posted April 21, 2008 at 16:04 EST in NFL Free Picks

The NFL schedule came out last week. The NFL Draft is April 28th! It’s never too early to start thinking about the NFL! Head to the BetUS Sportsbook and bet on the NFL Draft.

The NFL is indeed a day-to-day, month to month sport. In order to stay on top of the wagers you will ultimately make come this fall, you need to start thinking right now about those key games that will produce huge profits. How do you do that? First, you log onto the BetUS site and check out the NFL future wagers page. This page no doubt will clue you in as to who might have an advantage come the start of the season. Also, read the articles regarding the NFL in the BetUS locker room. These articles are absolutely imperative for you when you start keying in on those regular season games.

You should also pay attention to the NFL Draft. The key with this year’s draft is understanding how each player drafted in one of the top ten spots will, or won’t, affect the team come game-day. There have been some rookies that could impact teams right away, but usually this isn’t the case. Often times, it takes a rookie at least two to three years to get onto the field and make things happen.

Let’s take a look at the key games for the Top Ten teams drafting based on who I think they will choose come draft day.

1. Miami Dolphins - - The Dolphins no doubt will pick a defensive player. That means either Chris Long from Virginia or Vernon Gholston from Ohio State. There’s some buzz about Jake Long, the huge offensive tackle from Michigan, but I’m going with Chris Long mainly because the kid can play right away and Parcells will be looking for a player who can do that.

Key Games: Sept 21 New England, Oct 5th San Diego. Back-back-back games versus the Patriots and Chargers? If the Dolphins have any hopes of making the playoffs, and those hopes must be awfully slim, they’ve got to beat either the Patriots or the Chargers in this two game stretch. Long will have to a special player.

2. St. Louis Rams - - The Rams will go with either Jake Long from Michigan or Gholston. Because they couldn’t protect their quarterback last year, I think they go with Long in this spot. Like Chris Long, this Long will be able to start right away.

Key Games: Oct. 12th Washington, Oct. 19th Dallas, Oct. 26th New England, Nov 2 Arizona. Man, that’s a tough four-game stretch for the Rams. And this team had one of the worst records last year in the NFL? Are we sure?

3. Atlanta Falcons - - The Falcons will probably try to trade this pick, move down, and take Boston College QB Matt Ryan. If that doesn’t happen, then I see them choosing either star defensive tackle in this draft - - Glenn Dorsey form LSU or Sedrick Ellis from USC. I like Dorsey only because he’s a southern kid that the Atlanta fans will automatically embrace from his days at LSU. Dorsey will have an immediate impact on the Falcons’ front-four.

Key Games: Dec. 7th New Orleans, Dec. 14th Tampa Bay, Dec. 21st Minnesota. The Falcons will be trying to get a wild-card spot. That means they have to beat fellow NFC teams. Four in a row to end their season will put serious pressure on these guys.

4. Oakland Raiders - - The Raiders will not pass up taking a player of Darren McFadden’s ability. I don’t care what any of the naysayers are saying. This guy can flat-out play football. If the Raiders put him in a backfield with JaMarcus Russell and Justin Fargas, this team could make some serious waves. If they get through their first four games…

Key Games: Sept 8 Denver, Sept 14 Kansas City, Sept 21 Buffalo, Sep 28 San Diego. Oakland gets to play their first four games against four teams that will be fighting for a playoff spot. Do or die early for the Raiders!

5. Kansas City - - The Chiefs need offensive line-men, cornerbacks, everything. I think they take the best defensive player left in the draft. That’s USC defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis. Yet another player who can have an immediate impact on the team that drafts him.

Key Games: Nov 23 Buffalo, Nov 30 Oakland, Dec 7 Denver, Dec 14 San Diego. Another strange stretch where the KC Chiefs get to face four tough AFC opponents. They don’t get a break during this brutal stretch.

6. New York Jets - - The Jets will almost assuredly take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan if he is available. They’ve got D’Brickashaw Ferguson to play left tackle. So, Ryan makes sense. Of course, drafting Ryan won’t help them get to the playoffs. It’s going to take Ryan a good two to three years before being able to run an NFL offense.

Key games: Sep 7 Miami, Sep 14 New England, Sep 22 San Diego, Sep 28 Arizona. I could see the Jets starting the season either 0 and 4 or 1 and 3. That means they don’t make the playoffs.

7. New England Patriots - - I think the Patriots draft Vernon Gholston from Ohio State. He’s got a terrific upside since, physically, he’s the most dominant player in the draft. He looks a lot like DeMarcus Ware for the Dallas Cowboys. Gholston could immediately start wrecking havoc in opposing opponent’s backfields.

Key Games: They do play San Diego this year and Indianapolis, but, seriously this team should cakewalk through most of their schedule. Expect to hear those words - - cha-ching - - every time the Patriots take the field.

8. Baltimore Ravens - - Since Matt Ryan should be gone by this point, the Ravens will draft cornerback Leodis McKelvin from Troy. McKelvin is small but he can take some pressure of off Chris McCallister by starting right away and by returning kick-offs and/or punts. This team is going to try and build a new identity. That means getting new defensive blood onto the field.

Key Games: Sep 21 Cleveland, Sep 29 Pittsburgh, Oct 5 Tennessee, Oct 12 Indianapolis. Three straight games versus AFC North opponents and then you get to play the Colts. Huge four game stretch for the Ravens.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - - What do the Bengals not need on the defensive side of the ball? I don’t know where this team will go, but it will have to be somebody who can come right in and play right away. That has to be defensive end Phillip Merling from Clemson. Merling is a dynamite sack specialist who will automatically help that Bengals’ pass-rush. He’s also one of the few guys who will start immediately in this draft.

Key Games: Every game against their fellow AFC North opponents will be key this season. They also get to play against the NFC East. So, I don’t expect a whole lot from this team.

10. New Orleans Saints - - The Saints improved significantly on defense during the free agency period. The offense is solid so the Saints will go defense in the draft. The best defensive player available with the tenth pick will be linebacker Keith Rivers out of USC. He’s a monster who can start on day one with Scott Fujita and a healthy Jonathan Vilma. If Dan Morgan is okay, the Saints just went from having one of the worst line-backing corps in the NFL to having one of the best.

Key Games: Nov 24 Green Bay, Nov 30 Tampa Bay, Dec 7 Atlanta, Dec 11 Chicago, Dec 21 Detroit, Dec 28 Carolina. That’s six games in a row towards the end of the season for the Saints against fellow NFC teams that will be fighting for a playoff berth. It could be the Saints undoing.

The 2008 NFL betting season is coming, and 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 games, totals and propositions, and you will also find NFL future lines up for the Super Bowl as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!