NFL Season Specials

With Green Bay and San Francisco the headline selections (see our outright preview) let us take a look at some of the other NFL markets for the season.

Divisonal Betting

AFC: The AFC East is likely to be dominated by New England at 2/7 (william hill/You Win) and it would take a brave man to bet against them. The strongest team, the best quarterback, the best coach, the easiest schedule, they should walk the AFC East. New York (Jets), Buffalo (Bills) and Miami should be battling it out for a wildcard place. Over in the AFC North I think the Cincinnati Bengals are worth chancing at 24/5 (pinnacle) to win the division. Andy Dalton is a top end QB who can only improve from his experience last year. Throw in wide receiver AJ Green, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a strong defence and this is a team ready to make a move. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are both dangerous opponents though Baltimore have lost a big player in Terrell Suggs to injury and Joe Flacco has his critics at the QB slot. Pittsburgh have a big defence though will need to have Ben Roethlisberger fit, not something you would like to rely on. The Browns look no hopers. The AFC South looks one sided with Houston tough to side with (injuries) or oppose (no challengers) at 2/7 (Coral). Tennessee are likely to provide the nearest challengers, while Jacksonville will suffer from a poor offence and Indinapolis are a work in progress. The AFC West is headed by the Denver Broncos at 15/8 (william hill) though this depends a lot on Peyton Manning managing a whole season having missed all of the last. San Diego at 9/4 (Stan James/Coral) have a few injury concerns so maybe Kansas at 7/2 (general) or Oakland at 36/5 (pinnacle) could go well with preference for the latter.

NFC

Philadelphia are 13/8 (betfred) to claim the NFC East in what looks an open three-way battle with defending champions New York Giants (5/2-Bodog) and the Dallas Cowboys 11/4 (general), the Washington Redskins should bring up the rear. Over in the NFC North Green Bay look unopposable at 1/2 (Coral) with Chicago and Detroit set to battle it out for a wildcard. Minnesota are expected to bring up the rear. The NFC South is headed by New Orleans but I could not be recommending them without their coach at 11/8 (Coral). Atlanta are next at 6/4 (ladbrokes/william hill) though I worry about their offence. I like the look of Carolina at 11/2 (general) other than the fantastically named Captain Munnerlyn they have QB Cam Newton and a young side that looks to shock a few this season. Tampa are real outsiders at 17/1 (paddy Power). NFC West is a weak look division and the San Francisco 49ers should have few problems seeing off divisional rivals Seattle, Arizona and St Louis.

In addition to the Bengals to win their group I also like them at 9/4 (bet365) to qualify for the play-offs. Even if they do not win their division they still have a chance to sneak into one of the two wildcard slots. In addition take the 13/8 (SkyBet/boylesports/ladbrokes) on them securing over 8.5 victories they finished 8-8 last season and should improve.

Two last picks come from the ‘most rushing yards’ and ‘most receiving yards’ markets. AJ Green finished 17th in receiving last year and looks to improve on that this season under the arm of Andy Dalton and looks value at 20/1 (Skybet/william hill/You Win). In the rushing yards DeMarco Murray at 25/1 (Totesport/betfred) appeals after coming second last year. The Dallas Cowboy should go well again this year.

Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (06/09/2012) but are subject to change.

06/09/2012     © Frixo 2024