Our 2013 AFC North preview is probably one of the more interesting ones that you’ll have to pay attention to if you want to beat the NFL Futures odds. This is the toughest division in the league, and odds to win the AFC North are as tight as could be, as at least three of the four teams are expected to challenge for the division title.

Normally speaking, the year after winning the Super Bowl, you’re an overwhelming favorite to win your division. In the AFC North though, you’re barely a favorite, and at many online sportsbooks, the Baltimore Ravens (2013 AFC North Odds: 1.80 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook) aren’t even the definitive choice. QB Joe Flacco had one of the best postseasons that any quarterback has ever had, and he was paid in the offseason as a result. However, GM Ozzie Newsome had a lot of tough decisions to make after winning the Super Bowl, and the purge was certainly on right away. WR Anquan Boldin was traded for virtually nothing to the San Francisco 49ers, LB Ray Lewis retired, and S Ed Reed was allowed to walk to the Houston Texans. LB Paul Kruger was a salary cap casualty as well. Now, FB Vonta Leach, who paved the way for RB Ray Rice and RB Bernard Pierce to have great seasons last year, has been cut. Granted, there are some new faces to help fill the gaps, namely LB Elvis Dumervil, who should be a prototypical mean and angry Baltimore defender. This unit should be good once again, but will it be nasty? If so, it needs a bona fide leader that can strike fear into opponents like Reed and Lewis used to. We aren’t optimistic that the Ravens are going to get back to the playoffs to have a chance to defend their Lombardi Trophy.

The team to watch out for is the Cincinnati Bengals (2013 Odds To Win AFC North: 2 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). The Bengals have been growing over the course of these last two seasons, and they should be proud of the fact that they have gotten to the postseason twice in that time in spite of the fact that it was beaten in both games by the Houston Texans. QB Andy Dalton is quietly a very good young quarterback, and the Bengals have a good combination along the front with RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and WR AJ Green. The defense is improving, and bringing in LB James Harrison will only help build the intensity of this very underrated defense. We think that the Bengals could be a team to watch out for this year, and if we had to guess between the three best teams in the North, this is the team.

It’s odd to see the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL Odds to win the AFC North: 2 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook) as the third choice in the division title race in the AFC North. This team though, was all sorts of average last season. Going 8-8 wasn’t going to cut it for a team that was expected to do well, but that might be the end result again this year. The team cut ties with both WR Mike Wallace and LB James Harrison, and though the core is still good, it is younger than you would think and might take some time to gel. The offensive line is going to be the key for this season. QB Ben Roethlisberger can’t be forced into errant throws time and time again, and he is going to need some help from his rushing attack, something that he just didn’t get at all last season. We aren’t worried about filling the voids of the players that are gone, but we are worried about finding a running back that can really carry the load for 1,000 yards. Perhaps RB Le’Veon Bell could be that man if he has himself a good summer.

Rebuilding is still the key for the Cleveland Browns (Current AFC North Odds: 7.50 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). However, we really do like what Cleveland has started to assemble. QB Brandon Weeden probably isn’t the long term answer at the quarterback position, but the team didn’t panic in the NFL Draft and is staying the course. Instead, the club has built a defense that all of a sudden looks pretty darn formidable. The receivers are okay, but they aren’t overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination. We know that there is a lot of work to do for RB Trent Richardson and company to become one of the best teams in this division, but with a new coach, new ownership, and essentially a totally new direction to travel in, the Browns might be ahead of schedule. We don’t think that Cleveland can win this division, but to finish 8-8 isn’t out of the question with a relatively easy schedule to work with.

2013 NFL Odds to Win AFC North Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 6/13/13):
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Baltimore Ravens Win AFC North +180
Field Wins AFC North -200

Cincinnati Bengals Win AFC North +200
Field Wins AFC North -230

Pittsburgh Steelers Win AFC North +200
Field Wins AFC North -230

Cleveland Browns Win AFC North +750
Field Wins AFC North -950

As always, the teams in the NFC East are going to have a lot of pressure on them this year to succeed. The Super Bowl champs are in this division, and there are three other teams that think that they can pull off the same task this year as well. The odds to win the NFC East are always tight, and that should lead to a great year of football once again in what is seemingly always one of the most competitive foursomes in the game.

Of course, it isn’t the defending Super Bowl champs, but the Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East Betting Odds: 1.40 to 1 5Dimes Sportsbook) are the NFC East favorites this year. The so-called “Dream Team” was a bit of a nightmare last year, though hindsight being 20/20.  Losses to teams like the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers weren’t nearly as bad as they seemed to be at the time. The Eagles are still very talented and are extremely fast. The combo of QB Michael Vick, WR Jeremy Maclin, and WR DeSean Jackson is clearly the fastest in the league, and RB LeSean McCoy is most certainly not a slacker either. The defense seems to be more prepared now than it was at the outset of the year to dominate, and that could go a long way in helping out Vick as well. In the end though, it is going to be up to No. 7 to take care of the football. If he does that, the Eagles will win this division. If he doesn’t, it could be another year of missing the playoffs and the last year for Head Coach Andy Reid on the sidelines in the City of Brotherly Love.

Second in line is the team that won the Super Bowl last year, the New York Giants (NFC East Betting Lines: 2.05 to 1 5Dimes Sportsbook). QB Eli Manning has definitely proven that he is an elite quarterback worthy of being called Peyton’s baby brother, though this year, he is going to be given a bit of a tougher task with WR Mario Manningham now in San Francisco. The ground game isn’t the greatest, but it is serviceable with RB Ahmad Bradshaw. It is the pass rush that really makes the team though, and Head Coach Tom Coughlin has been preaching that over the course of his entire tenure in the Big Apple. The question is whether there is a Super Bowl letdown coming for Big Blue, though. It happened a few years ago, and it could happen again in 2012.

As always, there is a heck of a lot of pressure on the Dallas Cowboys (2012 Odds To Win AFC East: 2.65 to 1 @ SportBet Sportsbook). QB Tony Romo is always under a microscope, and that isn’t going to be an exception this year. He puts up great numbers thanks to the fact that he has a remarkable set of receivers, but perhaps he deserves more credit. No one had ever heard of WR Miles Austin before Romo put him on the map, and when both he and WR Dez Bryant were hurt last year, it was WR Laurent Robinson that suddenly became a hero. On the ground, it was supposed to be RB Felix Jones that carried the load, but instead, RB DeMarco Murray came out of nowhere to be one of the most punishing backs in the league. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan was figured to be one of the hot head coaching candidates available in this past offseason, but after an atrocious year on the sidelines managing the Dallas defense, no one bit on Rex’s brother. It could be a make or break season both for Ryan and for Head Coach Jason Garrett, as more seasons of missing the playoffs won’t sit well with owner and GM Jerry Jones.

We give all the credit in the world to the Washington Redskins (NFL Betting Lines in the NFC East: 11.20 to 1 5Dimes Sportsbook). Last year, they weren’t a bad team, though they weren’t exactly a fantastic one either. Young defensive players like LB Ryan Kerrigan and LB Brian Orakpo stepped up in a big time way, and there was enough talent at the skill positions to put some points on the board. Keep a close eye on TE Fred Davis this year as a potential top tight end in the league. What was missing was a quarterback. Washington had a good draft slot at No. 4, and it knew that it had to put together a great package to move up to No. 2 to take QB Robert Griffin III. And that’s exactly what the Redskins did. They got the job done, and now, they have the man that they hope will right the ship. We saw some rookie quarterbacks play well last year and get their teams to show big time improvement like QB Cam Newton with the Carolina Panthers and QB Andy Dalton with the Cincinnati Bengals, and if Griffin can do that with the Redskins, this might suddenly become a fun team to keep track of on a weekly basis.

NFC East Gambling Lines @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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Philadelphia Eagles Win NFC East +140
Field Wins NFC East -170

New York Giants Win NFC East +205
Field Wins NFC East -265

Dallas Cowboys Win NFC East +265
Field Wins NFC East -355

Washington Redskins Win NFC East +1120
Field Wins NFC East -1740

The NFC South division has been an up and down division, and it is one that is full of drama over the course of the last few years, and this year should be no exception on the NFL betting lines. Join our expert NFL handicappers, as we try to beat the odds to win the NFC South in 2012.

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons (Odds To Win NFC South Division: 1.14 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) basically went all-in with the NFL Draft, moving way up to take WR Julio Jones to complement WR Roddy White in a very talented offense. QB Matt Ryan had a great year, and both Jones and White per incredibly productive. That being said, the defense just wasn’t good enough, and the pieces to the puzzle weren’t added to make this team a legit Super Bowl contender in our eyes. This is still quite a good team though, and this is a deserving team to be in the playoffs. We just don’t think that there is a deep run to the Super Bowl coming, and we aren’t so sure that Atlanta should be the favorite on the odds to win the NFC South.

It has understandably been a heck of an offseason New Orleans Saints (2012 NFC South Odds: 1.35 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook), and we can definitely sympathize with NFL betting fans that just don’t want to take their chances on a team that has had so much going on. Missing out on LB Jonathan Vilma for the year will hurt, as will not having DE Will Smith for a month. However, we think that the rest of the punishments for New Orleans, including the year-long suspension for Head Coach Sean Peyton are overblown. We are far more concerned about the fact that QB Drew Brees still doesn’t have that contract that he so badly wants to make him a Saint for the rest of his career, as that could linger. Losing OL Carl Nicks is going to hurt as well. Still, New Orleans’ offense is out of this world, and it isn’t going to take Peyton for that to keep up. TE Jimmy Graham should be in for another record-breaking type of season in 2012, and Brees should once again at least flirt with the idea of getting to 5,000 passing yards.

We think that it is very interesting to see what the Carolina Panthers (2012 NFC South Odds: 6 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) can do this year. The offense clearly came together with QB Cam Newton calling the shots. Newton had the best statistical season that a rookie quarterback has ever assembled. WR Steve Smith once again looks like one of the top speed burning receivers in the league. The pressure came off of both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Neither had a great year, but combined, they had a fantastic campaign. Now, the next task for Head Coach Ron Rivera is to build up a defense that was the Achilles heel of the team. Can Carolina get there? Probably not quite yet, but this is definitely a team that is going to be a pain for the rest of the league when it can get its act together on both sides of the ball.

There aren’t many teams that we think can come from the longest NFL odds on the board to win a division, but we are at least cautioning that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Odds To Win NFC South: 16 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) could be good enough to get the job done. Remember that this was a team that just two years ago finished with 10 wins and just missed the playoffs. Tampa Bay has a new head coach in Greg Schiano, and he is going to bring a level of toughness that just wasn’t there with the youthful and exuberant Raheem Morris. The first thing that the Bucs did in the offseason, was bring in some proven leaders, WR Vincent Jackson and OL Carl Nicks, and then they drafted a true winner in S Mark Barron and a tough, hard-nosed runner in RB Doug Martin. This isn’t a team that is going to lose 10 games in a row like it did to end last season. Tampa Bay can be a legitimate winner this season, and we expect to see good things from the up and coming QB Josh Freeman. If he can limit turnovers and Schiano can get a good, solid rushing attack, whether it be from Martin or RB LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay will have the defensive intensity to be a pain to the rest of the NFC South.

2012 Odds to win the NFC South @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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Atlanta Falcons Win NFC South +114 (1.14 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -144

New Orleans Saints Win NFC South +135 (1.35 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -165

Carolina Panthers Win NFC South +600 (6 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -900

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win NFC South +1600 (16 to 1)
Field Wins NFC South -2500

The NFC West has been considered one of the weakest divisions in the NFL for quite some time, and it has made making NFL picks a disaster for football betting fanatics. This year though, there are arguments that could be made for all four teams as contenders, and this might be the campaign that it becomes a lot more favorable to back teams on the odds to win the NFC West.

We’ll start with the team that came out of nowhere last year, the San Francisco 49ers (NFC West Odds: 1 to 2.50 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). For years and years, we knew that the Niners had some talent, but the Mike Singletary era just didn’t end up going the way that it was supposed to go. Now with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh calling the shots, QB Alex Smith is taking care of the football, and the defense is playing a heck of a lot harder than it did under Singletary. Now, the team went from a perennial 6-8 win average team to one that was a play or two away from going to the Super Bowl. Smith has to continue to take care of the pigskin and not throw picks, though this year. He is probably going to be asked to do a bit more for his team knowing that he has both WR Randy Moss and WR Mario Manningham to work with. RB Frank Gore is becoming known as fragile, but the addition of RB LaMichael James & RB Brandon Jacobs  should help out on the ground. It’s up to this defense once again to keep them in games. With LB Patrick Willis and the leagues best linebacking core leading the way, there’s no reason to believe that the 49ers won’t win this division for a second straight year.

Head Coach Pete Carroll knows that the time is coming and that his Seattle Seahawks (2012 Odds To Win NFC West: 4.80 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook) really have to compete in the NFC West. The team has played a heck of a lot better defense under his direction, but the offense for the most part has been suspect. As a result this year, the team drafted QB Russell Wilson as a project pick and signed QB Matt Flynn via free agency. Though it seems Flynn will be the starter, there could be a three-way fight for the job between the two along with incumbent QB Tarvaris Jackson. Either way, the important function of the offense is to make sure that RB Marshawn Lynch gets the job done. Lynch just earned himself big payday in the offseason, and he is the key to keeping this offense going; especially knowing that there really aren’t any truly explosive receivers that can readily stretch the field.

Meanwhile in the desert, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is on the hottest seat in the league with his Arizona Cardinals (Current Odds to win the NFC West: 7.50 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). Whisenhunt probably didn’t get fired because his team finished out the year winning 7 of their last 9 last year, getting the Cardinals to .500 by beating the Seahawks on the final day of the regular season. That being said, 8-8 isn’t going to cut it this year in all likelihood for Whisenhunt to keep his job. QB Kevin Kolb is also going to be up against it this year.  If Kolb fails, he could easily be replaced and become a career backup. WR Larry Fitzgerald was a bit off of his normal numbers last year, but the addition of WR Michael Floyd could open things up for him (and return this offense to the same level that it was at when Fitz and WR Anquan Boldin were both dominating receivers).

The time is coming for the St. Louis Rams (2012 NFC West Odds: 9.35 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). We like the fact that they signed Head Coach Jeff Fisher in the offseason, and we also like that they traded; and traded quite a bit in the NFL Draft to pick up a ton of potential starters. It showed the league that QB Sam Bradford is still the face of this franchise and the future.  RB Steven Jackson has the potential to continue what might be a Hall of Fame career. Are the Rams there yet? Not quite. Can they find a way to compete in the vastly improved NFC West next season? It is entirely possible. Still, we look to see the framework for a much better and improved campaign set in 2012.  the Rams are going to be an up and coming team to watch in the future as long as they continue to draft well with all of their extra picks and keep building on a solid foundation.

2012 NFL Odds to Win NFC West Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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San Francisco 49ers Win NFC West -250
Field Wins NFC West +190

Seattle Seahawks Win NFC West +480
Field Wins NFC West -750

Arizona Cardinals Win NFC West +750
Field Wins NFC West -1165

St. Louis Rams Win NFC West +935
Field Wins NFC West -1420

The NFC North proved to be a very interesting division last year, knowing that there were some teams that were outstanding that had the ability to make a lot of noise. This year could be no exception as well, and our NFL expert handicappers take aim at the 2012 odds to win the NFC North and make our NFC North picks and predictions.

It’s not all that much of a shock that the team that is the odds on favorite to win the NFC North is the Green Bay Packers (2012 NFC North Odds: 1 to 2.80 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). The Packers were the best team in the league last year in the regular season, going 15-1, but they just couldn’t survive the first round of the playoffs against the scorching New York Giants, who went on to win the whole enchilada. There are some problems for sure in Green Bay, as the defense and the rushing game just weren’t anywhere near up to par with where they should have been. The passing attack with QB Aaron Rodgers though, was out of this world. Rodgers had some of the best numbers in the league last year, and he did so by spreading the ball around a ton. The weapons are numerous and the points should be flying onto the scoreboard once again. That being said, we just don’t see how Green Bay would fail to win the NFC North again this year.

Last year, the Detroit Lions (Odds To Win NFC North: 5.10 to 1 @  5 Dimes Sportsbook) beat the door in just a bit, breaking a hellaciously long stretch without a playoff appearance. They weren’t able to win a game, but they did prove that they can throw the ball with anyone in the league. QB Matt Stafford stayed healthy for the first time in his career for a full season and ended up throwing for over 5,000 yards, and WR Calvin Johnson was the beast of all beasts at wide receiver. The defense is nasty for sure, but this unit was guilty of taking a ton of dumb penalties, and the off the field problems for guys like DT Ndamukong Suh and DT Nick Fairley are starting to become a nuisance. The question? Is this team the neck incarnation of the New Orleans Saints, or will the legal troubles make the Lions look more like the Cincinnati Bengals of yesteryear? If it’s the former, Detroit could challenge in the NFC North. If it’s the latter, the team won’t make the playoffs for a second straight year.

We really like the chances that the Chicago Bears (2012 NFC North Betting Lines: 5.75 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook) have of doing some damage in the NFC North this year. The defense was, and remains good enough to at least find a way to keep down some of the top offenses in this division, and the offense was really only a big time wide receiver away from really being dynamic. RB Matt Forte can catch the ball out of the backfield and provide a spark as a big time back on the ground as well, and assuming that he gets his contract status worked out, he’ll be one of the best offensive players in the league. QB Jay Cutler needs to step it up though, and he is going to have a great shot of doing so now that he has his old buddy back in WR Brandon Marshall. Those two made a great tandem with the Denver Broncos, and now, they hope to bring the same type offensive prowess to the Windy City as well.

We really feel bad for the Minnesota Vikings (NFL Betting Lines in the NFC North: 32.50 to 1 @ 5 Dimes Sportsbook). The Vikes suffered a lot of injuries last year, not the least of which is the one that put RB Adrian Peterson on the sidelines for the end of the season and might threaten the start of this campaign as well. The team’s best receiver, WR Percy Harvin has made it known that he wants a new contract, and with the team unlikely to give that to him, he might underachieve this season. QB Christian Ponder made some strides in the right direction last year when he took over for the booted QB Donovan McNabb, but he isn’t anywhere near being an elite quarterback yet and won’t be this year barring a minor miracle. Until that is the case, Minnesota is probably at absolute best, a third place team in a very tough division.

Latest 2012 NFC North Odds From 5 Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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Green Bay Packers Win NFC North -280
Field Wins NFC North +220

Detroit Lions Win NFC North +510
Field Wins NFC North -720

Chicago Bears Win NFC North +575
Field Wins NFC North -850

Minnesota Vikings Win NFC North +3250
Field Wins NFC North -5500