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August 18th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Teams that left a lot of possible points on the board last week will aim for their second NFL preseason betting victory of the season when the Philadelphia Eagles collide with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Philadelphia Eagles (+3) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Friday, August 20th
8:00 ET, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Eagles Notes: The good news for the Eagles is that they picked up seven offensive scoring drives in last week's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The bad news is that five of those seven scoring drives were only worth three points. More good news: The team won the game. The bad news? A 28-27 final wasn't good enough to beat the NFL preseason betting lines. However, there was clearly more good than bad going on for HC Andy Reid to digest. The response for his new starting QB Kevin Kolb was a positive one, as he ended up going 6-for-11 for 95 yards, leading the Eagles on two field goal drives. His backup QB Michael Vick looked about as good as he has since his pre-dog fighting Atlanta Falcons days. Vick went 11-for-17 for 119 yards and rushed for 50 yards and a TD in the 'W'. Even the rushing game looked good, as RB LeSean McCoy racked up 30 yards in limited duty, while reserve RB Martell Mallett went for 60 yards and a score on 15 carries. The problem came defensively, where the Eagles conceded four passes of at least 30 yards. In general, they let backup QB Luke McCown pick them apart, which is a bad sign for a secondary that is already banged up as it is. Apparently, there isn't much in the way of depth either.

Bengals Notes: Typically, the third preseason game is the one where the starters get the most reps for their teams. There is a big question mark whether HC Marvin Lewis will subscribe to this thought or not considering the fact that Cincinnati still has two more exhibitions before the regular season. Lewis allowed Palmer to throw the ball all over the field, as he went 12-of-15 for 105 yards in the Bengals' 33-24 win over the Denver Broncos last week. Newcomer WR Terrell Owens was second on the team in catches with four, though his counterpart WR Chad Ochocinco was rather missing in action with just one catch for four yards. The running attack was what really kept the Bengals going last week. All four running backs on the depth chart ran for at least 30 yards, and each toted the rock at least eight times. Needless to say, Cincinnati dominated time of possession, winning that battle by nearly a 2:1 margin. The Bengals ended the day with 409 total yards of offense, 191 of which came on the ground. Denver had to punt the ball six times and turned it over three times in its defeat. The Bengals are now 1-1 SU and ATS on the preseason after arguably their first even remotely impressive game since last December.

The Final Word: In our eyes, this game is a total tossup. Vick and Kolb should be playing the majority of the game for the Eagles, and in spite of the fact that Palmer might play a little bit more than he did last week, we don't feel as though there is that much of a drop off from the second teamers for the Eagles and the first teamers for the Bengals. Yes, home field advantage scares us just a tad, but the bottom line is that Philadelphia has just as good of a chance to win this game if it wants to as the Bengals do. We'll take our chances catching a field goal and predict a close outright victory. This one could clearly go either way, though.

Prediction: Eagles 21 – Bengals 20

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August 18th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Two of the powers in the National Football League duke it out in an intra conference NFL preseason betting affair between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots.

New England Patriots @ Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Thursday, August 19th
8:00 ET, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Patriots Notes: QB Tom Brady is going to be the most watched man for New England this week if he plays. The leader of the Brady Bunch injured his finger in last weekend's victory over the defending champions, the New Orleans Saints. The injury isn't considered anything to worry about, but Brady might still not get a chance to suit it up, and if he does, it probably won't be for long. The bigger question is going to be who gets the reps at running back. Laurence Maroney might be seeing his time as a starter dwindling down to nothing. BenJarvus Green-Ellis might be taking over sooner than later, as he is proving to run the ball effectively throughout camp and so far in the young preseason. WR Julian Edelman will inevitably be a focal point once again, as he caught six passes for 90 yards last week. Edelman has a great chance to be the second or third wide receiver on this team this year depending on the health of WR Wes Welker. Defensively, a number of things are going to have to change to make HC Bill Belichick happy, as he doesn't want to see his 'D' giving up 24 points (even if a touchdown did come via special teams) during any game, let alone a preseason one.

Falcons Notes: The Falcons are a banged up bunch right now, especially at the wide receiver position. Don't expect to see either Michael Jenkins or Harry Douglas in action for the second straight week. That's going to make things a tad more difficult for QB Matt Ryan and his reserves. Last week in a 20-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home, Atlanta only mustered a total of 244 yards. Reserve RB Jerious Norwood didn't play and might not again this week. That's going to put more pressure on players like Jason Snelling, who ran last week 11 times for just 24 yards to pick up the slack. The Falcons defense put forth a solid effort though, holding KC to just 273 yards, just 143 of which were through the air. The only touchdown the team gave up was with 0:18 left in the game on a Tyler Palko rush. The Falcons picked off two passes, which was a huge bone of contention last year. Atlanta had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL last year, but things are already off to a good start this season.

The Final Word: Why the Falcons aren't favored by more than a field goal is beyond us. The Patriots, especially if Brady doesn't play, aren't anything special. The Falcons are clearly playing like a team on a mission right now on defense, so we don't see much coming in the way of scoring for the visitors. If the offense for the men in black and red can produce a couple TDs and a couple FGs, they should be just fine. Back Atlanta on Thursday night.

Prediction: Falcons 20 – New England 9

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August 18th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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All of the marbles will be on the line at ArenaBowl XXIII on Friday night, as the Spokane Shock and Tampa Bay Storm duke it out for the right to be called the 2010 champions of the Arena Football League.

Tampa Bay Storm (+3.5) @ Spokane Shock
Friday, August 20th
8:00 ET, Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA

Tampa Bay Notes: The Storm might have been the third seed in the American Conference playoffs, but no one ever doubted the fact that they were the best team on that side of the draw during the entire postseason. Tampa Bay is stacked with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, and many think that it is the better team in this game in spite of the records of each. The Storm have already won five ArenaBowl championships and will be playing in their eighth ArenaBowl in franchise history on Friday. The slogan "1=6" has been adapted from the Tampa Bay Rays' "9=8" season in which they went to the World Series. One more good game equals the sixth championship for the franchise. Quarterback Brett Dietz has thrown for 14 TDs during this postseason, though his two picks have to be cause for concern. He played some shaky ball down the stretch against the Orlando Predators in the American Conference Championship Game, as the Storm blew a three score lead and gave Orlando a chance to kick what would've been the game winning field goal had it been good. Keep a close eye on the defensive front for the Storm. They are a talented unit that is overlooked due to their lack of accumulated stats. Still, no one gets off the ball and into the face of opposing quarterbacks faster than DT Tim McGill. On offense, WR Tyrone Timmons leads the way, as he leads the squad with six TD grabs in the playoffs. However, both DeAndrew Rubin and Hank Edwards have had 200+ yard receiving games on the season, and all three can go off for huge games if need be.

Spokane Notes: The Shock might not have ArenaBowl experience, but they certainly do have ArenaCup experience! The rookies of the AFL were powerhouses in the af2 over the last four years, playing in three of the four championship games for the league. They won two of the three that they played in, including last season when they posted a tremendous 74-27 victory on the neutral field of Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The only ArenaCup that the city of Spokane has hosted was in 2008, when the Shock were beaten by a single point by the Tennessee Valley Vipers for the af2 title. Spokane is favored to become the first team to ever win both the ArenaCup and the ArenaBowl thanks to its potent offense. The unit, which came up just 12 points short of 1,000 for the season, is led by QB Kyle Rowley and WR Huey Whittaker. Whittaker had 144 catches, 1,653 yards, and 37 TDs in the regular season and has added six more scores in the playoffs. Rowley had historically struggled in postseasons of past in his af2 days with the Arkansas Twisters, but he has proven himself to be incredibly efficient in the playoffs, throwing 14 TD passes without throwing a pick in Spokane's run to the ArenaBowl.

The Final Word: We'd love to back the hosts in this game, but there is something about history that is just ringing in our ears in this one. Tampa Bay HC Tim Marcum doesn't like losing, and he absolutely despises it in the playoffs and in the ArenaBowl. QB Brett Dietz has the ability to be an absolute superstar in this league for a number of years to come, and we think that he is going to claim his first title on Friday. Expect the Tampa Bay defense to do just enough in what should be a shootout to bring the Storm their AFL best sixth championship.

Prediction: Tampa Bay 69 – Spokane 63

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August 15th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Monday Night Football betting action is back, and Cappers Info has all of the analysis for the pro football betting lines for the duel between the New York Jets and New York Giants in the grand opening of New Meadowlands Stadium.

New York Giants @ New York Jets (-2.5)
Monday, August 16th
8:00 ET, New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Giants Notes: The real focal point for the Giants in the preseason should be on the defense. That was the unit that really cost this team last season, and there were a number of pieces to the puzzle that were brought in to make the unit better. The most important might be DE Jason Pierre-Paul, the team's first round draft choice in this year's NFL Draft out of South Florida. Pierre-Paul has a high motor and will challenge veterans Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Osi Umenyiora for top billing on what should be a great defensive line. The play of the defensive tackles lacked last year as well, and as a result, DT Lindval Joseph was picked in the second round. The linebacking corps has gotten a bit of a facelift as well by adding Keith Bulluck, who might be limited in this game. On offense, QB Eli Manning will get the starting nod for the G-Men. Manning proved once again in 2009 that he is really rounding into an elite quarterback at this level, turning brand new wide receivers Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks into superstars. His rushing attack will probably be used extensively, particularly against the Jets' tough blitz packages to make sure that everyone enters the regular season as healthy as possible. Young RBs Danny Ware and Gartrell Johnson are both vying for roster spots this year, though both could make the team. Expect to see HC Tom Coughlin get a good look at both in this one.

Jets Notes: The New Yorkers clad in green are going to be relying on the play of QB Mark Sanchez during the regular season once again. However, in the preseason, HC Rex Ryan is going to be far more interested in picking his backup quarterback and his third stringer. He has four options to choose from to fill those two holes. Veteran Mark Brunell appears to have a leg up just because of his stature and maturity level having been a starter in this league for quite a number of years. Kevin O'Connell, Erik Ainge, and Kellen Clemens will all get chances to impress as well, particularly in this, the first game of the preseason. Look for the Jets to get a nice, long look at RB Joe McKnight as well. The former USC Trojan will probably be used quite a bit as both Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson rest in preparation for the regular season. Watch for the play of G Vladimir Ducasse as well. He is stepping into the shoes of future Hall of Famer Alan Faneca. Many think that the second round draft pick out of UMass is a raw talent, but that he can evolve into a fantastic run blocker. He fits Ryan's offensive scheme perfectly, but will be under a lot of stress from the front four of the Giants. On defense, look for DB Kyle Wilson and DB Antonio Cromartie to start in preparation for the potentially lengthy holdout of DB Darrelle Revis.

The Final Word: The Jets are a very, very talented group this year, and they are probably going to be a lot more interested in their jobs and playing well than the Giants are. Things are pretty well set for the G-Men, which is something that the four-pack of QBs for the Jets can't say. Just that alone parlayed with a deep defense which just doesn't give up should be enough to give the green and white the first ever victory in this stadium. If the Jets pull it off, it will be their fourth straight win in this annual preseason rivalry.

Prediction: Jets 23 – Giants 14

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August 13th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Cappers Info continues working towards the 2010 NFL betting season, and to prepare you for the action, we take a look at the five teams that you should be avoiding this year. Placing your season win total bets on the 'under' on these five squads!

Buffalo Bills under 5.5 (-135 @ Brobury Sports):  For our money, the Bills are the worst team in football. The quarterbacking trio of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards, and Brian Brohm will inevitably all get plenty of time under center this year, but none of the three are really capable of being starting quarterbacks. The AFC East is a horror this year, and getting even one win in division would be a triumph. Yes, we love the addition of RB CJ Spiller as a playmaker, but there were several other positions of need for Buffalo, while Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch were both capable of running for 1,000+ yards. Missing WR Terrell Owens is going to hurt, especially considering the fact that there were really no great replacements. The pass rush on this team is going to lack as well without DE Aaron Schobel in the mix. The secondary was fantastic last year, and though it is still a strong unit, you can only guard wide receivers for so long. Head Coach Chan Gailey has never really succeeded at any level, and it is puzzling how he got this job. There's no way Buffalo is winning six games this season.

Denver Broncos under 7 (-130 @ Brobury Sports):  We can see the Broncos finishing at 7-9 this season to push us, but to win eight games and finish .500 is going to be a tall task. The Broncos really don't have any marked improvements from last year's team, especially after picking up QB Tim Tebow in the first round of the NFL Draft. Demaryius Thomas is a good replacement for WR Brandon Marshall in the long run, but replacing that type of productivity is going to be nearly impossible for just one man. The Broncos do have four games combined against the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, but that doesn't mean that those are four given wins. Aside from that, this is a second place schedule. With HC Josh McDaniels on the hot seat already in his second year, he is going to feel a lot of pressure if things start to go downhill. Winning in Jacksonville in Week 1 will be paramount, because a four game stretch shortly thereafter of games against the Colts, Titans, Ravens, and Jets probably won't yield a single win. Going .500 just isn't going to happen with this schedule, especially considering we haven't discussed two games with the San Diego Chargers yet.

Jacksonville Jaguars under 7 (-140 @ Brobury Sports):  The Jaguars have a number of problems this year. The first is that HC Jack Del Rio is probably on the hottest seat in the sport. The second is that the city is on the hot seat as well. Trying to get sellouts together for a team that isn't winning in a lousy market is nearly impossible, and with the bright lights of Los Angeles potentially calling, the Jags are going to have a lot of distractions. The first home game of the year will be anything but, as there will be more No. 15 Tim Tebow jerseys floating around than Jacksonville jerseys at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Without WR Torry Holt, QB David Garrard really doesn't have many options to throw the pigskin to. For a man that has never thrown more than 18 TD passes, this doesn't look like the year that Garrard emerges as a truly elite quarterback in the NFL. The defense is undergoing a transformation as well, particularly in the front seven. Adding Kirk Morrison seems like a good idea after he led the Raiders in tackles last year, but when you get kicked out of Oakland and replaced by a rookie, how good could you possibly be? Picking up DL Tyson Alualu so early in the NFL Draft was questionable at best, and poor drafts of late are probably going to cost this team. Now look at the NFC South schedule! A 2-4 record might be the best case scenario for the Jags. They aren't winning six games out of division play this year.

New York Jets under 9.5 (+110 @ Brobury Sports):  There is no doubt that the Jets have a better team this year than they did last year when they went to the AFC Championship Game. However, let's remember that this team only went 9-7 last season. Now remember that this isn't a third place schedule any longer. The Miami Dolphins won't have the same type of problems they did last year in all likelihood. If QB Mark Sanchez can't get it together this year, there are going to be a lot of problems in the Big Apple. The defense isn't going to be sneaking up on anyone this year, as the game plan for HC Rex Ryan is fairly clear. There is also a big question about whether or not RB Shonn Greene and RB LaDainian Tomlinson can really put up the same type of numbers that RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have in recent seasons. The only games this year that aren't going to be a huge challenge are @ Buffalo on October 3rd, @ Detroit on November 7th, @ Cleveland on November 14th, and home against Buffalo on January 2nd. Notice that three of those four games are on the road… The Jets are improved, but the schedule is brutal. Getting to ten wins is going to be a difficult task and won't happen half the time for this team.

Philadelphia Eagles under 8.5 (-120 @ Brobury Sports):  By the end of the season, the Eagles will get a swift kick in the butt from the ghost of Donovan McNabb. Getting rid of No. 5 was a huge mistake, and it will show immediately. We aren't doubting that Kevin Kolb has the ability to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but we aren't so sure that that transformation can really take place this year. The Eagles could have problems in the rushing game without RB Brian Westbrook, as LeSean McCoy probably isn't in the same sort of class as the rest of the backs in the NFC East. Defensively, the squad took a huge blow with the loss of SS Marlin Jackson in the preseason to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Just like the Jets, the Eagles might have a different perception if the schedule was a bit easier. Six games against the NFC East and four against the AFC South are going to be a terror, while the NFC North isn't a walk in the park either. Could Philly finish .500? Sure. Is it likely that it will get above that crucial point and finish in the playoff picture? Probably not.

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August 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The NFL preseason odds are ready and raring to go, and on Thursday night, ESPN will have a duel for NFL betting fans to dig into when the Baltimore Ravens play host to the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina Panthers @ Baltimore Ravens (-3.5)
Thursday, August 12th
8:00 ET, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

Carolina Notes: The Panthers are going to have a heated battle for the starting quarterback position to sort out over the next month before the regular season gets underway. It seems as though Matt Moore is going to have the inside edge, as he finished the regular season last year as the signal caller for the team. Expect both Hunter Cantwell and Tony Pike to get reps late in the game, but the other serious contender for the starting job is Jimmy Clausen, a rookie out of Notre Dame. Regardless of who the man is taking snaps, working out with the wide receivers could be a tough task. Names like Dwayne Jarrett, Armanti Edwards, and Brandon LaFell are going to get plenty of work, but without Steve Smith in the lineup, there are going to be some inevitable miscommunications. With both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart already knowing their roles as split running backs, there will probably be plenty of carries for reserves Mike Goodson and Tyrell Sutton. The Panthers also have a major problem to address at defensive end, where DE Julius Peppers has vacated his role through free agency. Needless to say, HC John Fox has plenty to try to work out before this season gets underway, and the end result could be a long preseason of going through growing pains with a newly shaped roster.

Baltimore Notes: The Ravens should be raring and ready to go this week, though. Starting QB Joe Flacco has looked sharper and sharper every time he touches the football, and this preseason should be no exception. The former Delaware Blue Hen will also love the fact that he has a bunch of new targets to throw to, the biggest of which is WR Anquan Boldin. Backup QB Marc Bulger is trying to redefine his career, and he'll be doing so as the man playing behind Flacco. Third string QB Troy Smith has looked fantastic in preseasons of past, and he is going to try his best to prove his value as a potential starter should anything happen to Flacco. An experienced starting offensive line shouldn't see too many reps this week, nor will most of the skill players on offense. Instead, expect to see plenty of guys like WRs Donte' Stallworth and Mark Clayton, as well as rookie TEs Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson. On the other side of the ball, there are plenty of new faces to try to fit into place. This is one of the deepest defensive lines in the game, as Cory Redding, Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata, and Terrence Cody are all massive space eaters. That is going to open up a ton of room for a great linebacking corps which also legitimately goes two deep at each position. The questions are going to come in the secondary. At the safety spot, it seems as though Dawan Landry and Tom Zbikowski are fighting for playing time, while the cornerback spots are going to be wide open after the season ending injury to DB Dominique Foxworth.

The Final Word: Baltimore should have the Panthers outdone in basically every facet of this game on Thursday. The Ravens have the strong starting squad and are much more capable of going two to three deep at a position to still find success. Carolina has plenty of question marks, and we think those question marks are going to be left answerless in the first preseason game. Things will get better for pro football betting fans of the Panthers as the season wears on, but this day will belong to the black and purple. Quoth the Ravens, never allow a score.

Prediction: Baltimore 20 – Carolina 6

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August 10th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The NFL betting campaign is getting ready to get underway, and here at Cappers Info, we have five teams on the slate to watch out for that could be tremendous teams to back the 'over' on the season win totals!

Baltimore Ravens over 10 (-125 @ Brobury Sports):  The Ravens could be the class of, not just the AFC North, but the entire NFL as well. The addition of WR Anquan Boldin gives QB Joe Flacco a second huge weapon at his disposal to go with WR Derrick Mason. Two of the top receiving tight ends in this year's NFL Draft were also acquired in the forms of Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson. With TE Todd Heap reaching the latter stages in his career, these two could both step in and make an impact with a ton of reps. As always, RBs Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are going to make up a feared rushing attack. The idea of this offense racking up 6,500 yards of production on the season is totally believable. On the other side of the pigskin, DT Terrence Cody is going to pair with DT Haloti Ngata to make one of the biggest tackle duos in the game. LB Sergio Kindle should make a nice complement for LB Ray Lewis in the middle of the 3-4 defense. Parlay that with a schedule that features almost certainly given wins against Cleveland (twice), Buffalo, Miami, and Tampa Bay, and the idea of reaching at least 11 wins seems like a given, especially if the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to end up having a down year.

Detroit Lions over 5 (-135 @ Brobury Sports):  Call us crazy, but the Lions are going to have a decent chance to compete in the NFC North this year. The weapons on offense for Detroit are starting to resemble that of the best teams in the league. QB Matthew Stafford took a huge jump last year, and many think he could be amongst the elite signal callers in the NFC and soon. HC Jim Schwartz gave him a new weapon on offense with his second first round draft selection of RB Jahvid Best, who could be good for 70 yards every time he touches the football. Yes, the defense in the Motor City is still a mess, but DT Ndamukong Suh can only help out. The NFC North could get a lot more interesting if QB Brett Favre doesn't return to the Vikings, so there really could be a couple divisional wins this year. There are very winnable games against St. Louis, Washington, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay well. Seeing this squad get to seven wins could be a real possibility with an upset or two. We don't see any way that the Lions are stuck on just four as long as they stay relatively healthy.

New England Patriots over 9.5 (-150 @ Brobury Sports):  The Brady Bunch is back and should be efficient once again this season. We tend to think that New England is getting disrespected as the second choice in the AFC East, and though divisional play will be tough, there are certainly plenty of reasons to think that there will be at least ten wins in the future of the Pats this year. QB Tom Brady is still one of the best in the biz, and until further notice, WR Randy Moss is still one of the best receivers this game has to offer. No, the defense for New England isn't as strong as it once was, but that doesn't mean that this is an incompetent unit. Especially if WR Wes Welker is really healthy going into the regular season, this win total should be a given. There should be a bare minimum of four wins in divisional play, and aside from that, games against teams like Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and potentially Minnesota should be givens as well. We tend to believe that the mastermind known as Bill Belichick is going to find a way to scratch two more wins together somewhere on this schedule.

Oakland Raiders over 6 (-150 @ Brobury Sports):  Raider Nation is about to get a real shot in the arm. Oakland plays in the most atrocious division known to man in the AFC West, making for four very winnable games against Denver and Kansas City. There is a new signal caller in town in the form of QB Jason Campbell, and though he will be playing for his sixth different offensive coordinator in as many years of football, he is a dramatic upgrade on the garbage that the silver and black have had in recent years. Owner Al Davis also finally made a fantastic move on draft day, picking up LB Rolando McClain from Alabama to be the new captain of his defense. McClain is a tackling machine and has a high motor, and those traits will sit well in the Black Hole. A third place schedule sets up a lot of great potential matchups, and four games against the putrid NFC West foes could set up a ton of victories as well. No, playing the AFC South won't be fun, but we tend to believe that even an 0-4 showing can still yield seven wins on the season. The Raiders certainly aren't going backwards from last year's 5-11 record, so the worst case scenario should be a push.

San Diego Chargers over 11 wins (+140 @ Brobury Sports):  We'd feel a bit better about laying some chalk at 10.5 wins, but getting this type of price on 11, knowing that an 11-5 mark is a push is just fine with us. Let's get one thing straight first: The Chargers aren't as good this year as they were last year. You don't lose a future Hall of Famer in RB LaDainian Tomlinson and one of the best corners in the game in Antonio Cromartie without taking a step back in life. However, assuming that RB Ryan Mathews can step in and carry the load as a feature back, the rest of this offense is downright frightening. QB Philip Rivers, TE Antonio Gates, and WR Vincent Jackson make up one of the most lethal passing games in the league. On defense, it was an off year for LB Shawne Merriman in 2009, and he might be back with vengeance this year, especially knowing that many are doubting the abilities of this defense. Finally, just like with Oakland, look at this schedule! Anything less than a 6-0 mark in division is going to be a brutal disappointment, and a 4-1 record in games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the NFC West is probable as well. Truth be told, anything less than a 13-3 record with this schedule should leave HC Norv Turner scratching his head. The Bolts aren't going to win the Super Bowl, but they are going to have one of the best records in the league when the regular season is finished.

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August 1st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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For every team that is expected to have a fantastic season this year, there are several others that are probably going to be squads to stay away from in this 2010 college football betting campaign. Check out our preview of the 2010 college football odds with our five teams that you should be avoiding this year.

North Carolina Tar Heels under 8 wins (-130 @ Brobury Sports): The Tar Heels return plenty of starting talent, but it may not translate into a great year. The biggest problem is at quarterback, where the starter may not be named until late August. Fifth year senior T.J. Yates may be supplanted by freshman Brynn Renner. At wide receiver, the Heels have plenty of weapons in Greg Little, Jheranie Boyd, and Erik Highsmith. Running back Shaun Draughn returns to the team after a season ending shoulder injury last year. The offensive line will be composed mostly of sophomores. The defense, on the other hand, is full of stars. Up front, the Heels feature DE Robert Quinn, who was last season’s sack leader. Other mainstays include all-conference award winner and last year’s interception leading safety Deunta Williams, and all-ACC cornerback Kendric Burney. Schedule wise, there may not be a guaranteed win, short of William & Mary. The Heels open with a neutral site game against LSU and then start ACC play with Georgia Tech before traveling to Rutgers. Miami and Florida State will be huge road tests, as will a home game against Virginia Tech. North Carolina is going to get banged up this year; making any bowl game would be a great success.

Penn State Nittany Lions under 8.5 wins (-125 @ Brobury Sports): The Nittany Lions are coming off an 11-2 season, but now face the task of rebuilding an offense in a tough conference. For starters, the quarterback situation is murky at best. Joe Paterno has sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin, as well as freshman Paul Jones, to choose from. With none looking impressive this spring, Penn State will be forced to become a run-first team. Star RB Evan Royster will be a major factor. At wide receiver, the team returns its top two targets in Derek Moye and Graham Zug. The experienced O-Line has its work cut out. Defensively, Penn State has several holes to fill. Bani Gbadyu will lead three new starting linebackers, replacing three NFL draft picks. DE Jack Crawford will be an impact player on the line, while the secondary will be led by cornerback D’Anton Lynn and safety Nick Sukay. After a first week tune-up game against Youngstown State, the Nittany Lions will go to Alabama. In conference, Penn State avoids Wisconsin, but will have to face Iowa and Ohio State on the road. Seven wins would be a great success this year.

Auburn Tigers under 8.5 wins (-120 @ Brobury Sports): Auburn faces a tough year on offense, putting pressure on a strong defense. The Tigers, for the third straight year, will need a new starting quarterback. Cameron Newton, former backup to Tim Tebow, appears to be the favorite, beating out senior Neil Caudle and sophomore Barrett Trotter. At running back, the Tigers will have Mario Fanin and Onterio McCalebb to replace Ben Tate. Fanin proved to be a talented receiver and rusher last season, averaging 8.4 yards per rush and 9.8 per catch. Fortunately, the unit does retain its top two wide receivers in Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams. The offensive line returns four starters, which will allow Newton time to throw. On defense, the Tigers look very strong. All four starting linemen have experience. Senior linebackers Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes will add talent and experience. In the secondary, there are four capable safeties to choose from. Auburn faces a favorable schedule, but a highly questionable offense will keep them from a nine or ten win year. The Tigers will face LSU and Georgia at home and travel to Alabama. Expect seven or eight victories.

UCLA Bruins under 5.5 wins (-120 @ Brobury Sports): Last year’s six regular season wins were sandwiched around a five game conference losing streak. This year, QB Kevin Prince will again be the starter, but with a new offensive scheme. Prince was not an effective player last year and suffered several injuries. At his disposal will be last year’s top two wide receivers, Taylor Embree and Nelson Rosario. The running game has a few options, starting with last year’s leader Johnathan Franklin. Joining him will be freshman Malcolm Jones. The offensive line returns four starters. On defense, the Bruins lose six starters, including Pac 10 Player of the Year Brian Price. However, the unit can build around a strong secondary, which includes free safety Rahim Moore. Moore led the nation last season with ten interceptions. At linebacker, the Bruins have Akeem Ayers to lead the way, but UCLA will need to find more talent to fill out the front seven. Things have to gel quickly for both units, as the schedule leaves little room for error. The non-conference schedule includes games at Kansas State and Texas, as well as a home game with Houston. In conference, UCLA goes to California and Oregon. The Bruins are going to be hard pressed to dig out five wins.

Stanford Cardinal under 7.5 wins (-135 @ Brobury Sports): The Cardinal has some work to do this season. It starts with replacing, Heisman runner-up RB Toby Gerhart. To keep the running game from sliding too far back, Stanford will use a pair of backs in Stepfan Taylor and Jeremy Stewart. The focus will shift to QB Andrew Luck, who was also last year’s second leading rusher. His passing game wasn’t stellar, but should be improving upon his 2,575 yards of a year ago. His two top targets will return, in Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu. After them, though, there are no proven options. On defense, the Cardinal returns eight starters, but a new scheme will have them in different spots. DEs Thomas Kaiser and Chase Thomas led the team last season in sacks. The secondary is still up in the air, with no solid prospects to play free safety or fill one of the cornerback spots. The schedule offers little rest for the Cardinal, as three of the team’s first four FBS games will be on the road. Stanford travels to Notre Dame and Oregon before returning home to face USC in September. Seven wins would be a great success for an offense that is finding itself and a defense with holes in the backfield.

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