Betcha Didn’t Know:
A review of hot December coaches and players as we look at the games from a wagering perspective.
As we enter the final month of the regular season, let’s look at several NFL coaches who have stood out in December.
Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy is 34-13 SU (straight up) and 31-16 ATS (against the spread), including 21-3 SU and 17-7 ATS at home. Can the Packers maintain that level of play with star QB Aaron Rodgers sidelined?
The Seahawks’ Pete Carroll is 21-9 SU and 21-8-1 ATS with Seattle in December. Kansas City’s Andy Reid’s teams have gone 4720 SU and 40-27 ATS overall, including 17-7 ATS in underdog roles. (Note also his team has lost five of six games.)
Other December coaching records included in the Week 13 card.
Thursday, Nov. 30
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Washington coach Jay Gruden is 4-1 SU and ATS away in December against opponents coming off a loss. ... Dallas is 2-8 ATS as a host in this series.
Key stat: The Redskins are 6-1 ATS away in division games when coming off a division game. Who wins: Washington, 2820
Sunday, Dec. 3
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is 7-19 ATS during December, including 1-12 SU and 2-11 ATS against winning foes. ... Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS during December against non-division opponents coming off a loss of seven or more points.
Key stat: The Lions are 1-16 SU and 6-10-1 ATS away when coming off a Thanksgiving Day game.
Who wins: Baltimore, 27-20 San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears The 49ers are 1-5 ATS in the first of consecutive away games against non-division foes. ... Chicago coach John Fox is 5-1 SU and ATS at home against NFC West opponents during December. Key stat: The Bears are 5-1 ATS at home between away games.
Who wins: Chicago, 24-18 Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons
Minnesota is 10-6 SU and 11-5 ATS with a .500 or greater win percentage and coming off a Thursday game. ... Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is 14-5 ATS against non-division opponents during December. Key stat: Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is 3-0 ATS away during December against non-division opponents.
Who wins: Minnesota, 27-24 New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
New England coach Bill Belichick is 15-6 ATS during December against division opponents coming off an ATS win of three or more points. ... Buffalo is 4-1 ATS as an underdog in the first of
three consecutive home games.
Key stat: The Patriots are 11-1 ATS when coming off the Dolphins. Who wins: New England, 3024 Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins Denver is 0-7 SU and ATS in its last seven games. ... Miami is 0-6 ATS after facing the Patriots. Key stat: The Dolphins are 7-1 ATS in the last eight games in this series.
Who wins: Miami, 27-20 Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Houston coach Bill O’Brien is 4-0-1 ATS away in division games during December. ... Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey is 6-1 SU and ATS as a favorite during December.
Key stat: The Texans are 6-1 ATS in this series.
Who wins: Houston, 28-27 Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano is 16-4 ATS when coming off a loss and facing an opponent coming off a loss. ... Jacksonville is 3-6 SU and ATS as a host in this series. Key stat: The Jaguars are 2-10 ATS following consecutive away games and coming off a non-di-
vision game. Who wins: Jacksonville, 3420 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is 5-1 ATS during December against foes coming off consecutive losses. ... Green Bay is 6-2 ATS at home in an AFC sandwich game (coming off an AFC game with an AFC game on deck).
Key stat: The Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS away in non-division games when coming off an away game.
Who wins: Green Bay, 27-20 Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets
Kansas City is 5-1 ATS away between two home games. ... Jets QB Josh McCown is 9-3 ATS at home during December, including 6-3 SU and 8-1 ATS against sub-.666 opponents.
Key stat: The Chiefs are 4-0 SU and ATS away in Game 12 of the season.
Who wins: Kansas City, 21-20 Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
Carolina QB Cam Newton is 19-5 SU during December. ... New Orleans coach Sean Payton is 12-5 ATS during December when coming off a loss.
Key stat: Panthers coach Ron Rivera is 10-3 ATS away as an underdog and when coming off a win.
Who wins: Carolina, 34-28 Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers
Cleveland is 1-26 SU and 6-21 ATS behind coach Hue Jackson but 1-0 SU and ATS against the AFC West. ... Chargers QB Phillip Rivers is 32-16 SU during December. Key stat: The Chargers are 2-3 SU and 0-5 ATS in the last five games in this series. Who wins: Los Angeles, 31-21 Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals The Rams are 2-4 ATS the last six games as road favorites. ... Ar-
izona coach Bruce Arians is 8-2 ATS as an underdog during December. Key stat: Arians is 19-8 SU and ATS against foes coming off a SU and ATS win, including 13-1 SU and 12-2 ATS at home. Who wins: Arizona, 27-24 New York Giants at Oakland Raiders
Giants QB Eli Manning is 101-1 ATS during December coming off a loss and when facing an opponent coming off a win. ... Oakland coach Jack Del Rio is 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS during the month of December against non-division opponents. Key stat: Oakland is 1-10 ATS against sub-.500 NFC opponents.
Who wins: Oakland, 23-20 Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia has won its last five games by an average of 23.6 points. ... Seattle QB Russell Wilson is 17-5 SU and 16-5-1 ATS during December, including 6-1 SU and 7-0 ATS against .666-orgreater opponents.
Key stat: Seattle is 8-0 SU and ATS in its sixth home game of the season. Who wins: Seattle, 27-24
Monday, Dec. 4
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is 39-13 SU and 32-19-1 ATS during December. ... Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton is 17-8-1 ATS during December, including 2-0 ATS on Mondays.
Key stat: Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is 12-3-1 ATS during December against opponents coming off consecutive wins, including 8-0-1 ATS in division games. Who wins: Pittsburgh, 31-28