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
CIN v. LAR = (LAR wins 24-23) Two of my favorite teams for the 2024 season...and they are randomly pitted against each other here in the Sweet 16.
The Bengals have a Burrow advantage at QB, but everywhere else favors the Rams...including head coach/coaching staff. The Rams are having a great offseason and are coming off a surprise year where they were finishing the race as one of the best teams in the league down the stretch.
Either of these teams are a potential Super Bowl winner...two of a handful that can make that claim/have that hope. I give the very slight edge to the Rams.
Bet The Close Chris
CIN v. LAR = (CIN wins 24-23) So much to love, my favorite AFC and NFC teams going into 2024. CIN is 2 wins higher in season wins (10.5 vs 8.5) but some of that is “CIN easy schedule” driven. If we get a healthy Burrow, then I’m rolling with CIN here because I’m also optimistic that the moves on defense are the right ones.
The Rams have a lot going for them as well, Puka said Kupp is going to be on a revenge tour and who am I to not believe him? Also great signing of guard J.Jackson off the excellent Lions OL, this team is going to protect Stafford and run the ball with a big and talented interior OL. Super offense, I can’t believe the Bears have better odds to make the playoffs than the Rams. Only thing that could have made me more giddy for “over” 8.5 is if LAR landed S.Howell. A big reason Rams over 8.5 is so good is they don’t actually play CIN.
Ross Jacobs
CIN vs LAR = (LAR wins 27-24) Two contenders battle it out, but despite the loss of Aaron Donald I still favor the Rams by a hair. The Bengals are held up by Joe Burrow, but when their defense doesn't hold the opposing offense to less than 20 points they haven't fared well. Sean McVay is the superior coach and I trust him to put more points on the board than whatever his defense gives up.
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)
CIN v. LAR = (CIN wins 53% of the simulations) You really can’t go against a fully healthy Joe Burrow. Cincy took down the Rams Week 3 last season with a still-gimpy Burrow, but this is a different, more mature/experienced Rams team. Still...Burrow + offensive weapons and a sneaky good defense when healthy...they can handle the Rams in most instances.
Andrew DFS
CIN v. LAR = (LAR wins by 0.5) Super Bowl 56 rematch! Both teams have been legit contenders for the past few seasons and will continue to be one this upcoming year. Although Joe Burrow can push Patrick Mahomes for the title of best QB in the league, the Rams are more well-rounded than the Bengals.
Although DT Aaron Donald retired, I think the Rams had a good offseason by signing OG Jonah Jackson from Detroit and CB Derious Williams from Jacksonville. The Bengals took a hit on the offensive and defensive lines through losing OT Jonah Williams and DT DJ Reader. The constant issue with Cincinnati is their inability to protect franchise QB Joe Burrow; Los Angeles should be able to exploit that weakness even without Donald.
In what might have been the group’s two favorite finalists in the tournament...but they got pitted against each other in the Sweet 16...the Rams pull out a very close 3-2 vote in and move on to the Elite 8.
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