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:
AndrewDFS
KC v. LAC = (KC wins by 6.5)
Despite losing key offensive players, I anticipate the Chargers improving next season. Last year, their roster woefully underperformed, but they still possess defensive talent, and Justin Herbert at QB gives them a chance in any game. With new HC Jim Harbaugh, I foresee the Chargers eventually dethroning the Chiefs, although it may require another offseason before they’re ready for that kind of challenge. While I predict some regression from the Chiefs in 2024, they remain ahead of the Chargers for now.
Ross Jacobs
KC v. LAC = (KC wins 23-17) I do expect Harbaugh to get the Chargers quickly back into the mix, but I'm not sure it will be this year. When he took over the 49ers they had the core pieces of an elite defense already on the roster. I don't see those pieces on the Chargers. They'll be better. I'm just not sure it will be enough to take down the Chiefs immediately.
Bet The Close Chris
KC v. LAC = (KC wins 24-13) I picked against the Chargers in the 1st round, maybe this time I’ll get them out of here. I believe Harbaugh will get LAC back for the playoffs, I just think he may need a bit more time (or a dynamite draft). KC has had a pretty easy road, but they deserve to be picked here too.
RC
KC v. LAC = (KC wins 27-14)
I’ve been against LAC most of this tournament, and finally they arrived at the end of the road here vs. KC. I am of the belief that LAC is going to use this season as a transition year for Harbaugh to re-do the roster, inject the new culture, etc. They are going to be built to win this season...best case they find a way to the wild card, but they are not a legit threat to win it all...and they get bounced here by an obviously superior Chiefs team.
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)
KC v. LAC = (KC wins 77% of the simulations)
At what part of the field or roster position group do the Chargers have an edge versus KC? There is not one spot. The closest they come is at QB...maybe place kicker is an edge, that’s it. The Chiefs have had cupcake matchups this entire tourney, but now they’ll be out to the test ahead.
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