NFL Betting Lines Overview
This is one of the more interesting week 17 games for the price per head sports experts to try and figure out. Neither the Detroit Lions nor the Green Bay Packers need to win this game for playoff positioning. Even if the Lions lose this game and the Atlanta Falcons win their week 17 game, the worst that can happen is that the Lions will fall to sixth in the conference. Either way, Detroit makes the playoffs as a wild card when this game is over, win or lose. The Packers have clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and nothing that happens in this game will change that. To understand this game, you need to understand the dynamics of these two teams.

The Green Bay Packers, especially under the leadership of head coach Mike McCarthy, are not the kind of team to go out and play all second-stringers in Lambeau Field. The Packer faithful won’t allow it. Packers’ fans can expect to see players like James Starks and Aaron Rodgers in the first half of the game. But if the game is out of reach one way or the other, then the starters will come out. The Lions don’t want to get injured in this game, but it also does not want to be rusty in its first playoff appearance since 1999. That means that Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson will start the game. But it is hard to tell if they will finish the game as, once again, that depends on what is going on with the score in the third quarter.

Green Bay Packers
The price per head bookmaking experts know that the players on a football team can get caught up in the moment and want to compete. Mike McCarthy will have a difficult job on his hands. He will need to determine if he wants Clay Mathews pacing the sidelines in the fourth quarter or expending that energy in the game. Packers’ fans can expect to see very little of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in this game past the second quarter. If the Packers want to retain its Super Bowl title, then Rodgers needs to stay healthy. Keeping Aaron Rodgers on the field with Lions’ defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is probably a really bad idea. Besides, Rodgers will get his chance against the Lions when the two teams meet again in the playoffs. For now, the Packers can call it resting key offensive players, but Green Bay is really just getting people out of the way of Suh.

Detroit Lions
A 5 dimes review of the Lions’ roster shows an incredibly talented but young football team. Some of the Lions’ players are able to control their emotions and others are not. The most difficult part for head coach Jim Schwartz will be convincing his young starters to relax and have a seat in the third quarter. It will be especially difficult if the Lions are beating the Packers and the team wants to keep forcing the issue. Keeping the focus on the bigger prize is always the challenge of coaching young players who very much live in the moment.

The Bottom Line
The NFL schedule makers really created a gem with this one. The last thing that either of these teams wants to do is risk an injury going into the playoffs. But it will be interesting to see if the heat of the battle pushes these two teams to play one of the best week 17 games ever played.

Pick: Green Bay Packers

Sports betting experts were looking for the New Orleans Saints to dominate the NFC for years after their victory in Super Bowl XLIV. But the Saints are slowly fading away and the NFC landscape is changing rapidly. Online casino experts are finding it difficult to pin down a real favorite in the NFC, even though the Green Bay Packers are defending Super Bowl champions. Let’s take a sportsbook promo look at the top teams in the NFC for 2011 and see what our NFL pick will be for the 2011-2012 NFC Championship.

Green Bay Packers (Odds to win NFC Championship: 4/1)

While there is not a clear-cut dominant NFC team, the Packers are really close. The entire Packers team returns for the 2011 season, and that is really bad news for the rest of the NFC. The Packers are healthy and ready to defend their Super Bowl title. The only thing that is concerning Packers’ fans is the relaxed way in which the Packers are treating their new-found success. The Packers are really not doing off-season workouts like other teams are, and they are not getting together to work on timing. If the lockout ends soon, then head coach Mike McCarthy will get his team ready for the season. But if the lockout shortens training camp and the preseason, then the Packers may find themselves getting off to a slow start in 2011.

Atlanta Falcons (Odds to win NFC Championship: 5/1)

Rookie wide receiver Julio Jones has the opportunity to make the Atlanta Falcons a top contender in the NFC for many years to come. The combination of quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner, wide receiver Roddy White and wide receiver Julio Jones could be just the offensive combination that the Falcons need. On defense, the Falcons need some size up front to help stop the run. But the way the Falcons sit now, they will be one of the teams to challenge the Packers for NFC supremacy.

Philadelphia Eagles (Odds to win NFC Championship: 7/1)

Even though it looked like the NFC teams had figured out Michael Vick and the Eagles offense by the end of the 2010-2011 season, there is still way too much talent on this Philadelphia team to count them out. Vick likes to use his legs when deciding on offensive options, but he is starting to learn the value of staying in the pocket. The 2010-2011 season was a year of transition for the Philadelphia Eagles. When the team takes the field in 2011-2012, they will be ready to compete at the highest levels.

Detroit Lions (Odds to win NFC Championship: 30/1)

Maybe picking the Lions to compete for the NFC Championship in 2011-2012 is a bit of a stretch, but this team is on the rise. When the 2011-2012 season starts, the Lions will be completely healthy and that means quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Jahvid Best will be ready to compete. When you include wide receiver Calvin Johnson in that equation, you have that offensive trio that every team dreams about. The Detroit defense was just establishing itself as a dominant force when the season ended last year. Detroit may not win the NFC in 2011-2012, but they will make the playoffs and be a force in the NFC for many years.

Pick to win NFC Championship in 2011-2012: Green Bay Packers

Sports Betting Overview:

The Chicago Bears are not getting much respect from the NFL betting world because they got to the NFC Championship game via a bye week and win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Green Bay Packers have become the Super Bowl betting lines favorites in this game because they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, on the road, to get to the NFC Championship game. As the Three Stooges would say, the Bears are victims of circumstance.

The Super Bowl odds makers are also not impressed with the Bears 10-3 loss to the Packers in week 17 of the regular season. That whole combination of things has helped to make the Chicago Bears underdogs in the NFC Championship game that is being played in their home stadium. But when the chips have been down for this Bears team, every player has responded. The Bears have a quiet confidence that can take them all the way to Dallas, just so long as they play as they are capable of playing.

Offense:

Jay Cutler played an excellent game against the Seahawks. He went 15 of 28 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears offense was so efficient that they never even needed to attempt a field goal the entire game. The only trouble spot for the Bears is their reconstructed offensive line. Cutler was sacked three times by the Seahawks, and he had pressure in his face much of the game. The Bears had problems with the pass rush of the Packers in week 17, but they were still able to run the ball. Running back Matt Forte had 91 rushing yards in that week 17 game, and Cutler threw two interceptions. If Forte can keep running the ball, and Cutler can protect it, then the Bears offense will be fine.

The Packers offense, once again, relied almost solely on Aaron Rodgers to win their divisional playoff game against the Falcons. The Packers offense scored five touchdowns in the Atlanta game. Rodgers threw three of them and then ran for a fourth. Aaron Rodgers is the Packers offense, but no one seems to be able to stop him. With the speed on the outside that the Bears have, Rodgers may have met his match.

Defense:

The Packers defense is impressive. Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews can cover the middle of the field, stuff the run in the backfield and sack the quarterback. But the new Bears offensive line was able to push back on the Packers defense in week 17 and open up the running game. The Packers defense needs to clamp down on the middle of the line of scrimmage if it wants to be able to stop the Bears offense. The Bears will also spend a great deal of time throwing away from Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson. That could mean a long day for the other Green Bay corner, rookie Sam Shields.

The Bears completely dominated the line of scrimmage against the Seahawks and spent a great deal of time getting acquainted with Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Don’t forget that the Bears held the Packers to only 10 points in week 17. The defense for the Bears has the Packers offense figured out. That could be the key to the Bears winning this game.

Pick:

The Bears do not look like the “Monsters of the Midway” that everyone is used to, but they haven’t had the chance yet. When the game kicks off Sunday, the Bears know how to clamp down on that high-powered Green Bay offense.

Pick: Chicago Bears

As the sports betting world starts to focus on the divisional playoff games coming up this weekend in the NFL, NFL betting online enthusiasts need to take a look at the players that could make a big difference in each of the games before making their NFL predictions. Before you start your football betting activities for the weekend, check out the difference makers for each of the upcoming divisional playoff games.

Saturday, January 15 – Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)

This should be a great defensive battle as both teams possess a hard-hitting and aggressive defense. The difference maker in this game for the Steelers will be safety Troy Polamalu. Polamalu does not have planned patterns he runs or set defensive schemes he plays in. He is a rogue set out there to destroy the opposition’s passing game, and he is extremely good at it. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has developed a greater sense of accuracy in the second half of the season, but he will never see Polamalu coming and that will be a huge problem.

The difference maker for the Ravens will be running back Ray Rice. With Flacco pinned down by Polamalu, it will be up to Rice to gain positive yards for the Ravens and get the offense into scoring position. He will have to do it against one of the best running defenses in the history of football, and that makes Rice’s job that much more difficult.

Saturday, January 15 – Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons (-2)

The high-flying Falcons host a playoff game against the Packers. While the Packers are on a roll, the Falcons are still the number one seed in the NFC. The difference maker for the Falcons in this game will be quarterback Matt Ryan. He gets his first real taste of playoff action, and the Falcons will depend on his ice-cold demeanor to help them move the ball and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field.

The difference maker for the Packers will be running back James Starks. The last time the Packers played the Falcons, Green Bay had no running game and only lost the game by a field goal. If Starks can continue to run well in the playoffs, he could be the difference for the Packers.

Sunday, January 16 – Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears (-10)

Much is made of Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard touchdown run in the Seahawks win over the New Orelans Saints, and rightfully so. But the reason that the Seahawks won that game was the play of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck threw four touchdown passes and had 272 passing yards against the Saints. He managed the game well and will need to do the same this week if the Seahawks want to beat the Bears.

For the Bears, the difference maker is defensive lineman Julius Peppers. Peppers has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks all season long, and if he can bring the heat to Hasselbeck then the Seahawks will be forced to run the ball. Marshawn Lynch might find it a little tougher sledding against the Bears defense than he did the Saints.

Sunday, January 16 – New York Jets @ New England Patriots (-8.5)

The Patriots will not allow the Jets running game to blow by their defensive line like the Colts did. That means that the difference maker for the Jets will have to be quarterback Mark Sanchez. Sanchez will have to find his groove and get the ball into that weak Pats secondary if the Jets are to have any chance of winning this game.

For the Patriots the difference maker is the same on it is every week – Tom Brady. No quarterback in the league is better at utilizing his offensive weapons than Brady. If there is any quarterback that can take this Jets secondary down, it is the Patriots’ Tom Brady.

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