2012 NFL Coaches and Preseason Betting

This is yet another article that is completely updated for the upcoming season, using the most current stats and adding several features that weren't included last season.

As we've discussed before, NFL coaches have different approaches to the preseason. Some want to win and others don't really care, so it's no surprise to see some coaches who have solid records against the point spread, while others have pretty dismal records.

In this article, we'll look at how coaches do straight up and against the spread. We'll also look to see how each coach had done in Week No. 3 of the preseason, which tends to be when most teams play their starters the longest, and we'll also look at how coaches have done in relation to totals.

The first numbers you see after a coach's name is the straight up record and the next numbers are the team's performance ATS.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: Chan Gailey 3-5, 3-5; Week 3 2-0, Totals 5-3
Miami Dolphins: Joe Philben First Year
New England Patriots: Bill Belechick 18-18, 17-16-3; Week 3 4-4-1, Totals 18-18
New York Jets: Rex Ryan 6-6, 7-5; Week 3 2-1, Totals 8-3-1

Not much stands out here, with the exception of Rex Ryan's over/under record, which is a bit surprising for one who is believed to be defensive minded.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh 11-5, 9-7; Week 3 2-2, Totals: 5-11
Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis 18-19, 18-18-1; Week 3 2-7, Totals: 19-16-2
Cleveland Browns: Pat Shurmur 1-3, 1-3; Week 3 0-1, Totals: 3-1
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin 16-5, 13-8; Week 3 3-2, Totals: 7-13-1

Mike Tomlin's Steelers have been a decent wager in the preseason, while the two defensive heavyweights, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, go under at a solid clip.

Marvin Lewis' 2-7 record in Week No. 3 is something that could bear watching.

AFC South

Houston Texans: Gary Kubiak 13-11, 13-9-2; Week 3 5-1, Totals: 17-7
Indianapolis Colts: Chuck Pagano First Year
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Mularkey 3-5, 5-3; Week 3 0-2, Totals 2-6
Tennessee Titans: Mike Munchak 3-1, 3-1; Week 3 0-1, Totals 1-3

The returning coaches all have some definite tendencies with regard to totals, while Kubiak has been solid in Week No. 3.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: John Fox 20-16, 16-19-1; Week 3 4-4-1, Totals 17-18-1
Kansas City Chiefs: Romeo Crennel 8-8, 9-7; Week 3 3-1, Totals 6-10
Oakland Raiders: Hue Jackson 0-4, 0-4; Week 3 0-1, Totals 2-2
San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner 15-13, 11-13-4; Week 3 0-5-2, Totals 13-15

Everybody's favorite coach to bet against, Kansas City's Todd Haley, was let go by the Chiefs, taking his 0-10-2 ATS record with him, which doesn't leave a whole lot in the way of trends. Jackson only has one year under his belt, while Turner's dismal record in Week No. 3 in worth noting.

NFC East

DallasCowboys: Jason Garrett 2-2, 1-3; Week 3 1-0, Totals 2-2
New York Giants: Tom Coughlin 16-16, 15-14-3; Week 3 2-5-1, Totals 14-18
Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Reid 16-21, 16-21; Week 3 5-4, Totals 22-15
Washington Redskins: Mike Shanahan 21-12, 19-13-1; Week 3 4-4, Totals 16-17

Coughlin has been poor in Week No. 3, while Shanahan has been a decent bet in the preseason. Reid's Week No. 3 record is a bit poor.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: Lovie Smith 16-17, 14-17-2; Week 3 3-5, Totals 17-16
Detroit Lions: Jim Schwartz 10-2, 9-3; Week 3 3-0, Totals 6-6
Green Bay Packers: Mike McCarthy 12-12, 11-11-2; Week 3 3-3, Totals 19-5
Minnesota Vikings: Leslie Frazier 2-2, 2-2; Week 3 0-1, Totals 1-3

Schwartz has had a winning attitude in his first three preseason years, so it will be interesting to see if he continues with it after the team enjoyed some success last season. McCarthy's over/under record is hard not to notice.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: Mike Smith 6-10, 8-7-1; Week 3 2-1-1, Totals 6-10
Carolina Panthers: Ron Rivera 1-3, 1-3; Week 3 0-1, Totals 2-2
New Orleans Saints: Sean Payton 13-12, 14-11; Week 3 5-1, Totals 12-11-2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Schiano First Year

Payton's Week 3 record is noteworthy, so it will be interesting to see how the Saints fare this preseason. Smith's over/under record could be worth watching.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: Ken Wisenhunt 7-13, 8-11-1; Week 3 3-1-1, Totals 10-10
St. Louis Rams: Steve Spagnuolo 10-2, 9-3; Week 3 3-0, Totals 8-4
San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh 2-2, 2-2; Week 3 0-1, Totals 1-3
Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll 3-5, 3-4-1; Week 3 1-1, Totals 5-3

Wisenhunt and Spagnuolo have been good Week No. 3 bets, while the Rams have shown a fair tendency to go over.