Super Bowl futures: Can anyone knock off the Chargers?
It's time to start preparing for football betting lines as betonline.com's offshore sportsbook has released its 2008 Super Bowl futures. If you bet sports online, the Bettor's Edge will give you everything you need to be ready for Week 1 of the NFL regular season. Today, we'll continue our division-by-division review of the draft and free agency by recapping the AFC West.
The Denver Broncos (+5000 Super Bowl odds)will enter the season with a largely unproven backfield after letting Travis Henry go in the offseason. Many expected Denver to spend a draft pick on a back, but the team waited until the fifth round to select little-known Ryan Torain. Of course, the team has proved more than capable of making stars out of nobodies, so Torain might just be next in line. He'll get some help from on the line from massive tackle Ryan Clady, who was taken in the first round. The team also went offense in the second and fourth round, taking receiver Eddie Royal and center Kory Lichtensteiger. Dexter Jackson was the most notable addition via free agency. The wide out is talented but injury prone. There's some talent here, but the Broncos still don't' make a great underdog pick.
Kansas City (+10000 Super Bowl odds) had a humongous draft, making a whopping 12 picks, including six in the first, second and third rounds. The team spent those football picks all over, but the biggest additions come in first-round selections Glen Dorsey and Branden Albert. Dorsey and Albert will be significant contributors on the offensive and defensive line, respectively. Sterling defensive end Jared Allen was traded to Minnesota, but it was that trade that left the Chiefs with such a boon in the draft. Kansas City didn't do anything to change it's quarterback situation, so Brodie Croyle will get the call for this young team. They'll struggle.
The Raiders (+5000 Super Bowl odds) were spread thin in the draft, as they had just five total picks (and none in the second or third round). They selected Darren McFadden with their top pick. The running back is supremely talented, though the decision left Oakland with a crowded backfield. Dominic Rhodes was cut to make room, leaving McFadden, Lamont Jordan, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. The draft wasn't such a big deal, considering how much money Oakland threw around in free agency. The team took some big-time gambles by overspending on some players. Gibril Wilson (formerly of the Giants) was brought in at safety, while former Bronco Javon Walker was given a mega-deal to play receiver and replace the departed Jerry Porter.
San Diego (+700 Super Bowl odds) is easily the class of the division. Sports bettors will be all over these guys as Super Bowl favorites because both the offense and defense have plenty of juice to go around. The Chargers didn't really make any changes in the offseason, which is a good thing considering their talent. Back-up running back Michael Turner is gone, but he was replaced in the third-round with football pick Jacob Hester. Third corner Drayton Florence left for Jacksonville but was replaced by first-round Antoine Cason. Free agent linebacker Dwight Smith will add depth to the linebacking corps, but this team is content to rely on its existing, deep talent pool.
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is nearly here, so don't wait to make your 2008 Super Bowl futures and football picks. Check out the Bettor's Edge tomorrow for a recap of the AFC North.
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?
