The AFC schedule gets a head start on the NFC when the NFL season officially opens on September 10. With the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the healthy New England Patriots, the explosive San Diego Chargers, and the steady Indianapolis Colts all calling the conference home, it would seem that the next Super Bowl winner will come out of the AFC.
The opening week of the NFL season presents football bettors with a wagering conundrum. Once the schedule is set for the season, most sportsbooks post their Week 1 betting odds – giving bettors all summer to dissect and over-analyze the spreads and totals.
Some bettors jump on these odds early, hoping nothing drastic happens between then and kickoff. Other gamblers wait until minutes before the coin toss before placing their wager.
The Arizona Cardinals came within inches of completing one of the most improbable runs in NFL history. While they didn’t win the Super Bowl, the Cardinals’ march through the regular season and playoffs has their NFL futures odds for 2009 a little smaller compared to past years.
The confetti in Steeltown is still settling five months after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ run to the top of the AFC and eventual Super Bowl title.
The Steelers caught a lot of football bettors off guard last season. They were among the favorites to compete in the AFC, but with a wet-behind-the-ears coach and injuries to key players, sportsbook odds were quick to pass over Pittsburgh as a real contender.
