The 2010 NFL season is upon us and just like the start of a new season in any other sport, that means it’s prediction time! American Football continues to grow in popularity on this side of the Atlantic and with Sky Sports, ESPN and Channel 4 all getting in on the action for the 2010 season, more people than ever will be tuning in. Bookmakers are preparing for a busy few months with up to six live games being shown in the UK each week between now and January and as such, are promising more American football betting opportunities for fans of the sport than ever before.
At this stage of the season, the question everyone wants to know the the answer to is, ‘who is going to win Superbowl?’ and with the shortest priced team of the 32 NFL franchises quoted at 9/1 to win Superbowl XLV in February, the 2010 season promises to be as close as ever! Below is a preview of some of the leading teams from both the AFC and NFC who are expected to have big seasons.
Leading AFC Contenders
Last season’s beaten Superbowl finalists and winners in 2007, the Indianapolis Colts, are the favourites to be crowned champions at 9/1 with Bet365 and who can argue against a team who has won 12 or more of their 16 regular season games for seven consecutive years? It will be business as usual for the Colts in 2010 and another Suprerbowl run is likely with four times MVP Quarterback, Peyton Manning, pulling the strings for one of the league’s most feared offenses.
Teams from the AFC have dominated Superbowl wins in recent years, winning seven of the last ten NFL championships and other leading fancies along with the Colts to continue that sequence for the American Football Conference include the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, both of whom are 11/1. The Chargers have appeared in the playoffs on five occasions in the past six seasons but have perennially underachieved and there is little to suggest that they are of Superbowl wining calibre, despite another likely post-season appearance this year (due to how weak the AFC West is). The Ravens on the other hand looked like a team on the upgrade in 2009 and their trademark tough defence has been complimented with new acquisitions on offense in the close season and the addition of receiver, Anquan Boldin, will only give the Ravens underrated Quarterback Joe Flacco more options in 2010 in an offense that also boasts one of the league’s leading Running Backs in Ray Rice.
The New York Jets, who reached the AFC Championship game last season, are 12/1 to win Superbowl after strengthening their roster in the close season with the big name signings of Running Back, LaDainian Tomlinson and Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes together with Linebacker Jason Taylor and Cornerback Antonio Cromartie on defense. Whether they are good enough to win Superbowl remains to be seen but the Jets are the selection of many experts to end the New England Patriots monopoly of the AFC East title, for which the Jets are 6/4 with Victor Chandler. The Patriots themselves cannot be ruled out and have an offense capable of giving any team a game but there defense leaves a lot to be desired and odds of 14/1 doesn’t look a good price about Tom Brady adding a fourth ring to his collection and the best strategy from a betting angle may be to back high scoring games involving the Pats this season.
NFC Hopefuls
Despite just three NFC teams winning Superbowl since 2000, the Saints victory over the Colts in Superbowl XLIV signalled a possible changing of the guard between the two conferences and of the teams at the top of the betting heading into the 2010 season; it is the NFC who appears to have the stronger hand.
Reigning champions the New Orleans Saints are 11/1 to win back to back titles, something that cannot be ruled out but it won’t be an easy task with a tougher schedule in 2010 and increased expectations on a team who relied so much on being the underdog en route to Superbowl glory last term.
The Dallas Cowboys are also an 11/1 chance to win their first Superbowl title since 1996 and have every chance if they can improve on last season where they went out in the divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas also has the added incentive that Superbowl will be played at Cowboy Stadium on February 6th and if they were to reach the final, they’ll become the first team in NFL history to hold home field advantage in a Superbowl.
Current favourites to win the NFC Championship with Bet365 are the Green Bay Packers who showed signs of huge improvement during the second half of last season where they went 7-1 in their final eight matches before narrowly going out in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. If the Packers can continue where they left off in 2009, they will be a force for anyone this season and with the defence bolstered during the offseason together with a contender for the league’s best offense, which is lead by improving QB Aaron Rodgers and an artillery of receiving weapons, Green Bay holds a serious chance of winning its first Superbowl since 1997.
The Packers NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, were beaten by an overtime field goal to prevent them reaching Superbowl last season and despite being loaded with talent on both sides of the ball; the Vikings do have big injury concerns ahead of the 2010 season. Veteran Quarterback Brett Favre continues to play despite a recurring knee injury and turning 41 in October, whilst his two star receivers are also struggling with problems, Sidney Rice is out for the first six weeks of the season after hip surgery and Percy Harvin suffers from severe migraines. If the Vikings can battle on despite these setbacks they are sure to be a force to be reckoned with but backing them at 14/1 would be a big gamble on a clean bill of health.
NFL 2010 Dark Horses
The words Pittsburgh Steelers and dark horse don’t often go together but when Boylesports are offering 28/1 about a team who won the Superbowl twice in the last five years they have to be considered as such. The Steelers will be missing Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, for their opening four matches due to suspension following off the field activities but rest assured, they will be a different team on his return and are sure to have a point to prove. Backing them at 33/1 on Betfair with a view to laying the bet off later in the season looks the way to go.
Best Divisional Bets
Backing who you think will win the Superbowl provides great entertainment all season but so to does backing the winners of the divisions in an accumulator. The San Francisco 49ers are a team that showed great improvement towards the end of the 2009 season and with the retirement of Kurt Warner at Arizona, the NFC West looks wide open and the 49ers look value to finish top of the quartet at 10/11. Add Green Bay, also a 10/11 shot to win the NFC North together with Indianapolis to win the AFC South at 8/13 and the Baltimore Ravens to land the AFC North at 5/6 and you have a tasty looking 10/1 treble. The San Diego Chargers look banker material (1/3) to land the AFC South so the braver amongst you could add Norv Turner’s side to make a fivefold which would return £287.80 for a £20 stake with Bet365.
NFL 2010 Season Verdict
One of the beauty’s of the NFL is just how competitive a league it is and the 2010 season looks set to be fought out between a number of good sides but there can only be one Superbowl winner and everything looks made for that to be the Green Bay Packers. One of the youngest teams in the NFL, the Packers are also one of the most talented. Their improving offense ranks amongst the best in the league and is loaded with Touchdown scoring threats and together with a defense which ranked number two overall last season, they look sure to progress again this season and backing them to win the Superbowl at 10/1 should give backers a great run for their money.
The best bet of the whole season though is for Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans to finish the regular season with the most rushing yards. Running for over 2,000 yards last season, the nearest challenger was 600 yards behind and Johnson who is heading in to his third season as a pro (finished eighth as a rookie in 2008 with 1,228 yards) can confirm his position as the NFL’s best Running Back and the 9/2 on offer with Skybet that Johnson finishes with the most rushing yards is too big when most bookmakers go just 3/1.
Superbowl winner bet #1 – Green Bay Packers @ 10/1 with Bet365
Superbowl winner bet #2 – Pittsburgh Steelers @ 33/1 on Betfair
Most regular season rushing yards - Chris Johnson @ 9/2 with Skybet
Superbowl Finalists - Green Bay v Indianapolis 22/1 @ Paddy Power
Divisional Winners Accumulator:
San Francisco 49ers to win NFC West @ 10/11
Green Bay Packers to win NFC North @ 10/11
Baltimore Ravens to win AFC North @ 5/6
Indianapolis Colts to win AFC South @ 8/13
Fourfold pays just under 10/1 with Bet365
Full Bookmakers Superbowl Odds Compared
Indianapolis Colts 9/1
Green Bay Packers 10/1
Dallas Cowboys 11/1
New Orleans Saints 11/1
San Diego Chargers 11/1
Baltimore Ravens 11/1
New York Jets 12/1
New England Patriots 14/1
Minnesota Vikings 14/1
San Francisco 49ers 25/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 25/1
Atlanta Flacons 25/1
Cincinnati Bengals 28/1
Philadelphia Eagles 28/1
Houston Texans 33/1
Tennessee Titans 33/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 40/1
Chicago Bears 40/1
Arizona Cardinals 66/1
Seattle Seahawks 66/1
Carolina Panthers 66/1
Denver Broncos 66/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 80/1
Oakland Raiders 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 150/1
Buffalo Bills 150/1
Detroit Lions 150/1
St Louis Rams 200/1
Odds courtesy of Bet365
Posted: Monday, 6th September 2010
Author: Tony Smith
Tags: superbowl, nfl, green bay packers, indianapolis colts, bet365,
 | Superbowl Odds Suggest Colts Will Be Too Good For The Saints Indianapolis favourites but don't write off New Orleans | 5th Feb |
 | Shootout Expected In Saints V Vikings Betting New Orleans and Minnesota battle for NFC Championship | 22nd Jan |
 | Can The Jets Upset The Odds Once More Against The Colts AFC Championship Preview | 22nd Jan |
 | Superbowl XLIV Odds Competitive As Playoffs Begin Colts favourites but everyone in with a chance | 7th Jan |
 | Cardinals Can Upset The Odds To Beat Pittsburgh In The Superbowl Betting Generous Price For Arizona | 1st Feb |
Headline News
 | Scotland V England 2012 Six Nations Odds New Look England Narrow Favourites Calcutta Cup Classic Expected At Murrayfield |
 | France V Italy 2012 Six Nations Odds Les Bleus Overwhelming Favourites To Win Opener Fofana Looks Good Bet To Score First Try At Stade Francais |
 | Super League XVII Odds Warrington And Wigan Head Betting For New Season Ryan Hall Favourite To Be Top Try Scorer |
 | Steven Gerrard Heads Betting For England Euro 2012 Captaincy Joe Hart Looks The Pick At The Odds |
 | Charlene Tilton Favourite In Dancing On Ice Elimination Odds Rosemary Conley Skates On Thin Ice |
BRAND NEW £200 free bets offer.
Open Account - Free £200 Bets With Paddypower
Ladbrokes are offering a brand new £50 free bet for new customers
Open Account - Free £50 Bet at Ladbrokes
£25 free bet with William Hill.
Open Account - Claim £25 Free With William Hill
Online bookmaker Stan James offer up to £150 in free bets per new account.
Open Account - Free £150 Bets With Stan James
The UK based bookmaker Betfred is now offering a £50 free bet for new clients.
Open Account - Free £50 Bet With Betfred
Up to £200 worth of free bets with Bet365.
Open Account - Claim £200 Free With Bet365
Irish bookmaker Boylesports are now offering a free £40 bet on their online betting service
Open Account - Free £40 Bet With Boylesports
Those looking for some online casino entertainment ought to check out all the latest UK Casino Sign Up offers from the top operators including 32Red and many of the sports betting casinos.
There is excellent information, should you be interested in playing online blackjack, roulette, the best progressives or slots - Online Casino Betting with the best introductory offers
Bookmark This Page