Miami Dolphins Odds – Why the Fish won’t repeat last year’s success
What a turnaround for Miami Dolphins odds—only in NFL betting can a team jump from one win to 11 in a single season. Chad Pennington led a scrappy and creative offensive unit to the 2008 AFC East title. The question plaguing everyone betting NFL in 2009 is whether or not last season was a fluke. Considering Miami has the league’s toughest schedule, a regression is likely.
Miami Dolphins odds: +6000 to win Super Bowl XLIV
- Pennington hard-pressed to stay healthy two straight years
- Rookie cornerback Vontae Davis’s mental issues make him a wild card
- Pat White could play a big role in the wildcat offense
You can’t discuss Miami’s 2008 success without mentioning Pennington. The noodle-armed quarterback had a magical year, tossing 19 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions and calling to mind his best years as a New York Jet. For the Dolphins’ passing attack to stay competitive, he’ll have to be just as good this season, and that’s a tall order. Not only is he never a safe bet to stay healthy, especially two years in a row, Pennington will face a handful of the best pass defenses in NFL betting this season, including Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and New England. To put points on the board, the Dolphins passing game needs a wideout to step up. Greg Camarillo appeared to be that man last season, but a devastating knee injury suffered late in the year makes him a major question mark for 2009.
A possible sportsbook X-Factor could be second-round pick Pat White, who could be the Dolphins’ quarterback of the future but also will see time running the wildcat offense. Speaking of wildcat, a prominent component of it for Miami last season was, of course, Ronnie Brown. He may never be an every-down back but his versatility and explosiveness keep defenses on their toes and he was a big reason why the Dolphins’ running game was 11th in the NFL last season.
If the Fish had an Achilles’ heel last season in online betting odds, it was pass defense. They were torched for 227.8 yards per game last year, good for 25th in the NFL and the second-worst mark among playoff teams. Help for the secondary is on the way, though. Miami poached safety Gibril Wilson from the Raiders in the offseason while first-round pick Vontae Davis, like brother Vernon, has immense physical gifts. If Davis can keep his emotions in check, he could seriously bolster Miami’s pass defense.
Will the Dolphins regress to one win this season? Of course not. However, a return to double-digit wins seems far-fetched. Not only does Miami’s tough schedule pit the Dolphins against tough pass defenses, it also tosses a boatload of prolific passing offenses at them, so Miami better hope its offseason moves pay off in the secondary.
For future sports betting tips and more Dolphin NFL betting analysis, visit the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
