Posted on
11/7/2007 9:07:02 PM
Football Betting - The Other Guys in the AFC
By Tim Furious
The Patriots and Colts are the obvious heavyweights in the AFC, but there are four more playoff spots up for grabs. The Steelers are the only other obvious playoff contender, while the rest of the teams are brawling for the final remain seeds. Who is pretending and who has a real chance as we steamroll towards the 2008 Playoffs?
AFC North
Cleveland Browns (5-3)
The Browns in the playoffs? You bet! The tilt against Pittsburgh will prove how far they have come, but this is a game that Cleveland will have trouble winning on the road. Still, the remaining games are all winnable, especially considering that Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards have formed the most unexpected tandem in the NFL.
The problem for Cleveland is that they allow an average of 29.1 points per game, which ranks them thirtieth in the league. They are becoming a typical shoot-out team, which needs to light the scoreboard to be successful. If Jamal Lewis can take enough pressure off of Anderson for him to remain effective, Cleveland will rock its way in to the playoffs.
Next game: Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh
AFC West
San Diego Chargers (4-4)
Remember when the Detroit Pistons were annihilated by Lebron Games in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs last season? That’s exactly what happened to the Chargers. They were in such awe of what Peterson was doing to them, that they were caught in the headlights.
This team is still loaded with talent, but Philip Rivers is the weak link. And when your quarterback is the weak link, which is never a good sign. He must be reduced to the role of a game manager, using Antonio Gates and Chris Chambers in limited roles to keep the opposing secondary from moving up in to the box to take down LaDanian Tomlinson. With Denver sputtering and Oakland executing their tradition of suck, the AFC West is still their division to lose.
Next game: Indianapolis (-6) vs. San Diego
Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)
The Chiefs are 4-3-1 ATS, meaning that the odds makers are having trouble assessing whether this team is really good, or really bad. The truth is that they’re right in the middle. Damon Huard is never going to be a flashy quarterback, but he is capable of being steady and putting the Chiefs in a position to win.
The real question now is if Priest Holmes can return to the form that made him an unstoppable force of nature three seasons ago.
As a betting investor, it’s hard not to be tempted by Priest’s return. He has always excelled when the odds were against him, and the odds have never been stacked higher in his entire career. They have a rough schedule, but if they can rally past the Chargers in Week 13, they have a chance to seize control of AFC West.
Next game: Denver vs. Kansas City
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) and Tennessee Titans (6-2)
The Jaguars are terrible. Simply terrible. I’ll have a more in depth preview of this matchup this weekend, but the Jaguars are the most overrated team in the NFL. Most rankings have them in the top-10 which is absurd. This team is built on size and strength. All their receivers are talentless towers, while the defense has been exposed by teams that possess excessive speed. And Quinn Gray is the quarterback! How can you have any betting faith in this team?
Tennessee on the other hand is as big as an underdog as they get. At 5-3 ATS, the odds makers briefly caught up with this team. The defense is ranked second in the league allowing only 15.5 points per game, and that is why this team is a winner. Vince Young still doesn’t have the passing ability to take over games with his arm, but teams are terrified of his rushing ability. That has opened up gaping holes for LenDale White, who has emerged (finally) as a viable number-one running-back. With a win this weekend the Titans can lay claim to a Wildcard spot in the AFC with relative ease.
Next game: Jacksonville vs. Tennessee
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (4-4)
The stats for the Bills are terrible. They’re so bad that I won’t even mention them. But is this team scrappy or what? Terrence McGee is slowly developing in to a killer in the secondary. In two successive weeks he has taken out Laveranues Coles and Chad Johnson. Marty Booker and Randy Moss better watch out in the coming two weekends.
The offense does not scare you, but Marshawn Lynch helps this team get in field goal range. The rushing attack averages 109.8 yards per game, and Rian Lindell has a reliable foot. The schedule makes them an iffy bet in our NFL futures. They face the Patriots, Giants and Browns but have winnable games against the Dolphins, Eagles and Redskins. In all honesty they are perhaps one more year away from being real contenders.
Next game: Buffalo (-3) vs. Miami
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