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12/30/2011 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears will be trying to close out a season that took a drastic turn for the worse on a positive note, while the Minnesota Vikings attempt to avoid making some dubious history when the two injury- plagued NFC North members square off Sunday at the Metrodome.
Though this Week 17 clash won't harbor any playoff implications for a pair of division rivals that had been enjoying success in the recent past, both teams should still be entering their 2011 season finales with some measure of motivation.
Chicago comes in desperate for a win after having a promising year sabotaged by a five-game losing streak triggered by a host of pivotal players getting hurt. The Bears entered December sporting a 7-3 record and appeared to be in strong position for making a second consecutive postseason trip, but a fractured thumb suffered by quarterback Jay Cutler in a 31-20 victory over San Diego on Nov. 27 sent the club into a downward spiral it wasn't able to overcome.
The 2010 NFC North champions also lost Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte (sprained knee) and wide receiver Johnny Knox (fractured vertebrae) to season- ending ailments during the stretch run, which also played a part in Chicago's longest in-season skid since an eight-game drought from Sept. 22-Nov. 18, 2002.
"We got hit by the injury bug really bad this year," said linebacker Lance Briggs. "It's still no excuse for not being able to get in the playoffs, but when those injuries started mounting up, we were rolling. The defense was playing well, the offense was rolling and special teams were rolling too."
The Bears were officially eliminated from playoff contention with last Sunday's 35-18 loss at NFC front-runner Green Bay. But despite the negative result, there were a couple of encouraging performances from the fill-in cast to take from.
New quarterback Josh McCown completed 19-of-28 passes for 242 yards in his first NFL start since 2007, while running back Kahlil Bell did his best Forte impression by rushing for a career-best 121 yards and adding 38 more on four catches.
McCown will get the call again this week in place of Caleb Hanie, demoted back to second string after four ineffective starts substituting for Cutler.
The Vikings return home with some significant injuries of their own, the most serious of which was a torn ACL and MCL that prized running back Adrian Peterson sustained this past Saturday against Washington. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder also exited early in the second half with a concussion, while veteran guard Steve Hutchinson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a concussion he incurred in a loss to New Orleans one week prior to the game against the Redskins.
Despite those defections, Minnesota managed to come through with a 33-26 triumph over Washington thanks to excellent relief efforts from quarterback Joe Webb and running back Toby Gerhart. The former threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Vikings to 23 second-half points, while Gerhart did his part by rushing for a personal-best 109 yards and a score on 11 attempts in Peterson's absence.
"A lot of guys contributed to that win on Saturday, which really should be a springboard for us as we prepare for this ball game against Chicago," said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.
Ponder was cleared to practice this week and will draw the start under center for Sunday's tilt. The 2011 first-round pick made his pro debut in a 39-10 road setback to the Bears on Oct. 16, hitting on 9-of-17 throws for 99 yards after taking over for the since-released Donovan McNabb.
The Vikings had dropped six in a row prior to last weekend's breakthrough, but still remain in jeopardy of matching a franchise record for losses in a season set in 1984.
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings lead the regular-season series with the Bears, which dates back to 1961, by a 52-46-2 count, but Chicago has inched closer towards drawing even by winning the last four meetings between the teams. The Bears recorded their first season sweep of Minnesota since 2006 last season, following a 27-13 home decision in November with a 40-14 rout in Week 15 in a game held at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium due to unplayable conditions at the Metrodome. Chicago has lost in three straight trips to the Metrodome, with the most recent being a 36-10 ousting in 2009, and last prevailed at the venue via a 19-16 score during its NFC championship season of 2006.
Chicago and Minnesota have also squared off one time previously during the postseason, a 35-18 road win by the Bears in a 1994 NFC First-Round Playoff.
The Bears' Lovie Smith owns a 9-6 record against Minnesota during his tenure as a head coach, while Frazier -- a former cornerback for Chicago from 1981-85 -- is 0-2 lifetime against both his ex-team and Smith since taking over in Minnesota.
WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL
Though McCown (254 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) did throw a pair of interceptions against the Packers and couldn't lead the Bears back into the win column, the offense was considerably more productive under the 32-year-old journeyman's hand than in Hanie's four ill-fated starts. Chicago compiled a season-high 441 total yards in the loss, in no small part due to the outstanding work of Bell (283 rushing yards, 14 receptions, 1 TD) as both a runner and receiver, and the onetime third-stringer in is line for another audition this week with Forte now on injured reserve and veteran Marion Barber doubtful to return from a strained calf. McCown's presence also seemed to inspire wide receiver Roy Williams (33 receptions, 1 TD), with the enigmatic ex-Cowboy amassing season highs of 81 yards and six catches versus Green Bay. He's part of a three-man corps that also contains rookie Dane Sanzenbacher (25 receptions, 1 TD) and fourth-year pro Earl Bennett (21 receptions, 1 TD), but will be missing its best field-stretcher in the speedy Knox. The Bears rank just 27th overall in third-down conversion percentage (32.1 percent), but made good on 6-of-12 tries in last week's outing.
McCown will get to go up against one of the league's most porous pass defenses in the finale, with the Vikings having surrendered 260.1 yards per game via the air (29th overall) as well as an NFL-high 33 passing touchdowns, and the team's seven interceptions are the fewest of any team this season. To help protect a depleted secondary that started rookie Mistral Raymond (18 tackles, 1 INT) at one of the safety spots and former practice-squad member Marcus Sherels (27 tackles, 1 sack) at nickel back against the Redskins, Frazier will be counting on a dependable pass rush headed up by Pro Bowl end Jared Allen (61 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 1 INT) and counterpart Brian Robison (41 tackles, 7 sacks) to make its usual impact. Minnesota is fourth in the league with 43 sacks, with the energetic Allen leading all individuals in that category. Despite possessing three proven stoppers along the front seven in tackle Kevin Williams (36 tackles, 4 sacks) and linebackers Chad Greenway (144 tackles, 1 sack) and E.J. Henderson (102 tackles, 2 sacks), stopping the run has been a problem for the Vikings as of late. The team allowed unknown Washington rookie Evan Royster to rush for 132 yards on just 19 attempts on Christmas Eve, one week after permitting 161 yards on the ground to New Orleans.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
The unavailability of Peterson (970 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 13 total TD) shouldn't prevent the Vikings from sticking to their run-first mentality come Sunday, as Gerhart (464 rushing yards, 22 receptions, 4 total TD) has shown himself to be capable of handling a starter's workload in spot duty. The former Stanford standout is averaging nearly five yards per carry and demonstrated good hands out of the backfield as well, having recorded three touchdown catches in the past three weeks. He'll serve as a reliable outlet for Ponder (1825 passing yards, 13 TD, 12 INT), with versatile wide receiver Percy Harvin (77 receptions, 7 total TD) the focal point of a passing attack that ranks just 28th in the league (182.3 ypg) at the moment. Ponder's rookie campaign has been predictably up-and-down, with the 23-year-old delivering a 381-yard, three- touchdown outburst against Denver in Week 13 but tossing nine interceptions in his last six games. If he struggles in this matchup, Frazier may not hesitate to turn to Webb (176 passing yards, 3 TD, 0 INT), who gave the offense a spark both last Saturday and in a near-comeback at playoff-bound Detroit three games back and brings an additional dimension with his terrific scrambling ability.
Minnesota may have a tough time getting its fourth-rated ground game (149.3 ypg) against a stern Chicago defense that's sixth in the league against the run (97.5 ypg) and rendered Peterson a non-factor in the first meeting, with the dynamic back limited to a pedestrian 39 yards on 12 attempts. The Bears also generated five sacks in that Week 6 rout, two of which came from accomplished end Julius Peppers (36 tackles, 10 sacks), while holding the Vikings to a modest 286 total yards. Three members of the unit were chosen to this year's NFC Pro Bowl squad in stalwart middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (92 tackles, 3 INT), weakside starter Lance Briggs (100 tackles, 1 sack) and veteran cornerback Charles Tillman (93 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT), while Peppers made a case to join the trio in Honolulu after registering a seventh season with double-digit sacks. With Urlacher and Briggs leading the way, the Bears have yielded 80 rushing yards or fewer in seven of the past 10 games, though the secondary was burned for five touchdown passes by Green Bay marksman Aaron Rodgers a week ago.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Quarterback play. The Bears were able to stonewall Minnesota's running game in the first matchup mainly because McNabb posed little threat of attacking the defense vertically. Ponder certainly has the talent to make plays with his arm, but the rookie will need to be smart, poised and accurate to beat a seasoned Chicago stop unit that isn't going to be fooled by anything the Vikings do. While McCown wasn't bad off his four-year layoff, he'll be dealing with a Minnesota pass rush that's more formidable than the one he faced in Green Bay and must be quick and decisive with the football. Whichever of these two gunslingers makes the fewer mistakes, his team likely wins.
Minnesota's run defense. McCown's job would be made far easier if Bell is as much of a factor as he's been the last two games, therefore the Vikings must be less submissive against the run then they've displayed of late. The Vikings have allowed 302 yards on the ground over the past two weeks, and Forte and Barber combined for 119 yards against their defense in Chicago's Week 6 win.
Special teams. This could turn out to be a huge advantage for the Bears with return-man extraordinaire Devin Hester on the roster. The reserve receiver had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Vikings in October and leads the NFL with a 17.3 average on punt runbacks, and Minnesota hasn't been great in either kick or punt coverage this season.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
In games like this where nothing but pride is on the line, generally the more determined team is the one that comes out the victor. And with the Bears stewing over a winless drought that's lasted since before Thanksgiving, they'll have plenty of incentive to come out with a purpose. The Vikings should have motivation as well, as closing out with back-to-back positive results would surely help take the bitter taste out of a season that's for the most part been a nightmare, but the coaching staff may also use this contest as a means to get an extended look at some of the young players on the roster. Since Chicago's defense is more capable of making Ponder look bad than Minnesota's is at exploiting McCown's limitations, go with the visitors in this war of attrition.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Bears 23, Vikings 20
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Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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