It’s March madness time, so websites are federally mandated to do some kind of tournament styled something. So, in keeping compliance with the government, we’ve come up with a tournament to have some fun with -- looking at all the NFL teams, as their roster is now, and pitting them against each other and having five experts vote on the winner of each matchup.
This tournament is not ‘seeded’. It was a randomly generated matchup setup...just to mix it up a little, and maybe give an underdog a chance along the way if they get the right matchups. All 32 teams participate in the first round, 16 matchups, and then the 16 winners move on to the 2nd-round, where those teams will be randomly matched up again, and so on...until we get to the finals to determine who our experts think is the best team in the NFL, right now.
We’re going through this for fun, but also for some betting guidance...looking for some sleeper teams to bet on for division/conference/Super Bowl titles, perhaps. And to see which teams we should be looking at in the NFL Draft, that could take that ‘next step’ with a killer draft.
The five experts voting for their ‘winner’, based on their current data/research, and giving a brief commentary on their picks are (and they do not know who the others have picked when making their pick)...
Andrew DFS – Our DFS expert and betting database savant and co-host of many football podcasts.
Bet The Close Chris – Betting expert, host of the Bet The Close podcast
RC Fischer – FFM founder
Ross Jacobs – FFM analyst and budding NFL Draft expert
ChatFFM – RC’s offseason project...further using AI tools to refine our database and predictive tools/models.
Here’s what the experts think of today’s matchup:
RC
TEN v. TB = (TEN wins 21-20) A bit of an upset here. But I like Will Levis better than anyone in national football analysis, and I think he’s better right now than Baker Mayfield.
My biggest gripe against TEN has been their horrific O-Line, but the Bucs’ O-Line is not much better. The Titans snagging L’Jarius Sneed and the Levis factor...I vote TEN, but I might be the only analyst here who will...which is probably not a good thing.
Andrew DFS
TEN v. TB = (TB by 1) The Titans were active in free agency by adding CBs L’Jarius Sneed and CB Chidobe Awuzie and signing WR Calvin Ridley to a massive contract. However, Tennessee lost RB Derrick Henry, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, and DE Denico Autry. Concerns linger over their OL, despite signing C Lloyd Cushenberry. Second year QB Will Levis needs better protection for him to take the next step. The Titans should address the OL early in the upcoming draft. get OL reinforcements through the draft and later waves of free agency.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers, quiet in free agency besides retaining QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans, face a coaching change with OC Dave Canales departing. Incoming OC Liam Coen brings familiarity with Mayfield but may signal a step back for Tampa Bay. Depending on the Titans' moves, the matchup prediction could shift.
Bet The Close Chris
TEN v. TB = (TEN wins 20-19). I like the Titans free agency so far and I’m decently optimistic on Callahan and Levis. If they can get the OL to even average (and they started with (C) Cushenberry, I think we’re looking at a very quick turnaround. Out with Tannehill/Henry, in with an offense that looks like the Bengals (maybe between Burrow and Browning led). That alone will help the defense. TB is fine/solid, I think they will be in a 2 horse race with ATL for the division. These teams are only separated by 1 in the season win totals so not as big of an upset as it seems.
ChatFFM (forgive any typos...it’s still learning language and I’m not correcting them for it...it needs to learn -- and I am programming it to be more sarcastic than I/RC am...so, I’ll have someone to talk to all day in my office watching football tape)
TEN v. TB = (TB wins 55% of the simulations) I can’t assume the Titans will address/fix their O-Line. The Bengals didn’t for Burrow, and that’s where the Titans new HC came from (as the O-C for years). Tampa Bay has a top 5 defense potential...the Titans do not. Both team’s O-Line aren’t good, but TB can protect Baker, they just can’t block for Rachaad.
Will Levis is going to be epic...but not as epic as he could until he gets an O-Line. I gotta go with the defense and experience of Tampa over the Titans, who are an O-Line away from being real good, real fast.
Ross Jacobs
TEN v. TB = (TEN wins 20-17) The media refuses to cover this game because they hate both starting QBs despite the fans' appreciation for their toughness and ability to overcome adversity, also known as the media.
Neither team can block for the QB, and by halftime both guys have obvious concussions, but the NFL called the Miami Dolphins doctors who assured them everything was fine. The Titans have a 4th and 3 to win the game and everyone in the stadium knows Will Levis is keeping the ball. Baker Mayfield convinces Todd Bowles to put him in the game as a linebacker. He meets Levis at the 1-yard line and Levis trucks him into the endzone for the game winner. After the game the media calls out Baker for not doing enough to help the team win.
The Titans surprise the Bucs among the experts...3-2 in favor of Tennessee, as they pull the tourney’s first upset of the 1st-round.
For more content from Fantasy Football Metrics: www.ffmetrics.com
Subscribe to FFM: FFM Subscription Information
