VSiN Analytics Report for Week 3
The following is a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the NFL games of Week 3. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each week’s NFL board.
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Avoid these Week 3 NFL traps
These are systems that look at the NFL week 3 slate while considering what the teams have accomplished in their first two games.
Teams that start out 0-2 SU in the NFL are 23-23 SU but 33-13 ATS (71.7%) against 1-1 teams in Week 3 since 2010
​System Matches: CAROLINA (+6) at Seattle, NEW ENGLAND (-3) at New York Jets, HOUSTON (+9.5) at Jacksonville, CHICAGO (+12.5) at Kansas City, CINCINNATI (-2.5) vs. LA Rams
Winless teams in the NFL are 18-32-1 SU but 34-17 ATS (66.7%) in Week 3 when playing as underdogs of +3.5 points or more since 2010
System Matches: ARIZONA (+12.5) vs. Dallas, CAROLINA (+6) at Seattle, HOUSTON (+9.5) at Jacksonville, CHICAGO (+12.5) at Kansas City
Teams allowing more than 6.50 yards per play in the first two weeks have rebounded in week 3 with a record of 25-16 SU & 26-15 ATS (63.4%) since 2015.
System Match: LA CHARGERS (+1) at Minnesota
The league’s best defensive teams after two weeks, or those allowing 14 PPG or less so far, are 25-20 SU but just 14-30-1 ATS (31.8%) in week 3 since ’05 when favored by 3 points or more.
System Match: DALLAS (-11.5) at Arizona
Teams gaining more than 6.75 yards per play in the first two weeks have continued their impressive play in week 3 with a record of 17-7 SU and ATS (70.8%) since 2015.
System Match: MIAMI (-6) vs. Denver
Since 2008, the league’s best undefeated teams after two weeks, those having outscored teams by 25 points or more, are 24-21 SU but 15-28-2 ATS (34.9%) in Week 3.
System Matches: DALLAS (-11.5) at Arizona, SAN FRANCISCO (-10) vs. NY Giants
Strategies using NFL DraftKings Betting Splits data
One of the most touted features on the VSiN.com website, and a feature that we believe to be a fantastic resource for bettors is the Betting Splits pages. These are the pages that we have built utilizing the data that DraftKings so graciously provides to us detailing the breakdowns of the money & ticket splits for point spreads, moneylines, and totals.
In an article published in the 2023 NFL Betting Guide Part 2, Steve Makinen outlined 12 different systematic strategies for successfully using the DK Betting Splits Data that developed in the 2022 season. The stats of these systems are as of the start of the season. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for this week’s games as of Wednesday. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until kickoff for best usage. There will be an updated article on Sunday morning.
DK Betting Splits system #1: When more than 65% of the handle was on a particular side of an ATS wager, this majority group was just 35-53 ATS (39.8%). The number for this “supermajority” in college football was closer to 80%. In other words, if you see 2/3 of the handle backing one side in an NFL game this season, it’s best to fade it.
System Matches (FADE ALL): SAN FRANCISCO, MIAMI, BUFFALO, GREEN BAY, MINNESOTA, SEATTLE, KANSAS CITY, DALLAS, PHILADELPHIA
DK Betting Splits system #2: The percentage breakdown can be expanded a bit for the number of bets. When 63%+ of the number of bets were on a particular side of an ATS wager, this majority group was just 66-92 ATS (41.8%). The NFL is the most public of all sports that can be bet. If 63%+ of the bettors at DraftKings likes a particular side, fade ‘em. It’s safe to assume that you don’t want to be part of the supermajority of DraftKings bettors on ATS wagers.
System Matches (FADE ALL): SAN FRANCISCO, MIAMI, NEW ENGLAND, BALTIMORE, TENNESSEE, BUFFALO, DETROIT, SEATTLE, KANSAS CITY, DALLAS, PHILADELPHIA
DraftKings bettors were at their absolute worst last season when analyzing divisional games:
DK Betting Splits system #3: In NFL divisional games of 2022, DK majority handle bettors were absolutely awful, as this majority group was just 36-64 ATS (36%). With the obvious generality that public bettors love favorites, it’s clear that they don’t value the stakes of these rivalry games and what they mean for the competitors.
System Matches (FADE BOTH): NEW ENGLAND, JACKSONVILLE
DK Betting Splits system #4: Similarly to #3 above, when the majority number of bets staked its side in an NFL divisional game last year, this majority group was just 37-60 ATS (38.1%).
System Matches (FADE BOTH): NEW ENGLAND, JACKSONVILLE
DK Betting Splits system #5: When the majority handle and the number of bets were on road favorites for an ATS wager, these majority groups were just 36-52 ATS (40.9%) & 35-53 ATS (39.8%) respectively. Both are losing propositions, and most often, these majorities match up.
System Matches (FADE ALL): NEW ENGLAND, BUFFALO, DALLAS, PHILADELPHIA
DK Betting Splits system #6: When the majority handle and the number of bets were on road underdogs for an ATS wager, these majority groups actually produced winning records, 26-25 ATS (51%) and 34-32 ATS (51.5%) respectively. This matches up somewhat with the logic I used in explaining some college successes. When the public goes “against the grain,” they win. In this case, mildly.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): TENNESSEE, LA RAMS
DK Betting Splits system #7: When the majority handle and the number of bets backed a team in an ATS wager in the higher-profile, non-Sunday afternoon games, these majority groups were just 28-44 ATS (38.9%) & 29-44 ATS (39.7%) respectively. This set of games includes all the Thursday, Saturday, Sunday night (SNF), and Monday night contests.
System Matches (FADE ALL): SAN FRANCISCO, PHILADELPHIA, LA RAMS
DK Betting Splits system #8: In another rare winning record, when the majority of the handle backed the team with fewer season wins in a 2022 NFL game for an ATS wager, this majority group was 26-22 ATS (54.2%). This is another situation where going against the grain paid off.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): GREEN BAY, BUFFALO, INDIANAPOLIS, NEW ENGLAND
DK Betting Splits system #9: The average NFL total last year was 44.2. In games where the totals reached 46.5 or higher, and oddsmakers thus expected them to be a little more explosive, the majority number of bettors struggled, going 28-53 ATS (34.6%). Not surprisingly, they sided with the favored team in 59 of the games.
System Matches (FADE ALL): MIAMI, DETROIT, MINNESOTA, KANSAS CITY
DK Betting Splits system #10: When 56% or more of the handle was on the Under in an NFL game total, this majority group was quite sharp, 26-18 ATS (59.1%). This number for a supermajority in the NFL is quite low, evidence of how rarely the betting public bets the low side of a total. Incidentally, the same majority figure for the number of bets produced a 23-17 record.
System Matches (PLAY UNDER ALL): NE-NYJ, TEN-CLE, HOU-JAX, CAR-SEA, CHI-KC, DAL-ARI, PIT-LVR
DK Betting Splits system #11: The magic mark for the supermajority on the handle for betting Overs was 64% or higher, and this group performed miserably last season with a record of 38-63 (37.6%). To me, this has been a long-standing belief, but when the Over looks too obvious, it usually loses. On the number of bets, this same supermajority percentage produced a slightly improved 41-52 record.
System Matches (PLAY UNDER): DEN-MIA, IND-BAL, BUF-WAS, ATL-DET, PHI-TB
DK Betting Splits system #12: Call this one the Over rap, but when a supermajority (>=64%) of the handle was on the Over and DraftKings moved the opening total lower throughout the week, this majority group lost big, going just 9-29 (23.7%). Almost as if they were trying to bait more people into taking the Over. This is a classic example of where those behind the counter are smarter than those trying to cash the tickets.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): PHI-TB
NFL Rookie/Retread Coaching Systems
This material is from the VSiN piece entitled Analyzing the New NFL Head Coaches for 2023 detailing systems that apply to rookie coaches Jonathan Gannon (Arizona), DeMeco Ryans (Houston), Shane Steichen (Indianapolis) as well as retread coaches Sean Payton (Denver) and Frank Reich (Carolina).
Rookie Coach Systems
In a trend that seems to make sense as far as familiarity is concerned, the more familiar the opponent, the less successful rookie head coaches have been. Divisional games 120-133-7 ATS (47.4%), These are not groundbreaking betting numbers by any means, but it could serve as a foundational concept that the more familiar the opponent, the less successful the rookie coach.
System Match: FADE HOUSTON (+9.5 at Jacksonville)
Among the key challenges new head coaches face is keeping teams grounded after wins as they’ve gone 135-150-10 ATS (47.4%) in that situation.
System Match: FADE INDIANAPOLIS (+7.5 at Baltimore)
Re-tread Coach Systems
Re-tread head coaches have shown a tendency to start very slow at their new franchises and finish their first seasons more successfully when it comes to covering point spreads. Since 2013, in weeks #1-#10 of their first seasons, they’ve combined to go 89-136-6 ATS (39.6%)
System Matches: FADE DENVER (+6 at Miami), FADE CAROLINA (+6 at Seattle)
There seems to be a noteworthy trend of momentum that comes with these re-tread head coaches. Since 2013, when coming off a loss, the record has been just 94-127-7 ATS (42.5%).
System Matches: FADE DENVER (+6 at Miami), FADE CAROLINA (+6 at Seattle)
NFL Rookie Quarterback Systems
These systems take into account rookie quarterback records in their first seasons. They include game logs of any rookie who started seven or more games in that first season. The starters out of the gate in 2023 include Bryce Young (Carolina), CJ Stroud (Houston), and Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis), although others could join them down the road.
NFL Rookie Quarterbacks Stats Betting System #1 – Rookie quarterbacks are trending downward
