All odds according to Pinnacle.
Dallas Cowboys (+817) –It’s a little strange to see the Cowboys as the favorites to win it all, especially with the way they were blown out against Minnesota in the Divisional Round last year. But this is definitely a team with the talent to get to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys have one of the most balanced rosters in the league, sporting a defense that let up just 15.6 points per game last year, and an offensive with weapons such as Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Miles Austin. The Cowboys have struggled in the playoffs in recent years and will need to prove that they can win when it matters.
Indianapolis Colts (+920) – The Colts as a favorite shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Colts have had at least 12 wins in every season since 2003, and they should be able to keep that streak alive this year. After coming so close to another Super Bowl title, the Colts will be hungry to get back to the big game. There is no doubting that the passing attack, led by Peyton Manning, will be as good as always. If the rushing game is better than last year’s, which ranked last in the league, the Colts will be even more difficult to stop. Any team with Manning on it has a legitimate shot.
New Orleans Saints (+1017) – It goes without saying how hard it is to repeat as a Super Bowl champion. Just look at what happened to the Steelers last season. Still, Drew Brees and the Saints have one of the best offenses in the league. The defense last year wasn’t great, allowing over 21 points a game, but did lead the league with eight defensive touchdowns. It’s difficult to imagine any team scoring eight defensive touchdowns two years in a row, so expect the Saints defense to actually take a step back this year. Even with a mediocre defense, the offense is strong enough to win most games and carry this team deep into the postseason.
San Diego Chargers (+1044) – Phillip Rivers has emerged as one of the league’s top quarterbacks and will look to bring to the Chargers to the postseason once again. Out of all the teams in the league, the Chargers have the easiest ride to a playoff berth. The Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos do not have enough to contend for the division this year. The Chargers will easily take the division, and that alone makes them a good bet. Still there are some questions marks. With the Vincent Jackson situation continually getting worse and the Chargers likely to put a pretty heavy workload on rookie running back Ryan Matthews, this team could have some inconsistencies throughout the year.
Baltimore Ravens (+1067) – For the first time in what seems like forever, the Ravens offense is actually generating more buzz than the defense. And why shouldn’t it? Ray Rice proved he is an elite back and the addition of Anquan Boldin can only strengthen an already improving passing game. The defense, once again, will be solid but there are some concerns in the secondary, especially with the injury to super safety Ed Reed. Overall, the Ravens have one of the league’s best offenses and one of the league’s best defenses, so this will be a scary team come playoff time.
Green Bay Packers (+1118) – After a poor showing in 2008, the Packers defense rebounded in 2009, allowing just 18.6 points per game. Since Aaron Rodgers took over at quarterback, the Packers have ranked in top five in scoring each season, and there’s no reason for that to change this year. This is another well-balanced team that could make some noise in the playoffs. There is some concern, seeing as the Vikings will also be looking to capture the division title. Still, this team will at the very least earn the Wild Card.
Sure Dallas’ offensive line has looked atrocious in the preseason but for my money the Cowboys followed by the Colts look to be the best bets on the board. Remember that we do sell weekly NFL picks against the point spread all season long. A great investment for the football bettor.
