2011 NFC Preview – Conference Odds and Predictions
With hints of some solid progress in the current negotiations between the NFL owners and its players, the prospect that a resolution is reached in time to keep the start of the regular season on schedule looks much better than it did a couple of months ago.
That being said, it is time to take a look at the future odds for each team in the NFC chances at winning the conference as provided by BetUS.com
NFC East
Philadelphia +600, Dallas+700, New York +900, Washington +2500
Michael Vick starts his second season as Philadelphia’s quarterback and should once again flourish with full complement of weapons in WR’s DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin along with RB LeSean McCoy. If the Eagles defense can return form, they should not only be the team to beat in the East but in the conference as well. Dallas will get QB Tony Romo and WR Dez Bryant back, after both had their 2010 season cut short by injury, which should help erase the memory of a dismal season.
New York should once again be in the thick of things in the East behind QB Eli Manning and an offense that finished the season ranked fifth in total yards. Question marks at the quarterback position will plague Washington well into the regular season as will a running game that was ranked 30th in the league last year.
NFC North
Green Bay +350, Chicago +1200, Minnesota +1600, Detroit +2000
The reigning Super Bowl Champion Packers should waltz to a division title as long as they avoid the trappings of a hangover that sometimes accompanies this achievement.
Chicago will once again look to QB Jay Cutler to lead it back to the top of the division, but last year’s run will be difficult reproduce given some of the other holes on this team.
Minnesota begins life without Brett Favre, and will have to figure out who will be their starter at quarterback as right now the Vikings are counting on unproven rookie Christian Ponder to lead the way.
If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy for a full 16 games, Detroit is in great position to make quantum leap in the standings this season and possibly challenge Green Bay for the division title.
NFC South
Atlanta +650, New Orleans +700, Tampa Bay +1400, Carolina +6000
The only thing we know for sure about the South is that Carolina will not win the division. The other three teams are closely matched and should take turns beating each other up as the season progresses.
Atlanta remains the most talented team behind QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White, and RB Michael Turner, but has yet to learn how to win in the postseason. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
New Orleans still has Drew Brees, but this team could actually take another step backwards after its 2009 Super Bowl run.
Tampa Bay appears to be the up and coming team in the division, but QB Josh Freeman still has to prove he has what it takes to lead this team to the next level.
NFC West
San Francisco +2000, St. Louis +2000, Seattle +3000, Arizona +3500
This is another division that could be completely up in the air, primarily because of the mediocrity of the teams it contains. San Francisco has a new head coach in Jin Harbaugh, but is still undecided as to who will be its signal caller.
St. Louis has the best prospect for improvement behind second-year QB Sam Bradford, who led this team to more wins last season that it had in the three previous seasons combined.
Seattle won the West with a 7-9 record last year, but has quarterback questions of its own as it appears that 12-year veteran Matt Hasselbeck will not be back with the team.
Arizona’s fall from grace was swift after the retirement of QB Kurt Warner and the loss of WR Anquan Boldin as the Cardinals have yet to find suitable replacements for all the offensive production those two provided.
The current lockout will have a varied impact on every team in the conference, so stick with the longest tenured head coach in the league, Andy Reid to have his Eagles ready to make a long run on possible short notice.
NFC 2011 Conference Champion – Philadelphia Eagles
AFC Future Odds | 2011 AFC Picks
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