NFL Betting - Toughest Division In NFL Is AFC South
2008 NFL odds:
- Have Jacksonville Jaguars caught up to Indianapolis Colts?
- Will Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young rebound?
- Are Houston Texans still the fourth-best team in the AFC South?
NFL fans who bet on sports want to know: have the division's underdogs closed the gap on the Indianapolis Colts? The Colts are again the offshore sportsbook favorite in the AFC South and after winning it five years in a row, why not?
Peyton Manning leads the Indianapolis Colts' potent offense, which has more depth than last year's squad. Dominic Rhodes returned to Indy in the offseason and will be reliable runner behind starter Joseph Addai. Addai wore down at times last season and needs to share some carries with someone.
The Colts played most of last year without Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney, two of their best players. Anthony Gonzalez emerged as a solid option with Harrison out but the defense really missed Freeney. With him in the lineup, the Colts are a completely different team.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' odds to win the division aren't as long as they used to be. The Jags have closed the gap and are a legitimate threat to win the division should the Colts falter at all.
The big difference-maker for the Jags last year was quarterback David Garrard, who emerged to make his first Pro Bowl. The defense and running game are stout but, with Garrard, the Jags were a balanced team all the way around.
One weakness was the wide receiving corps, but the Jags addressed that in the offseason by adding Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson. Porter is expected to make a big impact, but he tore his hamstring and will miss all of preseason and training camp.
The Tennessee Titans are also in the mix but sports bettors have a tough time figuring them out. Their defense was stout last year after losing Pacman Jones but was a weak unit with him two years ago. Vince Young started his career guns blazing but struggled last year.
The Titans added Alge Crumpler in the offseason but didn't make any wholesale changes to their receiving corps, which was surprising. Their receivers are among the weakest in the league.
Lastly, the underdog Houston Texans feel they're ready to step up with the other three teams in the division. They are finally strong on both lines of scrimmage and have enough skill players on offense, but they still don't have the defense to compete for first place.
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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?
