In a complete reversal of form, Washington was the division's only team with a winning record against the spread last season, an unexpected development that NFL betting fans will be closely monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-6 SU, 8-8 ATS, 10-6 O/U)
Head Coach: Andy Reid, 13th year, 128-82-1 SU, 119-89-3 ATS.
Future Book Odds Profile: Super Bowl 10/1; NFC Championship 5/1; NFC East 5/4; Over/Under regular season wins 10 1/2.
By the Numbers (Regular Season, 1998-2010)
SU: 121-86-1
ATS: 115-88-5
HF:37-37-1
HD:15-11-3
AF:29-20
AD:35-20-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles are 64-40-1 on the road the past 13 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Philadelphia has covered nine straight games the week after playing Washington.
Bets and Pieces: The Eagles have covered six in a row against the Giants.
Odds and Ends: Philly has covered seven of its last eight meetings with New England.
Worth a Wager: The Eagles have covered eight of their last nine games versus St. Louis.
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-6 SU, 7-9 ATS, 8-7-1 O/U)
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin, eighth year, 69-50 SU, 66-52-1 ATS.
Future Book Odds Profile: Super Bowl 20/1; NFC Championship 10/1; NFC East 5/2; Over/Under regular season wins 9 1/2.
By the Numbers (Regular Season, 1998-2010)
SU:113-95
ATS: 104-102-2
HF:35-45-1
HD:11-12
AF:27-14
AD:31-31-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Giants are a solid 27-14 the last 13 seasons as road favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: New York is 10-4-1 ATS in its last 15 meetings with division rival Dallas.
Bets and Pieces: Since 2005, the "over" is a surprising 52-40-4 in Giants games.
Odds and Ends: New York has covered five games in a row versus St. Louis.
Worth a Wager: The G-Men are 5-0 ATS in their last five games against San Francisco.
DALLAS COWBOYS (6-10 SU, 6-10 ATS, 13-3 O/U)
Head Coach: Jason Garrett, second year (coached eight games in 2010), 5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS.
Future Book Odds Profile: Super Bowl 20/1; NFC Championship 10/1; NFC East 13/5; Over/Under regular season wins 9 1/2.
By the Numbers (Regular Season, 1998-2010)
SU:106-102
ATS: 100-102-6
HF:40-34-6
HD:16-8
AF:15-25
AD:29-35
Sportsbook Buster: Over the last 13 years, the Cowboys are 16-8 as home underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Since 2005, the "over" is 46-33-1 in Dallas games.
Bets and Pieces: The Cowboys have covered five straight games versus Seattle.
Odds and Ends: Dallas is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 visits to Washington.
Worth a Wager: The Cowboys have covered four of their last five and three straight at home versus Philadelphia.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-10 SU, 8-5-3 ATS, 5-11 O/U)
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan, second year, 6-10 SU, 8-5-3 ATS.
Future Book Odds Profile: Super Bowl 100/1; NFC Championship 50/1; NFC East 12/1; Over/Under regular season wins 6 1/2.
By the Numbers (Regular Season, 1998-2010)
SU:92-116
ATS: 94-101-13
HF:24-33-4
HD:18-22-3
AF:10-18-2
AD:42-28-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Redskins are just 10-18-2 as road favorites the past 13 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Washington is 9-2 ATS its last 11 weeks before playing the Giants.
Bets and Pieces: The Skins have covered seven of their last nine versus Dallas.
Odds and Ends: Washington has covered four in a row against Carolina.
Worth a Wager: The Redskins have covered their last four visits to Philadelphia.
Legend:
SU= Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF= Home Favorite
HD= Home Underdog
AF= Away Favorite
AD= Away Underdog
O/U = Over/Under
This is the fifth of an eight-part NFL 2011 preview series.
