Ok folks, I'm going to fess up, I did not write this. Normally I would have my head stuck into the NFl for months now, learning all the insides and out of training camp, but a man with a young family doesn't really find the time to watch 9 hours of football on a sunday evening anymore without heartache so in the last few seasons have lost more and more knowledge in the game to the point where i can no longer call myself an expert nfl bettor. But Don't worry, I've found a man who claims he is.
NFL Preview- The NFC
First price divisional oddsSecond Price superbowl champions
By Sean Nolan of joe.ie
NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys: Looked liked potential Superbowl winners last year until getting mauled by the Minnesota Vikings. This year’s finale is at Cowboys Stadium and no team has ever appeared in a home Superbowl, so owner Jerry Jones would love to break that cycle. With QB Tony Romo looking the real deal they have a chance. In DeMarcus Ware, they have a linebacker who is a sack machine and running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barber are formidable. Should win the NFC East but will want to go further. 6/5 10/1
New York Giants: 8-8 and no playoffs was a poor return last season. They must do better, but they play in the toughest division in football. Eli Manning seems to be getting better every year and with their running game so weak, he will need to keep his passing accuracy up. Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are great wide receivers but defensively you fear for them if they don’t tighten up. 11/4 22/1
Philadelphia Eagles: A new QB (Kevin Kolb) for the first time in 11 seasons following the departure of Donovan McNabb is a gamble for a settled offence. The entire team has now been reshaped, so it is hard to know what form they will be in. It all depends on Kolb‘s performances. If it doesn’t work they have America’s Sweetheart Michael Vick as back up. It might take a year for all the changes to bed in. 11/4 22/1
Washington Redskins: Donovan McNabb’s new home; they could surpass his former team. Coach Mike Shanahan has spent the summer fighting with defensive end Albert Haynesworth over a new defensive system and it looks like Shanahan has won. He is an offensive coach and with McNabb they will be good to watch and might cause a few upsets this year. Not enough to make the playoffs though. 6/1 33/1
NFC North:
Chicago Bears: With Mike Martz as offensive co-ordinator and Jay Cutler at QB, the Bears will be a serious attacking threat. The defence will improve now that Brian Urlacher is fit and the addition of defensive end Julius Peppers further strengthens that area. Expect lots of amazing plays and disappointing turnovers, adding up to another year with the post-season off. 5/1 33/1
Detroit Lions: Just two wins last year, but that was an improvement from a 0-16 season the year before. So could they make it to five or six wins this time? Maybe, but no more than that. Jahvid Best was a good draft and he will provide some valuable running yards. Even better is Ndamukong Suh (below), a monster of a defensive tackle. His hits will be highlight reel stuff all year. Low expectations are justified. 20/1 150/1
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh hits hard.
Green Bay Packers: One of the favourites for the NFC, they lost to the Cardinals last year in a 51-45 overtime wildcard thriller. This year they should be even better. No real stars, but a really solid roster of talented players makes them justified favourites to win the North. QB Aaron Rodgers has proven he is a classy performer and the team is set up to exploit his abilities. Great bet to win it all this year. EVS 11/1
Minnesota Vikings: As always, it is all about Brett Favre. Back in the team and he is already complaining about his ankle. This could be the year his unbelievable run of consecutive starts ends. If it does, the Vikes could be doomed. They have other issues too with one wide receiver Sidney Rice out for six months and another, Percy Harvin, hospitalised by migraines. They still have Adrian Petersen, but too much rests on a 40-year-old ankle. 7/5 14/1
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons: Could be a surprising team this year. Matt Ryan has all the tools to be a serious quarterback and he is supported by a lot of weapons. Defensively they can be unlocked, but there is a chance they could make the play-offs. 2/1 25/1
Carolina Panthers: With an inexperienced quarterback and a young roster, the Panthers are betting on the exuberance of youth. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are quality backs and Steve Smith is vital as their best wide receiver. If his broken arm is healed, he will be QB Matt Moore’s main target. With Julius Peppers gone to Chicago, they will be weaker on defence and another 8-8 year is a realistic target. 6/1 40/1
New Orleans Saints: Champions, but can they repeat? Well, they have a softish division and an OK schedule. They have the superb Drew Brees running the offence. They have almost all of last year’s roster available to them again and they seem to be lucky with injuries. Back-to-back titles is on. First up is the Vikings in the Superdome and a win there will set them on the way to another divisional title and possibly another tilt at the Vince Lombardi trophy. 8/13 10/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Manchester United may be doing well, but the Glazers’ first love is struggling. They only managed three wins last year and it is unlikely they will get much more this time. The team is in the middle of a serious rebuild. They drafted well with nose tackle Gerard McCoy bound to make them tighter and second year QB Josh Freeman will be better, but it would be a surprise if they did not finish bottom of the division. 25/1 125/1
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals: Carried by Kurt Warner deep into the playoffs for the past two years, the great man finally hung up his helmet in the off season, passing the baton to Matt Leinert. Now he has been cut, meaning Derek Anderson is the man taking the snaps. They still have Larry Fitzgerald, but the team looks in disarray. Running back Beanie Wells will see more action, but Coach Ken Whisenhunt has a big job to win another divisional title. 12/5 40/1
Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll arrives from USC to have another crack at coaching in the NFL. He was deemed a failure at New Jersey and New England, but it is 11 years since he coached with the pros. In Matt Hasselbeck, he has a franchise player but the rest of the roster is weak. Nate Burlson, their best receiver, went to Detroit so another grim year beckons for the Seahawks. 3/1 50/1
San Francisco 49ers: The NFC version of the Jets. Everybody is talking them up as potential champions so now they have to step up. Defensively they are very solid, meaning that if they can get some points on the board they could rack up a lot of wins. QB Alex Smith still has to convince many, but he has talent to throw to the likes of Michael Crabtree. Frank Gore is an exceptional running back too so they should win the moribund NFC West. 20/23 28/1
St Louis Rams: Fewest wins (1) and lowest points scored (175) last year. It meant they could draft Heisman winner Sam Bradford and he will be their starting QB. He looks NFL ready and in pre-season, there were signs the Rams will be better this year. Taken over by Arsenal shareholder Stan Kroenke in the summer, the team is planning to build around Bradford but he looks to have few players of his calibre around him yet. If wide receiver Laurent Robinson is fit they could win a few but not too many. 18/1 150/1
NFL Preview Part One - The AFC
By Sean Nolan
AFC East:
Buffalo Bills: It is over a decade since the Bills were any good and it is not going to change this year. They have a new G.M. in Buddy Nix and coach in Chan Gailey and the changes they are making will take time to work. Neither of their two QB options, Trent Edwards or Ryan Fitzpatrick, are from the top rank and they are in a brutally tough division. In short, another losing season. 25/1 125/1
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have a good young quarterback in Chad Henne. They have one of the best wide receivers in the game in Brandon Marshall and the enigmatic Ricky Williams is still going strong. They are also adept at deploying the wildcat offence. Defence is their problem, but if new defensive co-ordinator Mike Nolan can tighten it up, they could spring a few surprises. 3/1 33/1
New England Patriots: The entire future of the team rests on Tom Brady. One of the top three active QBs, he should have Wes Welker fit again to throw to, which is a massive boost. Randy Moss has also looked motivated in pre-season and coach Bill Belichick is one of the smartest men in football. Solid play-off contenders as always. 5/4 12/1
New York Jets: The buzz team of 2010. Last year’s beaten AFC finalists have added Antonio Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson and Santonio Holmes to an already formidable roster. QB Mark Sanchez had a breakout year last year and if he can keep it up they have a great chance of going all the way. Leading them is coach Rex Ryan, the NFLs version of Jose Mourinho in that he takes all the pressure off his team and onto himself with his outspoken views. Great bet to win the AFC at 6/1. 6/4 14/1
AFC North:
Baltimore Ravens: Always solid defensively, the Ravens attempted to address their offensive shortcomings by adding Anquan Boldin and Donte’ Stallworth. If Joe Flacco can find them regularly, they should be hard to stop in this division. After that, they need to perform if they face the Colts again. 10/11 12/1
Cincinnati Bengals: Hard to know what to make of the Bengals. Their roster is full of explosive characters, and they added Terrell Owens to the mix this year. Antonio Bryant has been cut as his knee injury failed to heal and they needed an extra dimension. Cedric Benson is a great running back but Carson Palmer will have to throw to Owens and Chad Ochocinco. They should win this division again if they can keep all the egos in check. It’s a big if. 13/5 25/1
If Owens and Ochocinco perform, it could be a big season for the Cincinatti Bengals
Cleveland Browns: They won their last four games of 2009, giving hope to a beleaguered city. President Mike Holmgren is a winner and owner Randy Lerner is determined to return to the play-offs for the first time since 1994. Could be one of the sleeper teams to watch. 18/1 100/1
Pittsburgh Steelers: A byword for excellence in recent years, the Steelers have been dragged through the mud by Ben Rothlisberger’s off-season problems. Suspended for the first four games, where they are when ‘Big Ben’ returns will dictate their season. Two Superbowl wins in the last five seasons mean they are experienced and with Troy Polamalu now fit (for more on Troy, click here), they have the games most effective safety back in harness. Definite play-off contenders. 13/5 25/1
AFC South:
Houston Texans: A best ever 9-7 season last year means the Texans are seen as a progressive side. Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing misses the first four games with a drugs ban and the Texans face the Colts and the Cowboys in that period. Add in the fact that they share a division with the improving Tennessee Titans and another 9-7 season will be a challenge. 4/1 40/1
Indianapolis Colts: The best team in the NFL over the last decade, they were desperately close to winning last year’s Superbowl. Peyton Manning is one of the all-time great quarterbacks and his team is well balanced and experienced. A losing pre-season can be ignored, when the time comes, they will win and win a lot. 8/13 8/1
Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Drew-Jones got 15 touchdowns last year and the Jags will rely on him again to get the crucial scores. QB David Garrard is under pressure and he needs a fast start to stop the chatter becoming unbearable. Defensively, they were a mess last year and though they drafted well in that area, it will be a tough year. 10/1 66/1
Tennessee Titans: Taking until week seven to get a win killed the Titans last year. 8-2 for the final 10 weeks of the season is a sign that they have a formula now. In Vince Young and Chris Johnson they have a two of the most exciting players in the league and they protect their prized assets well. A relatively benign schedule, including playing the Colts on the final day when the Colts will surely be easing up mean they could make the play-offs. 7/2 33/1
AFC West:
Denver Broncos: All eyes are on Denver thanks to drafting college star QB Tim Tebow. He is unlikely to start the season but Kyle Orton needs to perform with back-up Brady Quinn and Tebow eager to step in. Coach Josh McDaniels is a tough nut and all three could be taking snaps if he is not happy. That indecision will hamper the team and a sense of chaos does not make winning teams in the NFL. 15/2 125/1
Kansas City Chiefs: Arguably the worst team in the AFC but hope springs for the Chiefs. Matt Cassell has to improve his completion rate and the defence has to toughen up and the signs are they have. Coach Todd Halley has added some good young talent in the off-season too but another season at the bottom of the AFC West beckons. 15/2 125/1
Oakland Raiders: New QB Jason Campbell replaces the disaster that was JaMarcus Russell so that is already an improvement. The Raiders are always tough and a winning record may not be out of the question if they can channel their undoubtedly talented roster into football activities. 7/1 100/1
San Diego Chargers: Second favourites for the AFC title behind the Colts, another AFC West title seems certain. It is how they perform after that that matters. Packed with talent, they should have won a Superbowl by now and this could be their last chance. Phillip Rivers is at his peak as a QB but clambering past the Colts, Jets, Patriots and Ravens in the AFC is a tall order. 2/7 9/1
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