Posted by | Alikat | in Sports Betting Tips & Strategies, Sports Betting Previews

It is one of my golden rules of sports betting that to win consistently, you must have very good coaches on your side. I know that the players make the game and coaches have to have talent to win, but you gotta know what to do with those big brawny men out there in tight pants. Often times, a coach does make a difference, for better or worse (see Tom Coughlin).

So, if you’re stuck on who to put your money on this season, use this list of the top 5 NFL Coaches Against the Spread (ATS) to help make your sports betting decisions lead to money week in and week out.

Brian Billick, 8 yrs. Head Coach, Ravens: Here’s the coach who you think should be running a Fortune 500 company rather than a football team. He loves to hear himself talk, can get a little arrogant from time to time, and for such an offensive genius, has had a hard time putting points on the board, but there is no mistaking it, he gets the job done. Here are his stats:

Home 39-24
Away 36-31
Fav 46-31
Dog 29-23
Off Win 42-34
*Off Loss 31-16

Best ATS Role: 10-2 vs opp off a straight up (SU) dog win

John Fox, 5 yrs. Head Coach, Panthers: Sure, some of his numbers aren’t that good but look at the stats when his team is on the road and/or underdogs. The Panthers come to play under Fox and you can make some money off of them in the right situations.

Home 17-23
*Away 29-15
Fav 19-27
*Dog 27-10
Off a Win 29-16
Off a Loss 17-18

Best ATS Role: 8-1 Dog off a SU favorite loss

Bill Belichick, 7 yrs. Head Coach, Patriots: This should come as no surprise to anyone. The Pats just win and win some more. I’ve been making money on the Pats and Brainy Bill ever since their first Super Bowl victory when they were 4-1 underdogs against the Rams. It’s no secret that Belichick prepares better than anyone in the league and has tremendous killer instinct, or what I like to call “alley guts” (I have a whole series of “alley” nouns - they usually have to do with scary people or things). Doesn’t hurt having Tom Brady either.

Home 35-24-3
Away 37-23-1
Fav 42-32-3
*Dog 29-16-1
Off a Win 48-32-3
Off a Loss 23-13

Best ATS Role: 14-3 Dog off a SU loss

Andy Reid, 8 yrs. Head Coach, Eagles: I’d like to get some odds on when the next DUI or gun charge is going to be served to either of his two sons. Do you think they haven’t gotten enough attention from daddy over the past decade? Hmm…of course not! Daddy Reid has been too busy making money for the Eagles and us smart sports betting fans instead. Family is important but you gotta have your priorities.

Home 38-32
Away 43-25
Fav 46-37
*Dog 36-20
Off a Win 49-37
*Off a Loss 29-17

Best ATS Role: 12-1-1 dog off back-to-back (BB) SUATS wins

Jeff Fisher, 12 yrs. Head Coach, Titans: Fisher has had to ride out some tough times over the past several years but his Titans are at the beginning of a very good era again. Last year, they were an NFL leading 11-5 ATS and I think they’ll be close to that again this year. When you have a winner at quarterback like Vince Young (he did take down the mighty Trojans, remember) and the ability to connect with players like he does, good things happen and the money follows. Fisher isn’t too hot in a few categories but look for a couple that jump off the page and bet accordingly.

Home 51-48
Away 57-43
Fav 45-51
*Dog 60-36
Off a Win 56-47
Off a Loss 45-39
*Non Division opponents 61-44

Best ATS Role: 17-4 Road Dogs vs opp off SU loss

So there you have it boys and girls. These coaches all have consistency and the ability to keep winning over the long haul.

Some young coaches I am keeping an eye on this year are:

Mike Tomlin: He knows how to motivate and has that killer intensity (there goes those alley guts again).

Eric Mangini: Going into last season, he was known as the Mangina but at the end of the season, sharing the best ATS record of 11-5 with the Titans, he should be known as the Mangenius.

Mike Nolan: One of the sharpest minds and dressers of the NFL. He’s in his 3rd year and that’s when things get rolling for organizations.

Jack Del Rio: His teams play very well at home especially in the early part of the year.

Home 19-12
Dog 20-13
Best Role: 7-0 Home off BB SU losses