The hot seat. Every coach finds himself on it at some point in his career. Some persevere, while others fold under the pressure. This year in the NFL, there are a number of coaches that are facing potential do or die situations. Check out who those coaches are, why they’re in trouble, what we can expect of them this year, and their odds to win the Super Bowl.

Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Bottom line: When you’re not a good coaching hire in the first place, you’re always on the hot seat. Gailey was an awful coach at virtually every stop along the way in his career, and this is probably going to be no exception. It looks like he has decided that QB Trent Edwards is the man to try to take his team from the ranks of the worst in the league to respectability. No chance. Edwards is, at best, the fifth best quarterback in this division, and he is clearly not the answer. Gailey will probably survive regardless, but this year has the potential to be a bloody one. We’ve seen coaches dismissed after one year before. Gailey might be the next in line.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Playoffs or bust. That’s the ultimatum that has been handed down from owner Bob McNair to Kubiak this year for the Texans. This is the only franchise in the NFL that has never tasted the playoffs, and by now, the fourth year of his rule in Houston, the Texans should be making the playoffs, particularly with the type of talent that the team has. The only problem is that the schedule is an absolute nightmare this year. Houston has also already lost its second round draft pick and projected starting RB Ben Tate, which really only leaves RBs Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. This could be a bad situation if Foster doesn’t pan out. Still, the top rated passing attack in the NFL from last year is only getting better with every pass that QB Matt Schaub throws. Every year this team gets better and better. Last year was the squad’s first season above .500. This should be the year that the playoffs are reached.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Here’s a man that probably should have already been fired. Jacksonville has drafted poorly in recent years, and it is really catching up. The team simply isn’t that great. The decision to make QB David Garrard the starter a few years ago paid off in the short term but has crippled the franchise now that it really needs its boost, as the Jags are threatening to move to Los Angeles if ticket sales don’t pick up. Unless RB Maurice Jones-Drew intends on having a year like Chris Johnson did last season in Tennessee, don’t expect Del Rio to be heading anywhere but the unemployment line once the year is out.

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): It’s hard to think that the Eagles would part ways with Reid after all of the playoff years that this franchise has had, but this is the same team that just dumped QB Donovan McNabb unceremoniously to a divisional rival in exchange for a bag of peanuts and a box of footballs. Reid needs to at least finish .500 this year with new QB Kevin Kolb, or he might be out the door. The Eagles are searching for a new direction, and the fact that Reid only brought the team to one Super Bowl and never won the big one could ultimately cost him. If the standard of his job is going to be measured on the playoffs, the City of Brotherly Love will be watching the last season of Reid on the sidelines in green.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears (+5000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Bears made the biggest splash of the offseason last year when they acquired QB Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Cutler failed miserably, and the team flat out stunk last season. Now, Chicago was back at it again this year, picking up DE Julius Peppers, the best free agent that the open market has seen in years in the NFL. An 0-3 start to the preseason with just 36 total points scored isn’t a good start if you’re looking to put good mojo into your team for your make or break season. Somehow, Smith, just like Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati, finds a way to keep saving his job with one good year every so often. This could be that “every so often” year in the Windy City… but if it isn’t, it is high time that Smith goes.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers (+6000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Panthers know that this is probably going to be a down year, but Fox is just as much putting them on the hot seat as they are putting him there. The team did go out and dump QB Jake Delhomme after so many failed seasons, and they even brought in his eventual successor, QB Jimmy Clausen in the NFL Draft. However, Fox doesn’t want to wait for some rookie to groom. He wants to win and win now. The rushing attack is great with both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart capable of rushing for 1,000+ yards. However, the defense lost the aforementioned Peppers and has a lot of work to do to return to respectability. The Panthers are clearly the third best team in this division, and the end result could be a long, long season in which Fox either gets fired before its conclusion, or tells the team that he is not renewing his contract at season’s end.

The 2010 NFL betting campaign is just around the corner! In order to keep you up on all the action, Bankroll Sports has listed the Top 10 ATS teams from 2009, their 2010 Super Bowl odds, and our NFL predictions for them for this season!

#1 Green Bay Packers (+1000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Pack posted the best marks in the league last year for NFL betting fans, going 11-4-1 ATS. They are going to be back with a fantastic offense loaded with talent. QB Aaron Rodgers is likely to reach the 4,000 yard barrier for the third straight season to start his career, which is a feat that even some of the greatest in NFL history never even remotely came close to. If DC Dom Capers’ defense can keep its head on straight and post some of the best numbers in the league once again, there’s no reason to think that the Green Bay won’t once again be on top of the NFL ATS power ratings.

#2 Atlanta Falcons (+2500 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): It’s impressive to think that the Falcons followed up a playoff campaign in 2008 with a non-playoff one in 2009 but still went a lofty 11-5 ATS. Could that bode even better for this year? HC Mike Smith thinks he has a winning formula, so he brought back the majority of players from last year’s 9-7 team. The only real key additions were LB Sean Weatherspoon, acquiring in the first round of the NFL Draft, and DB Dunta Robinson, who was picked up via free agency from the Houston Texans. Picking up Robinson was key, as it was the pass defense that really hurt this team late in games last season. Asking for 11 covers again this season might be a bit much, but Atlanta should post another great record this year.

#3 Indianapolis Colts (+600 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): As long as #18 is roaming the sidelines for the Colts, they are going to be a difficult team to bet against. One would figure that the oddsmakers would be incredibly tough on them week in and week out, but in spite of the fact that their numbers are almost always at least a tad inflated, they went a rock solid 10-5-1 ATS in 2009. This could be the year that Indy snaps back to earth if the NFL spreads keep as high as they have been in recent seasons. It has a brutal schedule, and QB Peyton Manning is going to have to contend with a new offensive coordinator, as Tom Moore has retired.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): This is probably a make-or-break season in the coaching career of Mike Singletary. No man asks for more from his team, nor will anyone get more from his players than does Singletary. Still, in spite of the fact that he went an awesome 9-4-3 ATS in last year’s regular season, Singletary has still yet to take this team to the playoffs. With a quarterback rotation set in stone and one of the most talented offensive lines in the game, the 49ers have no excuses this year. As long as the oddsmakers don’t start putting up unrealistically high numbers on it, San Francisco is going to be a great bet, particularly as underdogs this season.

#5 Cleveland Browns (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Browns closed out last season by winning four straight games both SU and ATS to finish the year at 10-6 ATS. The turnaround was sparked by the addition of GM Mike Holmgren to the staff. Holmgren decided to retain HC Eric Mangini, but he dumped both of his quarterbacks. If QB Jake Delhomme can reinvent himself and the Browns play as hard as they did down the stretch last season, they could challenge for a playoff spot in the AFC. The Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens need to be very careful when this team turns up on the schedule. The end result should be covers galore!

#6 Minnesota Vikings (+1000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): This is a team that is probably damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t. If QB Brett Favre does come back to Minnesota, it will likely be overinflated in most every game it plays due to the fact that Favre had an epic season last year. If he doesn’t come back, the oddsmakers are still probably going to overrate this team due to the fact that Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels flat out stink. Duplicating last year’s 9-6-1 ATS mark is going to be virtually impossible unless someone comes up with a truly Herculean effort.

#7 Philadelphia Eagles (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Fly Eagles, fly! Philly could be an interesting team to back this year if QB Kevin Kolb can step right into the role that QB Donovan McNabb vacated when he was traded to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. The Eagles could have a porous defense which holds them back this year though, which could make that 9-7 ATS mark from 2009 difficult to repeat. Still, a lot of NFL lines are going to be tight when this team takes on its competitors, so if you think Philadelphia can win nine games, you probably think it can cover nine spreads as well.

#8 New York Jets (+1200 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Last season, the Jets fooled a lot of teams, and the end result was a stellar 9-7 ATS mark. They marched all the way to the AFC Championship Game on the back of a strong defense and a rushing attack that ranked first in the NFL. Conventional wisdom suggests that the additions of DB Antonio Cromartie and DB Kyle Wilson could make this defense even more frightening, especially now that DT Kris Jenkins is healthy. Still, it’s going to take QB Mark Sanchez improving his game for New York to put up these types of results again.

#9 Denver Broncos (+6500 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Though many are down on the Broncos this year, we have to remember that most of the pieces to this puzzle are once again back in place. The big losses are WR Brandon Marshall, TE Tony Scheffler, and LB Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil, who led the team with 17 sacks last year, might be able to play at the end of this season after tearing a pectoral muscle in the preseason. However, the oddsmakers are seemingly making huge adjustments to this team. Yes, the Broncos collapsed down the stretch last year, but losses don’t mean failed covers. If the numbers get too large, improving on a 9-7 ATS record from ’09 is doable.

#10 Carolina Panthers (+5000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The same could be said about the Panthers and their 9-7 ATS record from last year. Losing QB Jake Delhomme might be addition by subtraction, as both Matt Moore and rookie Jimmy Clausen can’t do much worse than the former Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajun did last year. This season will once again revolve around the defense and running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers might be able to surprise, as several are down on their chances of making the postseason in what could be the final year for HC John Fox.

The first week of April brings the rare crossover between four major sports, as the MLB, NHL, NBA, and NCAA hoops all collide. But before we look ahead at the week that will be, here at Bankroll Sports, we’re analyzing the week that was and giving all sorts of heck to those that have drawn our ire as sports betting fanatics.

Rap Sheet Picture of the Week
Philadelphia Eagles HC Andy Reid, who looks angrier than ever about the fact that his franchise quarterback, Donovan McNabb was traded for peanuts in his own division.

There’s no better place to start than in the NBA this week, and boy, would we love to give a piece of our mind to the New Orleans Hornets. You get G Chris Paul, your pride and joy, back in the lineup after he missed what felt like an eternity to this franchise, and you promptly come out and beat the Lakers on your home court. Great, right? After all, it’s not often that you can give up 31 points to G Kobe Bryant and 26 points and 22 rebounds to F Pau Gasol and live to tell about it. However… What gives after that, Hornets? As 9.5 point favorites, the Wizards came into New Orleans Arena and spanked the Hornets 96-91. That was followed up by a nine point loss in Memphis, which we deem to be excusable. But losing to the Nets? By four touchdowns? The 115-87 win for Jersey was clearly its biggest ‘W’ of the season, and it came at the expense of a team that just looks like it has given up. Don’t worry, the laughs aren’t over quite yet if you missed this embarrassing one in Jersey. Minnesota is still on the schedule!

This may not have a heck of a lot to do with gambling at this point, but is there any doubt that the Philadelphia Eagles are getting smacked by the Washington Redskins twice this season? Apparently, making it to five NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl wasn’t enough for QB Donovan McNabb, so the Iggles shipped him out of town. Ok, no problem, right? After all, guys get traded at the end of their careers all the time. But to send him to Washington??? You’re just asking to get whooped up on, Philly. And this blogger, who notoriously hates the Redskins, is going to love watching McNabb come back into the City of Brotherly Love and beat the snot out of your team this season.

The bullpen for the New York Yankees is already off to a flying start this year. You’d figure in and amongst all of the money that this team spends that they’d learn that eventually, a bullpen is going to help you out, right? But no, apparently having leads of 5-1 and 7-5 aren’t good enough. It’s not bad enough that David Robertson allowed his only inherited runner to cross home plate, but then Chan Ho Park proved once again why the Yanks have no clue how to spend their bucks by giving up three runs (two earned) in a three-run seventh. Don’t worry Joba Chamberlain, we’re not forgetting the three hits and a run you gave up in your 1.1 innings worked either. The final stat line for the New York pen? 2.2 IPs, 4 runs (3 earned), 6 hits, 2 walks, 1 K, 1 HR allowed. That’s a WHIP of 3.00 and an ERA of 13.50. Stellar job, boys. Stellar.

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Complete List of 2010 Superbowl Odds From Several Sportsbooks Can Be Found Below

Super Bowl XLIV is just barely in the history books, but here at Bankroll Sports, we’re already taking an early look at how the NFL betting odds for the 2011 Super Bowl look. Below is an updated list of the Top 5 favorites on the board…

Indianapolis Colts: +700: QB Peyton Manning came up narrowly short of capturing Super Bowl XLIV, but his squad is still one favored to win the whole enchilada again next year. And why not? This was a team that arguably could’ve run the table in the regular season this year and looked fantastic until the second quarter of the Super Bowl.

San Diego Chargers +800: The Chargers won their final 11 games of the season and certainly looked like one of the best sides in the AFC. But the Jets figured out their potent offense in the playoffs and bounced the Bolts. San Diego should be back to challenge again next year, though it will probably have to do that without RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who is expected to go elsewhere.

New England Patriots +1000: How could anyone ever count out the Pats? They nearly missed the playoffs all together though, and probably aren’t worth it at 11-1. It’s pretty clear that the rest of the AFC East has caught up to this team.

New Orleans Saints +1000: The Saints marched all the way to the Super Bowl XLIV crown on the strength of their offense. This unit is just going to be back and better than it has ever been next season assuming QB Drew Brees stays healthy.

Pittsburgh Steelers +1200: It’s not often that you find a team that didn’t even make the playoffs as a Top-5 selection for the Super Bowl the next year, but injuries probably won’t mount up for the boys from the Steel City like they did in ’09. If the Bengals come back to earth, Pittsburgh should be challenging again in 2010.

Other teams to watch…

Philadelphia Eagles +2500… HC Andy Reid really hasn’t done all that much with the Eagles, but assuming that they keep QB Donovan McNabb, they still have one of the best teams in the NFC. RB Brian Westbrook will have an offseason of rehab in him, and if he can get over his concussions once and for all, the City of Brotherly Love squad could challenge for the NFC Championship again next year.

San Francisco 49ers +5200… The NFC West is clearly going to be the worst division in football next year with the Cardinals having to replace the retired QB Kurt Warner. The Niners finished at 8-8 and could be the team to take the jump into the playoffs. As the Cards proved two years ago, just getting into the tournament can produce magic, and at this price, it’s hard to ignore San Fran’s possibilities in the second full year with HC Mike Singletary.

Teams to avoid…

New York Giants +1800… The Giants didn’t even make the playoffs last year, and there are some indicators that they won’t make it again in 2010. New York still has to compete with Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East, and with the NFC North appearing to have a lot of oomph again this year, it’s hard to back the Giants at short odds.

Jacksonville Jaguars +4000… Sure, every year it looks like the Jaguars are going to beat the door down and make the Super Bowl. But let’s face it. It’s not happening. Jacksonville has a head coach that is probably a dead duck in HC Jack Del Rio, a defense that underachieved all last year, and doesn’t have a quarterback of any merit. Considering how good the Titans and Texans are probably going to be, there’s a decent chance that the Jags finish last in the AFC South.

Arizona Cardinals – 35/1  
Atlanta Falcons – 30/1  
Baltimore Ravens – 20/1  
Buffalo Bills – 100/1  
Carolina Panthers – 40/1  
Chicago Bears – 30/1  
Cincinnati Bengals – 30/1  
Cleveland Browns - 100/1  
Dallas Cowboys – 12/1  
Denver Broncos – 50/1  
Detroit Lions – 100/1  
Green Bay Packers - 12/1  
Houston Texans – 35/1  
Indianapolis Colts – 13/2  
Jacksonville Jaguars - 50/1  
Kansas City Chiefs – 100/1  
Miami Dolphins – 45/1  
Minnesota Vikings – 12/1  
New England Patriots - 10/1  
New Orleans Saints – 10/1  
New York Giants – 20/1  
New York Jets – 25/1  
Oakland Raiders – 100/1  
Philadelphia Eagles - 16/1  
Pittsburgh Steelers – 12/1  
San Diego Chargers - 8/1  
San Francisco 49ers - 45/1  
Seattle Seahawks – 45/1  
St.Louis Rams – 100/1  
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 100/1  
Tennessee Titans – 25/1  
Washington Redskins - 50/1

Latest Odds To Win The 2010 Superbowl @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook (as of 2/21/2010):
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Indianapolis Colts +750
New Orleans Saints +750
San Diego Chargers +975
New England Patriots +1100
Pittsburgh Steelers +1100
Dallas Cowboys +1200
Green Bay Packers +1300
Minnesota Vikings +1300
Philadelphia Eagles +1700
New York Jets +1800
Baltimore Ravens +2000
New York Giants +2400
Cincinnati Bengals +2500
Tennessee Titans +2700
Atlanta Falcons +3300
Arizona Cardinals +3500
Houston Texans +3500
Miami Dolphins +3500
Chicago Bears +4000
San Francisco 49ers +4250
Carolina Panthers +4500
Denver Broncos +5000
Washington Redskins +6000
Jacksonville Jaguars +6600
Seattle Seahawks +8000
Buffalo Bills +12500
Cleveland Browns +13500
Kansas City Chiefs +15000
Oakland Raiders +15000
Tampa Bay Bucs +17500
Detroit Lions +20000
St Louis Rams +20000

Latest Odds To Win The 2010 Superbowl @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 2/10/2010):
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Odds Currently Off The Board – Check Back Later For Updates

Current 2011 Superbowl Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 2/10/2010):
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NFL Football Week 5 News & Headlines Cycle:

• NY Daily News; Jerricho Cotchery Sits Again in Week 5
• My Fox Philly; Philadelphia Eagles at Full Force on Sunday
• ESPN; Cowboys To Go Without Roy Williams on Sunday
• ESPN; Lions Still Unsure Who Will Start at QB for Week 5
• Fox Sports; NFL Fines Six Defensive Players This Week
• Fox Sports; Cleveland Browns D.C. Believes Bengals Missed FG Last Week
• Sporting News; Black Players Voice Opposition To Rush Owning Rams
• Eat and Drink Sports; Matt Hasselbeck Likely To Start Sunday vs. Jags
• Philly.com; Eagles Indicate New Contract For Andy Reid
• NFL Gridiron Gab; Colts’ Sanders Status Still A Mystery

NFL Football Week 5 Blog Opinion/Picks/Betting Cycle:

• Cippin on Sports; Week Five NFL Bet of the Week Picks
• BetUS BetFlix; The Drunk Handicapper Week 5 Picks (Video) 
• Bleacher Report; 49ers Should Have Little Difficulty Grounding Falcons
• Miami Sports Generation; WR Trade Opportunities For Miami Dolphins
• LeBrownsTown; Throwin’ Heat: Battered Browns Edition
• Fox Sports; Schein’s Week Five NFL Picks (Video)
• Bleacher Creature; Week Five ATS & SU NFL Picks 
• Fang’s Bites; Week 5 NFL Preview Press Clippings

2009 Week 5 NFL Fantasy Football Cycle:

• America’s White Boy; Fantasy Football Week Five Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em
• Camel Clutch Blog; Fantasy Football Week Five Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em
• ESPN.com; Matthew Berry’s Guys I Love, Guys I Hate, Girls I Date (Video)
• Top Fantasy Football; Fantasy Football Impact of the Braylon Edwards Trade
• Hawk Fantasy Sports; Week 5 Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em Quarterback Rankings
• Sports Judge Blog; Things My Dog Has Taught Me About Fantasy Football
• Fantasy Football Maniaxs; Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickup Recommendations
• Fantasy Pro’s 911; Helping With Struggling Fantasy Football Teams
• Fantasy Pro’s 911; Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickup Recommendations
• Pro Football Weekly; Match-ups To Exploit or Avoid For Week Five
• Fantasy Football Maniaxs; Sleepers/Busts For Week Five
• Club Seat; Week 5 In The Club/Out (Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em)
• Club Seat; Time To Shop: Selling High

List of Michael Vick Prop Odds Can Be Found Below The Picks At Bottom of Post

One of the major headlines that has overshadowed much of the NFL preseason activity is the recent reinstatement of Michael Vick. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback gained popularity among fans for his extreme athleticism and undeniable quickness with his feet after bursting into the NFL in 2001. Vick, unlike most quarterbacks, could beat you with his legs just as well as his arm, making him one of the most explosive and dangerous players in the league. In 2006, Vick was able to throw for 2,474 yards and rack up 1,039 additional yards on the ground. However, as we all know, Vick succumb to felony offenses following the 2006 season in regards to leading a dog fighting ring. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and most people assumed he would never play in the NFL again. The sporting world’s most controversial figure not only served his prison sentence, but recently was conditionally reinstated and signed a two year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The recent commotion has drawn outspoken criticism to the Eagles and Michael Vick personally. It seems the majority of fans still hold strong criticism against Vick for his actions and needless to say are not giving him any best wishes. The even more interesting topic is if Vick will be able to make any type of difference with the Eagles. After all, he has been away from football for two straight years. Also, he will be playing behind one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL in Donovan McNabb. Will he get in quality playing time of will the Eagles use him at different positions? Surely, Eagles Coach Andy Reid would have never taken a chance with Vick if they did not feel it would be beneficial to the team. However, how much success can we expect from the notorious football player? Major sports books have opened all types of betting lines concerning Michael Vick due to all the attention that has been centered around this story. Whether you love or hate him, Vick is a very gifted athlete. Nevertheless, what can you really expect from Vick in 2009? We take a look at some interesting prop bets and give our insight on a few Michael Vick betting opportunities to consider for the 2009 NFL Football Season.

Prop Bet #1 – Will Michael Vick remain on the Eagles roster by week #17?

Yes – -1000
No – +500

The biggest question most have surrounding Michael Vick is if he will get to play? Rest assured Vick will step onto the field this year whether it will be when the game is out of reach or other types of scenarios. However, how he will play should be the main concern. If he does not perform or seems like he can not return to his explosive playmaking ability as before, the Eagles can cut or trade him without losing any considerable amounts of money. The most likely scenario is that Vick will step onto the grid iron for the first time later in the season as opposed to early in the year. There are plenty of reasons why Vick will still be on the Eagles roster at the end of the year. Philadelphia would have never invested in Vick if they were not going to give him time to get his edge back. Understandably, Vick will not come out as sharp as before after being away for two years. The Eagles staff understands this and they will definitely give Vick plenty of time to work his way back to the top. However even if the latter where to happen and Vick did not perform up to par, then a trade is very unlikely. There were not any teams that were stepping forward to sign Vick recently before knowing his capability. If he does not show any type of progress, surely no team will want him considering the circumstances. However, as mentioned earlier the Eagles will be patient with Vick and there is absolutely no reason to believe he will not still be with the team by seasons end. The odds are not extremely profitable, but this is a sure bet.

Free Pick – Yes -1000

Prop Bet #2 – Total rushing yards on Vick’s first attempt in 2009?

Over 5 Yards -130
Under 5 Yards -110

Glancing at this bet and your first instinct was likely to jump on the over here. After all, the most memorable aspect of Vick’s game is his elusive legs and tremendous speed that were able to rack up big chunks of yards on any given down. However before his departure from the NFL, Vick was focusing on passing first and use his running ability as a last result despite gaining over 1,000 yards in 2006 on the ground. If Vick is at the quarterback position in his first snaps on the field, then the chance he tucks the first ball away and takes off down field is highly unlikely. The most probably scenario is some quick out routes to get things started off smoothly. The running will not become a focus until Vick is totally comfortable behind center. Even more reason to believe his first run will not be successful is because there is already talk of Vick getting action in the backfield. While this seems a bit of a stretch, that would reduce the chance of the big gain on the first rushing attempt. Another likely scenario, Vick could be used in a type of “wildcat” formation and take direct snap up the middle. Rest assured when Vick steps on field defenses will be fully aware as he will draw tons of attention again reducing the possibility of a big gain. Normally it takes players some time to get back in rhythm after taking so much time off and that will be the likely scenario when Vick steps on the field. Go against the popular perception here, and choose the most realistic outcome.

Free Pick – Under 5 Yards -110

Prop Bet #3 – Vick’s first pass attempt will be a complete or incomplete?

Complete -155
Incomplete or INT +125

Our final prop bet action is actually an interesting pick. There are legitimate arguments for either selection here that are valid. One possible outcome is that Vick’s first passing attempt could show the rust that has built up over the last two years leading to an incompletion. On the other hand going back to what we said earlier, Vick will likely take baby steps with his first few plays. There is no reason to expect him to take any chances deep down the field on his first attempt of the season. Deep passes will be where his arm really shows the effects of being outside the game for such a lengthy period. However, Vicks first pass will likely be something very simple increasing the odds the pass will be complete. Expect something like a quick hitch route, or 5-10 yard out route that will be delivered quickly and hard to defend. Again, defenses will be really concerned with his legs and likely be daring Vick to throw the football. Expect Vick to complete the first pass of the season with some type of simple throw as he gains his rhythm back.

Free Pick – Completion -155 

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Current Michael Vick Prop & Future odds From Sportsbook.com:
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The Division Playoff Round is out of the picture along with yet another exciting and crazy weekend of football leaving us with NFL’s version of the final four. Championship weekend is among us as we have a pair of games to determine both the NFC and AFC Titles and more importantly decide who will be playing in this year’s Super Bowl. Amazingly the NFC will be hosted by the #5 and #6 seeded teams in the Title game for the first time in history when the Arizona Cardinals host the Philadelphia Eagles. The AFC match-up will be a colossal rematch between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens dominated the majority of the game earlier this year, but Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a game winning drive late in the 4^th quarter to steal the victory. Take a look at what to watch for during Championship weekend.

NFC Championship

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6-1) at Arizona Cardinals (11-7)

The Arizona Cardinals have been the biggest surprise this postseason. The Cardinals started off the year strong, but were nearly written off for dead losing their last 4 of 6 games of the regular season. However, the Cardinals would find the spark that would need to ignite their electrifying air assault. The Cardinals blew out the Carolina Panthers last week 33-13 a team that many people thought were the best in the NFC heading into the playoffs Arizona will host their first playoff game this weekend since 1947 and will become the final NFC team to host at least one home playoff game. Kurt Warner has looked solid finding targets Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Boldin missed last week’s game and his status for the NFC Championship game is unknown. Larry Fitzgerald has been spectacular to say the least. Averaging 130 yards per game in the playoffs receiving with a pair of touchdowns, Fitzgerald has been uncontrollable for opposing secondary. The Cardinals will match up well again this week when they lead a high power offense against a brutal Philadelphia defense. The Eagles defense has been superb especially in the trenches. The best way to attack the Philadelphia defense if there is any is to try and pick apart the secondary. Warner and company will attempt to shock the world once again and earn a bid to the Super Bowl when they host the Eagles on Sunday.

Philadelphia has looked scary good during the playoffs and knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champions last week 23-11. The Eagles are flying high since their 5-5-1 start this season equaling 6 victories in their last 7 games. Philadelphia is getting it done on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles have not allowed over 14 points in 6 straight games and only allowing 10.8 points per contest during that stretch. The Eagles may have surprised many with their victory over the Giants, but I knew if New York did not make some plays through the air that they would be in for a long day. The Eagles have opened up as 3 point favorites over the Cardinals and they will have to withstand a strong passing game that was 2^nd best in the NFL this season averaging 292 yards per game. The Eagles let some Giants receivers get open last week, but New York failed to make the big plays. The Eagles secondary will have to be solid this weekend to slow down the Arizona passing game. Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb has been wonderful since being benched in week 12 for not performing up to par. Since that time, McNabb has averaged 240 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and only 4 picks. McNabb has the offense back to performing the way they should have been all year. Michael Westbrook is a big time playmaker that had a big 71 yard screen pass that lifted the Eagles over Minnesota in the first week of the playoffs. Westbrook was not very effective last week, but his presence alone is a big play threat for the Eagles offense. The Eagles made a Super Bowl appearance in 2005. McNabb and Westbrook will look to lead the Eagles back with a win over the Cardinals.

AFC Championship

Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4)

The first meeting between these teams this season was a wonderful defensive football game and the re-match has all the makings to be very similar. In the first meeting, Santonio Holmes caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 43 seconds left to get the victory over the Ravens 13-9. The Steelers have been nearly untouchable in the latter part of the year winning 7 of their last 8 games against some of the best teams in the NFL. Pittsburgh had a convincing performance last week when they man-handled the San Diego Chargers 35-24. Pittsburgh has one of the best defenses to ever step on an NFL field. The Steelers rank 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd, and 1^st in all 4 major defensive categories. Pittsburgh’s success is based around the performance of the defense because before last week the offense had really not been that good. The Steelers offense only averages 21 points per game along with 312 yards of total offense that both rank in the bottom half of the NFL. However when you have defense as talented as this unit, like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens proved that alone can be enough to win a Super Bowl. The Steelers looked like more of an offensive team last week, but that could be due to a poor San Diego defense as well. Still Pittsburgh is playing very well. Willie Parker leads the way on the ground and had a big performance against the Chargers. When Parker is effective on the ground, the Steelers are nearly impossible to defeat. Parker racked up 146 yards and 2 touchdowns last week and will get a load of carries this weekend for certain. Pittsburgh has yet to lose a game this season when Parker rushes for at least 50 yards or more. The Steelers defense will certainly be stout, but will the Pittsburgh offense be strong enough to hold off the Ravens for a second time?

I said before the playoffs started the Baltimore Ravens looked like the best prepared team to really make a strong run at a Super Bowl. The Ravens have really matured on the offensive side of the ball and the defense is a very tough unit. Baltimore has played better than anyone in the 2^nd half of the season winning 11 of their last 13 games. In the last 8 games, Baltimore is only allowing 10.2 points per game. If you throw out the Cowboys high scoring game, the Ravens are only allowing an amazing 8 points per contest. On top of that, the Baltimore offense has really come around late in the year. Rookie QB Joe Flacco is throwing more passes and controlling the ball well. The Ravens ground game has been solid this season as well behind the legs of Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. Both running backs will share carries and they have both shown the can be effective backs. Baltimore was shut down by the Pittsburgh offense in their last meeting only putting up 202 total yards. The offense should have a bit more confidence this time around and it will be interesting to see if they can get the job done. The turnovers will be a key category in this game. Last meeting, both teams have two turnovers a piece and it will be very crucial for each team to hold onto the ball in a field position type ball game. Look for this ball game to possibly be another very low scored game controlled by defense.

Early this week we broke down the entire AFC playoff race. Now we take a look at the NFC playoff picture and where each playoff contender stands. Who possibly could be the best team and which teams could make a deep run in the postseason.

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New York Giants (11-2) – The Giants own the best record in the NFC and the 2^nd best record in the NFL. They have officially clinched the NFC East and are one game away from a first round bye. New York took a blow from the Philadelphia Eagles last week in a 20-14 defeat. Star WR Plexico Burress is out for the year after the gunshot wound and weapons charges he is currently facing. Will the distraction be enough to derail one of the NFL’s hottest teams? The former Super Bowl Champions have backed up last year’s season well and are favorites to win the NFC. However, one must wonder if New York may have peaked too soon?

Dallas Cowboys (8-5) – The Cowboys looked in good position last week to score a huge victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then the Steelers routed 17 straight points in the final 7 minutes of the game to beat Dallas. The loss really hurt the Cowboys chances at making the postseason given they have a really tough schedule the rest of the way. Many believe Dallas has to win out to make the playoffs, but I believe they still have a good shot if they win at least two of their last 3 games. The Cowboys will hold the tie-breaker over Tampa Bay and Atlanta if those teams were to end with the same record. Still Dallas has to play New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Two wins may be asking enough much less three.

Washington Redskins (7-6) – The Redskins are mathematically still in the hunt even though their chances do not look good. Washington is in dire need to win out or the playoff hopes will be gone. Even if the Redskins do win out they could still need some help from other teams to advance. Washington has a fairly soft schedule the rest of the way but they have a classic NFC East battle with Philadelphia in a few weeks. The Redskins have lost 4 of their last 5 games and the offense has been missing in action. The Redskins have a tall mountain to climb in this one and will most likely not being playing after the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1) – Ironically a tie is better than a loss. Philadelphia stands much better chance to make the playoffs with that tie and they are playing well right now. The Eagles defeated the Giants last week and blew out Arizona the week before. Their last 3 games are against Cleveland, Washington, and Dallas. The Eagles will be favored to win the first two and the battle with Dallas could very well decide which one of those teams earns the final wildcard spot. The Eagles really need to run the table because a loss would most likely eliminate all chances they have.

Minnesota Vikings (8-5) – The Vikings had a slow start to the regular season losing 3 out of their first 4 games. However, Minnesota rebound nicely and now has won 5 of their last 6 games led by running back Adrian Peterson. The Vikings benefit from a weaker conference and hold a one game advantage of the Chicago Bears. Minnesota has a tough road ahead taking on teams like New York Giants, Arizona, and Atlanta to close out the season. The best option for the Vikings is to hope the Bears can not close the gap in the NFC North.

Chicago Bears (7-6) – Despite having a record barely over .500 the Bears still have a good chance to win the NFC North. Chicago has struggled to post the necessary points to keep up with a few teams and they need to catch on surge on the offensive side of the ball. While they definitely have the softer schedule compared to the Vikings, the Bears will have to win at the very least two games to have a chance. If there happen to be a tie with Minnesota, the Bears would lose to the tie-breaker making their chances even dimmer.

Carolina Panthers (10-3) – The Panthers captured their biggest win of the season last Monday night manhandling the Buccaneers 38-23 in route to nearly 300 yards on the ground. The Panthers have emerged out of the NFC South and are playing very well. Carolina has the tools similar to Tennessee in the AFC in a very dangerous ground attack and a superb defense. Notice how the Titans are doing in the AFC, this type of football works. Despite the strong record the Panthers still can not afford to slip as Tampa could hold the tie-breaker by the end of the season with a better in conference record. Still, Carolina will most likely be in the playoffs and will probably find a way to win the division. The Panthers have the ingredients to beat anybody in the NFL and primed for a deep run in the postseason. If the Panthers manage to win out, they will get home field advantage throughout the playoffs which would be huge considering they have not lost at home all season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) – The Buccaneers could have really helped themselves with a victory over Carolina last week. Now they will take on the Atlanta Falcons in a game of equal importance. The Bucs had won 4 in a row prior to last week’s loss and they need to rebound and score a victory. The Buccaneers last 3 games involve two AFC opponents. This could really help because even if they loss it would be an out of conference loss which would help in tie-breaking scenarios. Tampa Bay will be favorites to win two of those games convincingly and a win over Atlanta would pretty much seal the deal. The Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta game could be an elimination game for both teams.

Atlanta Falcons (8-5) – The Falcons suffered a disappointing loss last week 29-24 from the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta still has a reasonable chance to make the playoff, but absolutely must beat Tampa Bay this weekend. Rookie QB Matt Ryan is a superstar in the making and is getting better week by week. Atlanta has a legitimate chance to win out and they may just have to because two wins may not be enough. Since week 4 every loss the Falcons faced, they have bounced back with two straight wins. Well this time they will need to bounce back with 3 straight wins. A loss to Tampa Bay however will end all hopes.

Arizona Cardinals (8-5) – Arizona clinched the NFC West last week with a win over the St. Louis Rams. Kurt Warner has led the Cardinal offense that has become one of the best in the NFL. Arizona offense can give any opposing defense nightmares. The Cardinals are another team that benefits from a weak conference, but they can be a legitimate threat. The Arizona defense has in return struggled this season giving up 25 points per game. If the defense could come on strong and catch a late season surge, this could be a very dangerous football team.

The following teams are completely eliminated from the NFC playoff picture: Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

The following teams aren’t eliminated but have absolutley no chance: New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins

The following teams are not even worthy of mentioning: “The Winless Detroit Lions”