Dallas Cowboys
Coaches:
Head Coach: Jason Garrett (8th year)
OC: Scott Linehan (5th year)
DC: Rod Marinelli (5th year)
Key Position Week 1 Starters (Projected):
QB: Dak Prescott
WR: Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley
RB1: Ezekiel Elliott
TE: Geoff Swaim
Key Player Changes:
Lost Dez Bryant, Jason Witten
Added Allen Hurns, Tavon Austin
Drafted Connor Williams G (likely to start)
Strength of Schedule:
19th
Schedule Break-down:
Favored in eight games
Nine games have a spread of +/- 3 points
Cowboys play 5 top 10 opponents and 4 bottom 10 opponents
Season win total:
Over 8.5 -110 / Under 8.5 -110
Doc’s Pick:
Under 8.5 -110
The Cowboys have done alarmingly little to succeed on offense. The WR corps might be one of the worst in the league and they use Elliott very little in the pass game compared to other RBs of his caliber. No matter how good Zeke and Dak are, they will need help. I don’t see nine wins on their schedule.
New York Giants
Coaches:
Head Coach: Pat Shurmur (1st year; was MIN OC)
OC: Mike Shula (1st year; was CAR OC)
DC: James Bettcher (1st year; was ARI DC)
Key Position Week 1 Starters (Projected):
QB: Eli Manning
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Cody Latimer, Sterling Shepard
RB1: Saquon Barkley (rookie)
TE: Evan Engram
Key Player Changes:
OBJ comes back healthy and rested
Drafted Saquon Barkley 2nd overall and Will Hernandez G 34th overall
Signed William Gay CB, Cody Latimer WR, Alec Ogletree LB, Nate Solder LT
Strength of Schedule:
29th
Schedule Break-down:
Favored in three games (-3.5, -3, -3.5)
Underdog of 6 or more points in 6 games;
Giants play 5 top 10 opponents and 3 bottom 10 opponents
Season win total:
Over 7 -135 / Under 7 +115
Doc’s Pick:
Under 7 +115
I take this one with a bit of hesitation. I think 6-7 games is about right so I certainly can’t take the over with the -135 juice but I can see why you might be tempted. This coaching staff should be light years ahead of whatever that mess was that McAdoo was doing last year. They have a somewhat exciting offense with OBJ, Barkley and Engram if Manning can still get the ball down the field they should be fun to watch. They do play the 12th toughest schedule in terms of overall pass efficiency defenses which could hinder the fun a bit.
Philadelphia Eagles
Coaches:
Head Coach: Doug Pederson (3rd year)
OC: Mike Groh (1st year; was PHI WR) (Pederson will be calling plays)
DC: Jim Swartz (2nd year)
Key Position Week 1 Starters (Projected):
QB: Carson Wentz
WR: Alshon Jeffery, Mike Wallace, Nelson Algholor
RB1: Jay Ajayi
TE: Zach Ertz
Key Player Changes:
Added Michael Bennett DE, Haloti Ngata DT
Added Mike Wallace, Marcus Wheaton
Lost LeGarrette Blount
Strength of Schedule:
22nd
Schedule Break-down:
Favored in eleven games
Favored by 5 points or more in 7 games; underdog in two games (+2, +1)
Eagles play 5 top 10 opponents and 4 bottom 10 opponents
Season win total:
Over 10.5 +110 / Under 10.5 -130
Doc’s Pick:
Over 10.5 +110
No major offensive or defensive subtractions to the Eagles lineup this year makes me believe they can have similar success to last year. They may not win 13 again but I think they can win 11. Their average opponent ranks 20th in defensive efficiency which should allow the Eagles to move the ball without many hurdles.
Washington Redskins
Coaches:
Head Coach: Jay Gruden (5th year)
OC: Matt Cavanaugh (2nd year)
DC: Greg Manusky (2nd year)
Key Position Week 1 Starters (Projected):
QB: Alex Smith
WR: Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Paul Richardson
RB1: Derrius Guice (rookie)
TE: Jordan Reed
Key Player Changes:
Lost Kirk Cousins; added Alex Smith
Drafted Derrius Guice 59th overall, signed Paul Richardson
Added Orlando Scandrick
Strength of Schedule:
23rd
Schedule Break-down:
Favored in four games
Favored by a max of 3 points, underdog of 6 or more in 4 games
Redskins play 6 top 10 opponents and 5 bottom 10 opponents
Season win total:
Over 7 +105 / Under 7 -125
Doc’s Pick:
Over 7 +105
I’m buying the Redskins this year. I think Alex Smith is better than he was able to show in KC and if Guice can deliver they will have a balanced offensive attack. Their average opponent defensive efficiency rank this year is 22nd which should allow them to put some points on the board and the average opponent offensive efficiency rank is 15th so if their defense can keep them in games I think they will be able to upset several teams this year. I think they win nine.
Check this out if you want to know where Doc gets his information from and what he’s looking at.
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