Gridiron Experts

5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

Gridiron Experts team of writers is making some bold NFL predictions. Some are long shots that you may love, others are realistic guess’s that you’ll hate.

Chris Hall’s 5 Bold Predictions

5.The Texans make the playoffs.

I know, I know, the Texans have a studly fantasy offense with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and crew, but they have never, in their teams history, been to the playoffs. The team is way too good to keep losing close games, and I really think that the Kris Brown/Neil Rackers kicking rivalry will make for a few less blown game enders. There’s no reason that the Texans should’ve lost to the Colts and Titans in weeks 9 and 11.

4. Shonn Greene will go the way of Ronnie Brown.

I absolutely hate foretelling injuries to players, but I don’t think that Shonn Greene’s style of play translates into a full NFL season. He hurt his ribs last offseason and then in the playoffs, and is bound to hurt them again with his bruising style. Rex Ryan is already threatening to load him up with extra padding to prevent rib damage… sounds scary to me.

3. Steven Jackson will leave fantasy owners out of the playoffs.

Last time S-Jax topped 300 rushing attempts (’06-’07), he sputtered out the next season and ran for 1,002 yards and 5 TD’s. Last season he had 324 yards and had to have been demoralized by having 19 linebackers on him every play. I really don’t see the offense getting that much better this year with Sam Bradford, so once again he will be on everyones radar. Expect him to be tired… real tired. …Continue reading 5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

Has your team drafted this years rookie of the year on Offense or Defense?

BetUS.com has early odds on who they think will win, and believe it or not, Dez Bryant isn’t the early favorite. Rookie awards are a prop bet offered by BetUS.com, something that believe it or not, is a bet you can’t get in Las Vegas?

I know what you’re thinking…you can bet on anything in Las Vegas, but actually Casino’s can’t offer odds on something that has to be voted on.  Gridiron Experts is teaming up this year with BetUS.com to provide you with tons of cool prizes and special offers. In fact, starting SEPT 1. Gridiron Experts readers will get an exclusive 100% match offer on deposits (up to $500).

Offensive Rookie Player Odds

• Arrelious Benn 15 to 1
• Ben Tate 6 to 1
• Brandon LaFell 20 to 1
• CJ Spiller 8 to 1
• Dexter McCluster 10 to 1
• Dez Bryant 5 to 1
• Emmanuel Sanders 15 to 1 …Continue reading NFL Rookie Of The Year Odds

The San Diego Chargers Current Odds
(as of July 8th)

Projected Games Won : 10.5
( over -145 | under +115)
5 to 1 : Win AFC Conference
9 to 1 : Win Super Bowl XLV

The Chargers are one of the few teams that regularly make post season hotel room reservations without a second thought. Division champions is a familiar t-shirt or hat in San Diego mainly due to a poor AFC West that hands them a yearly free ticket. But despite the 4 year streak of playoff visits, the Super Bowl has been out of reach for the Chargers for some time, and yet they are always heavy favorites.

This year it came to my surprise that San Diego was ranked as high as they are in top sports betting sites. I almost wonder if maybe, people are just used to seeing them in the post season and just overlooked their recent off-season.

Saying goodbye to Ladainian Tomlinson, (a move that was probably a year late) is understandable. The star was burning out and he had to go, but realistically there is no proven RB waiting in the wings  just yet. Sproles and rookie Ryan Matthews will man the fort for now, but for such a deep passing team blitz pick-up was an underrated trait that LT did in his sleep, and teams may send more heat Rivers way than in years past.

Jamal Williams was a center piece for the Bolts at nose tackle over most of the last decade, but after an early season injury he was sent packing for youth. Normally this is something we all know and except in the business of the NFL, but the fact that the division rival Broncos snatched him up might become interesting twice a year. Also, the losses of “what have you done for me lately”Antonio Cromartie seems harmless after his poor season, but the replacement is an open …Continue reading Chargers 2010 Forecast: Overly Confident

Exactly 4 Months Until Opening Kick Off, Las Vegas Has Odds

You can trust Las Vegas to have everything a person wants; sex, booze and of coarse gambling odds to a sport that is so far away that predicting favorites seems ridicules….but wicked at the same time. Never the less lets take a look at who the Las Vegas Hilton and the LSVC Open have dubbed to be favorites in this early sports betting article. …Continue reading 4 Months Until NFL Kick Off, Vegas Has Odds

Props To Prop Bets

This weekends Sunday action is the last slice of football you’re going to see until the Super Bowl on February 7th. Gridiron Experts, along with many (many) of you are definitely going to go through NFL withdrawals, but until then check out these prop bets that you may find interesting (or insulting if you’re a New York Jets fan).

For those who don’t know, these are bets you can place in Vegas or with online sportsbooks on individual player achievements. You can get everything from the coin toss to Superbowl Odds. Most of the time these bets are based on an average of a team or players numbers throughout the year, making the bet not worth a second look, but this week a couple bets caught my eye, in kind of a humorous fashion. (The .5 is so there are no ties)

Prop Bet #1]  Over/Under Mark Sanchez will complete 13 passes. 13…that’s it? I understand the Jets have gotten to where they are now with their top defense and power running game, but 13 passes? Wow! So if you were to lose this bet, Sanchez would only average 3 completed passes per quarter. Not a lot of faith for a guy who is one game away from going to the Super Bowl. …Continue reading Props To Prop Bets

Superbowl Or Super Bust: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were division winners and playoff contestants last season. With a powerful rushing attack and a strong, supportive defense, they only had one thing missing.

One addition, and they could start thinking Super Bowl.

After months of speculation, both from the media, from the players themselves, and the coaching staff, the Vikings had their “difference-maker” in mid-August.

Yes, the one and only, prima dona/future Hall of Famer; Brett Favre.

Favre’s addition had pre-wrapped expectations of a Super Bowl for Minnesota. He was supposed to be a game-manager that would come through in the clutch when needed, but would otherwise play second fiddle to the team’s true MVP, Adrian Peterson. However, after two blow-out wins over the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, Favre’s heroic arm was needed much sooner than Minnesota fans had expected.

Nevertheless, the veteran gunslinger responded.

Despite a mediocre showing for much of the day in a Week Three battle at home against the San Francisco 49ers, Favre evaded the 49ers pass rush and zipped a 32-yard pass into the hands of a leaping Greg Lewis, injecting life into all of Minnesota. Vikings fans that were still on the fence about Favre had committed to the former Packer. Favre’s magic, dormant for much of 2008 while he played with the New York Jets, was back. Jared Allen muttered to himself before the dramatic heave, “Be Brett. Just once. Be Brett.”

Favre did just that, and continued to pick up the slack for a surprisingly ineffective Vikings rush attack, as he led Minnesota to a 6-0 start, the best start for any team Favre had led in his 19-year career.

Amidst arm and age concerns, Favre had placed the entire Minnesota offense on his broad, aging shoulders, and had instilled hope into the franchise that he in fact was the missing piece they were looking for.

Fast forward to Week 12, where Minnesota stood at 10-1, in complete control of their division, and needing to keep pace with the New Orleans Saints for home-field advantage. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Favre and the offense were splitting at the seams. Favre and Childress were …Continue reading Superbowl Or Super Bust: Minnesota Vikings

Early NFL Odds

This weeks NFL action sees a whole different outlook through the eyes of the betting community. The following are the odds for the upcoming week of NFL playoff football

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints -7    (57 O/U)

Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts -6.5   (44 O/U)

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings -3    (46 O/U)

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers -7.5   (43 O/U)

Wildcard Preview:

Baltimore Ravens- New England Patriots

I guess the two most pertinent things when looking at the New England Patriots against the Baltimore Ravens Wildcard match-up would be the injury to Patriots record setting receiver Wes Welker and the fact that the Ravens have never beaten the Patriots.

Ever.

Now, if history does indeed repeat itself, then this game doesn’t even need to be played. But that’s exactly the kind of fire and locker room fodder that teams like the hard nosed Ravens use to motivate themselves. Patriots receiver Randy Moss is going to see a lot of double coverage with Ed Reed shadowing him over the top. That’s a recipe for disaster for Tom Brady and company, because face it – no quarterback wants Reed targeting his number one wideout.

At least with Welker in the game, Reed’s efforts would be divided, but the Ravens have only ONE proven receiver to cover and that’s Moss himself.

Maybe it’s my love for the AFC North, maybe it’s because the Ravens are looking extremely tough to me after having to fight and scrape to simply get into the playoffs, but I’m liking the crew from Baltimore to pull this one out in the end.

Call me crazy, I’ve heard it before, but Joe Flacco is in nothing short of elite company. He is the fifth most productive quarterback within their first two years in the league.

The other guys on that list?

Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe, and Jeff Garcia.

Not bad company to be in at all I don’t think.

Add to that the fact that he is one of only four quarterbacks since the 1970 merger to lead his team into the playoffs in his first two years in the NFL. The others on that short list are Ben Roethlisberger, Marino, and Bernie Kosar.

Not to mention the Ravens have both Willis McGahee and Ray Rice in the backfield. Rice has been nothing short of unstoppable, leading the team in receptions along with amassing 1,339 yards on the ground.

The Patriots on the other hand are going to have to look at Julian Edelman with Welker out. The best news for the Patriots is that Reed may or may not appear in a limited role after nursing injuries throughout the month of December.