2021 NFL Preseason: A Point Spread Review
by Al McMordie
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021The 2021 NFL Preseason is in the rear view mirror. And it was the first season of a new 3-game format adopted by the league. This new format significantly changed how many teams approached the preseason games. And, as a result, many handicappers had to adjust, as the old "Week 3 Dress Rehearsal Game" went out the window. Instead, many teams just shelved their key starters for much, if not all of the preseason.Let's take a look at the final data.Home teams: 13-32-2 ATSRoad teams: 32-13-2 ATSFavorites: 24-22-2 ATSUnderdogs: 22-24-2 ATSOvers: 27-20-1 Unders: 20-27-1Teams off a win vs. an opponent not off a win: 14-9-1 ATS, including 12-3 ATS on the roadTeams off a loss vs. an opponent not off a loss: 9-14-1 ATS, including 3-11 ATS at homeTeams off back-to-back losses vs. an opponent not off back-to-back losses: 7-4 ATS, including 4-1 ATS on the roadTeams off back-to-back wins vs. an opponent not off back-to-back wins: 4-8-1 ATS, including 1-5-1 ATS at homeTeams that covered their previous game by 10+ points: 8-4-1 ATS, including 7-2 ATS on the roadTeams that failed to cover their previous game by 10+ points: 5-7-1 ATS, including 2-5 ATS at homeTeams that won their previous game by 10+ points: 7-4-1 ATS, including 6-2 ATS on the roadTeams that lost their previoius game by 10+ points: 5-6-1 ATS, including 2-4 ATS at homeClearly, the one thing which jumps out is the extremely poor play of the home teams. In seasons past, the NFL coaches perhaps tried to be more competitive in front of their home faithful. This Preseason, many of the coaches simply couldn't be bothered to reward their fans in attendance.But even though things changed, one thing remained the same: the Preseason dominance of the Baltimore Ravens. John Harbaugh's men stretched their Preseason win streak to 20 games. And they covered all three contests. They're now 17-2-1 ATS in the Preseason since 2016. And, perhaps most impressively, their only two ATS losses were by 1 points each! It did, however, come with a cost this year, as #1 RB, JK Dobbins, sustained a season-ending injury in a meaningless Week 3 game. So, it will be quite interesting to see whether Harbaugh changes his approach to these exhibition games in 2022.Good luck, as always...Al McMordie
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