, only above Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. In their last matchup, the Jets held the Patriots to just 4.6 yards per pass attempt, a whole yard under their season average. On the other side, the Jets are in the top half in the league in passing yards per attempt. Home dogs coming off a loss that average more yards per pass attempt than their opponent are 32-13-2 ATS (71.1%) when their opponent is coming off a win. The Jets outgained the Patriots by almost a yard per pass in their last meeting, and the Jets should be able to win this statistical category on Sunday. If they do, home dogs over the last five seasons cover the spread 76.4% of the time when they have more yards per pass attempt than their opponents.

Whether or not there are opponent hangovers in the NFL is certainly debatable, but recent numbers indicate that teams struggle after playing against the Saints. One could speculate on the reasons of why this may happen, from over game-planning for a strong opponent to changing many defensive schemes to curtail some potent voodoo offense. Or, it could be just a complete fluke, but in a sample of over eighty games in the last five seasons, teams are just 30.9% ATS after playing the Saints, 5-22 ATS (18.5%) after beating the Saints, and 0-9 ATS when beating the Saints by a margin of three or less. Considering the heroic fashion in which the Patriots won, their hangover might be a bit more pronounced.

The Patriots defense has been impressive so far this season, but their injuries are piling up. New England will be without their leading tacker, linebacker Jerod Mayo, who may be out for the year after he tore a pectoral muscle. Danny Amendola has quickly returned to his oft injured status, and they have lost another guard and cornerback Aqib Talib, who did such a great job shutting down Jimmy Graham, may be out as well.

I’ll take a tough defensive team in a home divisional game, in a good position to bounce back and revenge a loss where they probably should have won outright.

Jets +4.5 (-116)




Current picks this week

Jaguars +9 (-125)
Jets +4.5 (-116)
Jets-Patriots UNDER 43.5
Titans +4
Cardinals +6.5
Rams +6.5
Dolphins -8 (-105)
 
i love the jags

I hate when this thought enters my mind (about the Jags) but I do agree. I'm not sold on the Pats game though. The earlier meeting this season was in a monsoon and Brady's receivers were dropping balls left and right. They could and probably should have won that game by 20pts. Game is a stay away for me, but gun to my head I would take the pats.
 
Bills-Dolphins

The Bills travel down to south Florida to take on the Dolphins who are coming out of their bye week. The Bills are off a home overtime loss, and now they are going up against a rested team that should be ultra-motivated , needing to break out of a two game losing streak. Since the 1990 season, teams coming out of their bye week that have a winning record, but have lost their last two games are 12-5-1 ATS (70.6%), winning by an average margin of 11.5 points.

The Bills should be used to playing as a dog by now, since they have been a dog in 67% of their games over the last five seasons. However, they seem to perform very poorly when playing on the road as a dog, after a game at home as a dog. Over the last five seasons they are 0-12 SU and 1-11 ATS. In this spot, they have been giving up 35.8 points to their opponents, while putting up only 13.3 themselves (losing by over 22 on average). Even if they were not a dog at home in the last game, the Bills on the road as a dog after any home game are 7-16 ATS (30.4%) over the last five seasons, losing by over 15 points per game and giving up 32.7 points. In this spot, they seem to lack effort and drive as a team. Adding in that they are coming off an overtime loss, this could be an even worse spot for them. Over the last ten seasons, teams that are coming off an overtime loss and playing a more rested opponent are 8-18-2 (30.8%) ATS. If they are coming off a home loss that went into overtime in a game where they were trailing at halftime, teams are 3-12 ATS (20%) as a road dog over the last ten seasons (they put in maximum effort and still came up short). Losing is never fun, but for some teams it motivates and for others it decreases their drive. Over the last ten seasons, teams with less rest playing on the road after a home loss as a dog are 22-35 ATS (38.6%) when their opponent is coming off a loss.

The Dolphins got off to a nice start on their season, winning their first three games, but losing their last two. Their defense so far this season has been a disappointment for them. But after their first game, they have faced four solid quarterbacks in Luck, Ryan, Brees, and Flacco. The Dolphins defense has been plagued by injuries, as eight of their starters have missed playing time so far this season. The bye week has given them some time to heal, and all these players should be in the lineup on Sunday. Patterson returns at cornerback, and Wake should help with their pass rush - with him in the game the Dolphins sacked the opposing quarterback nine times in two games, but they have had just four sacks since he went out. No matter who suits up at quarterback for the Bills, the Dolphins have something to prove defensively in this game. On the other side, the Bills are giving up over 395 yards per game this season, which is fifth to last in the league. They have only played one opponent that is equal with the league average of 355 yards gained per game, while their other five opponents struggle offensively, but still the Bills have allowed their opponents 57 yards above their season average gains.

I expect the Dolphins to play smart coming out of their bye week. This is an important divisional game for them. The Dolphins have won the time of possession battle against the Bills in 8 out of 10 of their meetings over the last five seasons, including all five of their home games. The Bills have lost the time of possession battle in 75% of their games as a road dog over the last five seasons. The Dolphins have also tied or won the turnover margin in 7 out of 10 past meetings against Buffalo. The Bills also lose the turnover battle in 66.7% of their games as a road dog over the last five seasons. This Bills team may be reeling from a big comeback that came up short, while the Miami defense has something big to prove, and the Dolphins should come out with a positive turnover margin on Sunday. Home favorites that win these two categories cover the spread 84% of the time over the past five seasons, with an average margin of victory of over 16 points. The Dolphins have won their last two games in Miami against the Bills by over 20 points on average.

It’s supposed to be 90 and sunny in Miami on Sunday, and I expect that the Dolphins should be able to outwork and outlast the Bills under the hot sun in their own stadium.

Dolphins -8
 
'Fins are 3-19 ATS as home faves in games in which they own a win% of .454 or higher'

Do lean Miami though...
 
Just want to add that since 2003, the Dolphins are 8-1 SU and 1-8 ATS when favored by 7 or more.

So, maybe putting them in a tease is the best course of action. If you can get them down to 1 or 2, depending on the teaser (6 or 7 pts), that may be the way to go. Could even take the Bills +8 and hit the middle with 3 and 7 being in that middle for you.
 
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