Philadelphia Eagles Odds - Eagles chasing Giants in NFC East
Online betting players will have their hands full in the NFC East, as any of the four teams could come away with the division title. One of these teams is Philadelphia, who lost some important pieces on both sides of the ball, but also made some great additions to fill their holes. How do their odds stack up in the 2009 season?
Philadelphia Eagles odds: +1200 to win Super Bowl XLVI
- McNabb gets help up front at wideout
- Hobbs, Jones improves Dawkins-less secondary
- Westbrook needs help in the backfield to boost Eagles’ sportsbook odds
Eagles odds will depend heavily, as usual, on the play of Donovan McNabb, who hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2004. The Eagles added Jason Peters from Buffalo to take over the left-tackle spot vacated by Tra Thomas, while tackle Stacy Andrews was brought in from Cincinnati to join his younger brother Shawn on the right side of Philadelphia’s offensive line. Brian Westbook’s knee should be okay for training camp, but that only underlines the need for another running back as the 29-year-old battled various injuries throughout 2008. LeSean McCoy was drafted in the second round, and he’ll get a chance as Westbrook’s understudy. Jeremy Maclin was picked 19th by the Eagles, and he could form a dynamic, if not undersized, duo with DeSean Jackson at receiver. Brent Celek steps into the No.1 tight end role for the departed L.J. Smith.
A pair of ex-Patriots are reunited in the Philadelphia secondary as Ellis Hobbs was picked up before the draft, and now the Eagles have a pair of great corners in both Hobbs and Asante Samuel. The Hobbs move was smart as Sheldon Brown asked to be traded, and the Eagles could feasibly just let him sit on the bench. Sean Jones was brought in from Seattle to replace longtime Eagle Brian Dawkins, who signed with Denver. The front seven is intact, led by middle linebacker Stewart Bradley. Darren Howard could be counted on to be more of an every-down player as he racked up 10 sacks as a situational rusher.
NFL betting lines have the Eagles behind only the New York Giants in the NFC with odds of +500, and their Super Bowl odds are listed at +1200. The Eagles have quite a tough schedule, which comes with playing in the insane NFC East with the Giants, Dallas and Washington. Not to mention there is a three-game mid-season stretch could decide the Eagles’ fate, as they have road games at San Diego, Chicago and Atlanta. The Eagles’ defense will definitely be close to last year’s third-place ranking, so there is a lot of pressure on the offense to put reach 2008’s ninth-place ranking. Maclin and Jackson can stretch the field, but the Eagles need someone to catch the intermediate passes, and it would also be good if McCoy could give Westbrook some much-needed breaks. The Eagles should have enough to beat out Dallas for the second spot in the East, and if their young receivers break out, the sky is the limit for these Eagles’ sports betting odds.
For more NFL lines analysis for all 32 teams, check out 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.
