5 NFL Trends and Situations Every Bettor Needs to Know

The NFL regular season is a roller coaster of emotions each and every week, especially if you're making against-the-spread picks on a regular basis. It's important not to place too much emphasis on a single result when handicapping.

Sports bettors have likely placed the New Orleans Saints on their list of teams to fade due to their 0-2 start, but I believe that's a dangerous approach, especially with quarterback Drew Brees being listed as an eight-point home favorite (courtesy of SBR Forum) against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let's take a closer look at five betting trends and situations that every pro football fan needs to know before making his Week 4 pro football picks.

Think Twice Before Playing a Favorite in a Dallas Cowboys' Game

The Dallas Cowboys have split their first two games of the 2012 NFL regular season, with the victory coming against the New York Giants as 3.5-point road underdogs on Sept. 5.

From a betting perspective, the result wasn't very surprising considering the underdog is on a 20-4-1 against-the-spread run in games involving America's Team.

It's important to note that the favorite in this series has covered the last five meetings.

Use caution when backing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as eight-point road underdogs inside Cowboys Stadium.

The Pittsburgh Steelers May Want to Stay Home

The Pittsburgh Steelers are favored to win their first road game of the 2012 campaign, but that doesn't mean they deserve getting backed by your cash.

In the franchise's last nine games, the home team has covered the spread in eight of those contests, including both games this year.

The Oakland Raiders aren't going to attract much action at the betting window, but the underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in this series.

Favoritism Has Been the Way to Go in Cincinnati Bengals' Contests

The Washington Redskins announced some key season-ending injuries earlier this week, but that doesn't mean that you should automatically fade them against the Cincinnati Bengals.    

Favorites are enjoying a nice 9-4-1 ATS run in games involving the Bengals, but the Redskins haven't covered a number as a favorite since Oct. 2 of last year.

Something tells me this trend is in trouble this week, especially when you find out that Washington is 0-7-1 ATS as home favorites when taking on AFC opponents.

Pat Shurmur Is Perfect in This Situation

The Cleveland Browns haven't enjoyed much success record-wise under second-year head coach Pat Shurmur, but he certainly delivers for NFL handicappers in certain situations.

Don't write off this team after opening up the 2012 campaign with back-to-back losses, as Shurmur has covered all four games in his brief career when landing in this type of spot as an underdog.

I'm not interested in laying three points with the Buffalo Bills in this contest, especially when you consider they've lost eight straight road games in straight-up fashion.

New Orleans Grabs the Cash in Home Wins as Single-Digit Favorites

The New Orleans Saints have been one of the NFL's biggest disappointments through two weeks of the season, which isn't very surprising due to head coach Sean Payton being suspended for the entire 2012 campaign.

If you believe that quarterback Drew Brees will place this team on his shoulders Sunday, then I highly recommend laying the eight points in this spot.

In their last 21 wins as single-digit favorites inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Saints have covered the spread in each of those contests.

This against-the-spread situation strengthens when finding out that the Chiefs have lost 23 of their last 26 games in straight-up fashion as road underdogs of 7.5 to 14 points.

Potential blowout in the Big Easy.

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