Studying coaching patterns is critical to becoming a successful sports bettor during the NFL preseason. Certain head coaches have demonstrated an unwillingness to take the exhibition season seriously, while other coaches emphasize preseason results in order to instill a culture of winning in the locker room.
The Best NFL Preseason Head Coaches:
- Jim Schwartz: 11-5 ATS (68.8%)
- Pete Carroll: 19-9-1 ATS (67.8%)
- Gary Kubiak: 16-10-2 ATS (61.5%)
- Mike Tomlin: 14-10-1 ATS (58.3%)
- Mike Shanahan: 44-34-2 ATS (56.4%)
- John Harbaugh: 11-9 ATS (55.0%)
The Worst NFL Preseason Head Coaches:
- Mike Smith: 8-10-2 ATS (44.4%)
- John Fox: 20-23-1 ATS (46.5%)
- Andy Reid: 25-28-3 ATS (47.2%)
Certain NFL head coaches get the most out of their players under specific circumstances:
- Pete Carroll is 9-1 ATS versus an opponent off a win
- Gary Kubiak is 6-0 ATS versus an opponent off a win by 10 or more points
- Tom Coughlin is 5-0 ATS following consecutive SU and ATS wins
- Andy Reid is 5-0 ATS as an underdog of more than four points
- Mike Munchak is 4-0 ATS versus an opponent off a double-digit win
Meanwhile, certain NFL head coaches fail to inspire their players under certain situations:
- John Fox is 0-6-1 ATS versus an opponent off an upset loss
- Jeff Fisher is 1-5 ATS as a favorite of more than six points
- Leslie Frazier is 0-4 ATS as an underdog
New head coaches generally want to establish a winning attitude by prevailing in the preseason, whereas established coaches with veteran squads have significantly less motivation to risk injuries. Head coaches who are on the proverbial hot seat will be motivated to win during the preseason to keep the fans, ownership and local media happy. In the end, coaching philosophies do not change overnight so the trends referenced above are a significant handicapping tool during the NFL preseason.