Let me start off by saying a lot goes into handicapping sports, especially the NFL — traditional stats, advanced stats, weather, matchups and so on and so forth.
Another box to check, in additional to the ones above, are the game officials and the historical data they bring to the table.
Let's take a look at all four head officials and some numbers to consider heading into the weekend of action in the NFL's Divisional Round.
- Shawn Hochuli for Jaguars vs. Chiefs
- Clete Blakeman for Giants vs. Eagles
- Carl Cheffers for Bengals vs. Bills
- Bill Vinovich for Cowboys vs. 49ers
Shawn Hochuli
- Hochuli’s fourth playoff game. The under is 43-33-3 (56.6%) in all his games (5th-best ref to under since his first game in 2018).
- In his three playoff games, team combined to average 63 PPG.
- Road teams are 44-33-2 ATS in Hochuli's games.
- Underdogs are 43-33-2 ATS in Hochuli's games.
- Chiefs offense has committed the least offensive pre-snap penalties this season.
- Chiefs offense has committed 35 offensive penalties this season, tied for fewest in the NFL.
Bet Jacksonville vs. Kansas City at FanDuel
Most Called Penalties in 2022 by Shawn Hochuli
Offensive Holding: 44 (3rd-most)
False Start: 37 (T-7th-most of 17 units; 34.9 is average)
Defensive Pass Interference: 16 (5th-most of 17 units; 13.5 is avg)
Defensive Holding: 14 (T-6th-most of 17 units; 12.6 is avg)
Clete Blakeman
- Blakeman’s 12th playoff game. Underdogs are 9-2 ATS in his previous 11 playoff games, including road teams going 8-2 ATS.
- The Eagles are dominant at home — and against the Giants — when Blakeman is the head official …
+ 11-4 SU, 9-6 ATS overall
+ 5-1 SU/ATS at home
+ 3-0 SU/ATS vs. NYG - Blakeman has called the third-most total penalties this season (197).
- Giants offense has committed the third-most offensive pre-snap penalties this season.
- Giants and Eagles have combined for 108 offensive penalties this season, 6th- and 8th-most in the NFL, respectively.
- The Giants' pass defense is the only one in the league to allow 10+ automatic first downs on first (12), second (10) and third (10) down this season. Their 33 in total is most in the NFL. They have 30 defensive penalties on pass plays, which is also the most.
- The most penalized player in the league? Philly guard Landon Dickerson with 13.
Bet NY vs. Philly Instantly at FanDuel
Most Called Penalties in 2022 by Clete Blakeman
Offensive Holding: 36 (9th of 17 units; 35.6 is average)
False Start: 33 (T-6th-fewest of 17 units; 34.9 is avg)
Defensive Pass Interference: 17 (T-2nd-most of 17 units; 13.5 is avg)
Defensive Holding: 16 (5th-most of 17 units; 12.6 is avg)
Carl Cheffers
- Cheffers has reffed 11 playoff games since 2010. The under is 10-1, going below the total by 13.1 PPG. In that same span, all other referees are 62-68-2 to the under.
- Cheffers refereed the Bills-Ravens playoff game in 2021. That was a 17-3 final; the total was 50.
- Since 2019, Cheffers has leaned to the dog, with underdogs 41-24-2 ATS (63.1%). A $100 bettor would be up $1,411 (2nd-best of 21 referees).
- Cheffers has been a good luck charm for the Bills. Buffalo has won five straight games on the moneyline with Cheffers (covering in four straight) and they are 9-2 SU since 2011.
- Cheffers has the most total penalties called this season (204).
- Bills defense has committed the second-most defensive pre-snap penalties this season.
Bet Bengals vs. Bills at FanDuel
Most Called Penalties in 2022 by Carl Cheffers
Offensive Holding: 38 (T-6th of 17 units; 35.6 is average)
False Start: 38 (T-4th-most of 17 units; 34.9 is avg)
Defensive Pass Interference: 15 (T-6th-most of 17 units; 13.5 is avg)
Defensive Holding: 11 (T-6th-fewest of 17 units; 12.6 is avg)
Bill Vinovich
- Underdogs are 11-5 ATS in Vinovich games this season, making him the most profitable ref for underdogs this year. Since 2018, dogs are 50-32-1 ATS (61%) in his games.
- In the last decade, road teams are 83-64-3 ATS (56.5%) in Vinovich games.
- Vinovich hasn’t been a good sign for the 49ers. They’ve lost three in a row SU and four of their last five, including the 2020 Super Bowl vs. Tampa Bay.
- In the last decade, Vinovich games are 89-62-1 (58.9%) to the under, making a $100 bettor $2,159 (14.2% ROI). The under is 62-37 (62.6%) since 2017 (21.1% ROI).
- Vinovich has called the fewest total penalties this season (134; 8.38 per game).
- Vinovich has only thrown 175 flags, also the fewest of any official.
- The most penalized player in terms of flags in the NFL? Tyron Smith with 14 flags on the OL of the Cowboys (tied with Eagles OL Landon Dickerson).
Bet Dallas vs. San Francisco at FanDuel
Most Defensive Penalties Committed This Season
T-1. Dolphins, Broncos — 50
3. Cowboys — 47
4. Bills — 44
T-5. Giants, Saints — 42
Most Called Penalties in 2022 by Bill Vinovich
Offensive Holding: 28 (3rd-fewest)
False Start: 27 (2nd-fewest)
Defensive Offsides: 12 (2nd-most)
Defensive Pass Interference: 8 (T-fewest of 17 units; 13.5 is avg)
All betting trends come from Bet Labs database. All referee penalty data comes from nflpenalties.com
