Now that the calendar has turned the page to July, it is time to start getting serious about ramping up your handicapping efforts for a new NFL season. To get you up to speed on Bovada’s futures odds to win each division, this time around we will take a closer look at the four teams in the AFC South.
NFL Handicapping – Titans vs Texans Betting Spread / Matchup
The Titans (1-2) got their first win of the season last week and Jake Locker had the best game of his career with 378 passing yards with 2 TD. However, he is not getting much help from RB Chris Johnson and they will be facing a Houston defense that ranks in the top 5 on the league in both pass and run defense.
NFL Handicapping – Texans vs Jaguars Betting Spread / Matchup
While the Jags lost their season-opener 2nd year QB Blaine Gabbert looked good and he now gives Jags’ fans hope for the future. However, they will be facing a Texans’ team that won last week and not only has a great offense, but a great defense as well.
NFL Divisional Previews – 2012 AFC South Betting Breakdown
The Houston Texans are the big favorite to win the AFC South and with good reason, as they have a legit QB while the Titans have a QB battle with Tim Hasselbeck and Jake Locker, the Jaguars have a 2nd year signal caller who struggled last season in Blaine Gabbert, and the Colts will be starting rookie Andrew Luck.
Texans vs Ravens Divisional Weekend Gambling Preview
The Texans looked great on both sides of the ball last week in their playoff win over Cincinnati, but now they have a tall task taking on a Ravens’ team that went undefeated at home this season and has a great defense.
The NFL playoffs kick off Saturday afternoon in Houston. A few weeks ago the Texans beat Cincinnati 20-19 on a last second touchdown. It looked like that would knock the Bengals out of the playoffs, but they backed their way in because other playoff contenders flopped at the end of the season.
Houston has just missed the playoffs several times, but they are finally a part of the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) vs. Houston Texans (10-6) Time/Date: 4:30 PM EST, January 7, 2012 Venue: Reliant Stadium Broadcast: NBC Bengals vs. Texans Gambling Odds from Bookmaker Spread: Texans -3 Moneyline: Houston (-170) Cincinnati (+150) Over/Under: 38.5
The Bengals were expected to be terrible, but this young squad came together quickly.
Which team will move on?
Andy Dalton will get plenty of consideration for Rookie of the Year honors, and he definitely deserves it. Carson Palmer deserted this team after a 4-12 year last year, and many believed the team would do even worse this year. Dalton stepped into a difficult situation and excelled in his rookie season in the league.
He threw 20 touchdowns and had a respectable 80.4 quarterback rating this year. A.J. Green definitely helped make Dalton’s transition easier. Green topped the 1,000 yard receiving mark in his rookie season. He is destined to be a star for many years to come. The Bengals must get Cedric Benson and the ground game going in this one.
It was the Cincinnati defense that led this team to the playoffs this year. Several weeks into the season they were the top ranked defense in the NFL. Key injuries to guys like Leon Hall and Keith Rivers hurt this unit in the last few weeks, but they have continued to be solid. Nate Clements and Reggie Nelson lead a solid secondary, while Domata Peko and Geno Atkins provide strength on the front line. Cincinnati gives up 20.2 points per game.
Houston saw its top two quarterbacks go down with an injury this year. Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart are both expected to miss the rest of the year, so it is up to rookie T.J. Yates. Yates was an unheralded rookie coming into the season, but he has filled in admirably for this team. Yates completed 61% of his passes this year, and he threw for 949 yards in limited action. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Texans are led by a great tailback tandem. Arian Foster and Ben Tate combined for more than 2,100 rushing yards this year. Foster’s versatility in the passing game is a big perk for this team. Tate was a bit of surprise to most of the league, but he averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry this year. Andre Johnson missed a lot of time this year, but he is expected to be ready for this one.
Last year the Houston pass defense was the worst in the NFL, and this season they ranked third in the league. Johnathan Joseph, formerly a star for the Bengals, stepped in and made this Texans secondary much better right away. Joseph led the team with 15 pass deflections and four interceptions this year.
Brian Cushing led the team in tackles, and this group of linebackers is ultra-talented. Overall, the Texans finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL in total defense.
Both of these teams are led by a strong defense. I don’t expect either team to put up big points in this one. I like the value on the under.
The Tennessee Titans, with an ever-so-slim Playoff possibility meet the struggling but already safe Houston Texans on Sunday to close out their Regular season.
The Texans (8-3) has won 5 straight, which is their longest winning streak in team history, but getting to 6 straight will not be easy, as they face a 7-4 Falcons’ team and they will be starting their 3rd string QB.
NFL Game Previews – Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Matt Leinart and the Houston Texans will try and extend their current winning streak to five games this Sunday afternoon when they tangle with the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field in this AFC South matchup. The kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast regionally on CBS.
NFL Football Previews – Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans
The AFC South is officially up for grabs this Sunday. Houston had a golden opportunity to distance itself from Tennessee last week with the Titans on the bye but couldn’t get the job done against a tough Baltimore team. The winner of this week’s Texans/Titans showdown will sit alone atop the division.
NFL Divisional Previews – 2011 AFC South 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.
The 2011/12 NFL futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well.
One of my favorite tools in preparing for the 2011 NFL football season and to enhance your nfl wagering knowledge is to look ahead at each teams NFL schedule, and evaluate the games they will play.
With Sunday Week 17 NFL football betting just a couple days away, Cappers Picks NFL handicappers have been hard at work putting out tons of other NFL betting info and NFL Predictions & Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
With Sunday Week 16 NFL football betting just a couple days away, Cappers Picks NFL handicappers have been hard at work putting out tons of other NFL betting info and NFL Predictions & Previews for those of us who can’t wait.