NFL Betting – Buffalo Bills Eyeing Playoffs
- Is Trent Edwards a franchise quarterback?
- Can the Bills defense become dominant?
- How will Buffalo weather the tough AFC East?
During NFL betting , there were few teams that paid out more than the Buffalo Bills did last year. The Bills were 9-6-1 against the spread and were a particularly good bet in the middle of the season. But after a 7-9 season campaign expectations have grown, meaning there will be less on the betting line for the Bills.
Buffalo had one of the worst offenses in the NFL and didn't make many changes to it in the offseason. It added second-round pick wide receiver James Hardy but remained fairly quiet otherwise.
The team is banking that quarterback Trent Edwards will take the next step in his development. For the past three seasons the Bills offense has been limited because of lackadaisical production out of the quarterback position, and they hope the second-year man breaks that pattern. Although the Bills had a winning record under Edwards last year, he has to improve statistically across the board.
While the offense is status quo, the defense will have a few new faces.
After getting pushed around on the inside throughout last year, the Bills traded for former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud. The Bills are hoping they're getting the man who played in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2003-2005 and not the lazy, injured one who played in only 12 contests over the last two years.
If Stroud is effective, more more opportunities should open up for the Bills' trio of defensive ends. Aaron Schobel, Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay combined for 25.5 sacks in 2006 but only had 10 last year.
The Bills have a very young back seven and will be counting on their prospects to step up. There is no lack of leadership from safety Donte Whitner, who guaranteed a playoff berth, and the Bills will need more of that type of attitude from rookie corner Leodis McKelvin and sophomore linebacker Paul Posluszny.
The betting odds for the Bills regular season win total is set at eight wins but they have a tough schedule to get by if they want to hit the over. Buffalo faces tough home contests against three 10-win teams in Seattle, San Diego and Cleveland, and they have toad road games in Arizona, St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver. That's in addition to playing the New England Patriots and the New York Jets twice. Under looks like a good play.
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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?
