With just four weeks left to go in the regular season, it’s the perfect time to look back at the first three quarters of the year to break down what we have seen to this point. While there have been a number of pleasant surprises including the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, there have also been some major disappointments. These are the teams that you would have wanted to avoid from a betting perspective all years. Here is a look at the least profitable teams in the NFL to bet on so far this season.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are staring down the troubling prospect of going 0-16 as they head in to the final quarter of the regular season. Cleveland is the league’s only remaining winless team at 0-11. The Browns have posted a 2-9-0 record against the spread so far this season. While the team hasn’t quit on head coach Hue Jackson, getting that first win likely won’t be easy for a team that ranks near the bottom of the NFL in both points scored and points allowed this season. Cleveland is entering historically bad territory with a difficult schedule to close out the season. The Browns will visit the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers and host the Baltimore Ravens in what will be their three toughest remaining games. Cleveland will host the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 and will visit the Chicago Bears in Week 16. Those two matchups against NFC North opponents might be their two best opportunities to end their winless season. Regardless of what happens from here on out, the Browns should be expected to finish at the bottom of the NFL in terms of the least profitable NFL teams this season.
Denver Broncos
The biggest difference between Cleveland and Denver is that the latter was actually expected to contend for a playoff spot this season. The Broncos have significantly underachieved with a 3-8 record. The Broncos haven’t been any better against the spread with a 2-8-1 mark through 13 games. The fact that the only difference in cover percentage between Cleveland and Denver is one push is a testament to how bad things has gone this season. The Broncos have a slightly more favorable schedule than the Browns to close out the year. Still, it will be difficult for them to climb out of the bottom-two in terms of the least profitable teams in the NFL this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is another team that was expected to contend for a playoff spot this season. However, even after winning two of their last three games the Buccaneers still rank in the bottom-three of the NFL in terms of cover percentage. Tampa Bay is 4-7 straight up with a 3-7-1 record against the spread this season. The Buccaneers will visit the Green Bay Packers this week before closing out the year with four straight games against potential playoff teams including all three NFC South teams in the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have the best straight up record of the teams that appear in this column at 5-6. However, expectations were extremely high for Arizona entering this season and their inability to take advantage of a relatively mediocre schedule to contend for a playoff spot has landed them among the worst teams in the NFL in terms of point spread cover percentage. Injuries have definitely played a role in the Cardinals struggles including a significant blow with the loss of veteran quarterback Carson Palmer. However, even with Palmer Arizona was blown out in losses to the Lions, Cowboys and Eagles earlier in the season. The Cardinals have split their last four games but enter Week 13 with a 3-7-1 record against the spread. Arizona has a tough schedule to close out the year including games against the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks. It will be difficult for the Cardinals to climb out of the bottom-four in terms of the NFL’s worst teams for betting profitability this season.
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