There has been a great deal of NFL offseason news since the combine closed up shop last week in Indianapolis. The world of sports betting may have to consider some changes to various NFL teams as a series of events start to come together at the same time.

As you read these betting tips keep in mind that the thing driving much of these rumors and the actual moves made by teams is the fear of an uncapped season in 2011. For all the good has tried to do in maintaining law and order in the NFL, commissioner Roger Goodell has failed to bring about peace with a new collective bargaining agreement. Teams are now bracing for complete chaos as soon as the 2010 season ends.

One of the NFL predictions being made involves the future of Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. The Eagles picked up the option on Michael Vick and now there is a lot of talk about a salary dump being done that would result in Donovan McNabb being cut by the Eagles before July. That would leave the Eagles with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick at quarterback. At that point the Eagles can be written off for the 2010 season as they are not winning without Donovan McNabb.

Once the Kyle Orton, Brandon Marshall and Josh McDaniels experiment failed so miserably in Denver it was only a matter of time before the finger pointing began. All fingers are pointing squarely at Brandon Marshall. It is not surprising given Marshall’s flair for the dramatic and his ability to completely disrupt a team. One of the projected landing places for Marshall is Cincinnati. With the way Marvin Lewis has his team under control even with disruptive personalities like Chad Ochocinco and rookie lineman Andre Smith, it looks like the Bengals could be a good choice for Marshall’s career. The Bengals would then have Carson Palmer throwing to Chad Ochocinco and Brandon Marshall. That would be a potent offense.

There has been a lot of speculation on the impact that Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor will have in Chicago after the Bears gave both players lucrative contracts. Lost in the negative talk about Peppers is Brian Urlacher. With Peppers up front and Urlacher monitoring the linebacker spot, teams are going to find it increasingly difficult to run against the Bears. If Tommie Harris can step up on the defensive line and help shut down the pass, the Bears could have a potent defense in 2010.

Chester Taylor joins tight end Brandon Manumaleuna as two very high-profile signings for the Bears’ offense. The question with the Bears on offense remains Jay Cutler. There is a growing sentiment in Chicago that you could surround Cutler with an all-star cast and he would still find a way to mess it up. Cutler has a cannon for an arm and he is incredibly accurate with his throws, the problem is his decision making. Cutler holds the ball for too long, and much of the time he throws the ball exactly where he shouldn’t. The Bears will need to upgrade their offensive line and give Cutler more time if they want him to make better decisions.

The only certainty heading into the 2010 NFL free agency period is the looming uncertainty leading in to opening day.

Without a new collective bargaining agreement in place by Friday, 2010 will be the league’s first uncapped season since 1993. The NFL and NFLPA have exchanged jabs at one another behind the scenes and in the media, but are no closer to a new CBA than they were leading up to last year’s signing period. The current CBA expires in March 2011, and if the two sides are unable to establish terms the owners will lock out their players until a deal is reached.

That is a likely possibility considering the lack of open dialogue between the two sides.

With so much unknown for the future, it is difficult to project the direction franchises move in when free agency opens. With no salary cap in place, owners with championship aspirations and the necessary funds can potentially break the bank by pursuing a couple of notable free agents that they feel will put their team in sports betting position to compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy. Then again owners may choose to keep their wallets in their pockets and spend well below what they did a season ago, since there is no longer a minimum payroll teams must stay above.

If the big name players that have been released in the weeks leading up to March 5 are any indication, it appears that the owners may trend towards the latter.

Only days after the Chargers released former league MVP LaDanian Tomlinson and the Eagles dropped two-time Pro Bowler Brian Westbrook, Carolina added five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers to the list of sportsbook reviews free agents that will be available to the highest bidder in free agency. The Panthers’ franchise career sacks leader and member of the NFL’s All-Decade team, Peppers was deemed expendable after two straight seasonsas the team’s franchise player. San Diego surprised again when it was announced running back Darren Sproles would follow Tomlinson to the open market.

Miami will not resign defensive stars Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. Green Bay released former Pro Bowl lineman Aaron Kampman, and the Oakland Raiders have not resigned Richard Seymour.

Even the New Orleans Saints have failed to reach a contract extension with safety Darren Sharper, a key piece to the defensive turnaround that helped the Saints win the Super Bowl.

With so much unknown regarding the state of the NFL picks and a potential CBA beyond 2010, owners have been hesitant to sign marquee players to long-term big-money contracts extending beyond the upcoming season.

It’s the prime time for the sportsbook odds makers and NFL scouts of the world as the top athletes in college football are at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. A lot of big questions for a bunch of key players have been answered with combine scores and interviews. Here are some combine winners and losers.

Winners:

Tim Tebow QB Florida

Tim Tebow arguably had the most to gain and lose at the scouting combine as harsh criticism has fallen upon him for having a slow throwing motion and not having a game suited for the NFL.

Tebow’s athleticism was on display at the combine and he impressed all who watched him. Tebow ran a 4.72 40-yard dash time when he was thought to be closer to 4.9 and had a vertical jump of 38.5 inches which ties an all-time quarterback record with Josh McCown. Tebow also apparently had a great interview process. He will reveal his new throwing motion at his pro day at the University of Florida on March 17^th.

5dimes review: Tebow can be assured a second round selection with a good show at the pro day while a bad show could drop him all the way to the fourth.

C.J. Spiller RB, Clemson

C.J. Spiller already had been considered the top back in the draft, but he impressed at the combine with a 4.37 40 yard dash time with 18 reps on the bench press of 225. He has locked himself in as the first running back to be taken off the board and may slip into the top 15 with his performance.

Golden Tate WR, Notre Dame

Golden Tate had a tremendous year for the Fighting Irish despite a poor showing from the team’s defense. Tate ran a 4.42 40 yard dash which was faster than expected and will likely be a late first early second round pick. Tate’s hands and speed will be able to make up for his size which came in at less than 5’11”.

NFL Predictions: Expect to see Tate off the board in the late 1^st round or early 2^nd.

Arrelious Benn WR, Illinois

Benn has been a much debated about receiver coming into the draft. Benn’s play suffered mostly from poor quarterback play at Illinois and showed good speed with a 4.48 40 yard dash time and good strength with 20 bench press reps. Benn has great hands and will likely be a hot name in the late 1^st round as teams look for a big fast target like Benn.

Losers:

Joanthan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

Dwyer looked out of shape and ran a 4.64 40 yard dash. His hands were AWOL and concerns about being able to produce on 3^rd down have his draft stock plummeting to 3^rd round territory.

Dan LeFevour, QB Central Michigan

LeFevour looked impressive in the Senior Bowl and the MAC quarterback needed a good showing at the combine to keep the momentum up for his growing draft buzz. Well, he didn’t. For some reason LeFevour decided to only throw to stationary targets and didn’t show off much arm strength doing so. He did run a 4.6 40 yard dash which was second fastest in the combine for quarterbacks, however LeFevour will have to have a good pro day to stay in the 3^rd round.

The NFL season may have ended, but it doesn’t mean you can’t pass the time watching the exciting moves that are sure to come this offseason.  It’s never too early to get ready for the next season, and it’s worth a shot to try and predict which team will come out of nowhere and make a serious run at the playoffs and beyond.  With that, we take a look at a few teams looking to make big moves in free agency. As well, there is plenty of sports bettingto occupy your time til the preseason.

1. The Buffalo Bills: This team is in desperate need of a quarterback, and in desperate need of making the playoffs.  Last year their young defense was solid despite injuries, and their running game saw the emergence of Fred Jackson.  Terrell Owens had a decent year, but the struggles remained at QB where all three of the Bills quarterbacks started at least one game.  Look for Buffalo to pursue an established leader with perhaps signing Jason Campbell, or the wild card Michael Vick.

2. The Chicago Bears: The team underachieved most of last year with the big arm of Jay Cutler throwing interceptions and missing wide receivers.  They need a big wide out who can go across the middle and make plays for the quarterback.  If their defence stays healthy, the offense will start to come together under Mike Martz, and the team could threaten to win the NFC North.

3.The Kansas City Chiefs: They are in a similar boat as Chicago, as they have a potentially great quarterback who struggled in his first year on a new team. They’re running game is much improved, and their defence isn’t terrible.  Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson are two big named WR free agents.  The Chiefs may look to get some help to their struggling offence this offseason.

4. The New York Giants: Rumors are swirling around defensive end Julius Peppers, and where he may end up if he doesn’t stay in Carolina. The best bet seems to be the Giants, who themselves may lose Osi Umenyiora on their line. They had a very disappointing season last year, and need to make a move on defense regardless, and they were torched by division rivals Eagles and Cowboys.

5. The Miami Dolphins: This team has a way of making big moves that aren’t big at the time, but prove so down the road. They have an excellent coaching stay under Tony Sparano, and GM Bill Parcells.  As they pick their quarterback of the future, don’t be surprised if this team makes a few moves that puts them in position to take back the AFC East.

It’s never too early to bet on your favourite team.  If you’re a bit unfamiliar with online betting, check out some gambling servicesto help you along your way. The draft is less than two months away, and before you know it you’ll be betting NFL football soon enough.

With the NFL season wrapped up and the rookie combines around the corner, it’s time for teams to take a hard look at who is out there in free agency. No one will be able to sign until March 5^th, but names keep floating around and some big free agents will be hitting the market shortly.

Sportsbook: Top Players on the Move

Julius Peppers CAR DE

Peppers has been one of the elite pass rushers in the game since he left the University of North Carolina. Now 30 years old, Peppers is going to leave via free agency and teams may be willing to give Peppers a monster deal. With 10.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles Peppers would be a nice commodity to add to any team that runs a 4-3 defense. If he were to play in a 3-4, he would likely take a role similar to DeMarcus Ware’s with the Cowboys.

5dimes review: Expected suitors: Patriots, Bears, Packers, Falcons, Giants

Chester Taylor MIN RB

Chester Taylor has been relegated to a backup role with the Vikings since they drafted Adrian Peterson. Although A-Pete has a bad case of fumblitits, it is unlikely that the Vikings can afford to pay two RB’s a starter’s salary. Taylor had been rumored to be getting a franchise or transitional (if there is no cap) tag, but at 7 million plus, that is a lot for a second back when you have one of the best in the league already on your team. Taylor is all but a lock to be on a new team and they will like what they see with him. Taylor is an exceptional receiving back and excellent in screens. His speed still seems good and the lack of reps recently may have extended his career. Look for a team with a young QB or a team running a west coast offense to make a bid for Taylor.

Expected suitors: Lions, Seahawks, Bears, Texans

Keith Bulluck TEN OLB

Bulluck has been one of the best linebackers in the league for many years, but his production dropped last year as the Titans defense struggled without Albert Haynesworth who left for Washington last offseason. Bulluck was forced to sit the last two games of the year due to injury, but if he can get healthy and be even 75% of what he was, Bulluck can be a game changer for a team with poor linebackers. Bulluck has spent his entire ten year career with the Tennessee Titans but is likely moving on this offseason.

Sports tips: Look for the Rockland County, New York native (where this article is currently being written from) to come back home and play for a team that is hurting real bad at linebacker, The New York Giants.

Expected suitors: Giants, Eagles, Colts

Reggie Bush NO RB (restricted)

Reggie Bush has been somewhat of a disappointment in the NFL. Drafted #2 overall a few years back, Bush has not lived up to his contract and the Super Bowl Champion Saints, will likely not pay over eight million dollars to keep a punt returner and backup running back. Bush has shown glimpses of the stuff that made him the #2 pick years ago but has been averaging less than 10 touches a game including returns. Look for him to be a hot name this offseason as Bush will likely fill a change of pace back role for a lucky team that will pay him. Seattle signed Bush’s college coach Pete Carroll to be President of Football Operations and Head Coach. They are the prohibitive favorites to land Bush.

Expected suitors: Seahawks, 49ers, Lions, Redskins

Jason Campbell WAS QB (restricted)

It appears that the rocky marriage is over between the Skins and Campbell. Campbell has had a different playbook every year he’s been in the league and is going to be the scapegoat for owner Dan Snyder’s screw-ups. Now with Mike Shanahan as head coach and GM, expect the skins to draft either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen to lead them going forward. Campbell is better than most believe however, and would be a nice fit on a team with QB issues.

Expected suitors: Rams, Seahawks, Bills, Raiders

Cincinnati Bengals Love Their Troubled Players

It’s not a surprise to any bookmakers by now (bookmaker reviews) that the Cincinnati Bengals are signing more troubled players. The offseason is very young but the Bengals are already making moves that are raising eye brows.

The Bengals acted quickly and signed free agents Matt Jones and Pacman Jones. Both players are coming off of suspension and both players have dodged felony charges.

The Bengals are planning to use Matt Jones as a tight end in the coming year as he just hasn’t panned out as a wide receiver. He could be a good receiving tight end to start but he has a long way to go with his blocking.

Meanwhile, Pacman might have some talent but people will be wondering just how much. He hasn’t had a good season in a while and the risk may be too high in comparison to the reward.

Nonetheless, the Bengals are rolling the dice once again.

Michael Vick Expected To Be Traded

Sportsbetting fans watched the NFL experiment that was Michael Vick last year and it didn’t work in Philadelphia. As long as Donovan McNabb is still around in Philadelphia, the Eagles have no use for Vick.

As it stands, they are shopping the quarterback, which could turn out to be a valuable asset as the draft approaches. The St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills are the teams interested and both teams are in dire need of a quarterback.

Either way, expect Vick to be shipped off at some point this offseason and he’ll get a crack at starting somewhere. In Philadelphia, that just isn’t likely and they clearly don’t need to spend so much money on a backup quarterback who plays one or two snaps per game as a running back.

Ravens Sign Stallworth

Donte Stallworth was looking for another chance and people making their NFL betting picks know that the Ravens are in desperate need of a wide receiver.

Naturally, it made sense for the Ravens to sign a wideout but some eyes were opened when they signed formerly suspended Stallworth.

While he did kill a man last year via a drink and drive, the reality is that Stallworth has paid his dues and will get another shot in the NFL. We’ll see what type of impact he can make after spending a year off on the sidelines.

March 5^th is the first day of free agency, which NFL betting fans know is always a free agent frenzy. There will be an interesting dynamic thrown into the loop this year as for the first time in a long time, the NFL will have an uncapped salary season.

Free agency this year will bring a shorter crop of young prospects as many of them will now be restricted for one more year because of the league rules. Nonetheless, here is a rundown of some key free agents.

Chad Pennington of the Miami Dolphins would like to return to Miami, but he’ll likely only have a backup role there. Coming off another season-ending injury, Pennington may be facing a backup role anywhere he goes. He is still a serviceable starter for some teams and he would be among the better backups if he was forced into a No. 2 role.

Another team could lose a player who started the year as a No. 1 contributor at a position after being supplanted by a good young prospect, and that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker.

Those who bet on NFL know that Parker’s days were numbered as soon as the Steelers spent a first-round pick on Rashard Mendenhall. Parker could be an enticing commodity to some as a speedy complementary back.

On defense, we all know that the 3-4 defense has been quite the fad in the NFL and a lot of teams looking for a playmaker might take a look at Julius Peppers. The recent rumor has been that he’s a good fit for outside linebacker in that set up but don’t be surprised if teams opt to keep him at defensive end in a 4-3, where he is a Pro Bowler as is.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints, who were exactly the favorite for NFL picks in the Super Bowl, will have to find a way to keep safety Darren Sharper, who led the league in interceptions. Sharper is a free agent and the Saints may opt to slap the franchise tag on him before he starts looking around.

Meanwhile, there will be some intriguing names thrown around as well such as Plaxico Burres, Matt Jones and even Pacman Jones. The latter two have worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals and may get a shot with the team who likes former troubled players.

It should be a busy March so keep an eye as the dates on the calendar approach.

US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook review) didn’t give New Orleans much of a chance in their Super Bowl showdown with Indianapolis on Sunday, and neither did many in the sports betting industry who give NFL picks, and it didn’t look good for a while. But one play changed the look of the game, and the Saints are now celebrating their first Super Bowl win.

Peyton Manning was 31-of-45 for 333 yards and a touchdown, but it was his pick to Tracy Porter that was run back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter which sealed the Colts’ fate.  The Colts even ran the ball more than usual, and Joseph Addai had 77 yards and a score on 19 carries. Indy gained 432 yards to the Saints’ 332 yards, but the Colts made a couple of critical mistakes, and while the Porter pick was huge, the second half started the comeback.

Sean Payton made the gutsiest call in Super Bowl history, as his onside kick threw everyone in Sun Life Stadium off guard. The Saints went on to outscore the Colts 22-7 in the second half of the game, and they stuck with the gameplan they created going into the game. The Colts refused to let the Saints beat them with their crew of deep threats, but like Manning did against the New York Jets in the AFC championship game, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees did the same against the Colts. Brees took his check-down throws and moved the ball, and he ended up going 32-of-39 for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 32 completions by Brees tied a Super Bowl record, and Marques Colston and Devery Henderson caught seven passes apiece for the Saints.

NFL lines had the Saints as a 4.5-point underdog in this contest, and they showed a lot of poise and courage in this game. They started off very slow, but they never panicked and stuck to their plan. The onside kick was a huge blow to the Colts, and then the Saints systematically broke them down. New Orleans has also lived and died with turnovers this year, and their eighth forced turnover in three playoff games clinched the title. Also, it can’t be understated what Brees did during this postseason run. Brees went up against Arizona’s Kurt Warner, Minnesota’s Brett Favre and Manning, all three of whom should end up in the Hall of Fame, and Brees outplayed them all, failing to throw a pick throughout the playoffs.

Those who were looking for a shootout were disappointed as the 48 combined points were under the posted total of 56.5. Still, that had to be the only thing that Super Bowl betting players had to be disappointed with in this brilliant game.

The Super Bowl is just a few days upon us.  This is the Super Bowl that we’ve dreamed of since the fourth week into the season.  Many of us after just a few weeks into the season easily predicted that the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints would face each other in the Super Bowl and we could easily be treated to what could be the best Super Bowl EVER.

The last two Super Bowls have been outstanding and the Patriots vs. Panthers Super Bowl was phenomenal as well, but this one has the makings of what could be the BEST SUPER BROWL EVER.

I hope you’ve stuck with us the last two weeks since our playoff record in the last 2 weeks has been 5-1. Not only did I say that the Colts would win by at least 10 points last week and predict a win by 14, off by a mere point, but I boldly called a Saints win by EXACTLY a field goal.  I said the Saints would win by 3 giving the Vikings +3.5 a winning ticket.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS VS. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS -5

I’ve also won the last two Super Bowl by taking the dogs and the points.  However, it also helped that I hated both opposing teams: the Patriots and Steelers.  I’m an Eagles fan and I did consider the Giants as the lesser of two evils that game.  I took Cardinals +7 last year and Giants +12.5 the year before that.  Will I take the dog again this year?  Let’s see.

Everyone is expecting both teams to score into the 30’s this game as the over/under is set at 56.5.  I think the Colts will win this one, but can the Saints keep it close enough to cover?  That’s a tough one.  I think there’s a good chance the Colts win by 3 or 4 points here.  You know the Saints will be fighting the whole game to keep up with Peyton Manning and the Colts.  The Colts have the better D, but the Saints faced a tough Vikings defense two weeks ago and that didn’t slow them down much.

The Saints were forced to punt more than usual though. They punted 7 times.  Other than a game against the Panthers in week 17, the Saints punter has never kicked the ball more than 5 times in a single game.  Drew Brees still got the job done.  3 TDs from Brees.  The Saints also caught a ton of breaks that game though.  The Vikings threw 2 picks and had 6 fumbles, 3 that were lost!  That made me want to look at the turnover differential.  I was expecting the Colts to dominate this category, but to the contrary: the Saints have a +11 turnover differential compared to the Colts +2.

The thing that makes this game tough to call is because I expect the game to play out like this. First, I think the team to receive the ball first is a huge factor in this game. To make a few bold predictions like saying the Saints will win by exactly 3 points in the NFC Championship, I will throw out a few more predictions purely for your enjoyment: I will say that the team who wins the coin toss will be the team to win the Super Bowl and that the team that receives the ball first will be the team to score first (although not necessarily on their first drive).

I am going to predict that Colts are the first team with the ball and that they are the first team to draw blood via a TD by Pierre Garcon.  For the rest of the game, I think you see the Colts maintain a 7-10 point lead for the better part of 3 quarters.  By the 4th quarter, I think you can expect a score in the range of 27-20.  I think you see the Saints D come to life and hold the Colts to a FG and bump the lead to 30-20. Drew Brees will then drive his team down the field for a TD only to be outdueled by Peyton Manning, who has an easy time scoring.  37-27.  Brees gets one last chance to keep his team in the game, Brees scores to make the game 37-34, but unfortunately, there is just is not enough time for the Saints to pull out the W.

In other words, I expect this game to appear like the Colts are a lock to win as they spend nearly the entire game with a 7-10 lead.  However, late game heroics by Drew Brees and the Saints will pull them within 3 points only to have the clock expire on them.

Take that and run with it.  We’ll see what happens.  It’s going to be a great game.  Enjoy and  Good luck!

Prediction: Colts 37 – Saints 34

Free Pick: Colts Moneyline, Saints +5

Fun Props: Heads (-110), Colts Win Toss (-110), Peyton Manning Over 2.5 TDs (-110), Peyton Manning Super Bowl MVP (-200), Pierre Garcon Scores 1st TD (+800).

With the big game only a few days away, the main focus in the world of football is on the Super Bowl line as it is a last chance for some NFL predictions and picks until August. As always, during the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl many NFL teams undergo some heavy changes in the coaching department as well revealing some indicators on players that potentially will be let go.

Offseason Recap

Head Coaches

There have been some big headlines on the Head Coaching front with Pete Carroll leaving USC after one of the most dominant tenures in college history to become the President and Head Coach of the Seahawks. Carroll has been given total creative power and brought with him to Seattle his offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who was allegedly considering the same postion with the Bears before Carroll was given the job. Carroll also brings with him former great linebacker Ken Norton Jr. to be his linebackers coach. It will be interesting to see if Carroll starts stockpiling some of his former USC players.

Other notable head coaching changes:

Mike Shanahan is now the Redskins Head Coach, and allegedly will not get interfered with by meddling owner Dan Snyder.

Chan Gailey becomes the Buffalo Bills new Head Coach in a questionable decision by the Bills front office. Gailey has been out of the game for a year, and has not been highly regarded in many.

Assistant Coaches

The offseason started a little too early for the liking of the New York Giants this year who finished a disappointing 8-8 after a 5-0 start. A big reason for this was the collapse of the defense. 2009 Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan paid for it with his job as the Giants have brought in former Interim-Head Coach of the Bills, Perry Fewell to man the top defensive coaching spot. Fewell coached under Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin as a defensive backs coach in Jacksonville in the late 90’s.

Other notable assistant coaches on the move:

Mike Nolan moves from Denver to Miami to be their D-Coordinator.

Romeo Crennel signs to be the D-Coordinator of the Chiefs and Charlie Weis has signed on as O-Coordinator as President Scott Pioli has reinstituted his old championship coordinating team from his Patriots days on the Chiefs.

Mike Martz signs with the Bears to be Jay Cutler’s offensive coordinator

Fired Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn has become the QB’s coach in Baltimore, a job that he used to do well. Zorn was made Head Coach when he was not even being considered as an offensive coordinator around the league. This seems to be a good fit for Zorn, who gets to work with a burgeoning star in Joe Flacco.

Old faces heading to new places

Panthers DE Julius Peppers has been considered one of the best pass-rushers in the game for the majority of his career. The Panthers have been using the Franchise tag on him for many years and look like they will not this year. Peppers is the best player currently on the market, and most certainly the best defensive end.

Potential new home: Green Bay, New England, Kansas City

Other big names potentially on the move:

Donovan McNabb QB, Eagles

Anquan Boldin WR, Cardinals

Joey Porter 3-4 OLB, Dolphins

LaDanian Tomlinson RB, Chargers

Chester Taylor RB, Vikings

Michael Vick QB, Eagles

Reggie Bush RB, Saints

Super Bowl News

The big question approaching Super Bowl Sunday is the health of Colts DE Dwight Freeney. Freeney has been one of the most dominant DE’s in the league this year, like in many other years prior. With two minutes left in the Colts win over the Jets, Freeney tore an ankle ligament trying to avoid hitting Jets QB Mark Sanchez. The Colts pass-rush has done a great job taking the pressure off their extremely young corners. Without a pass-rush, Drew Brees will be tough to stop. Freeney is a game-time decision, but the Colts are practicing as if he will not be able to play. I expect Freeney to get on the field, but a 3^rd degree ankle sprain is next to impossible to comeback from so quickly. If you’ve ever seen one up close and personal, you would understand why.

Betting Tips: The spread without Freeney should be less than the 5.5 points the Colts are currently giving. This game becomes more of a toss-up now and could make for some gaudy offensive numbers for Drew Brees. Brees should be considered as a better value bet for MVP without Freeney playing up to his ability.