NFL : Inside the Division Part 2. 9-15-07

[Pennsylvania Punk]

NFL: Inside The Division


With nearly a half of the season's schedule taken up by division games, it's of major importance that teams give these matchups their undivided attention.

Some divisions are less competitive than others due to a disparity in class. This is usually one team dominating the other three members of the division. The AFC East comes to mind with New England's complete dominance. Since 2003, the Patriots have managed to have 14, 14, 10, and 12 win regular seasons. Over that four-year span, New England has beaten up on division foes to the tune of a 19-5 SU mark.

The Colts have become a dominant force in the AFC South while Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh in the AFC North and Denver, Kansas City, and San Diego from the AFC West have all shared in division titles in recent years.

In the NFC, it's been a different scenario as no one team has been able to dominate their division to the extent that the Patriots or the Colts have. This conference has been, for some time now, the weaker of the two and clearly more parity exists within this conference.

With only six divisional games having been played out in Week One, now is an ideal opportunity to disclose both divisional angles and trends for all eight divisions. So with a handful of divisional matchups slated every week, I'm sure these angles/trends will be useful as the season unfolds.

AFC North

Divisional home underdogs are 6-13 O/U since 2002.

Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh series: The host is 38-18 SU and 32-22-2 ATS in the last 56 meetings. The Steelers are 15-4 SU and 13-6 ATS at home in their last 19 tries.

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati Series: Pittsburgh is 13-3 SU and 12-4 ATS at Cincinnati since 1992.

Cincinnati is 11-4 SU and 10-5 ATS in their last 15 division.

Cleveland is 17-7 UNDER at home vs. division foes.

Cleveland is 16-8-1 OVER on the road vs. division foes, including 7-1-1 L9.

Pittsburgh is 43-26 ATS as a division home favorite of -10 or less.

Pittsburgh is 17-4 ATS with division revenge since 2000.

The Steelers are 12-1-1 O/U at home vs. division opponents.

AFC East

Home favorites in divisional matchups are 16-23 O/U since 2002.

Since the start of the 2003 season, New England has allowed 16, 0, 0, 10, 7, 6, 16, 3, 28, 17, 10, 17, and 16 points respectively at home vs. division opponents. Over the 13 games, the average final score has been 21.5 - 10.8 in the Patriots favor. The 13 games have gone 3-9-1 O/U. Note: The 28 hung on the Pats was by Miami in the last game of the season which had little meaning as New England had already secured a postseason spot.

New England is 14-1-2 ATS vs. division opponents since the start of the 2002 season, if off an ATS win.

Buffalo 14-9 UNDER Away vs. Division opponents

Miami is 2-12-1 O/U since divisional realignment when facing a division opponent in the first meeting of the season.

Miami is 0-12 ATS as a home favorite in December vs. a division opponent.

New York is 9-2 ATS as a road dog of +5 points or less vs. a division opponent.

AFC South

In games involving the Texans, Jaguars, and Titans, (leaving out the Colts) if the home team is favored, they are 8-11 O/U since 2002. If the home team is an Underdog, they are 6-4-1 O/U since 2002.

Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis series: Jacksonville has not allowed the high-scoring Colts to score more than 28 points in any of their last ten meetings.

Tennessee is 2-9 ATS as a home favorite vs. a division opponent.

Houston is 16-5 ATS vs. division foes if sub-.500.

Indianapolis is 11-3 ATS Away vs. division foe when sandwiched between non-division games.

AFC West

Kansas City vs. Oakland Series: The Chiefs are 10-2 SU/ATS provided the Silver and Black check in off a straight up loss.

Denver vs. San Diego Series: The Broncos are 20-4 SU and 14-8-2 ATS as a host.

San Diego vs. Kansas City series: The host in this series is 36-18 SU and 31-21-2 ATS overall and is currently on a 15-3 SU and 13-3-2 ATS run.

Denver is 2-9 O/U at home when facing a divisional opponent for the first time of the season.

The Chiefs are 7-0-1 ATS at home playing with same season revenge.

Oakland is 0-11 SU and 1-10 ATS in division Home games.

NFC East

NFC East division games have gone 15-25-1 O/U since the 2003 season.

Division home dogs are 6-12-1 O/U since the 2002 season.

NFC East Division road favorites of -6 points or less are 1-9 O/U.

Dallas vs. NY Giants series: The host in this series is 34-18 SU and 33-17-2 ATS record, including 11-2 ATS if an underdog of +6.5 or less.

Dallas is 50-26-2 ATS as a division host provided they do not enter off back-to-back straight up losses.

The Giants are 53-31 ATS since 1980 when hosting a division foe, including 25-11 ATS when coming off a straight up win.

The Eagles are 3-9 O/U on the road vs. division since 2003.

Washington is 2-13-1 O/U as a road dog vs. division opponents.

NFC South

Home favorites are 11-20 O/U since 2002.

Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay Series: 12-6 O/U last 18 meetings. 8-3 OVER at Atlanta.

Atlanta vs. Carolina Series: The UNDER is 10-3-1 last 14 meetings.

Carolina is 10-2-1 ATS on the road vs. division opponents.

Carolina is 1-12 O/U as division home favorites of -3 or more points.

Atlanta is 15-7 UNDER on the road vs. division opponents.

New Orleans is 19-3-1 ATS since 2000 on the road vs. division opponents.

Tampa Bay is 15-8 UNDER on the road vs. division opponents.

NFC West

Since 2005, home favorites are 10-6 O/U in divisional play.

San Francisco vs. St Louis Series: The Niners are 15-3-2 ATS at the Rams.

Arizona is 3-11 ATS vs. a division opponent playing with revenge.

Seattle is 10-4 ATS vs. a division opponent playing with same season revenge.

St Louis is 1-10 ATS at home playing with same season revenge vs. division opponent.

San Francisco is 9-3 O/U vs. a division opponent playing with same season SU/ATS revenge.

NFC North

Chicago is 16-7 UNDER at home vs. division.

Green Bay is 6-2 O/U vs. division opponent revenging same season loss as a favorite.

Minnesota is 11-1 O/U as a division road dog of +4 or more points.

Detroit is 13-4 ATS playing with same season revenge vs. division opponent.

Green Bay vs. Minnesota Series: The underdog in this series is 11-2 ATS the last 13 meetings. Minnesota is 10-3 ATS L13 in this series.