As the online betting continues for this year’s Super Bowl, there are several NFC teams that are looking to challenge for the spot that the New York Giants earned this year in the Super Bowl. Some teams, such as the Green Bay Packers, we can expect to hear from in 2012 because it is still one of the best teams in the NFL. But there are a few NFC teams that had not made much noise prior to the 2012 season that should be sticking around and making next year even more interesting.

Detroit Lions

The Super Bowl betting enthusiasts wanted to see the Detroit Lions involved in this year’s big game because Detroit had worked so hard to become a playoff contender. But the Lions consistently shot itself in the foot with bad penalties and undisciplined play. The veterans were just as guilty of being out of control as the younger players. Someone needs to explain to Ndamukong Suh that his childish and dangerous actions have consequences that hurt his team. Even the normally calm quarterback Matthew Stafford started to show signs of immaturity in the playoffs. If the Lions can bring it together, then it will be a team to deal with in 2012.

San Francisco 49ers

The price per head sportsbook experts know that head coach Jim Harbaugh will not allow the 49ers to regress going into the 2012 season. Harbaugh’s coaching style is perfect for the team of players that he has in San Francisco. No one likes to point at one play or one player as a reason a game was won or lost, but the 49ers played a solid game in the NFC Championship but were undone by critical mistakes. The 49ers will be back and they will be a contender for many years to come. It is not out of the question to expect this 49ers team to win a couple of Super Bowls before Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach is over.

Carolina Panthers

It is hard to imagine a team that was 6-10 in 2011 turning it around in 2012 to become a playoff contender. But sportsbook reviews of the 2010 San Francisco 49ers showed that it was 6-10 in 2010 before advancing to the 2011 NFC Championship game. The Panthers are not championship material yet, but the turn around in Carolina has already begun. The arrival of rookie quarterback Cam Newton ignited a fire in Carolina that helped the team to improve dramatically. Now the Panthers need to put more players around Newton to continue the team’s evolution.

Seattle Seahawks

Ever preview of a coming NFL season has to have something that seems to make no sense. The NFL scores that the Seahawks posted in 2011 were not impressive and the team was listless. But the mere fact that head coach Pete Carroll somehow got all of the pieces he had to work together so efficiently and finish with a 7-9 record is something of significance. The Seahawks had no passing game to work with and the running game did not start coming to life until late in the season. But people forget that the Seahawks finished with the ninth best defense in the NFL. The Seahawks need to cut its loses on the Tavaris Jackson experiment and draft the quarterback of the future. If the Seahawks can pick up some offensive linemen and a couple of receivers in free agency, then this could be a very interesting football team in 2012.

Sports Betting Overview

For the third year in a row, the New York Giants are experiencing a second-half of the season meltdown. The Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007 and then got to the second round of the playoffs in 2008. But in 2009 and 2010, the Giants watched the wheels fall off after week eight. With a week 12 loss to the Saints that dropped the Giants to 6-5 on the season after a 6-2 start, it is safe to say that it is happening again in New York. The Giants were completely demolished by the New Orleans Saints by a score of 49-24 on Monday night. On a short week, the Giants have to face the Green Bay Packers in a game that New York has to win.

The Green Bay Packers know that the price per head sports fans in Green Bay expect perfection, but no one expects 16-0. Considering the glaring weaknesses that the Packers have on offense and defense, the team continues to win and has amassed a record of 11-0. But the Packers faithful can hear the voice of Vince Lombardi echoing throughout the halls of Lambeau Field. “You gotta run the ball to win!” “Whassa matter with you guys? Can’t you stop the pass?” The Coach would have been pleased with the record, but he can see the problems mounting.

New York Giants

The bookie software can see the Giants’ problem from a mile away, and this time it isn’t quarterback Eli Manning. Normally the Giants’ collapse can be attributed to Manning’s interceptions and lost fumbles. But with a 406 passing yard performance on Monday night that included two touchdowns and only one interception, the problem is clearly not Manning. The problem is the Giants’ defense, and the problem is getting worse. Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees was able to put up 363 passing yards and four touchdowns on the Giants’ defense on Monday. The Saints, as a team, were able to rush for over 200 yards on the ground. The Packers will offer a similar challenge on offense that the Saints present. If that is how New York handles the Saints, then the Packers will be a nightmare.

Green Bay Packers

At 11-0, the Packers look like the perfect team. But the reality is that the Packers would not be 11-0 without quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A betonline.com review of the Packers’ running game shows that Green Bay isn’t even averaging 100 yards per game on the ground. The Packers’ defense is 31^st against the pass allowing an average of 287.8 passing yards per game. By all accounts, a passing team like the Giants should be a nightmare for the Packers. But the Packers always find a way to win, and when a team is experiencing the kind of bad luck that the Giants have been having, then that is just one more thing that plays into the Packers’ hand.

The Bottom Line

NFL fans in New York want to believe that the Giants can turn this thing around and challenge Dallas for the NFC East title. But history is not on New York’s side. With recent history showing that the Giants’ defense cannot contain a good passing game, it looks like the Giants are headed to 6-6 while the Packers are destined for 12-0.

The online sports betting world is getting geared up for wild card weekend, and some of the matchups are extremely interesting. The NFL football betting for wild card weekend includes last year’s defending Super Bowl champions and a highly-anticipated NFC matchup that will take place in Philadelphia.

As you start reading the Super Bowl betting lines, you need to remember that the wild card weekend has produced its fair share of Super Bowl contenders in the past. So before you do your price per head picks for the week, take some time to preview the games coming up in wild card weekend.

Saturday January 8, 2011 – New Orleans Saints (-10.5) @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are the first division champion ever with a sub-.500 record, and it is really causing a furor among many in the NFL. Some fans are appalled that a 7-9 team is not only allowed to be a division champion, but they also get to host a home playoff game. Don’t blame the Seahawks; they are just playing by the rules. Most of the fans worried about the integrity of the game should relax because the Seahawks won’t be playing past the wild card weekend anyways.

The Saints are not the same powerhouse that bulldozed its way to last year’s Super Bowl championship. The Saints offensive line is suspect, the running game is non-existent and the secondary is weak. But none of that will matter in this game. All the Saints need is Drew Brees to get past the Seahawks.

Pick: New Orleans Saints

Saturday January 8, 2011 – New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)

The Jets have a serious dilemma facing them as they get ready to play a red-hot Colts team on wild card weekend. Starting quarterback Mark Sanchez is both still injured and completely ineffective the last few weeks of the season. Back-up Mark Brunell was accurate and in command during the week 17 win over the Buffalo Bills. Rex Ryan has a championship-caliber offense that needs a strong quarterback. It will be interesting to see what he does.

The Colts are healthy going into this game with the exception of Dallas Clark and Austin Collie. But the Colts have been rolling without their tight end and wide receiver, and there is no reason to think they will stop now. The Colts defense is healthy and ready to bury the Jets offense.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts

Sunday January 9, 2011 – Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs

The unstoppable force of the Kansas City running game meets the immovable object that is the Ravens defense. For people that love the strategic side of the NFL, this will be a fascinating game to watch.  The Chiefs make no apologies about using their running game to its maximum capability, and quarterback Matt Cassel is there when the ball needs to go downfield.

The Ravens offense has become much more dangerous in the last few weeks, and that includes the improvement of quarterback Joe Flacco’s accuracy. The Chiefs have an impressive pass rush, but their secondary may not be up to the task.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Sunday January 9, 2011 – Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)

The Packers have the perfect kind of defense to neutralize Michael Vick. They have fast linebackers and powerful defensive linemen that can push the Philadelphia offensive line back. Disrupt Michael Vick, and you disrupt the entire Eagles offense.

The Packers offense has been rolling right along and quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks extremely comfortable in the pocket. The running game is weak, but Rodgers has been running the ball himself along with tossing long touchdown passes all season long.

Pick: Green Bay Packer

Online Sports Bet Overview:

Anyone that watches football on a regular basis knew that the firing of San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary was inevitable. When Singletary first got the 49ers head coaching job the NFL betting online community was optimistic. Singletary showed some promise and it was thought that he could bring the 49ers back to their glory years.

But the online football betting world watched in dismay as Singletary had very public confrontations with his players, especially his quarterbacks, on the sidelines and continually called out players in the media. Singletary had lost the locker room, and the 49ers front office knew there was no way to repair the divide. Now the Cardinals, fresh off their Christmas gift win over the Dallas Cowboys, get to meet the 49ers and their new head coach Jim Tomsula to finish out the season.

Offense:

Singletary has left the San Francisco offense in such a mess that no one really knows what to expect in this game. The online bookie service experts hope that Tomsula does the smart thing and puts Troy Smith in at quarterback. Smith is mobile, has a rifle for an arm and brings an energy to the game that lifts the rest of the team. Considering how little support the offensive line has given the starting quarterbacks and running backs this season, putting in the more mobile Troy Smith over the other quarterback Alex Smith seems like the right choice.

The Cardinals think that they may have a project to work on at quarterback with the young John Skelton. Skelton shows up as the starting quarterback on the roster, but don’t forget that the previous two starting quarterbacks are injured in Max Hall and Derek Anderson. Do the Cardinals have the answer to their quarterback problems on their current roster? Arizona does know that Derek Anderson is not the answer and look for Anderson to be escorted out of Arizona when the season is over. Whether the answer is Hall or Skelton remains to be seen.

Defense:

The Arizona defense looked completely disorganized against the Dallas Cowboys. When rookie third-string quarterback Stephen McGee needed a final touchdown drive to put the Cowboys in the lead, he got it. The Cardinals could not stop the Cowboys running game and they could not put pressure on the passer. Look for much of the same against the 49ers. The lack of a pass rush from the Cardinals is just another reason why 49ers quarterback Troy Smith would be so dangerous against the Cardinals.

The San Francisco defense is ranked seventh against the pass and they possess a very potent pass rush. Since the Cardinals are unable to block for their quarterback or their running back, expect the front seven of the 49ers to be able to shut down the Arizona offense at the line of scrimmage.

The Bottom Line:

It is interesting to see what kinds of decisions both of these teams make when this season is over. But, for now, this final game of the season should be something the 49ers will be able to build on.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers

Betting Overview:

It almost does not seem fair that the betting world has to watch the 6-8 Seattle Seahawks still battling for the NFC West title and a chance at a playoff spot while the 8-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are pretty much one loss away from being out of the playoffs. But the NFL betting world has to get used to weak division winners posting low NFL scores and still beating out other good teams for a playoff spot. It is the way of the NFL and it can make preseason NFL predictions difficult to take seriously.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a complete surprise to most betting experts. In a division dominated by the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs were expected to drop like a stone to the bottom of the NFC South. Instead, Tampa Bay can improve their chances of taking away the second NFC wild card playoff spot by beating the Seahawks and hoping the New York Giants keep losing. What a strange thing the NFL season can sometimes be.

Offense:

The Seattle Seahawks almost stood tall against the Atlanta Falcons in week 15, but by the time the game was over the Falcons had destroyed the Seahawks. Seattle starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck created three turnovers before he was replaced by backup Charlie Whitehurst. The Seattle Seahawks really have no answers at running back, offensive line or quarterback. When the best hope you have is your quarterback, and you have to pull him to try and win a game, then your offense is pretty much useless as far as winning goes.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to ride the hot arm of their quarterback Josh Freeman. In the week 15 loss to the Detroit Lions, Freeman had 251 passing yards and threw a touchdown. Running back LeGarrette Blount put himself only 223 yards away from a 1,000 yard season with a 110 yard performance against the Lions. People do not give the Lions defense enough credit. The Bucs played a hard-fought game against a strong defensive team.

Defense:

The Bucs defense is ranked 12^th against the pass but 29^th against the run. That may mean that Seattle running backs like Marshawn Lynch may be getting the ball a lot against the Tampa Bay defense. The Tampa pass rush is a little weak as it is the secondary that holds down the fort against the pass. With problems getting pressure up front, the Bucs will be forced to shut down what little running game Seattle has.

The Seattle defense was doing an excellent job at shutting down Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense in the first quarter of their week 15 game. But once Ryan figured out the scheme of the Seahawks, he realized that giving the ball to Michael Turner was the best way to gain yards. The Seahawks are weak defensively in the red zone, so you will see Tampa trying to use their running game to get into the red zone against Seattle and then Freeman will punch the ball in from there.

The Bottom Line:

Tampa and Seattle both need this game, but Tampa has the upper hand in offense. Both teams are led by a spirited coach, and this should be a fun game to watch. But, in the end, the Bucs keep their playoff hopes alive.

Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Betting Overview:

When Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers left the week 14 game against the Detroit Lions with his second concussion of the season, the NFL betting experts sensed that something might go wrong. Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn had barely taken any snaps all season long, and it showed. But what was more impressive was the way the Detroit defensive line completely man-handled the Packers offensive line.

While the Packers-Lions game was one of the lower NFL scores of week 14, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were involved in one of the more bizarre games of the week. The Buccaneers beat the Washington Redskins 17-16, but they were badly outplayed. The difference in the game was a missed extra point by the Redskins kicker. The Bucs have surpassed many of the NFL predictions that surrounded them in preseason, but they still may not have enough to make the playoffs.

Offense:

The Detroit Lions have many weapons on offense. They have rookie running back Jahvid Best and prolific receiver Calvin Johnson. The Detroit offensive line lacks experience, and it shows at times against a good pass rush. But the Lions are down to third-string quarterback Drew Stanton and, while Stanton is doing a decent job, he makes some very bad decisions that can cost the Lions points. But Stanton was enough for the Lions to beat the Packers, and he can surely be enough to beat the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers offense crumbled under the pressure of the Washington Redskins’ front line. Quarterback Josh Freeman could not get comfortable enough to make quality passes, and the Tampa Bay running game was only able to gain a total of 85 yards. The Bucs have not had a running game all season long, and it starts to show when teams get down to the playoff push. Without a balanced offense, the Buccaneers are going to find it difficult to achieve their playoff goals.

Defense:

The Lions showed how far their defensive line has come when they completely dominated the line of scrimmage against the Green Bay Packers. Even without veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch on the field, the Lions were able to contain the run of the Packers and sack the quarterback. Rookie defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh showed why he is the premier candidate for defensive rookie of the year by creating havoc in the Packers backfield, and defensive end Turk McBride registered two sacks.

The Tampa Bay defense allowed Washington running back Ryan Torain to rack up 172 rushing yards in their win over the Redskins. Quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 228 yards, but he also threw for two touchdowns. The Bucs defense seems to be bending more in the last few weeks, and that may open the door for a Lions offense that is waiting to explode.

The Bottom Line:

This is not the same Lions team that was getting blown out of every game just two years ago. The Lions are hanging close with every team they play, and they are even managing to pull off a few surprises such as their week 14 win over the Packers. Detroit is just waiting for a game to explode, and this could be the one.

Pick: Detroit Lions

Betting Overview:

The Chicago Bears have gone from pretender to contender in one game. When the Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles last week in a game that was not decided by turnovers and penalties, many in the NFL betting world stood up and took notice. Until that point, the NFL scores put up by the Bears were always suspected to be less legitimate than wins by the Atlanta Falcons or Green Bay Packers. But now the NFL predictions surrounding the Bears have changed, and Chicago fans have a legitimate playoff team on their hands.

The Lions were improving steadily until their loss three weeks ago in Buffalo. The Detroit defense and offense were both improving and Lions fans were looking forward to next season. But when quarterback Matthew Stafford went down for the season just before the game against the Bills, things seemed to change with the Lions. Since Stafford’s injury, the Lions have not been as competitive as they once were and being only a 3.5 point underdog to a surging team like the Bears may be generous.

Offense:

Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler has completely changed in the past couple of weeks. He has gone from the hot-headed out-spoken quarterback that makes a lot of bad decisions to a cool and calm character that methodically drives his team down the field. Against the Eagles Cutler was brilliant while Matt Forte and the Chicago running game faltered again. The running game would be the only thing that holds the Bears back now. Jay Cutler was a more effective runner against the Eagles than Matt Forte, and that includes any comparisons to Michael Vick.

The Detroit offense is without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and starting rookie running back Jahvid Best. When those two are in the line up, the Lions offense improves significantly. Without those two, the offense sputters. That is nothing against back up quarterback Shaun Hill, it is just a fact that the Lions offense cannot function without those two pieces in place. Those two pieces will not be in place against the Bears.

Defense:

For most of the season you could hear the chant of “Suh” ringing around Ford Field anytime that the Lions were on defense. Rookie defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is a sensation in Detroit and a leading candidate for defensive rookie of the year. But the Lions defense was picked apart by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints offense. The Lions could not get any pressure on Brees, and they could not cover the Saints receivers. The Bears offense is not the Saints, but it offers many similar challenges.

The Bears defense was well-coached and fast enough last week to contain Michael Vick and the entire Philadelphia offense. The Bears even forced Vick into his first interception of the season. This just looks worse and worse for the Lions.

The Bottom Line:

The Bears are playing like the “Monsters of the Midway” of old. It is a punishing defense with a prolific offense. If they can keep it up, they will be giving the Falcons a run for their money in the NFC.

Pick: Chicago Bears

Betting Overview:

The New York Giants are in a familiar spot in the NFL betting season. Throughout the entire coaching career of Tom Coughlin in New York, the Giants have frustrated the betting world and posted mostly losing NFL scores in the second half of the season. Regardless of how strong the Giants are when the season starts, the NFL predictions surrounding the team always point to a second half collapse. The Giants have lost their last two games in a row, and those divisional losses could prove costly when the season ends.

When the season started the Jacksonville Jaguars had a feeling that they were playing for their coach’s job. Head coach Jack Del Rio has watched his team steadily decline in record and quality of play over the past three years. But the Jaguars now sit in first place on top of a surprisingly weak AFC South. The playoffs are within their grasp, and they seem to be getting better every week.

Offense:

Eli Manning is a major reason why the wheels are falling off in New York. His inability to hit an open receiver and prevent turnovers is not helping the Giants at all. Eli gave up a critical fumble in the most recent Giants loss to the Eagles, and his throwing accuracy has been way off. This has been the pattern ever since Eli joined the Giants. He starts off strong in the first few games of the season, and then he starts making bad decisions when the mid-way point of the season hits. Since the Giants have abandoned their running game that leaves Eli to win games for New York and this particular Manning is not up to the task.

The Jaguars offense is primarily running back Maurice Jones-Drew. They had the miracle last second catch against the Houston Texans two weeks ago, but it was Jones-Drew who carried the Jaguars to a win over the surging Cleveland Browns last week. Quarterback David Garrard is getting better at managing games and playing not to lose, and he is also resigned to giving the ball to Jones-Drew when it becomes a critical moment in the game.

Defense:

With the exception of a few bad penalties in the past couple of weeks, the Giants defense is still playing well. New York is ranked second in overall defense allowing an average of only 282 total yards per game. The Giants are fourth against the rush allowing an average of 90 yards per game, and that sets up an interesting match-up between Jones-Drew and the Giants defense. The Giants just need to stop taking bad penalties at the worst possible moments as they did against the Eagles and the Cowboys in the last two weeks.

There is nothing very special about the Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars are ranked 27^th overall on defense giving up an average of 377 total yards per game. The Jags have just enough on defense to confuse Eli Manning. If the Giants decide to use their running game then the Jaguars will be in trouble. But, to this point, the Giants have shown no desire to get their running game going.

The Bottom Line:

The Jaguars have had some pretty exciting wins in the last couple of weeks. They beat a good team in the Houston Texans, and they beat a rising team in the Cleveland Browns. This game is New York head coach Tom Coughlin’s chance to stop the mid-season slide before it gets too out of hand and Coughlin will pull out all the stops to make that happen.

Pick: New York Giants