Archive for the ‘NFL Football’ Category

Brett Favre Retiring, 2010 Minnesota Vikings Odds

August 3rd, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   1 Comment »

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Brett Favre has decided to retire. The former gunslinger of the Minnesota Vikings told the team on Tuesday his intentions to not come back this year following a season in which he led the team to the NFC Championship Game.

The Vikings are now in trouble at the quarterback position, as the only viable options seem to be Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson was the backup to Favre last year, and he filled in admirably when called upon in mop up duty. He threw for 201 yards and a TD without throwing a pick. Over the last two seasons, the former Alabama State quarterback has completed 102-of-170 passes (60.0%) for 1,257 yards with ten TDs against just two INTs. He has also only been sacked 14 times and lost three fumbles. For that reason, HC Brad Childress is probably more inclined to put Jackson back under center once again.

Jackson was the signal caller for the team down the stretch in both 2007 and 2008. As a starting quarterback, he has struggled, completed just 57.6 percent of his passes for an average of 164.1 yards per game with 18 TDs and 17 INTs. Jackson also has rumbled for four scores on the ground. He guided the Vikings to the playoffs in 2008. The Philadelphia Eagles knocked off Minnesota in the first round 26-14.

Rosenfels has never been asked to be a full-time starter, and he has never started in Week 1 for a team coming out of training camp. In just 12 career starts, the 32 year old is averaging just 203.0 yards per game. Rosenfels has tossed 13 TDs against a woeful 20 INTs and has fumbled eight times in those 12 games. Part of what Childress loved about Favre last year was that he kept his turnovers low, throwing just seven INTs. Rosenfels clearly doesn’t have that type of capacity. He also hasn’t taken a snap since 2008 with the Houston Texans.

Prior to the announcement of Favre’s retirement, the Vikings were the second choice on the board on the NFC North odds at +145. Though we expect to still see Minnesota only behind the Green Bay Packers in this division at the outset of the season, the Pack could very well become odds on favorites.

Minnesota was tabbed to win 9.5 games on the pro football odds and was lined at +1200 to win Super Bowl XLV.

2010 NFL Draft: Don’t be Surprised at these Surprises

April 21st, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on 2010 NFL Draft: Don’t be Surprised at these Surprises

Every single season, there are surprises that happen in the NFL Draft that just shock us all. Here at Bankroll Sports, we’re prognosticating about some of the potential surprises, and how you can cash in by betting on some of the props available to you at BoDog Sportsbook!

The Buffalo Bills are going to have their chance to grab Jimmy Clausen, but they’re going to pass… as will a ton of other teams: Now here’s a shocker! First of all, Clausen lasting all the way to #9 seems like a bit of a surprise, as the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders are all potential prospects for Clausen as well. But it seems as though Buffalo is the likely destination for the Notre Dame quarterback, right? Think again. The Bills may see value in grabbing RB CJ Spiller or WR Dez Bryant just as much and take one of them off of the board. At that point, the free fall could be on. It doesn’t seem like that Jacksonville, Denver, or Miami are great candidates for Clausen. That’s when the fall could stop. San Francisco would love to see Clausen fall to it at pick #13, its first of two first round draft picks. You can grab that to happen at 5/2 at BoDog Sportsbook right now! You can also wager on him to slip past pick #9 as well at -110.

The prospects of getting a franchise left tackle may be enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade Ben Roethlisberger: Sure, these rumblings have been going on for awhile now that Big Ben will be dealt for a first round draft pick, and though you may find that concept crazy, don’t discount the idea. Roethlisberger has definitely fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh, and with the way that the Steelers play football, many in Steel Town feel as though backup QB Charlie Batch could lead the team to wins just as easily as Roethlisberger could. Are you paying attention Buffalo? What about you, Jacksonville? The blockbuster very well could happen, and if it does, expect to see the Steelers try to grab a left tackle to sure up an offensive line that was woeful at times in 2009.

After Sooners go #1 and #2, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to get the best player in this draft at pick #3: If the St. Louis Rams did this right, they’d draft Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh with the #1 overall pick in the draft. But they won’t… They’ll grab Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. That would make the Detroit Lions foolish to pass on him. But really, they’re the Detroit Lions… For whatever reason, they seem to prefer Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy. If that’s the case, the Bucs should be running up to the podium with their selection right after Commissioner Roger Goodell start to utter “Ger-“. By all accounts, Suh was accepted as the top player in this draft after the Big XII Championship Game when he totally dominated a solid offensive line of Texas. Suh is a huge force in the middle of a defense, and he will anchor Tampa Bay for years to come at that position, where DT Warren Sapp made a living. Regardless of what else happens in this draft, if the Bucs end up with Suh, they’re going to be thrilled with their findings.

Tim Tebow Will be Drafted in the First Round: Ok, so maybe this isn’t that much of a surprise to all of you, but Tebow is a proven winner and he brings a ton of versatility to the table to the right team. There are a number of teams that have shown a tad bit of interest in the Florida Gator, but no one is ready to commit to him, particularly as the team’s top draft pick quite yet. Still, we think that the New England Patriots may be willing to take a flier on him at pick #22. If not then, at some point, someone is going to become enamored with the idea of having an arm and legs that strong on their team and will snare him before Thursday is complete. You can bet on Tebow to go in the first 29 picks right now at even money at BoDog Sportsbook.

2010 NFL Draft: Top 10 Quarterbacks

April 20th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on 2010 NFL Draft: Top 10 Quarterbacks
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The quarterback position has always been the make or break position for teams in the NFL. There aren’t a slew of signal callers that are most likely guys that are going to lead franchises to Super Bowls, but here at Bankroll Sports, we’re breaking down the top ten QBs available and projecting what teams that they might be suitable for.

1: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Sooners: By all accounts, Bradford is most likely going to be one of the first names that you hear come off the board. The only question that surrounds him is whether or not he is able to stay healthy after suffering a pair of shoulder injuries at Oklahoma. We expect to see the St. Louis Rams take him with the top pick and make him the franchise’s QB for years to come.

2: Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Clausen could find himself being draft in the Top 5, but one must also remember that his predecessor at Notre Dame, Brady Quinn was once thought to be a Top 5 pick as well, and he ended up slipping all the way to pick #22. Things probably won’t be that bad for Clausen, but a drop out of the Top 10 is possible. Don’t be shocked if he’s playing in Buffalo next season with the Bills.

3: Colt McCoy, Texas Longhorns: If you’re looking for a guy who is just a proven winner, McCoy is your man. The Texas gunslinger had the most wins in the history of the Longhorns, which is saying something considering the fact that some guy named Vince Young started there for three seasons. There’s a chance that he could be drafted in the back end of the first round either via a trade from the top of Round 2 or by a team that is banking on the future, but don’t expect to see him suiting up too much in his first year in the pros. Perhaps the Washington Redskins could nab him as a project pick at the front end of Round 2.

4: Tim Tebow, Florida Gators: It’s anyone’s guess where Tebow is going to go in this year’s draft. We know he’s a winner and we know he can run Florida’s offense like none other, but he’s not a prototypical quarterback and rarely took snaps under center. Still, the Jacksonville Jaguars seem likely to snare him somewhere to try to boost ticket sales for a struggling franchise.

The rest of these quarterbacks are going to be mid to late round picks. If you’re looking for teams that may be in the market for these QBs in addition to the ones that are listed above, consider the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos as legitimate options.

5: John Skelton, Fordham Rams: The Baltimore Ravens hitting a home run with Delaware QB Joe Flacco is going to make Skelton an interesting project pick for someone in the late rounds. At 6’5″, there’s no doubt that Skelton is built like a legitimate NFL quarterback, but his lack of competition is always going to be scary. Someone may pull him off the board at the end of Round 3, but most likely, he’s slipping to Round 4.

6: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan Chippewas: The Chippewas just aren’t going to be the same without LeFevour under center as he has been for the past four years. He’s a duel threat, having rushed for over 3,000 yards in his collegiate career. This is a great project pick for a team that is looking for a Wildcat quarterbacks, so LeFevour should hear his name called by Round 4.

7: Jarrett Brown, West Virginia Mountaineers: If Pat White made it in the NFL, Brown will probably get drafted at some point as well. His 40 time was an impressive 4.54, making him a Wildcat threat as well. A team that uses a lot of creative offensive sets would love to add Brown to the arsenal, especially since he could also be used as a wide receiver if need be. He may be a fourth round pick as well.

8: Jevan Snead, Mississippi Rebels: For whatever reason, Snead decided to forgo his senior season at Ole Miss and enter the draft. Many thought that he’d be a first round pick at this time a year ago, but now, he’ll be lucky to go in Round 5.

9: Tony Pike, Cincinnati Bearcats: Pike has a strong arm and a big upside, but his lack of time under center at Cincinnati is going to scare off a lot of NFL GMs. Still, he led a solid Cincinnati team to last year’s Sugar Bowl with a perfect record before getting whooped by UF, and he’ll get drafted most likely at some point in Round 5 or 6.

10: Max Hall, BYU Cougars: Just having the name “BYU” next to your name means that you know how to throw the football. The downside for Hall is that he is already going to be 25 years old by the start of next season, and he still needs some seasoning to be a legitimate NFL quarterback, even as a backup. Still, he’ll get drafted and could make an impact on someone’s roster in a few years.

NFL Betting: 2010 NFL Draft Props by Position (4/19)

April 19th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on NFL Betting: 2010 NFL Draft Props by Position (4/19)

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NFL Draft betting action kicked off this morning at BoDog Sportsbook, as a plethora of props opened up for us to pick apart. Here’s a few that we’re focusing in on for Thursday night’s first round!

Prop Bet #1: How many running backs will be drafted in Round 1?: Taking the over 1.5 at -350 odds seems like an absolute slam dunk, but maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to react this way. Sure, Clemson RB CJ Spiller is going to go at some point during the first round. However, beyond him, there really aren’t a ton of running backs that just scream first round talent. Unless someone is reaching, grabbing a guy like Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews isn’t going to be likely until the 20s. Yes, Cal’s Jahvid Best could also be a possibility, as could Auburn’s Ben Tate or Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer for real reaches. The Houston Texans at #20 could come out and draft a running back, and they could also do so by trading back into the back end of the first round as well. Aside from that though, perhaps Philadelphia could use some running back depth, as could Arizona at #26 or San Diego at #28. Though the prospects are good for another back to be taken, it’s probably worth the stab at the long price that Houston goes with a safety or a corner and everyone else in the draft decides to go with either linemen or defense.

Selection: Under 1.5 running backs drafted in Round 1 +275 at BoDog Sportsbook

Prop Bet #2: How many wide receivers & tight ends will be drafted in Round 1?: This may not be a slam dunk of a prop either, but it really may look like it when the round is said and done. Someone at some point is going to take Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant in Round 1, and whomever that is will probably get themselves a steal, particularly if he lasts into the late teens or early 20s. Though there aren’t a lot of teams out there that are guaranteed to draft offense, there are some other fantastic playmakers that are going to be available at the back end of this round as well. Look for TE Jermaine Grisham to hear his name called in the 20s, which could set the stage for a guy like Notre Dame’s Golden Tate, Illinois’ Arrelious Benn or Georgia Tech’s Demaryius Thomas to fill out our allotment of pass catching options to cash a winning ticket for us.

Selection: Over 2.5 wide receivers & tight ends drafted in Round 1 -115 at BoDog Sportsbook

Prop Bet #3: How many offensive linemen will be drafted in Round 1?: Let’s just throw some names out there of absolute sure fire first round locks for the hogs up front. Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung, Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga, Oklahoma’s Trent Williams, and Maryland’s Bruce Campbell are probably all coming off the board in the first ten selections. It seems likely that Rutgers’ Anthony Davis and Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey will also be picked amongst the first 32. Beyond that six, USC’s Charles Brown, Idaho’s Mike Iupati, and Indiana’s Rodger Saffold are all possibilities. So basically what we’re asking for with this prop is to see the six should be first rounders go, and then just one more. It is becoming more and more trendy to spend first round picks on offensive linemen, and we expect that to continue with at least seven selected in Round 1.

Selection: Over 6.5 offensive linemen drafted in Round 1 -240 at BoDog Sportsbook

Be sure to keep it tuned to Bankroll Sports for all of our coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft!

List of NFL Free Agent Wheelings and Dealings

March 8th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in General Handicapping, NFL Football   Comments Off on List of NFL Free Agent Wheelings and Dealings
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Arizona Cardinals: Lost out on S Antrel Rolle, LB Karlos Dansby, S Kerry Rhodes, and WR Anquan Boldin, which will seriously hamper any chances of defending their NFC West crown.
Atlanta Falcons: Signed CB Dunta Robinson to shore up a secondary that ranked 28th against the pass last season (241.9 yards per game).
Baltimore Ravens: Traded for WR Anquan Boldin, which gives QB Joe Flacco a consistent target to throw to, but also lost top WR from a year ago, Derrick Mason.
Buffalo Bills: Still no word on what’s going on with WR Terrell Owens, but aside from that, things have been relatively quiet in Buffalo.
Carolina Panthers: Finally cut ties with QB Jake Delhomme, possibly setting up Michael Vick’s grand return as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Chicago Bears: Signed RB Chester Taylor, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, and DE Julius Peppers on the first day of the signing period, but still need to replace T Orlando Pace on the offensive line.
Cincinnati Bengals: Released WR Laveranues Coles and let S Roy Williams, DT Tank Johnson, and RB Larry Johnson become free agents.
Cleveland Browns: Signed LB Scott Fujita and resigned KR Joshua Cribbs to ensure that they have one of the most explosive special teams units in the NFL in 2010.
Dallas Cowboys: All has been quiet in “Big D,” save the fact that K Shaun Suisham was allowed to become a free agent.
Denver Broncos: Teams are trying to tender offers for WR Brandon Marshall, which could largely hurt QB Kyle Orton’s growth on a team that struggled down the stretch.
Detroit Lions: Signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and WR Nate Burleson, and though many recognize the Vanden Bosch signing as a great one for a poor defensive line, it’s questionable that Burleson earned $5M/year.
Green Bay Packers: Need to find a replacement for DE/LB Aaron Kampman.
Houston Texans: Working towards resigning WR Kevin Walter, but secondary help is still needed to replace the departed DB Dunta Robinson.
Indianapolis Colts: Resigned LB Gary Brackett, but have stayed relatively quiet in free agency otherwise.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Signed DE/LB Aaron Kampman to try to bulk up a defense which ranked 24th in the NFL at 23.8 points allowed per game.
Kansas City Chiefs: Resigned both LB Mike Vrabel and WR Terrance Copper.
Miami Dolphins: Cut ties with LB Akin Ayodele, QB Chad Pennington, DT Jason Ferguson, and LB Joey Porter, but did start rebuilding by signing LB Karlos Dansby.
Minnesota Vikings: Needs to find a replacement as RB Adrian Peterson’s backup, as RB Chester Taylor left via free agency.
New England Patriots: Resigned LB Tully Banta-Cain, G Stephen Neal, and DT Vince Wilfork to sure up the defending AFC East champs for another run in ’10.
New Orleans Saints: Still haven’t come to terms with S Darren Sharper, and have already lost LB Scott Fujita and backup QB Mark Brunell via free agency.
New York Giants: Signed S Antrel Rolle as perhaps the best DB on the open market, which will only help a defense which ranked 30th in the NFL in points allowed last season (26.7 per game).
New York Jets: Cut DB Lito Sheppard, but did trade for DB Antonio Cromartie, giving them the best tandem of corners in football (Cromartie and DB Darrelle Revis).
Oakland Raiders: Designed DE Richard Seymour as the team’s franchise player and released RB Justin Fargas, opening the door for more playing time for RB Darren McFadden.
Philadelphia Eagles: Still in dispute whether Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb will be the quarterback next season. Resigned RB Leonard Weaver, but cut both LB Will Witherspoon and RB Brian Westbrook.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Had to deal with a major off-the-field hassle, as QB Ben Roethlisberger was accused of his second assault. S Ryan Clark, RB Willie Parker, and backup QB Charlie Batch are all free agents.
San Diego Chargers: Traded the disgruntled DB Antonio Cromartie, and cut ties with RB LaDainian Tomlinson, but surprised many by bringing back RB Darren Sproles.
San Francisco 49ers: Signed QB David Carr to compete with Alex Smith and Shaun Hill for the starting quarterback job.
Seattle Seahawks: Lost DB Ken Lucas and WR Nate Burleson to free agency.
St. Louis Rams: Signed QB AJ Feeley to compete as a temporary starting quarterback for the signal-caller that will inevitably be drafted either this year or next year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Allowed S Will Allen, S Jermaine Phillips, and WR Antonio Bryant to declare free agency.
Tennessee Titans: Will miss DE Kyle Vanden Bosch up front, but also lost TE Alge Crumpler, LB Keith Bulluck, DE Jevon Kearse, DB Nick Harper, and C Kevin Mawae.
Washington Redskins: Have stayed surprisingly quiet, but did sign G Artis Hicks to shore up a questionable and aging offensive line.

A Tip of the “Cap” to the Chicago Bears

March 5th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   1 Comment »

The Monsters of the Midway just got a heck of a lot scarier.

Last season, the Chicago Bears opened up their wallets and made the trade that was supposed to put their franchise over the top. After years of watching Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, et al struggle to complete passes, they dealt Orton and a slew of draft picks to the Denver Broncos to acquire Jay Cutler.

After the oddsmakers jumped all over the place and named the Bears amongst the favorites to go the Super Bowl in the wide open NFC, all they managed to do was go 7-9 and suffer crushing defeat after crushing defeat.

Oh look, Cutler just threw another interception while I was writing that paragraph.

The fact that the Vanderbilt product, who made a cool $22M last season, threw 27 touchdown passes last season was completely irrelevant to Chicago fans. It was the 26 interceptions that really stood out.

Heck, Sexy Rexy could’ve done that.

In all seriousness though, Cutler’s turnover problems were just one of the many freakish things that happened to the Bears in 2009. LB Brian Urlacher suffered a season-ending injury in the first week of the season. RB Matt Forte had a miserable sophomore slump, rushing for just 929 yards and four scores. WR/DB/KR/PR/Popcorn Salesman Devin Hester didn’t score a single special teams touchdown.

If nothing else changed for Chicago from 2009, don’t you think that the 2010 edition of this team would be significantly better?
Last year, the Bears spent a shade over $120M in salaries, which was just $7M shy of the roughly $127M cap. The only significant number that is coming off of the cap from last year to this year was that of Orlando Pace, who made a shade over $5M in 2009.

But thanks to the fact that this will be an uncapped season, it was essentially open season for the Bears to become free agent head hunters.

That’s when the wallet was opened.

Today was the first day of the free agency period, and Chicago wasted no time spending a cool $84.5M in the blink of an eye.
The newest members of the team including former Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers and former Minnesota Vikings RB Chester Taylor. In an otherwise largely mediocre free agent class, these two signings were incredible.

In Peppers, the Bears are getting one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. He racked up 81 sacks with the Panthers before not getting resigned in the offseason, and now he’ll get to team up with one of the best DTs in the league in Tommy Harris as well as one of the best linebacking corps that the league has to offer as well.

There’s a certain #4 right now sitting in on a farm somewhere in Mississippi that has to be looking at that and wondering if he really wants to face that front seven twice this year…

The signing of Taylor will go underappreciated, yet it is quite possibly the more relevant signing. Even though Chicago ranked 17th in total defense and 21st in points allowed in 2009, we knew that the Bears would already be a more dangerous team defensively in ’10 thanks to the return of Urlacher.

What we weren’t so sure of is how good this running game could be. Many think that Forte’s miserable rushing average (3.6 yards per carry) was a large reason for the downfall of Cutler last year.

Chicago knew that it didn’t need a home run hitter as a running back. It just needed someone to lighten the load off of Cutler’s shoulders just a bit.

Taylor’s numbers haven’t been all that impressive for the Vikings since Purple Jesus came to town, but he has still been the epitome of consistency. If Minnesota needed a guy to step in and start, Taylor was available. A good blocker? Check. A third down back? Does 42 catches last season suffice?

For a team that ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing (93.2 yards per game), Taylor should be a perfect fit from a divisional rival.
It’s pretty clear that losing is no longer any option for the Chicago Bears.

For the second straight season, they have gone out and made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason. For the second straight season, they’ll be a favorite in the NFC. For the second straight season, expectations will be incredibly high.

But if for the second straight season, the Bears don’t reach the playoffs and march towards the Super Bowl, HC Lovie Smith is going to have lots of explaining to do.

After all, at least right now, he’s got the best team that money can buy.

Some Free Super Bowl XLIV Prop Picks

January 31st, 2010 by Bankroll Sports Staff | Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on Some Free Super Bowl XLIV Prop Picks

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One of the greatest things about the Super Bowl from a betting standpoint is the enormity of betting opportunities for sports bettors.  The Super Bowl has always been the single most popular game in the world when it comes to sports betting. Just to give you an idea of the money involved, Nevada is expecting nearly 100 million in wagering just within the state’s borders for this year’s Super Bowl. As a result, online bookmakers have taken advantage offering countless proposition and exotic betting lines for side action. For this year’s Super Bowl, bettors can literally wager on anything from the outcome of the coin flip to what color top Kim Kardashian will be wearing at the game.  In a previous post below, Rodney recently shared some tips for betting props along with some of the top prop odds and Super Bowl betting bonuses. With so many lines available, bettors can easily get caught up in all the excessive action in all the wrong ways. Since there are so many betting opportunities available, many bettors will wager money with a “careless” attitude and risk money on many chance bets. I spent some time breaking down some of these prop lines and to provide some predictions that will increase your chances of ending the season in the black.  Below are a few prop that I believe deserve some attention heading into the Super Bowl. All of the prop odds below can be found at Bodog Sportsbook (10% Bonus – Accepting Credit Card deposits for the Superbowl)

Prop Bet #1 – Will the Indianapolis Colts score every quarter?

Yes  +130
No  – 160

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are two offensive powered teams that will collide with a lot of points expected. The Saints secondary has been questionable all season and that throws up red flags for many reasons against Peyton Manning’s offense. In fact, the Colts have scored in 3 of 4 quarters in both postseason match-ups. While history may tell us that a team scoring all 4 quarters is unlikely in a Super Bowl, the Colts have a great chance. The reason is they have to keep the pressure on the Saints and their offense will not let up with the lead. The Saints hung 45 on the Cardinals and 31 on the Vikings. Therefore, Manning should get plenty of opportunities with the football and it’s doubtful the Saints defense will have an answer for the fast pace Colts offense. With some profitable juice, this is a great risk to consider.

Pick – Yes

Prop Bet #2 – The first 1st down will be either a passing or rushing play?

Passing -200
Rushing  +160

Unless there is a 1 yard conversion, a passing play should be the result of the first 1st down in the game. Neither offense has much confidence in their running game. In fact, both teams use their running games to control the clock rather than looking for success on the ground. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are two of the top quarterbacks in the league and it is no secret that both offenses heavily favor the pass. Both offenses will keep the ball in the hands of their star quarterbacks and hope they both get into a rhythm early. Unless there is a early short yardage situation, the passing game will be used nearly every down especially early in the game. Consider this a high percentage play that a passing play will result in opening first down of the game.

Pick – Passing

Prop Bet #3 – Total receiving yards – Robert Meachem

Over 45 ½  +105
Under 45 ½  -135

Robert Meachem has played a solid role in contributing to the Saints lethal passing attack this season. However, in recent weeks Meachem has been nearly ineffective. Over the last 3 games, Meachem has caught just 4 passes totaling 31 yards. The reason may be because the Saints have run the ball better and have gotten help from a ton of outside passing options. Whatever the case may be, Meachem has not even been targeted by Drew Brees but very rarely in the past few games. Running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas have been used more frequently catching balls out of the backfield taking some of those outside options away from Meachem. Wide outs Devery Henderson and Marques Colston will remain the primary targets in the passing game. If the Saints continue to use their backs in the passing game with effectiveness, Meachem may be left out of the picture once again.

Pick – Under 45 ½

Prop Bet #4 – Who will throw more interceptions?   

Drew Brees  -105
Peyton Manning -125

All eyes will be on both quarterbacks this Sunday and rightfully so. The Colts have Peyton Manning who before it is all said and done could go down as the greatest quarterback every. The Saints have Drew Brees who has absolutely mastered the New Orleans air attack. While most may agree that Manning is the better of the two, he is also the most vulnerable to giving up an interception. Manning threw 16 interceptions during the regular season while Brees threw just 11 total. In fact despite the Saints secondary that lacks respect against the pass, they actually picked off 26 interceptions during the regular season equaling the 3rd most in the NFL. Safety Darren Sharper tied for the most picks in the NFL with 9 and the Saints defense will need those turnovers this weekend to pull off the victory. Even if the Colts prevail, Manning normally gives up at least one interception and that may be one more than Brees will throw this Sunday.

Pick – Manning

Prop Bet #5 – Team to receive the opening kickoff 

New Orleans Saints  -115
Indianapolis Colts  -115

This particular betting line is offered every year, but nearly always seem to go the opposite direction from what the betting public expects. However, we believe we got this year’s decision for both team’s figured out. The perceptions here is that both teams want to put their offenses on the field first which is why the line is considered a toss up. However, the Colts may elect the alternative if they do happen to win the toss. The Colts defense has played extremely well at times this year and their momentum tends to set the tone for the offense. I believe the Colts will put their defense on the field first to try and force a quick change of possession putting the advantage to their offense. On the other side of the coin, I just do not see how the Saints could put their defense on the field first allowing Peyton Manning the first opportunity to score. If the Saints win the toss, they will accept the ball and look to make an opening statement.

Pick – Saints