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The most important time of the year for the NFL off-season is amongst us as we countdown the remaining week leading up to the 2009 NFL Draft. The draft along with off-season trades that usually go along with the draft selections is a huge aspect in turning teams from good to Super Bowl Champions. There will be 32 teams fighting over the best talent in the country that will be available out of the college ranks as always. One thing that many people may not realize is the NFL Draft is also a big betting event as well. We will not go into the detail of the teams and who they may select, but instead we will break down some exciting prop bets for this years draft and give some advice on how to take advantage of these fun betting opportunities.

Prop Bet #1 – Who will be selected as the first pick?

Aaron Curry +1000
Eugene Monroe +600
Jason Smith +300
Matthew Stafford -500

The number one selection in the NFL Draft is among one of the most popular bets every year mainly because as much as people would like to believe that a person is locked at number one there is always surprises. Sometimes the popular perception is right and sometimes it is way off. It may be hard to understand what exactly a team is looking for if you’re not on the inside of the organization. However, rest assured that the Detroit Lions have needs all over the field. After all a 0-16 record should be fairly self explanatory. Matthew Stafford is the heavy favorite to be selected number one. Stafford fits the mold perfectly of an NFL quarterback and can make all the throws on the field. While Detroit is likely eyeing the potential superstar, first pick quarterback selections in the past have usually turned out to be a bust. Plus new coach Jim Schwartz has hinted that he would like to build his team from the inside out, meaning one of the top offensive lineman in the draft may be more of a possibility than people believe. If that does turn out to be the case, laying a few extra bucks on Jason Smith may be a smart move. Smith was the most impressive of the entire big time offensive lineman group in the NFL workout sessions and if Schwartz decides Stafford is to big of a gamble it could be the most likely outcome. Still we stay with Stafford the safe bet.

Pick – Matthew Stafford

Prop Bet #2 – How many running backs will be selected in the first round?

Over 2.5 +140
Under 2.5 -180

The NFL Draft this season will feature many big names on the offensive side of the ball. There are a ton of offensive lineman and wide receivers that will overshadow the majority of the first round. However, the running backs have not gotten a lot of focus and this prop bet line grabbed out attention. Chris “Beanie” Wells out of Ohio State and Knowshon Moreno from Georgia are potential first round locks. Both players have great speed and can break plays open any given down. Heading into next weekend most believe these will be the only two players chosen in the first round as far as the running backs are concerned. However, Donald Brown out of Connecticut has been impressive in recent weeks in front of the scouts and could sneak into the first round. Brown led the nation in rushing yards posting a ridiculous 2,083 yards in the college level which is a rarity these days as most teams are throwing the football more. Brown has ideal size for a running back and strength. Over the last few weeks he has climbed up the boards due to strong workout showings and would not be surprised if Arizona or another team does not select him late first round.

Pick – Over 2.5

Prop Bet #3 – What position will OT Andre Smith be selected?

Over 6.5 -Even
Under 6.5 -140

Andre Smith was one of the early favorites to be selected number 1 in this year’s draft. However, some rather disappointing circumstances over the past few months have caused the offensive lineman out of Alabama’s stock to drop. Smith was the big time player if you remember that broke team rules right before the Sugar Bowl and was not allowed to play. Smith backed up those question marks by leaving in the middle of the NFL workout sessions without letting anyone know. The question surrounding Smith heading into next weekend is not his talent, but the big guy’s work ethic. Smith has the potential to be one of the best offense linemen in the NFL, but on the other hand also has the potential to be the biggest bust from this year’s first round group. Smith has fallen down many of the boards heading into next weekend. The talented Crimson Tide star has also a lot going against him considering there are so many big time offensive linemen in the 2009 class. A total of 4 offensive linemen could likely be gone in the top 15 selections. There may be someone who takes a gamble on Smith early, but I doubt it considering his behavior in the off-season.

Pick – Over 6.5

Prop Bet #4 – Who will be selected first?

Michael Crabtree -200
Jeremy Maclin +150

If you know anything about this year’s wide receiving class, your eyes may have lit up when you saw this betting line. Michael Crabtree has nearly been given the title to be the first WR selected this year. Crabtree stunned the college nation this season with big time catches that were a big part of that potent Red Raider offense. Jeremy Maclin is the speedster out of Missouri. Maclin seems to run faster in pads than the times listed and he broke an NCAA record as a freshman posting 2,776 all-purpose yards. However, Maclin has fallen into Crabtree’s shadow for the wide receiver class of 2009. Maclin could come on an be a legitimate threat for special teams right off the bat and work his way into a big time receiver. On the other hand Michael Crabtree has the potential to be a household name and do not see him being selected anywhere outside of the top 5. This line could be too good to be true or could it?

Pick – Michael Crabtree

Prop Bet #5 – Who will be selected first?

Percy Harvin -250
Hakeem Nicks +175

There was a player outside of Tim Tebow who electrified the Florida Gators National Championship offense last season and his name was Percy Harvin. Harvin was used in many different ways in the Gators offense. The speedy wide receiver lined up at wide out, in the slot, and even in the back field as a running back frequently. Harvin broke the game open with lightning quick speed. However, there are many scouts who question if he will be able to do the same in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks led the ACC last season with 1,222 yards of receiving while pulling down 12 touchdowns. While many would consider Harvin to be the big favorite by the way he ripped apart defenses at the college level, there are many others who believe Nicks will make the better wide out at the next level. One bad characteristic that could hold Harvin back is he lacks the size that most need in the NFL. Nicks on the other hand has solid size and an uncanny ability to turn plays from nothing into something. Depending on how people interpret Harvin’s size compared to his speed could determine how far up the wide receiver latter he is selected.

Pick – Hakeem Nicks

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The 2009 NFL Draft class will be highlighted by one of the best group of offensive lineman in history. Usually teams are most likely to find the big play capability guys on the offensive or defensive side of the ball to grab the most attention. However, normally you may not hear much about the big guys up front until you see one of these guys get selected between some of the more popular picks. However, one thing you can bet on for the 2009 draft is that you will hear plenty of offensive lineman names as they will steal the show. A total of 3 offensive linemen have a legitimate chance to be selected as high as the top 10 selections while up to around 7 have very strong chances to be taken in the first round. Entering the NFL combines and workout session offensive line standout Andre Smith was regarded by most to be the best offensive lineman in the country, but things have quickly turned upside down for the junior from Alabama as he could fall to around the 3^rd or 4^th lineman selected. Take some interesting prop bet action on how the offensive linemen will be selected in the 2009 draft as we provide the most up to date rankings of the 2009 offensive line class.

1. Jason Smith (Baylor)
Jason Smith has benefited the most of perhaps any player in the NFL workouts and drills leading into this years NFL Draft. The 6’5 307 pound senior out of Baylor started 39 games while paving the way on the left side of the line. Smith openly stated entering the workout session that he was the best linemen in the draft and he has backed up the talk through early indications. Smith has extremely gifted footwork for an athlete of his size and has tremendous growing potential. The only downside he may have is his technique that may take at least half a season to smooth out. Still, Smith has enough potential to be fighting for a Pro Bowl spot by his sophomore campaign. Look for Smith to be a lock for the top 3 spots in the NFL draft while likely looking like a number 2 selection with the Rams.

2. Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
Eugene Monroe already has the build of an NFL offensive linemen and also contains great footwork as well. Monroe was highly regarded coming out of Virginia on the offensive line and has not disappointed during the off-season. Monroe has smooth footwork and has the ability to cover speedy defensive ends. The 6’5 315 pound two year starter out of Virginia will be a definite top 10 selection and could go as high as number 4 considering how Seattle chooses to seek the OT or WR need first. The downsides with Monroe that may be why he is not taken ahead of Smith is that he did have a knee that bothered him in college that may be a minor concern.

3. Andre Smith (Alabama)
Smith killed his reputation during the off-season he had build up through his years dominating the most talented defenses in college football through the SEC competition. Smith broke team rules and missed out on the Crimson Tide’s BCS Sugar Bowl. Add to the fact there were some Agent issues during the NFL combines and Smith’s stock dropped considerably. However, Smith is the biggest and strongest linemen on the board that has huge potential to be one of the best linemen in the league. However, work ethics and dedication may be an issue. Still, Smith likely never drops out of the top 15 even if his stock does not raise any before the draft.

4. Michael Oher (Mississippi)
Oher is another offensive lineman who has seen his stock fluctuates through the NFL combines. Oher was listed as high as being the number 1 selection for the offensive line group in many people’s first mock drafts, but has had rather poor showing to the NFL scouts. However, that is not to say one bit that Oher will not be a big time offensive lineman. At 320 pounds, the interesting aspect for Oher is that he could go as high as the top 10 or drop towards late first round. Oher has wonderful finesse ability to handle the smaller quick defensive lineman while also maintaining a lot of power at the same time. There has been talk about inconsistency, but the upside is too big to ignore and would be shocked if he is not gone by the top 15 with Andre Smith.

5. William Beatty (Connecticut)
William Beatty may not be getting the attention the big 4 are receiving since all of those players are Top 10 potential selections. However, Beatty will be a mid to late first round selection as well. Beatty really opened a lot of eyes with one of the better senior bowl weeks out of the offensive lineman. The former Huskies standout has a lot of lateral speed and quickness that make him an excellent pass blocker. As another big man with a lot of upside do not expect either the Detroit Lions or the Minnesota Vikings to both pass up Beatty as late first round selection as both those teams will be eyeing needs up front on offense.

6. Eben Britton (Arizona)
Eben Britton could be another candidate that could be picked up by Minnesota or Detroit. Britton is what we would like to call the best unpolished lineman on the board meaning he will need a lot of touch-up work, but the end result could be incredible. Britton has excellent size standing at 6’6 and 310 pounds. The Arizona Wildcat will possibly need a little team to develop to work out the inconsistencies, but could be a well above average lineman in the years to come.

7. Alex Mack (California)
Alex Mack is the only true center that is on the board, but is a very interesting athlete. Mack is the final legitimate candidate with the possibility of being selected in the first round. The former Golden Bear center has excellent power that makes a punch off the line. Mack appears to be a solid pass rusher while needing a bit more athleticism for moving in the run blocking scenarios. Expect Mack to flirt with one of the last picks in the first round which could shockingly total 7 offensive linemen.

8. Jamon Meredith (South Carolina)
Jamon Meredith was one of the only consistencies among the offensive line during his tenure at South Carolina. Meredith started 25 straight games for South Carolina which makes him a durable selection. The big downside for Meredith is he may be a few pounds lighter than what most teams would like taking the scales at 290 pounds. Meredith has been subject to not displaying enough power as well which does not help the cause, but has room to grow and develop the already well established talent. Meredith will be great back-up for a year or two that will likely grow into an everyday starter.

9. Phil Loadholt (Oklahoma)
Phil Loadholt is the biggest offensive lineman on the board tipping the scales at nearly 350 pounds which is bigger than the big Andre Smith of Alabama. Loadholt is extremely strong power blocker that will be great in short yardage and running situations. However, with the tremendous amount of power there is a lack for speed and agility. Loadholt will need to trim down or get lighter on his feet to stay in the game during pass blocking situations considering will likely struggle against the speedy NFL defensive lineman. However, the power and size can not be ignored as we expect Loadholt to be selected around the middle of the second round.

10. Max Unger (Oregon)
Max Unger is another center that has a lot of upside. Unger may not have the tremendous power to compare with Alex Mack, but makes up for it with gifted quickness for a big fellow. Mack’s speed is noticed when he pulls from the center position and picks up blocks along the offensive ends giving teams a lot options in rushing plays. Expect the Oregon center to be another 2^nd round selection that could become an every down player in a few years.

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The College Football season is now officially over and coaches are hard at work on the recruiting trail. However, some of the more talented young players are facing one of the most difficult decisions of their careers. Players face the choice to remain in college or chase the money and the dream of playing in the NFL. Take a look at the players that have decided to stay in college and those who will move on with their careers. Note this will be the first time in history that the top 3 Heisman finalist will all be returning to the college field. We break down the biggest names in college football and their decisions. Tell us what you think and if these were the right choices from these players by commenting on this article.

Returners

QB Tim Tebow (Florida) -
Tebow has probably become the most popular name in college football for his extreme passion for the game and desire to achieve. Tebow post-game press conference after the loss to Ole Miss this season will be a speech for the ages. Despite the popular belief that Tim Tebow is more of a running quarterback, the Heisman winner has completed 426 of 648 passes equaling 66%, for 6,033 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions all through the air in the last two seasons. Tebow’s decision to return next year shocked the vast majority of the public due to his overwhelming list of accomplishments in the college ranks. Tebow has already become the first sophomore to win the Heisman and also owns two National Championship rings. Does the decision to come back mean Tebow is trying to become the greatest college quarterback to ever step on the field with the opportunity to win a second Heisman and the possibility to win a 3^rd National Title?

QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) -
This year’s Heisman winner completely lighted up the stat sheet throwing for 50 touchdowns and 4,721 yards on the season. Bradford became the 2^nd ever sophomore to win the Heisman behind Tim Tebow. However, the National Championship Game may have mildly tarnished the star quarterback’s reputation. Many will make the argument that his stats reflect the high pass offensive attacks and suggested weak defenses of the Big 12. Despite the conference or style of play, Bradford still has the arsenal to make all the throws on the football field and that was something that was demonstrated time and time again this year. Bradford has the look of an NFL style quarterback and he very well has the ability to be a solid QB at the next level as well. Bradford decision to return may not be a big surprise considering he will only be a junior next year and will get an always helpful extra year to develop into an even bigger threat.

QB Colt McCoy (Texas) –
Colt McCoy was also another Heisman finalist that decided to come back for his senior year. McCoy reason for staying was noted to make a run at next year’s National Championship. The talented Tuscola, Texas native made big plays this year with his feet and dominated with his arm. McCoy broke two Texas records with 32 touchdowns and 3,445 yards on the year. Texas will have another strong team next year and McCoy will again try to lead Texas towards a National Title just like the previous returners. McCoy decision to return surprised me simply for the fact that Texas lost their top 3 receivers this season considering they were seniors and their time is done. However, the Longhorns do have a lot of young talent. It will just be interesting to see how fast they develop early in the year and really give McCoy the support he needs.

RB C.J. Spiller (Clemson) -
Despite the constant disappointments from Clemson, C.J Spiller gives them hope with his decision to return. Spiller is among one of the most elusive backs that will step on the field in 2009 and the Tigers will have to find a way to utilize him in better than they did this season. Despite the under achievements, Spiller still managed 1,770 all purpose yards that equaled over 9 yards every time he touched the football. Spiller and California running back Jahvid Best should be among the best tailbacks in the nation in 2009.

Other honorable mentions for key players that will return next season.

MLB Brandon Spikes (Florida) – Spikes is the centerpiece to the powerful Gator defense, the side of the ball that really won the National Championship.

S Taylor Mays (USC) – Mays will again lead the Trojan defense as possibly the best safety in the nation with a combination of size and blazing speed.

TE Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma) – Gresham will be one of the best tight ends in the country and will likely become a bigger threat for the Sooner offense in 2009 after an impressive 950 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Early Departures

WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) –
Crabtree’s game winning reception over Texas in the final seconds will be remembered for a long time, but the talented wide receiver made those big plays all season. Crabtree was 2^nd in the nation with an outstanding 19 touchdowns and also added 1,165 yards for the year. Crabtree decision to part may not come as any big surprise considering he proved time and time again this season he was clearly the best wide receiver in college football and returning may have only hurt that reputation rather than helped.

OL Andre Smith (Alabama)-
Smith is one of the biggest powers on the Crimson Tide offensive line in a very long time. Smith was the winner of the Outland Trophy Award for being the best lineman in the country. Smith was the Alabama standout that was suspended prior to the Sugar Bowl for breaking team rules and failed to play in the BCS Bowl Game.  The 340lb monster declared his early departure after having a fantastic junior campaign and some draft boards have him projected as the number 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft.

QB Mark Sanchez (USC) -
If you have not seen by now, Sanchez decision to turn pro was a big disappointment in the Trojans locker room. Head Coach Pete Carroll made it rather clear during Sanchez’s announcement that he did not approve of the decision. Still Sanchez will be a lottery pick in this year’s draft after a solid season throwing for 3,207 yards along with 32 touchdowns and completing over 65% of his passes. Sanchez’s decision to not return for his senior season shocked many. The Trojans lost a ton of key players especially on the defensive side of the ball and will have a lot of areas to fill.

RB Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) -
Knowshon Moreno was a big part of the highlight films this season with spectacular athletic plays. Moreno decision comes as a big surprise considering many thought he was firmly committed to staying with the Bulldogs. Moreno may be slightly under sized compared to many of the NFL backs, but makes up for it with a natural talent. Moreno sported 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns against the brutal defenses of the SEC this season and will be on the verge of a top 10 pick in this year’s draft.

RB Percy Harvin (Florida) -
Percy Harvin can arguably be mentioned as the biggest threat on offense this season. The speedster at tailback had 650 yards of rushing and 650 yards of receiving as well equaling 17 touchdowns on the season. Harvin’s ability to make big plays played a vital role on the Florida offense this season and QB Tim Tebow will have to find a new go to guy. Harvin position on the NFL may be in question as to where he will be used, but he has an immeasurable amount of talent that will find a way onto the field.

Let us know how you feel about some of these players decisions and if they were the right decisions for their careers. Note that we could not go over every big name, but we tried to throw in the most notable. Feel free to add a name that we did not discuss as well.