Posted on
5/8/2008 3:12:20 PM
NFL Pro Football Betting – How Fast Can Jaguars Go?
By Charles Jay
BetUS Sportsbook lists the New England Patriots as online betting favorites to win Super Bowl XLIII (at +325), and the defending champion New York Giants at +1800, but we're going to examine one of the teams that aspires to the throne where the Giants are currently sitting. The question before us today is can the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost to the Pats in the AFC playoffs last season, take the big steps required to get to the Big Game?
Before we do that, let's take a look at the odds to win the Super Bowl, as they appear in BetUS Sportsbook:
BetUS NFL Futures Odds
To Win Super Bowl XLIII
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS +1400
New England Patriots +325
New York Jets +10000
Buffalo Bills +8000
Miami Dolphins +10000
Baltimore Ravens +6000
Cincinnati Bengals +4500
Pittsburgh Steelers +1750
Cleveland Browns +3000
Indianapolis Colts +700
Tennessee Titans +3500
Houston Texans +6500
San Diego Chargers +700
Denver Broncos +4000
Kansas City Chiefs +10000
Oakland Raiders +10000
Dallas Cowboys +800
Philadelphia Eagles +2000
New York Giants +1800
Washington Redskins +4000
Chicago Bears +4500
Green Bay Packers +1800
Minnesota Vikings +2800
Detroit Lions +7500
New Orleans Saints +2500
Carolina Panthers +5000
Atlanta Falcons +20000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4000
Seattle Seahawks +2700
San Francisco 49ers +5000
Arizona Cardinals +5000
St Louis Rams +7500
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio is said to have put his career on the line before the beginning of last season when he released quarterback Byron Leftwich, for whom the club has spent a #1 draft choice and a lot of money, in favor of Leftwich's understudy, East Carolina alum David Garrard. But Garrard came through with flying colors. He took good care of the ball, throwing just three interceptions in the regular season, in effect doing exactly what he was supposed to do within Del Rio's philosophy, and led the team to the playoffs, where he played the hero in the latter stages of the post-season win at Pittsburgh.
It's a little easier for Garrard than for most QB's, because he doesn't have to put the team on his shoulders. The running game carries this team, and it will once again. Fred Taylor (1202 yards), who earned his first Pro Bowl invitation last season, should have at least one more top year in him. He's "thunder," while Maurice Jones-Drew (768 yards) is "lightning." This is a conservative, smashmouth team, and we don't see anything changing that. Of course, there are drawbacks - the receiving corps is a non-threatening group, and opposing teams understand that with Garrard at the controls, there are not going to be a lot of passes well downfield. They'll need another efficient year from the bulky Garrard, who has the capacity to fight off opposition pass rushes with running ability and brute strength (he's upwards of 250 pounds).
The wide receivers have size too. But one of them, Ernest Wilford, went to the Dolphins as a free agent. This is the year Matt Jones really has to make his presence known. Jones, the former QB at Arkansas who has all the size and speed you want, and can play tight end or wide receiver, should become a special project for offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. There is so much they should be able to do with him.
The defensive line took a step backward last season, and Marcus Stroud, who had been a Pro Bowl player, was traded to Buffalo. The Jags, who were interested in upgrading the pass rush, went out and drafted defensive ends Derrick Harvey of Florida and Quentin Groves of Auburn. Now the defensive front is a potential strength, especially if they can get a comeback year of sorts out of John Henderson. The secondary is playoff-level, as is the linebacking corps, led by Mike Peterson and Daryl Smith. Mike Smith has moved on to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, so the new defensive coordinator is the respected Gregg Williams, former head man at Buffalo, and lately with the Redskins, where he was expected to take over when Joe Gibbs retired but was unexpectedly fired along with offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
This is mentally-tough team, which customarily plays Indianapolis tooth-and-nail. And they've demonstrated strength at home, compiling 6-2 records each of the last three seasons while giving up an average of less than 18 points a game. The style they employ works in playoff-type weather, because it places the accent on the ground attack and highlights a nastiness on defense.
Is it enough for us to consider a play on this team to win Super Bowl laurels? I, for one, think this might be a year they'll be right in the mix.
JAY'S PREDICTION FOR 2008:
Jacksonville Jaguars -- 12-4, Tie, 1st, AFC South
(+1400 in the BetUS Super Bowl betting odds)
The 2008 NFL betting season is around the corner! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!
(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)