Super Bowl futures: Can Tampa Bay repeat as division champ?
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is closing in, and our online sportsbook has released its 2008 Super Bowl futures. It's never too soon to prepare, so the savvy sports betting fan is preparing now so he'll make wise football picks on NFL betting lines. Bettor's Edge is completing division-by-division recaps of the draft and free agency. Today, we'll review the NFC South.
The Atlanta Falcons (+10000 Super Bowl odds) had a big draft, making 11 picks, including six in the first, second and third round. The most notable additions are first-round picks Matt Ryan and Sam Baker. Ryan should help erase the bad memories left by Micheal Vick. Baker will protect him on the offensive line. The infusion of youth will help the team down the road, but they'll struggle in the short-term. Through free agency, the Falcons spread money out on offense and defense, signing running back Michael Turner and re-signing linebacker Michael Boley. The only notable loss was Warrick Dunn, though Turner will be a big improvement over him.
The Carolina Panthers (+4000 Super Bowl odds) made a big addition in receiver D.J. Hackett; the former Seahawk will finally give Steve Smith a competent partner he's sorely lacked the past few seasons, making Smith—already one of the NFL's best—a good bet to explode in '08. Linebacker Dan Morgan and lineman Mike Wahle are gone, but the former is injury prone and the latter too expensive. Carolina somewhat surprisingly used its first pick on Oregon back Jon Stewart, but he'll upgrade the running game, especially with fellow first-rounder Jeff Otah joining the offensive line. With the new additions, odds are Carolina will be a favorite to win the NFC South.
New Orleans (+1800 Super Bowl odds) needed to improve its defense and did a good job of that in the offseason. First, the team picked up two talented linebackers in Jon Vilma and Dan Morgan, though Morgan has had trouble staying healthy. Cornerback Randall Gay and defensive lineman Bobby McCray were added for depth, and the team spend its first and second-round picks on defense, selecting tackle Sedrick Ellis and corner Tracy Porter. Though the unit won't be setting any records, it should be much more solid than the past few years. On the offensive side of the ball little has changed, though the team is counting on Deuce McAllister to return from a second knee surgery. That's a huge gamble for the Saints, especially by Week 1 of the regular season.
Last season's division winner is getting long in the tooth, so Tampa Bay (+4000 Super Bowl odds)could run out of juice at any moment. The Buccaneers added some youth on both sides of the ball, using football picks on corner Aqib Talib and wide out Dexter Jackson in the first two rounds of the draft. However, they also signed more veterans in center Jeff Faine and corner Eugene Wilson. The team's most significant loss was veteran defender Brian Kelly, though Tampa Bay hopes Talib can step in and replace him. The Buccs' fortunes largely rest on whether or not they can successfully squeeze another productive year out of their older players. They're underdogs in the division race.
Pick your 2008 Super Bowl futures now as Week 1 of the NFL regular season is almost here. Making smart football picks begins with preparation and now is the time to find an edge. betonline.com will be there to help.
Blake walked onto his college football team and had a brief stint as an assistant coach after he graduated. He brings a sharp mind to the world of sports handicapping. Blake understands the nuances of the game that only someone who has played would understand, and he was one of the few who gave the Giants a chance against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Thoughts or questions?
