North Texas vs. Florida International Betting Mobile Odds

Online Mobile Free Pick: Florida Int´l over North Texas by 20

Things sure have gone south at North Texas. After head coach Darrell Dickey was fired in 2006 for logging just fi ve wins in his final two seasons, legendary high school coach Todd Dodge was handed the reins – and he sank to an even-worse six total wins before being jettisoned just seven games into his fourth and final season at Denton.

Enter new head coach Dan McCarney, former mentor at Iowa State. Not only is McCarney a major step up in class for the not-so-Mean Green, he proved he can do more with less by clawing his way to a respectable 56-85 SU log during his 12-year tenure at Ames.

But even though he proved he can win with a lower-tier program, UNT’s new head man can’t seem to ring the ATS register when overmatched on the playing fi eld, posting a woeful 3-17 ATS mark as a conference road dog of 13 or more points.

Worse, North Panther QB Wesley Carroll may have graduated last year but he’s back with another season of eligibility.

Fla International is a - 14 point favorites and you can check on Luxbet Mobile that the total is set at 54.

Meanwhile, second-year OC Scott Satterfi eld has expanded the FIU playbook by 40% so it’s a good thing QB Carroll has plenty of free time to study the new schemes.

He’ll be tossing to T.Y. Hilton, arguably the best player in the conference and the team leader in receptions each of the last three years. Still, the question begs: can Mario Cristobal’s Panthers snap an 18-game losing streak during the fi rst three games of the season?

Reveals FIU as a play-on team (40-26-2 ATS) who improved its defense by 100 or more yards from the previous season. Lay the points as FIU beats the spread for the fi fth time in its last six games.

NFL Betting: The Top Five Preseason Finales To Watch This Week

While fishing fans are looking to get in a couple more trips before the weather starts to cool down, NFL football fans will be getting ready for the final week of the preseason, which is usually a glorified practice as coaches don’t want to risk an injury to their starters just before the regular season and also, they have to finalize roster spots. Here are five games to keep an eye on this week in your sports betting book.

Lions Bills Odds – Thursday, 6:30 PM ET

The Lions are 1-point underdogs in this contest according to NFL betting lines, but Detroit fans may be praying that their team throws this game; Detroit is 3-0 and have looked extremely good in the preseason but remember, they went 4-0 in the 2008 preseason and ended up going 0-16. Winning is important, but the Lions don’t want to shoot all their bullets already.

Colts Bengals Odds – Thursday, 7:00 PM ET

The Colts are 6-point underdogs on the road, and those who make NFL betting picks will probably get to see Kerry Collins, who was brought out of retirement by Indianapolis as Peyton Manning may not be ready for the regular-season opener. It’ll be interesting to see how the veteran pivot picks up Indianapolis’ intricate offense.

Giants Patriots Odds – Thursday, 7:30 PM ET

This is currently no NFL line for this game in New England, but all eyes will be on the Patriots and specifically defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who has yet to suit up for New England after coming over from Washington into one of the biggest moves of this shortened offseason. While he won’t get substantial time, Haynesworth should get a series of work, at least.

Broncos Cardinals Odds – Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

The Broncos are 3-point underdogs in the desert, but the attention in this game will be on their backup quarterback role as Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn are still battling to hold the clipboard behing Kyle Orton. Reports surfaced that Tebow was the fourth-string quarterback, but as a first-round pick and a high-profile player, he’ll get more chances, and he should get one on Thursday.

Raiders Seahawks Odds – Friday, 10:30 PM ET

Finally, the Seahawks are 3-point favorites at home, but their transition into the post-Matt Hasselbeck era hasn’t gone smoothly in the preseason as Tarvaris Jackson has struggled mightily. Jackson has offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who was the coordinator in Minnesota while Jackson was there, and he also has Sidney Rice, who emerged as one of the biggest deep threats in the league, but Jackson has a scattershot arm, even when he isn’t under pressure. Unless he improves, Seattle won’t move up a bit in your sports betting book.

Should The NFL Get Rid Of The Preseason And Extend Training Camps?

Ever since the NFL betting lines season for 2011 opened a couple of weeks ago, players both first string and backup have been dropping like flies due to injuries sustained during preseason games. As a result of a shorter training camp, players have had less time to prepare both physically and mentally for preseason sports betting games. With an increase in injury this preseason, fans and experts alike are wondering, should the NFL get rid of the preseason all together?

From the beginning of March to roughly the middle of July, the NFL and the NFLPA were entrenched in a heated labor dispute and consequential lockout. Since the dispute took four months to resolve, players were unable to properly train this offseason, for the upcoming season. For the reason that offseason training may be just as if not more important than regular season conditioning, more players reported to training camp out of shape then in years past.

What’s worse? In order to make the most money possible, the NFL was not willing to adjust the preseason schedule or cancel it all together, so that training camps could be extended. This being the case, not only were players more vulnerable, but teams were also less prepared for games.

There are many arguments both good and bad for keeping or getting rid of the preseason. On the one hand, most casual fans want the preseason to remain so that they can have an early glimpse at their favorite players. Players and coaches want preseason to remain because they can practice what they learned in training camp against real opponents.

On the other hand, people against preseason have a few arguments to get rid of it as well. For instance, by getting rid of preseason and extending training camp, teams from around the league, especially the bad ones, can practice every play both on offense and defense until it is fully engrained in their brains. Another argument against preseason is that the preseason schedule is too long. Meaning to say, a shorter preseason could also allow the regular season to start sooner.

Ultimately, there is no worse feeling for a team and its fan base, then to know that your favorite star was given the smack down by another team’s fourth stringer in a game that didn’t count for anything. By getting rid of preseason and extending training camps, the players and coaches will have enough time to fully educate themselves on any new systems, and training programs.

The only people that have a vested interest in preseason, is the NFL administration and the 32 owners, who want the extra revenue. As we mentioned earlier, fans can wait for football as long as their favorite players are healthy for week one of the regular season.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Betting: Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Online Betting Overview

The third week of the preseason in the NFL is the most important week for the starters. Teams have made their decision on who will start the regular season opener, and that is who winds up playing the majority of the third preseason game. The fourth preseason game is used to find special teams players and third-stringers to fill out the roster. But the rookies that have been fighting for a spot during training camp and in the first two preseason games will find out if they made the cut or not when the starters for this first preseason game are announced.

The highest profile position on any football team is the quarterback, and there have been several rookies trying to find their way into starting positions on NFL rosters this season. Even though some rookie quarterbacks have shown some promise, it is unlikely that the NFL betting lines for opening day will feature a prominent rookie under center. This game features two rookie quarterbacks that are trying to be the starter in their first year in the league. Fans will be watching to see who starts at quarterback for these two teams and if the rookies have made the grade.

Carolina Panthers



First pick overall in the 2011 draft Cam Newton got his chance to start an NFL preseason game when the Panthers played week two against the Miami Dolphins. Newton was indecisive, inaccurate and unable to move the Panthers’ offense. But no one on the Panthers offense could get anything done. Second-year quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw for 69 yard in the second half. The Carolina running game combined for only 68 yards, and Newton accounted for 10 of those. Newton was a huge factor in NCAA football betting, but he may have to wait a few weeks to get his chance to start a regular season game in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals



The New York Jets looked great in their week two preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals, on the other hand, did not look so good. Even if fans do not feel that rookie Andy Dalton is not ready to start in the NFL, the Bengals may have no choice but to go with him. Bruce Gradkowski and Dan LeFevour could get absolutely nothing going at quarterback either. When you consider that the Bengals were only able to get 50 total rushing yards in the entire game, it may start to sink in that the problem in Cincinnati is the offensive line. Dalton may get the starting job because he is the best of a mediocre group of players, and that does not mean that Andy Dalton will be able to win games in Cincinnati.

The Bottom Line



Week three preseason NFL picks are as close to regular season betting as the preseason has to offer. Cincinnati fans will be watching to see how Andy Dalton performs against the Carolina defense, while Carolina fans will be watching to see who will be the Panthers’ starting quarterback in September.

BSNblog Pick: Carolina Panthers

Bears vs. Giants Can Eli Manning Prove He Is An Elite Quarterback?

Tonight’s sports betting Chicago Bears verses New York Giants football game marks the resumption of the heated rivalry between two of the NFC’s most historic games. In 2010, the Chicago Bears offensive line hardly provided any protection for NFL betting lines quarterback Jay Cutler, against the New York Giants. On the other hand, this game will feature Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who claims that he is as good as 2010 MVP Tom Brady. Here is a preview of the game and the indications it holds in store.

Starting tonight, the New York Giants will be looking to show fans and critics from across the league alike, that they are the real deal. Entering this evening’s matchup with the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants have revenge on the mind, as the Bears were the team last year that essentially disqualified New York from NFL playoffs contention. This game also has huge indications for both teams internally, as the backup quarterback positions on both sides are wide open.

With a shortened preseason, the Chicago Bears and in particular offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be in tough to improve the offensive line. For those unfamiliar, the 2010 New York Giants defense laid the smack down on the Bears offensive line on several occasions. What’s more, despite making it to the NFC Championship, the Bears led the NFL last year in giving up the most sacks. Meaning to say, while preseason is about getting patterns and timing down, it is also a time for improvement.

As it stands right now, the current plan for both Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin is to give their starters 20 – 30 snaps before letting the backups take over. The 30 snaps per team, should give fans and experts alike a good indication, of how each team may fair this season. For both Eli Manning and Jay Cutler, the snaps in week two of the preseason, should be able to form an early indication of whether or not both pivots will be good this season.

Just as we previously stated, Manning wants to be considered amongst the elite this season. On the contrary, after injuring his knee in the NFC Championship game and being ridiculed by his peers, Cutler just wants to show that he can continue to grow as a quarterback.

Also, this game will be a battle of the backup quarterbacks, as after Manning and Cutler, the depth charts at the pivot position for both New York and Chicago, appear to be rather thin. In New York, there is a three way battle for the second string position, between former Houston Texans duo David Carr and Sage Rosenfels. Meanwhile, in Chicago, last year’s near NFC Championship hero Caleb Hanie and 2011 fifth rounder Nathan Enderle will be competing for the right to be Jay Culter’s backup in 2011 – 12 seasons. The Giants are a four and a half point favorite as the bookies do not have faith in the Bears offensive line.

NFL Betting: Spotlight Around The AFC in Week Two Of Preseason

With week two of the NFL betting lines preseason set to kick off on Thursday, here is a quick look at where teams from the AFC stand.

The New England Patriots are the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl in 2011, and after a 47-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in week one of the preseason with the majority of their starters watching from the sidelines, it is easy to understand just why that is. The Patriots head to Tampa Bay on Thursday to face a Buccaneers’ team that also won big in week one, and it will be interesting to see how they handle things with their starters in the lineup. Things didn’t look so good for the rest of the AFC East in week one after the rest of the division went 1-2, with the Miami Dolphins’ win over the Atlanta Falcons coming after the starters left the field. The Dolphins will debut Reggie Bush at home this week against the Carolina Panthers, while Shawne Merriman and a revitalized Buffalo Bills’ pass rush are on the road to take on the Denver Broncos. New York Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t happy with his team’s execution in a close loss to the Houston Texans week one of the preseason, and will be expecting more at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

Those same Bengals were blown away by the Detroit Lions 34-3 in their preseason opener, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens also lost to leave the Cleveland Browns as the only sports betting winners from the AFC North in week one. The Browns took down the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers 27-17, and will head home hoping to do better against the Lions than Cincinnati did. Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC North wraps up with the Steelers clashing against the Philadelphia Eagles in an in-state showdown, while Baltimore battles the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

In the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts will look for a better effort from their backups in their second game without Peyton Manning in the lineup, and after a 33-10 blowout loss to the St. Louis Rams there may be nowhere to go but up. The Colts will host a Washington Redskins’ team that made betonline life difficult for the Steelers a week ago, while the Houston Texans host the New Orleans Saints, and the Tennessee Titans travel to take on the Rams on Saturday. The Jacksonville Jaguars are at home against the Atlanta Falcons.

The AFC preseason week two schedule rounds out in the AFC West where the Broncos will continue to watch the battle between quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow despite the fact that a decision has already pretty much been made against the Bills. The San Diego Chargers are at Dallas to face the Cowboys, while the Chiefs will look to bounce back from their opening week sports betting bonus disaster against the Ravens. The Oakland Raiders will also travel in-state, as they get set to clash with the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Online Betting Overview

The Pittsburgh Steelers do not like losing, especially when they are coming off a year where they lost in the Super Bowl. Forget that it is preseason. The Steelers defense was embarrassed by Rex Grossman and the under-achieving Washington Redskins offense. While the Pittsburgh starters did not stay in the game for very long, the Steelers’ pride still works its way down to the second and third string, whether the second and third string players like it or not. The Steelers spent most of their first preseason game looking over talent. But in the preseason battle of Pennsylvania, there may be a little more at stake here.

After that first preseason performance, the NFL betting lines on the Eagles getting to the Super Bowl improved. The Eagles defensive secondary is almost completely brand new, and it will take a couple of games to get the players used to each other. This game would be the perfect one to give the secondary some extended time together. The Eagles’ offense will spend more time looking at second-string players such as quarterback Vince Young. But that is not a weak spot for the Eagles. Young always looks good in the preseason but then falls apart in the regular season. Michael Vick may get some more playing time in this game, but with the Steelers still smarting from last week’s loss, Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid may not keep Vick out there very long.

Pittsburgh Steelers



NFL fans in Pittsburgh know not to get too worried about preseason. But getting touched up by Washington quarterback Rex Grossman for 207 yards when Grossman had limited play in a preseason game is a definite concern for Pittsburgh. The Steelers have always prided themselves on depth in their defense, and that depth was non-existent in the Washington game. Head coach Mike Tomlin will be giving his second and third strings a long look in this game, but he will also give the first string defense a chance to set the tone in the first quarter. The Steelers are still trying to figure out their passing game, so look for a constant carousel of wide receivers to come in and out of this game all night long.

Philadelphia Eagles



The new and improved Eagles would make this one of the best regular season games of the year. But in the preseason, Andy Reid is always protective of his starters. The first quarter of this game will be exciting with the first-string Eagles’ offense against the first-string Steelers’ defense. But when the first teams come out, the Eagles definitely have the upper hand.

The Bottom Line



NFL picks in the preseason can sometimes be difficult because the first stringers are not in there for very long. In this game, depth will decide the outcome and the Eagles have a lot of depth while the Steelers do not. Once the excitement of the first quarter is over, Pittsburgh fans will want to stay tuned and see what Mike Tomlin does about his team’s need for quality second and third string players.

BSNblog Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Betting: Top Five Week 2 Preseason Games

If you bet football online, this may have been the most anticipated preseason in league history as teams threw together training camp in two weeks after the lockout and got the schedule underway. Sports betting players should watch even more football as the regular season approaches as starters will be playing more with each week. Here is a look at the top five games of Week 2.

Patriots vs. Buccaneers Betting – Thursday, 7:30 PM ET

You should see the debut of New England’s Tom Brady, as well as newcomers Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth, who weren’t needed in a 47-12 romp over Jacksonville last week. They’ll be going up against a young and hungry Tampa Bay defense that completely dominated Kansas City in a 25-0 mauling on the road, but quarterback Josh Freeman also looked great in his short cameo. This game could steal some of the spotlight from MLB highlights.

Eagles vs. Steelers Betting – Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

State bragging rights aren’t the only thing at stake when these Pennsylvania rivals meet at Heinz Field; both come into the season as legitimate Super Bowl favorites. The Eagles beat Baltimore 13-6 in their debut, but they looked disjointed at times, which is sure to happen on a team with so many new faces. The Steelers fell 16-7 in Washington, and the defense will be the focus after getting lit up by the Redskins’ Rex Grossman and a subpar Washington passing game.

Chiefs vs. Ravens Betting – Friday, 7:30 PM ET

The Chiefs were manhandled by Tampa Bay and it should be noted that they had barely practiced with pads ahead of the game, so it’s no surprise that they were physically outmatched. They should be able to get up for this game against the Ravens, who destroyed the Chiefs 30-7 in Kansas City in last year’s wild-card round and even though it’s the preseason, you don’t need a Bet Online review to know that will come up at some point this week in practice.

Lions vs. Browns Betting – Friday, 8:00 PM ET

Detroit looked impressive in a 34-3 destruction of Cincinnati, and Matt Stafford proved once again that when he is healthy, the Lions’ offense can be explosive. They’ll face another Ohio team in the Browns, who are still getting used to the way new head coach Pat Shurmur does things and as always, pay attention the way he handles young pivot Colt McCoy.

Saints vs. Texans Betting – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

The Saints looked in midseason form in a 24-3 beatdown of San Francisco, and the defense put up six sacks, all in the first half as they took their foot off the gas in the second. Still, the San Francisco offense looked awful and coach Jim Harbaugh can’t be encouraged about the play of Alex Smith. As long as he’s around, the 49ers will always be considered betting underdogs.

NFL Betting: Ravens Get First Shot At “Dream Team” This Preseason

All of the talk about the Philadelphia Eagles as a “dream team” this coming sports betting season is definitely premature, something that head coach Andy Reid has already stepped up and said. The problem is that while the Eagles have admitted that they are far from being a dream team this year, the rest of the league has taken notice and is already looking forward to getting their shot at popping them in the mouths. First on that list is the Baltimore Ravens, who land in Philadelphia looking to prove that the Eagles aren’t so special at all.

Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles



Thursday August 11, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET



Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



NFL Betting Lines: Philadelphia Eagles – 3

The Baltimore defense likely won’t rely on their starters for too long in this game, and it is doubtful whether safety Ed Reed will even see the field among others. The key for both teams will be establishing offenses with tons of potential, but that have a lot of work to do after a lockout-shortened training camp period.

NFL Betting Preview: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens feel as confident as ever going forward with Joe Flacco one year closer to reaching his potential in Cam Cameron’s offensive system. However, gone are veterans Todd Heap and Derrick Mason, and the team will need to find replacements for both in a hurry. Baltimore signed running back Ricky Williams to help Ray Rice in the backfield, and their ability to rush the football will be key as the Ravens relied on the play-action pass more than any other offense in the NFL last season. There are openings on the defensive line and secondary for young players to step up, and it will be interesting to see how they perform against a talented Eagles’ offense.

NFL Betting Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

There is little doubt that the Eagles want to establish a dominant culture from the outset, but putting together all of the pieces that they acquired in the offseason won’t necessarily be easy. Philadelphia’s defense can be stellar with Nnamdi Asomugha and Domenique Rodgers-Cromartie joining Asante Samuel in the secondary, but first the team will need to plug in a capable front-seven to protect them with question marks on both the defensive line and at linebacker. The Eagles’ offense will open under Michael Vick, but it will be most interesting to see how much of a grasp Vince Young has on the playbook so far, and whether or not he is capable of being the No. 2 ahead of Mike Kafka.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Eagles still have a lot of work to do, and the players will feel a sense of pressure under the media spotlight that has been placed on them because of all of their sports betting bonus offseason activity. Meanwhile, Baltimore will approach this game with much more tempered expectations, and it will serve them well on the road.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Baltimore Ravens + 3

Can Teams That Brought In Most Free Agents Contend For Super Bowl 46?

Due to the sports betting NFL lockout, free agency for the 2011 offseason, has gone by quicker than ever. As a result, many teams were left scrambling, as they no longer had the luxury of playing hard ball with their players, since other teams in desperate need for star players were around to sweep them up. While some teams appear to be improved for the upcoming NFL betting lines season, others seem to be far off from contention. Today we will be looking at the teams that are most improved due to free agency.

Comparable to the 2008 New York Yankees after missing the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles recognized their main area of weakness and rebuilt through free agency this offseason. The Eagles defense was average at best in 2010 and in order to compete for an NFL Super Bowl title, the Eagles needed some serious upgrades. Similar to the 2008 Yankees, who brought in pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, to be their workhorses, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles shocked the rest of the league by landing free agents, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin.

On paper, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles are arguably the favorite to win the Super Bowl coming out of the NFC, ahead of last season’s Super Bowl winner, the Green Bay Packers. While the defense has improved greatly, Philadelphia returns essentially the same offense as last season. In theory, if Michael Vick can stay healthy, the Eagles can thank free agency for a Super Bowl ring.

Another team that made a few big and bold moves was the Houston Texans. Last year’s worst defensive team, will no longer have the smack down laid on them by the rest of the league. The Texans shocked everyone, by signing former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph. As we mentioned earlier, because of the lockout, teams could no longer play hard ball with their free agents. For Joseph, leaving Cincinnati and joining a young Houston Texans squad will be providing him with an excellent opportunity to play a more important role.

Aside from bringing in underrated cornerback Jonathan Joseph, the Houston Texans biggest offseason acquisition actually came from the coaching ranks. Earlier this year, before the NFL lockout, the Texans were able to hire former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Philips as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Throughout his career, Philips has been able to turn mediocrity into stardom, as he turned a horrific San Diego Chargers defense into one of the best in the league. In theory, with an improved defense, the Texans should be able to finally make the playoffs, and perhaps the Super Bowl.

NFL Betting: Chargers Will Return To The Top Of AFC West In 2011-12

For years the San Diego Chargers got by on mediocrity, taking advantage of a relatively easy path through the AFC West to consistently reach the postseason. That all changed a year ago, as the Oakland Raiders returned to respectability and the Kansas City Chiefs broke out under head coach Todd Haley to capture the division title. The Chargers will need to raise their game this season to avoid another letdown, and with the Denver Broncos rebuilding once again, San Diego has all of the sports betting tools to run away with what has become a three-team division.

The Chargers’ strength is their offense, which is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the game in Phillip Rivers. Rivers has grown in the offense to the sports betting bonus point where he is on the verge of being classified as elite, and if he can reignite that chemistry between himself and wide receiver Vincent Jackson, this offense will be among the most dangerous in the league once again. Running back Ryan Matthews should be more comfortable in his second year in the league, and big things are expected of the player that San Diego drafted to be their workhorse back. The Chargers’ defense actually exceeded expectations a year ago by allowing the fewest total yards, but that wasn’t really that big of a surprise with the Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders owning some of the worst offenses in the league. The focus in San Diego will once again be on stopping the run, and the additions of first round pick Cory Liuget and linebacker Takeo Spikes are crucial.

Most of the talk this preseason has been about the Chiefs’ ability to repeat as division champions and the Raiders’ chances of taking another step forward and clinching an AFC West title, but there are reasons to bet against both. In Kansas City, the offense won’t surprise anyone this season and a much tougher schedule will make things harder for a team that capitalized on a weak path to the postseason a year ago. In Oakland, a new head coach following the lockout year will mean a more difficult transition period, and the losses of both Nnamdi Asomugha and Robert Gallery have not been accounted for. The Raiders will also have a tougher schedule this NFL betting lines season, so it is difficult to think that they will continue to progress.

The Broncos meanwhile will continue to rebuild with a potential public relations disaster brewing in the quarterback battle between Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton. Orton has put up the better numbers and has more betonline experience, but Tebow is the future and a fan favorite that could make supporters relentless if the team starts losing. Ultimately, Denver is rebuilding and both the Chiefs and Raiders will face tough tasks elevating their level of play with a tougher schedule. That leaves the Chargers to become the class of the division, as they return to the top of the AFC West.

NFL Betting: NFC East Belongs To Eagles; Cowboys, Giants For Wild Card

For the better part of the past decade, the NFC East has been recognized as the deepest division in pro football, with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins all making postseason appearances. The Giants and Eagles each made an appearance in the Super Bowl with New York winning it all in Super Bowl XLII, and after loading up again in the offseason there is a good chance that one of those NFL teams can make an appearance in the big game again in 2012.

The Eagles made the biggest additions to their team, including inking the biggest name on the free agent market in cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. With Asante Samuel already in the mix and the addition of Domenique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade for Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia has three starting corners and a ton of options defensively. The Eagles also added defensive end Cullen Jenkins from the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, and with Michael Vick now in his first full sports betting season coming into camp as the starter, there is no limit on what Philadelphia can achieve.

There will still be a spotlight on New York with both the Jets and Giants, and while the latter took a backseat in the headlines this offseason they could be the team that surprises this year. New York will return one of the most promising young receiving cores with Eli Manning under center, and defensively this sports betting bonus team has a ton of weapons along the line. Catching Philadelphia might be a stretch this year, but a Wild Card spot isn’t out of the question.

After a disastrous season in which many projected that the Cowboys would compete for a Super Bowl with the big game set in their hometown, Dallas will look to regroup and redeem itself after falling apart last year. Quarterback Tony Romo is back healthy and has his former offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as his head coach, while the defense should make strides under new coordinator Rob Ryan.

The odd team out at this point is the Redskins, which have a ton of question marks on both sides of the ball. Washington was able to move Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots to ensure there will not be another media circus that takes centerstage in the nation’s capital, but with no proven starting quarterback, no superstars, and a ton of holes it will be at least a year before head coach Mike Shanahan has his team in contention.

There is no NFL betting lines doubt that the Eagles are the favorite to emerge from the division listed at 6-to-1 odds to win the Super Bowl this year, second only to the Patriots. The Cowboys and Giants should both be improved enough to challenge for a Wild Card spot, while the Redskins show signs but take it slow in year two under Shanahan. Philadelphia will clinch the NFC East title this season, but it is what they can do beyond that, that will define this team.