2011 AFC West Lines | NFL Preview

NFL Divisional Previews – 2011 AFC West Betting Breakdown

The 2011-2012 NFL season is looming but unfortunately so is the unfortunate Lockout. The eternal optimist that I am, I have compiled odds and predictions for each division in the knowledge that the owners and the players cannot be as ridiculous as they look.

While talk of the NFL Lockout has dominated all of the headlines, there are still some optimists who believe that cooler heads will prevail and that there will in fact be an NFL season this season, myself included.

Surprisingly, one of the more intriguing divisions going into the 2011-2012 season is the AFC West. Although there is no doubt about who should win the division, there is always doubt about whether or not that team will get it done.

San Diego heads the AFC West class again this season but the Kansas City Chiefs made enormous strides last season, as did the Oakland Raiders and to some extent, the Denver Broncos.

San Diego Chargers

Odds To Win AFC West -200
Odds To Win Super Bowl +1200

The Chargers ended the 2010 season with the best overall defense and the best overall offense in the NFL yet they still missed the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Chargers, Special Teams was an absolute disaster last year. There are a ton of question marks ahead of the 2012 season – How will the loss of Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera affect the team?

Will Vincent Jackson be back in the fold as a happy camper? And, will the sputtering Running Game right the ship and realize its potential?

If you are betting on the Chargers to run away with the Division, you are a braver soul than me – I just don’t trust Norv Turner.

In a division with some emerging teams, the AFC West may be a division in which you can look for an Underdog to pay you off!

Chargers AFC West Prediction: I expect a 10-6 season for the Chargers and a second place finish.

Kansas City Chiefs

Odds To Win AFC West -350
Odds To Win Super Bowl +3000

That brings us to the Kansas City Chiefs! KC finished 10-6 last season and my bet is that it wasn’t a fluke! Matt Cassel finally looked comfortable in Todd Haley’s system, the running game of Superstars Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones was deadly and Dwayne Bowe finally looked like the Stud that he was drafted to be. The Chiefs are young, well coached and are solid at every position.

If you are looking for an upset, look no further than the Kansas City Chiefs to take the AFC West in 2012!

Chiefs AFC West Prediction: The Chiefs should be able to duplicate their 10-6 season and win a tie breaker for the Division Title. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Oakland Raiders

Odds To Win AFC West +450
Odds To Win Super Bowl +5000

The Raiders finished 8-8 last season and were a perfect 6-0 against their AFC West foes! That’s reason enough for optimism! Oakland returned to Raider football with a terrific running game and a defense that largely surprised.

With a new coach (Hue Jackson) and with the departure of Nnamdi Asomugha, expect the Raiders to finish with a similar record as last season – improving but not getting over the hump!

Oakland AFC West Prediction: 8-8 and Third Place would be a success this season.

Denver Broncos

Odds To Win AFC West +1000
Odds To Win Super Bowl +6000

A quarterback controversy already? The season hasn’t even started and the Tim Tebow watch is already on. The Broncos had possibly one of the best drafts of any team, grabbing two much needed stud defenders in the first two rounds but this team is still years away from being a contender.

New Coach John Fox was brought in as a savior?

His team went 1-15 last season! Ugh!

Broncos AFC West Prediction: Five or Six Wins are about all we can expect.

As Always Comments Are Welcome Below!!!

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2011 Divisional Previews

2011 NFC North Futures
2011 NFC West Futures
2011 NFC South Futures
2011 NFC East Futures
2011 AFC North Futures
2011 AFC West Futures
2011 AFC South Futures
2011 AFC East Futures

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