Over the past few weeks I have been previewing the odds for each team in the AFC in terms of their chances to win their respective division as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book. Before moving on to the NFC, I put together a summary of the entire conference in a piece that was recently posted on Cappers Picks.
It is still too early to release my official predictions for the 2013 season; however if I had to pick the four divisional winners in the AFC, I would lean towards New England in the East, Cincinnati in the North, Houston in the South and Denver in the West. My two wildcard teams would be Pittsburgh and Miami. This is hardly going out on a limb as this is pretty much chalk across the board, but everything is still subject to change. The Patriots are suddenly looking pretty weak at the tight end position and I am still not sure which direction the Colts will go in this season. The Broncos should run away with the West but it could be a three-way race to the final week of the regular season in the North.
The following is a link to my summary of the AFC and be sure to check back in July when I begin my preview of the NFC.
2013 AFC Preview – Conference Odds and Predictions
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
2013 Odds to Win the AFC East
The Oddsmakers are predicting a one horse race in the AFC East this season with New England listed as a prohibitive favorite to win yet another division crown. While the New York Jets appear to be headed in wrong direction with the loss of some key personnel and major question marks at the quarterback position, look for Miami to take their place as the top contender to take the Patriots' place at the top of the heap. The Dolphins have a number of pieces in place on both sides of the ball, but much of their success will hinge on the continued development of their quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Buffalo is a team that could go either way in 2013 after winning just six games for the second year in-a-row in 2012. The Bills are banking heavily on rookie EJ Manual as the answer at quarterback, but like many other experts, I feel that taking him in the first round was a reach at best.
The following is a link to a complete look at the odds for all four teams to win the AFC East this season as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC East
The following is a link to a complete look at the odds for all four teams to win the AFC East this season as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC East
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
AFC East - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
Continuing with my series for Sporting Charts covering some of the bigger player transactions in the NFL this offseason, this week I turn my attention to the AFC East.
The New England Patriots are once again heavy favorites to win this division, but there has to be some concern with their passing game with the departure of Tom Brady's favorite target Wes Welker. The Patriots did add Danny Amendola from St. Louis to take his place, but he will have some pretty big shoes to fill given the fact that Welker hauled-in 100 or more receptions in five of his six seasons with his old team.
Many experts are touting Miami as the team to watch in this division as it continues to surround second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill with additional weapons. The biggest addition was wide receiver Mike Wallace as a free agent from Pittsburgh. The Dolphins also signed former Jets' tight end Dustin Keller.
Buffalo took a big chance in the draft by drafting quarterback EJ Manual from Florida State with the 16th overall pick in the first round considering he was originally projected as a second round pick at best. The Jets' defense is primed to take another step backwards this season after parting ways with their best player, Darrelle Revis, who was traded to Tampa Bay. They could also be headed in a new direction at quarterback after drafting Geno Smith from West Virginia early in the second round.
The following is a link to my complete recap of the major transactions in the AFC in an article that was originally posted on Sporting Charts.
AFC East - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
The New England Patriots are once again heavy favorites to win this division, but there has to be some concern with their passing game with the departure of Tom Brady's favorite target Wes Welker. The Patriots did add Danny Amendola from St. Louis to take his place, but he will have some pretty big shoes to fill given the fact that Welker hauled-in 100 or more receptions in five of his six seasons with his old team.
Many experts are touting Miami as the team to watch in this division as it continues to surround second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill with additional weapons. The biggest addition was wide receiver Mike Wallace as a free agent from Pittsburgh. The Dolphins also signed former Jets' tight end Dustin Keller.
Buffalo took a big chance in the draft by drafting quarterback EJ Manual from Florida State with the 16th overall pick in the first round considering he was originally projected as a second round pick at best. The Jets' defense is primed to take another step backwards this season after parting ways with their best player, Darrelle Revis, who was traded to Tampa Bay. They could also be headed in a new direction at quarterback after drafting Geno Smith from West Virginia early in the second round.
The following is a link to my complete recap of the major transactions in the AFC in an article that was originally posted on Sporting Charts.
AFC East - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
Thursday, June 13, 2013
2013 Odds to win the AFC North
The AFC North is easily the most competitive division in the conference with three of the four teams just about equally favored to win the title this season. Baltimore is coming off a Super Bowl win which carries its own unique challenges to repeat and Pittsburgh's once-vaunted defense could be considered in a rebuilding mode so it is no longer a given that one of these two perennial favorites will win the North this year.
The third team in the mix is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have qualified for the playoffs the last two seasons as one of two wildcards in the AFC. They boast a solid defense against both the pass and the run to go along with a young gun at quarterback in Andy Dalton, which could very well signal the changing of the guard at the top of this division.
The following is a link to an article that takes a closer look at all four teams in the division in terms of their current odds to win the AFC North in 2013 as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to win the AFC North
The third team in the mix is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have qualified for the playoffs the last two seasons as one of two wildcards in the AFC. They boast a solid defense against both the pass and the run to go along with a young gun at quarterback in Andy Dalton, which could very well signal the changing of the guard at the top of this division.
The following is a link to an article that takes a closer look at all four teams in the division in terms of their current odds to win the AFC North in 2013 as part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to win the AFC North
Friday, June 7, 2013
AFC South - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
After taking a look at the futures odds to win the AFC South this season in my previous post, I decided to stay with this division to take a closer look at some of the key additions and losses for all four teams as part of an ongoing series for Sporting Charts.
Houston made an immediate splash by adding veteran safety Ed Reed from Baltimore which should hopefully provide some much needed leadership to a unit that struggled down the stretch last season.
The Colts let Dwight Freeney sign with San Diego, but they turned to the draft to add defensive lineman Bjoern Werner from Florida State to plug a hole up front.
Jacksonville needs major help on both sides of the ball after winning just two games last season and it took a step in the right direction by starting with its offensive line. The Jaguars selected Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel with the second overall pick in the draft.
Another Ravens' safety has relocated to the AFC South with Bernard Pollard signing with Tennessee. The Titans also added running back Shonn Green from the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from Buffalo to add some depth on offense.
The following is a link to the complete round-up of AFC South offseason transactions as originally posted on Sporting Charts.
AFC South - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
Houston made an immediate splash by adding veteran safety Ed Reed from Baltimore which should hopefully provide some much needed leadership to a unit that struggled down the stretch last season.
The Colts let Dwight Freeney sign with San Diego, but they turned to the draft to add defensive lineman Bjoern Werner from Florida State to plug a hole up front.
Jacksonville needs major help on both sides of the ball after winning just two games last season and it took a step in the right direction by starting with its offensive line. The Jaguars selected Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel with the second overall pick in the draft.
Another Ravens' safety has relocated to the AFC South with Bernard Pollard signing with Tennessee. The Titans also added running back Shonn Green from the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from Buffalo to add some depth on offense.
The following is a link to the complete round-up of AFC South offseason transactions as originally posted on Sporting Charts.
AFC South - Key Player Transactions for the 2013 NFL Season
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
2013 Odds to Win the AFC South
The Houston Texans have won the AFC South the past two seasons and are favored to win it again in 2013, but the up and coming Indianapolis Colt might just have something to say about that. Behind the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, quarterback Andrew Luck, the Colts went from winning just two games in 2011 to 11-5 and a wildcard spot in the playoffs last season. The big question heading into the 2013 campaign is what direction do they go from here. The dreaded 'sophomore slump' has taken its toll on some other high-profile quarterbacks in the past so the pressure will be on Luck to take another step forward in 2013.
As part of an ongoing series, I am taking a deeper look at the current odds for all 32 NFL teams in terms of their chances of winning their division this upcoming season. The following is a link to the latest installment as previously posted on Bang the Book covering all four teams in the AFC South.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC South
As part of an ongoing series, I am taking a deeper look at the current odds for all 32 NFL teams in terms of their chances of winning their division this upcoming season. The following is a link to the latest installment as previously posted on Bang the Book covering all four teams in the AFC South.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC South
Saturday, June 1, 2013
2013 Odds to Win the AFC West
Most of the major sportsbooks have already released their futures odds for every NFL team's chances to win their division in 2013. As part of an ongoing series for Bang the Book, I am starting out west in the AFC to take a closer look at all 32 team's individual odds. While I am not ready to make any out-and-out bold predictions, you can easily tell which way I am leanings as to which team I believe will end up on top in each of the eight divisions.
Not to jump too far ahead as the NFC East will be the last division I will be previewing, the Eagles have been opened as the fourth-favorite in a division of four teams. All I can tell you right now is that the Birds will be finishing much better than that so stay tuned.
The following is a link to my first installment as previously posted on Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC West
Not to jump too far ahead as the NFC East will be the last division I will be previewing, the Eagles have been opened as the fourth-favorite in a division of four teams. All I can tell you right now is that the Birds will be finishing much better than that so stay tuned.
The following is a link to my first installment as previously posted on Bang the Book.
2013 Odds to Win the AFC West
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)