NFL betting odds – Harrison problems won't slow Colts
betonline.com's internet Sportsbook is already examining NFL betting lines and trying to a get a feel for who will emerge as a true Super Bowl contender and who will flop in '08. Some online betting fans believe a recent champion faces a tough road thanks to injury and off-field issues surrounding one of its most proven players.
Over one-thousand receptions. More than 100 touchdowns. Eight Pro Bowls. A Super Bowl ring. Those are the things that should immediately come to mind when thinking of Marvin Harrison, the great Indianapolis Colts receiver. Instead, much of the focus right now—and once the season begins—is and will be on Harrison's off-field problems this year.
The quiet star was always a bit of a mystery off the field. It didn't stop him from becoming a fan favorite, but that didn't change that little was known about his personal life. Things changed this spring when Harrison was allegedly involved in a shooting at a bar he owns.
The results of the investigation likely won't be known for some time, though it's possible they could keep one of the league's all-time greatest players off the field if a suspension followed. Moreover, lingering issues from knee surgery could keep Harrison out of action, if not at least reduce his effectiveness. That has many sports bettors pondering their NFL football betting odds and how Harrison's absence or injury could affect the Colts.
Truth be told, we're betting it won't have much of an impact. The Colts are still heavy contenders to win another title (+700 Super Bowl odds) and Harrison shouldn't really affect the equation much. Last season, he played in just five games thanks to the knee injury. He caught 20 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, solid but well off of his career averages (his pace would have averaged out to 64 catches, 790 yards and three touchdowns).
In fact, Indianapolis averaged over 28 points per outing, good for third in the NFL. That's a lot of juice in one offense. It should be more of the same this season, considering how many weapons the Colts have to line up. Peyton Manning is arguably the league's best quarterback. Reggie Wayne had a Pro Bowl season at wide out. Joseph Addai came into his own as an elite runner on the ground. And Harrison's potential replacement, Anthony Gonzalez, is primed for a break out campaign.
The former first-round pick was solid in '07, racking up 37 catches for 576 yards. Gonzalez really took things up a notch in late November, when he snagged 22 of his receptions in his last five games of the season. Odds are he's read to make a leap, and a 70-catch, near-1000 yard season isn't out of the question for Gonzalez, who should see plenty of time this year.
At the end of the day, that means the Colts offense should be just as scary as ever. If Harrison is healthy, the Colts have three very dangerous receivers to spread the field with. Without him, Indy can still fall back on Wayne, Addai, Gonzalez and, of course, Manning to rack up a ton of points. Keep that in mind when checking in with your sportsbook and weighing your NFL football betting odds this season.
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?
