With most of the online online sports betting attention being shifted to the Super Bowl, it’s easy to forget about the Pro Bowl, but if you like offense and points, this is the game for you. Even with a long list of players sitting out due to injury or having to get ready for the Super Bowl, there is still a lot of talent in Hawaii, and the NFC’s quarterbacks should be the difference.

What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, January 29th, 7:00 PM ET
Where: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
Pick: NFC -4

Why Bet On AFC

The teams that battled for the AFC championship, Baltimore and New England, had eight selections apiece for the Pro Bowl, although the Patriots obviously won’t be there as they have another game to prepare for. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, San Diego’s Philip Rivers and Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton will be under center, although you shouldn’t expect to see a lot of Roethlisberger as he is still recovering from a severely sprained ankle that happened down the stretch run to the playoffs. Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew will likely see a lot of action with Baltimore’s Ray Rice and Houston’s Arian Foster out, while Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace, Cincinnati rookie A.J. Green, Miami’s Brandon Marshall and San Diego’s Vincent Jackson are the wideouts; Jackson will be joined by teammate Antonio Gates at tight end, while Bengal Jermaine Gresham will get snaps as well. Up front, Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas is the only starter that is healthy and not playing in the Super Bowl, and he’ll be joined by Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs, Nick Mangold and Brandon Moore of the New York Jets, and Houston’s Chris Myers.

Future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed lead the defense, although Reed will sit out due to injury. Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney and Denver’s Elvis Dumervil will start at end, with Houston’s Antonio Smith coming off the bench. Oakland’s Richard Seymour, Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins and Paul Soliai line up at tackle, while the outside linebacker position is manned by Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, Denver rookie Von Miller and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison. Lewis and Kansas City’s Derrick Johnson will handle the inside, while the AFC has a potent cornerback duo in the Jets’ Darrelle Revis and Denver’s Champ Bailey, along with Houston’s Johnathan Joseph, and they’re imperative to the AFC’s NFL betting odds since you can’t blitz at the Pro Bowl. At the back, San Diego’s Eric Weddle starts at free safety with Pittsburgh’s Ryan Clark backing him up, and at strong safety, Denver’s Brian Dawkins will see a lot of work.

Why Bet On NFC

The NFC champion New York Giants had just two players selected to go to Hawaii, quarterback Eli Manning and end Jason Pierre-Paul, while the team they beat, San Francisco, had nine overall. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers will start and share time with New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Carolina’s Cam Newton, who set a slew of rookie records. Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy, Chicago’s Matt Forte and Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch will come out of the backfield, while teammate Michael Robinson lines up at fullback. Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald leads the receivers, which includes Carolina’s Steve Smith, Green Bay’s Greg Jennings and Atlanta’s Roddy White, but not Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, who is injured. The tight ends are New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham and Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, while the line starts with tackles Jason Peters of Philadelphia and San Francisco’s Joe Staley, along with New Orleans’ Jermon Bushrod. The Saints’ Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks start at guard and will be backed up by Tampa Bay’s Davin Joseph, while Carolina’s Ryan Kalil and Green Bay’s Scott Wells take over the center position.

The defense begins up front with ends Jared Allen of Minnesota and Philadelphia’s Jason Babin, while Chicago’s Julius Peppers replaces Pierre-Paul. Inside at tackle, the 49ers’ Justin Smith and Dallas’ Jay Ratliff will try and get some sort of pressure on the AFC quarterbacks, while outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware, Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Minnesota’s Chad Greenway have to figure out what to do without a blitz. At inside linebacker, San Francisco’s Patrick Willis leads the way, along with Washington’s London Fletcher, while Green Bay’s Charles Woodson, Chicago’s Charles Tillman and Seattle’s Brandon Browner line up at the corners. At free safety, Seattle’s Earl Thomas steps up, while Arizona’s Adrian Wilson and another Seahawk, Kam Chancellor, hold down the strong-safety position.

How It Will Play Out

The NFC has won three of the last four Pro Bowls and lead the series by a score of 21-20 as they enter this season’s edition as a 4-point favorite. The total is set at 73.5, and it’s a solid bet to take the over, which has prevailed 10 of the last 12 times. There is little to no defense played in this game, and the head coaches, Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy of the NFC and Houston’s Gary Kubiak of the AFC, will air it out early and often.

Lean towards the NFC as they have better quarterbacks and even though the AFC is talented in the secondary, the NFC may be more talented at receiver, even without “Megatron”. There will be no let-up for any of the three NFC pivots and they’ll power the NFC to a win in your sports betting picks.

Pro Bowl Betting Pick: NFC

Posted on January 28th, 2012 by admin
Filed under: NFL football betting