Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Packers Season Preview
It is easy to understand why Green Bay is one of the favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions, given that it made its magical run to the title game last season with a large chunk of its roster on the Injured Reserve list.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Vikings Season Preview
Minnesota exchanged one aging veteran quarterback for another when it replaced the retired Brett Favre (finally) by trading with Washington for Donovan McNabb.
NFL 2011 Team Preview and Odds- Minnesota Vikings
Odds to win the NFC North +850
Odds to win the NFC 15/1
Odds to win the Super Bowl 35/1
Win Total 7
McNabb led Philadelphia to five NFC Championship games during his tenure with the team and the Vikings are hoping he can do the same here after Favre got the team to the conference championship in 2009.
Last season’s fall from grace to a 6-10 record after compiling a 12-4 record in 2009 cannot all be pinned on Favre. The problems on this team ran deep, starting with an offense that was ranked 23rd in the NFL overall. It was ranked 26th in passing yards and 10th in rushing even with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.
McNabb should be able to bring some stability to the passing game, but the loss of free agent wide receiver Sidney Rice to Seattle will definitely not help its cause. Minnesota did add WR’s Devin Aromashodu from Chicago and Michael Jenkins from Atlanta, but a talent like Rice is not easily replaced.
The biggest concern will be putting points on the board after finishing ranked 29th in scoring in 2010. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The defense did not make it through the recent free-agent frenzy unscathed either with the loss of DE Ray Edwards, who signed a deal with the Falcons as a free agent. Edwards accounted for 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons and will leave a gaping hole in the front seven along with the absence of free agent nose tackle Pat Williams, who chose not to resign with the team.
The Vikings selected defensive lineman Christian Ballard in the fourth round and defensive backs’ Brandon Burton in the fifth and Mistral Raymond in the sixth, but at this point these players will be counted on to add some depth to the overall squad.
The biggest difference between this season and last year at this point in time is the lack of the circus-like atmosphere created by former head coach Brad Childress and the whole Favre situation.
New coach Leslie Frazer has done a good job at getting this team to refocus on the fundamentals and McNabb brings a ton a veteran leadership without all the drama.
He is seen as a quick-fix until first round draft pick Christian Ponder is deemed ready to start, but if McNabb can elevate his game anywhere near his glory days in Philly, the Vikings could shock quite a few teams this season.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Bears Season Preview
It appears that Chicago has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL, getting no respect from the odds makers. Despite winning the NFC North last season with a record of 11-5 and beating Seattle 35-24 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the betting public has scoffed at the idea that it can even make it back to the postseason in 2011.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Lions Season Preview
There is a certain buzz surrounding Detroit heading into the 2011 season that this may be the year everything comes together for a return to the postseason.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Falcons Season Preview
The Atlanta Falcons won the NFC South last season with a 13-3 record, which also happened to be the best record in the conference, but that may actually work against them this year.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Saints Season Preview
The New Orleans Saints followed-up their victory over Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLIV with a respectable 11-5 record and wildcard berth in the playoffs, but they also posted a few head-scratching losses, most notably a 41-36 loss to Seattle in the playoffs as a 9.5-point road favorite.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Seahawks Season Preview
The Seattle Seahawks improbable run all the way to the divisional round of the conference playoffs last season was a combination of a strong performance at home, a winning record in the division, and the use of some smoke and mirrors along the way.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Patriots Season Preview
The New England Patriots cruised to the best regular season record in the NFL last season at 14-2, but once again came up short in the playoffs with another opening round loss at home.
Superbowl 46 Betting Online – 2011 Dolphins Season Preview
The Miami Dolphins’ breakout season in 2008 with an 11-5 record and AFC East division title is becoming a distant memory after back-to-back 7-9 seasons brought them back to reality.