Posted on 10/17/2007 6:23:17 PM

NFL Betting Opinion – Trade Deadline Impact

By Tim Furious

Chris Chambers (WR) – San Diego Chargers

Chambers has the good fortune of being relocated from the vibrant and sexy life of Miami to the lush and casual living of sunny San Diego. Don’t we all wish our own job relocations could be so glamorous? Chambers may be shocked, but he certainly has to be happy to be going from a dud (Miami) to a stud (San Diego).

The move is a desperate one for San Diego, shipping a second-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins who have essentially given up on their season. Vincent Jackson has had a terrible offensive output, and Eric Parker has hit the injured reserve. To make matters worse, the Chargers rank nineteenth in passing yards with 208.7 per game.

Phillip Rivers has been, once again, erratic at best. He slams together solid performances, but then phones in others. The problem has been a lack of good receivers in San Diego, but now that changes. In 2005, Chambers had 1,117 yards and 11 touchdowns but his stats tanked last season when Daunte Culpepper was doing his best impression of Kerry Collins in 2006.

The Chargers are the favorites in the BetUS.com sportsbook to win the AFC West. Chambers has been maligned by criticism of bad hands because he has gotten so many looks, and never been able to produce. But it’s hard to produce when guys like A.J. Feeley, Daunte Culpepper (the 2006 version) and Trent Green (the 2007 version) are tossing you the ball.

Now Chambers has a viable quarterback and the Chargers have a solid receiving compliment to Antonio Gates. The Chargers also have a bye week to work Chambers in to the offense, which should solidify their -350 chances to reign supreme in the AFC West once more.

The Chargers need a boost to press the Colts and Patriots after a sloth-like start, and this may be the kick-start they needed. The betting community is well aware that Chambers was in desperate need for a kick-start to his fading career. Could be a win-win for both. Make it a win-win-win if you are smart enough to bet on the Chargers to make the playoffs, win the AFC West and perhaps win the Superbowl in 2008. Check out our sportsbook futures for all of these and more.

Next game: BYE WEEK

Michael Bennett (RB) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It was no secret that the Bucs were desperate at running-back. After they lost fan-favorite Mike Alstott to retirement, Cadillac Williams went down with a traumatic knee injury against the Carolina Panthers. Then Michael Pittman went down with a severe ankle sprain, leaving the reigns squarely in the hands of fourth-year veteran Earnest Graham. In his first real start, Graham only managed 29 yards against Tennessee. There was no way Gruden was going to stand pat with his running game in the hands of a guy named “Earnest”.

So he went out and got Michael Bennett, who has been somewhat of a journeyman in his career. Starting with Minnesota, Bennett eventually signed to backup Deuce McAllister in New Orleans until the Reggie Bush landed happily in the lap of the Saints causing Bennett to be shipped to Kansas City. Behind Larry Johnson, Bennett hardly ever saw the field.

The Buccaneers are EVEN to win the NFC South in the BetUS.com sportsbook and have found ways to win, despite two losses to the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts. To everyone’s surprise, they are tied for first in the division. And for those of you that love betting trends, the fourth place finisher in the NFC South has returned the next season to win the division for the past three seasons. Tampa was dead last in 2006.

Gruden relies on backs with good field vision and the ability to fight for yards to make his offense click. Bennett has incredible speed, but lacks the toughness that most backs need to crash between tackles. But the speedster has the ability to break open for huge gains if given a solid gap, which is something that Graham and the newly acquired Zack Crockett cannot do.

Tampa Bay has only managed 595 total rushing yards on 156 attempts this season. They are long shots to win the NFC Championship at +800 but have a solid chance to make the playoffs with the third easiest league schedule and a division that is crumbling apart at the seams.

The savvy betting investor will put stock in this new tailback committee in our NFL futures, with Tampa winning the NFC South by season’s end. It’s not that Tampa is an amazing team. They are solid, but the rest of the division is an absolute mess.

Next game: Tampa Bay vs. Detroit (-2)

> > Check Week 7 Odds Here

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