While most of the world focuses on the new start of the Major League Baseball season and the NBA playoffs, the guys of the grid iron are hard at work during the off-season. Nearly two weeks after teams wrapped up the 2009 NFL Draft, teams are now holding the customary mini-camp and other off-season festivities. Betus.com has officially released the new odds to win the NFC Championship following the draft and we will take a look at some teams to consider in 2010. Take advantage of off-season odds at our sponsored sports books and consider placing a wager for next year’s Super Bowl contender. We break down who to watch out for in the NFC in 2010 and will follow up with a breakdown of the AFC during the middle of the week.

NFC East

Odds to win the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys +300
New York Giants +150
Philadelphia Eagles +160
Washington Redskins +700

The NFC East is possibly the most unpredictable conference of all-time. Last year all four teams had legitimate chances to win the division throughout the season. The Giants were the most consistent team finishing with a record of 12-4. However, New York really faltered down the stretch after Plaxico Burress was apart of the off the field trouble. The Giants either never got back focused mentally or suffered offensively from not having Burress. The Giants lost 4 of their last 5 games of the season due to the flat offense. New York is a team with a lot of question marks heading into 2010. Could Hakeem Nicks be the spark they need back at wide out to get the offense rolling again? One thing is for sure is that the Giants defense did play solid all year and should be a force again in 2010. Philadelphia caught fire during the 2nd half of the season after Donovan McNabb was benched for the first time in his career. The Eagles defense was another strong unit that played very well. The question this year will be again surrounding the offense and quite possibly McNabb. Will the veteran quarterback have his act together early or will he show more signs of inconsistency? The Eagles top pick Jeremy Maclin could make an immediate impact especially if he gets the chance to help out the special teams. Philadelphia has strong possibility to be strong again as they fell one game short of the Super Bowl last season losing to Arizona. The Dallas Cowboys landed a lot of depth through the off-season, but there are still a lot of question marks in the air. How will the defense play and will the offense be better or worse after Terrell Owens? The Cowboys definitely have the ability to be a front runner, but they late season stumbles have become an unwanted tradition. Washington first round pick Brian Orakpo has a bright future in the NFL. The Redskins simply had problems moving the ball last season and will need more explosiveness. The defense like the rest of the division had its bright spots, but the offense still needs some work. Clinton Portis had strong start to the season running the ball, but that dwindled away towards the end of the year. The Redskins were 5-1 when Portis reached the 100 yard mark and 3-9 when he was held to less than 100 yards.

Pick – Philadelphia +160

NFC North

Odds to win the NFC North:
Chicago Bears +200
Detroit Lions +1500
Green Bay Packers +160
Minnesota Vikings +150

The NFC North is another division that could be wide open in 2010. The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers are both moving in the right direction with their franchises, but how long will it take them to truly get there? The Bears landed a big fish during the off-season with Jay Cutler. Cutler should finally end all the question marks behind center and put the focus on another aspect of the field. The offense lacks the playmakers needed for them to be among the best in the NFC, but things could see an upswing with Cutler at quarterback. The Packers made some moves to fill the defensive side of the ball with the 2009 draft. The Packers were on the verge of having a great year last season. In their 10 losses, 7 of those defeats came by less than 4 points. Turn just half of those around and Green Bay would have been in the playoffs easily. With most of the offense returning and some more depth on defense, look for Green Bay to turn some losses into wins this time around. In this division, 10-6 could win the division again. Minnesota won the North last year behind the legs of Adrian Peterson. Peterson posted 1760 yards on the year and Minnesota developed into an offensive threat during the closing weeks. Percy Harvin could add to the explosiveness or could become a let down as well. The Vikings main concern may be behind center. Gus Frerotte threw 15 picks last season and Tarvaris Jackson just has not been what they have hoped. However, the Vikings will still grind out some wins through a talented running game and a defense that matured at the end of the year. As far as Detroit is concerned, do we really have to consider them for winning the division? The question for this team is how many games they will win this year. Better days are ahead for the Lions, but 2010 would be a success with as little as 4 victories.

Pick – Green Bay +160

NFC South

Odds to win the NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons +180
Carolina Panthers +200
New Orleans Saints +180
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +600

The Carolina Panthers closed out the 2009 regular season out very strong led by one of the best running back duos in the league. DeAngelo Williams had 1515 yards for the season while Jonathan Stewart added 836 yards as well and the two combined for 28 touchdowns. Carolina went out on a limb to draft Everette Brown as Julius Peppers made it public that he was exploring options out of Carolina. The offense will be another similar Panthers offense with Steve Smith at wide out and strong rushing attack. However, Jake Delhomme still has not convinced anyone that he is a true winner. Also, the Panthers will have to defend their NFC South crown from some talented up and coming teams. The New Orleans Saints could be one of the surprise stories this season. The Saints offense is a lot like the Cardinals offense that shined in 2009. However, New Orleans had one of the worse defenses in the league last year that allowed 24.6 points per game. The Saints drafted Malcom Jenkins in the first round that could start from day one in the weak secondary. If the Saints defense could just come together and improve, New Orleans offense could have the Saints marching again. Atlanta will be looking for superstar sophomore quarterback Matt Ryan to lead the Falcons back to the playoffs. The Falcons possess a solid balanced passing and rushing attack that keeps defenses on their hills. If Ryan can continue to impress the world, there is not much reason to bet against the Falcons as they are solid in all aspects of the field. Tampa Bay has finished at 9-7 the past two seasons and mediocrity appears to be the future. The Buccaneers drafted Josh Freeman with their first round pick who they hope can be the Matt Ryan type lottery pick. However, Freeman will need time to develop and nothing looks to immediately impact the struggling offense.

Pick – Atlanta +180

NFC West

Odds to win the NFC Wtst:
Arizona Cardinals +140
San Francisco 49ers +260
Seattle Seahawks +180
St Louis Rams +800

The Arizona Cardinals were the biggest surprise story of 2009. Kurt Warner return to the main stage was a great feel good story, but for the possibly Hall of Fame quarterback it will be another work in progress in 2010. The Cardinals had 3 receivers to reach the 1,000 yard plateau in that impressive offense last season. If Kurt Warner could just hook up with Larry Fitzgerald like they did in the playoffs that could be enough to win the division. After all, the Cardinals won the NFC West last season with only a 9-7 record. The St. Louis Rams completely fell apart last year as they lost their last 10 games of the season. The Rams drafted Jason Smith at the number 2 overall pick to try and help Steven Jackson at running back. Unfortunately, the Rams defense gave up 29 points per game last season which was among the leagues 2nd worse defense. The Rams just have not made enough changes to see a big difference this fall. Seattle sported another weak defense in 2009 that gave up 24.5 points per game. However, Aaron Curry was the best defensive pick in the draft and should give some help in the heart of that defense. The offense needs some playmakers as well before they can contend with the rest of the NFC. However, the Seahawks may have what it takes already to contend in this division. San Francisco actually finished the year fairly well despite only having a 7-9 record for the year. The 49ers lost 6 straight games through the middle of the season, but did finish winning 5 of their last 7. Michael Crabtree should add excitement at wide receiver and Glen Coffee is a downhill runner who may be very under rated. The 49ers could just focus on the NFC West wins and make some noise in the division race next season.

Pick – Arizona/San Francisco

The boxing world will take center stage once again this Saturday night with the most anticipated fight of 2009 between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton. The battle will take place at the famous MGM Grand Gardens Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The junior welter-weight bout promises to be a contest that displays fast furious punching between two of the top fighters in the world. These two fighters are among the most aggressive and quickest punchers on the planet which is certain to display some great boxing action.

Pacquiao was involved previously in one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory when he battled with the legend Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao dominated the fight throwing flurries that were simply too quick for De La Hoya to defend. By the time the 9th round had begun, De La Hoya with a nearly swollen shut eye threw in the towel giving the win by way of technical knockout to Pacquiao. Pacquiao is considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world and rightfully so. Pacman will be competing in his 4th different weight class in the last 4 fights as he won all previous battles. Pacquiao sports tons of speed that never goes away even late in fights. Speed so great that once De La Hoya started tiring the fight turned from bad to worse as Pacquiao was relentless with connects. Pacquiao may be among the most popular fighters in the world for his exciting fast paced style of punches. With a career record of 48-3-2, Pacquiao will be heavy favorite at -275 odds to win the fight this Saturday night.

Click Here For A Complete List of Boxing Betting Odds & Lines

Ricky Hatton is another fighter that seems to have it all. The fighter out of Greater Manchester, England is very popular among the British fans. However, Hatton is being overshadowed by the Pacman crazed society. Hatton has lost only once in his 12 year career and that was to the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr who retired last year at the top of his game. In that fight, Hatton actually got off to a great start against the undefeated icon. Hatton landed some early punches that got Mayweather off balance. However, as the fight went on Mayweather was able to adapt and landed some punches that cut the fighter’s eye eventually leading to his defeat the only one of his career. After the fight, Mayweather called the fight “possibly the toughest of his career.” Hatton is very aggressive fighter that comes right at his opponents. On top of his stellar resume which consist of a career record of 45-1 (32 KOs), Hatton has a great asset in his corner in trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr who was also needless to say a great fighter in his day. Hatton will enter the fight as a +190 underdog and will be trying to score the same type upset Pacquiao completed over De La Hoya.

The fight has many interesting tidbits to consider if you plan on putting down a wager. Hatton is turning out to be a sizeable underdog; however he is fighting at a weight class which he has never been defeated. Pacquiao will be fighting at the 5th different weight class of his career which has not seemed to matter considering he has dominated at every division. Pacquiao is generally the smaller and quicker puncher. However, the “Hitman” is known for landing some vicious punches that can change the fight with one blow. Pacquiao should have the advantage out of the gates, but it will be interesting to see how the fight turns out if it makes it to the later rounds. Hatton could really give Pacquiao problems with his relentless in your face style of boxing while Pacman is sure to give the Hitman some issues with his speed. The over/under for the contest has been set at 9.5 rounds which is slightly later than most junior welterweight bouts last. However, this fight could be one for the ages. Major sports books are offering all types of different betting options for the fight including the fight outcome, round betting, round group betting, and if the fight will go the distance. We would definitely like to jump on the -180 side to place a bet the fight will not go the scheduled 12 rounds. With these two quick hard hitting fighters in the ring, 12 rounds seems a bit of a stretch.

Yesterday we released how the NFC teams faired in the NFL Draft and today we take a look at how the AFC teams came away from the most important week of the off-season. Interestingly the AFC did a better job as a Conference with their draft selections as they have been known to do over the last few years. Also the AFC has won 7 of the last 9 Super Bowl Championships and it may be safe to say that performing well every year on Draft weekend could have some benefiting effects for the Conference.

Baltimore Ravens

Michael Oher was the last of the big 4 offensive linemen that received so much praise through the off-season. Oher has as much natural talent as any of them, but people question his work ethic. Paul Kruger will likely be a linebacker at the next level and he is an exciting player to watch who really gets after it. Ladarius Webb at the cornerback position will be a gamble with his size, but the class still comes out to be very solid. Overall Draft Grade: B+

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is one of those teams that could have taken a better advantage of their drafting selections, but ended up having an average group of athletes. Aaron Maybin is a strong and quick linebacker that could even move up to the defensive end position in certain scenarios. However, Maybin maybe the type player that needs some time to develop. Outside of Maybin, only 3rd round pick Jairus Byrd has the potential to really make an impact which is rather disappointing considering the Bills had two first and second round selections. Overall Draft Grade: C-

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals may not have had the success on the field over the last few seasons, but they have been rather strong on drafting day the past few years. The Bengals picked up Andre Smith at number 6 who would likely been top two pick if he would not have had an awful off the field type issues during the off season. Rey Maualuga should be a solid player at linebacker and 3rd round selection Michael Johnson has tons of potential. Johnson has a lot of upside with a combination of speed and power that could mold him into one of the biggest success stories to come out of the 2009 rookie class. Overall Draft Grade: A

Cleveland Browns
The Browns put together a fairly good looking class. However, the only problem is that there are not any potential playmakers that jump out. Alex Mack was solid choice at center with a lot of strength and power. Brian Robiskie has a lot of question marks after lacking the speed many hoped he would have at the NFL combines. Mohamed Massaquoi has good hands and size that could earn some playing time in a few years time as well. Cleveland landed a lot of guys who will need a lot of work. Overall Draft Grade: C

Denver Broncos

The Broncos made many moves over the off-season to fill their need at running back which made their first round selection for RB Knowshon Moreno rather surprising. However, Moreno has the ability to turn any play into a highlight show with gifted quickness and surprising toughness for his size. The rest of the group has question marks which just add to the biggest question which is did Denver really benefit at all this off-season? Overall Draft Grade: D

Houston Texans

The Texans could have went after a defensive end with the first pick, but they got a solid linebacker in Brian Cushing. Cushing has good awareness and is can adapt to different schemes well. Houston backed up the defensive end need in the 2nd round selecting Connor Barwin. Barwin is one defensive end who has not gotten a lot of attention, but he is extremely athletic and possesses quality speed. Houston did a good job of filling needs on the defensive side of the ball, but some concerns for offensive depth may loom on the horizon. Overall Draft Grade: B

Indianapolis Colts

Donald Brown is just the type of running back that could be effective for the Colts. Brown is a hard runner that could be effective in the Colts offense. Any running back that can be effective for the Colts will be a plus and Brown could be a fitting match. Fili Moala has quick footwork for a defensive tackle, but may need more strength. CB Jerraud Powers is another defensive player that will need time to develop. Also, many experts believe the Colts could have gotten better results from taking a strong defensive lineman with their first selection rather than running back. However, still the Colts put together a good group of guys. Overall draft grade: B

Jacksonville Jaguars

Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton are huge additions along the offensive front. Considering the Jaguars gave up over 42 sacks last year, it is safe to say they addressed a big need. However, selecting WR Mike Thomas most likely will not fill the wide receiver need. Thomas is undersized only standing at 5-8. Jacksonville could be a very solid rushing team in the upcoming years and if they could somehow find a way to land a big time receiver then Jacksonville could be very dangerous offensively. Overall Draft Grade: A-

Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City was the 2nd worse overall defense last year and the Chiefs wasted no time to target the defensive side of the ball with their first 3 picks. Tyson Jackson was a great choice, but not with Aaron Curry still on the board. When two of your top 3 tacklers from last year are secondary players it is safe to say you need some help up front and in the middle. Tyson Jackson and Alex Magee should be able to anchor down the defensive front after some time to develop into quality players. The acquisition of Matt Cassel over the off-season should get the offense in the right direction, but they still need help on that side of the ball. Overall Draft Grade: B

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins got what should be a strong starter in their first selection with cornerback Vontae Davis. Most would agree to expect Davis to be one of the better cornerbacks in the league in a few years. However, the 2nd pick was a big gamble in QB Pat White. White led the West Virginia spread offense mostly by his legs. White will likely turn into a wide receiver that has a lot of speed, but how strong of a wide out he will turn out to be is the big question. Miami did better than most will give them credit for by adding some depth to the secondary and wide receiving groups. Overall Draft Grade: C-

New England Patriots

The Patriots did quite a good job with trading down to obtain two second round picks in 2010. Safety Patrick Chung selected in the first round should develop into a starter, but may take more time that most expect. CB Darius Butler is in similar situation, but expected to find the field. WR Brandon Tate is a big question mark. Tate could very well become a solid target at wide receiver or very well never be heard of again. The Patriots may not have gotten any immediate help, but they did get some talented youth. Overall Draft Grade B+

New York Jets

The Jets gave up their first and 2nd round picks along with other moves to get the number 5 overall selection to draft QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez will become a starter and hopefully will fair better than the other Trojans quarterbacks over the last few years. Shonn Greene out of Iowa is a running back with a lot of upside and it would not be surprising to see him come on strong in a few years time. The move to get Sanchez was impressive and risky as they gave up some depth. However, the move very well could be worth the risk. Overall Draft Grade B+

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have been heavily criticized for taking Maryland’s Darius Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. However, Heyward-Bey has excellent speed and could be a down field threat very early in his career. Choosing Heyward-Bey over Crabtree is not nearly the mind boggling choice everyone has made it out to be, but rather a need for explosiveness. Drafting Michael Mitchell was rather shocking at the 2nd round as he probably would have been around for them to pick up later. The other WR drafted by the Raiders was Louis Murphy who could develop into an eventual starter despite being picked up late in the 4th round. Overall Draft Grade: D+

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers selected Evander Hood at DT in the first round. Hood like most of the selections has a considerable amount of concerns. The best selection out of the Steelers’ class could likely end up lying in 3rd round selection Mike Wallace. Wallace had a strong year in helping turnaround The Rebels under Houston Nutt. Wallace averaged 20.1 yards per reception and has lightning quick speed that will make him difficult to defend even against the speedy NFL defensive backs. In an overview, Pittsburgh could have very well sought after some more offensive players especially on the line. After all they already have the best defense in the NFL. Overall Draft Grade: C

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers drafted Larry English with their first round selection. While English is a solid player, San Diego could have done better with their 16th overall pick. The Chargers did go after some depth on the offensive line. Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Green were two offensive tackles who most people have not heard about, but they have some similar characteristics to be hard workers. One of these guys should develop into a starter while both should get playing time in the future. Overall Draft Grade: B-

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee did a great job of filling their needs in search of some talent at the receiver position. Kenny Britt continuously climbed up the draft boards and for good reason. He has solid combination of size and speed that could develop into a quality receiver. 3rd round selection Jared Cook could be another big time player. It is not very often you get a tight end that can touch a 4.4 in the 40 yard dash. Cook is a tall strong guy that presents a lot of mismatches for linebackers to try and pick up. Expect both of these receivers to make quick impacts. Overall Draft Grade: A-

The 2009 NFL Draft turned out to be an exciting and unpredictable event as usual. The staff here at bankrollsports.com did a pretty good job with our prop bet picks so hopefully that added some extra money to your wallet. If you are wondering how your favorite team did in the draft, don’t worry we have a full review and grade for every team. For many teams, their selections could make immediate impacts on the field next season while other teams selections may need some time before they make a difference on Sunday. Check out the teams that did well and the teams that could have managed their selections better in our NFC Draft Grades. Also, be sure to check back to see how the AFC faired in tomorrow’s report.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals got a big boost when they were able to snatch Chris “Beanie” Wells at the end of the first round. Wells give speed and explosive to the back field was has been missing in action. Imagine Arizona having a running game to go with their air attack. Wells ability for an immediate impact will be sought after, but that could be asking a bit much. LB Cody Johnson and safety Rashad Johnson should fill some needs on defense, but both players will need time to develop. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B

Atlanta Falcons

I believe it is safe to say that Atlanta was focused on filling the need on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons drafted 6 out of 7 defensive players over the weekend. Peria Jerry was selected 24^th at the defensive tackle position. While we do not see most of these guys coming in to make immediate impacts, the defense could become a force in a few years. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B-

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers went well out of their way to secure selecting defensive end Everette Brown. Brown was listed as high as a top 5 pick on a few draft boards before fading in the final weeks. With questions looming around Julius Pepper’s future at Carolina, the Brown move makes a lot of sense to keep the defensive effective as they need to be. Sherrod Martin and Captain Munnerlyn both were chosen at the safety positions. Munnerlyn was a last round sleeper and Martin could get playing time early.  Overall NFL Draft Grade: B-

Chicago Bears

Well the Bears biggest move over the off-season was their trade to get Jay Cutler, but they still have a lot of concerns. The Bears got Juaquin Iglesias with the 2nd pick in the draft. The former Oklahoma wide out was a step slower than most in the combines and I believe he could be a bust. The bottom line is we do not see things taking any dramatic turns here. Overall NFL Draft Grade: C

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys gave up some early round picks in other transactions, but picked up a lot of late round picks that should add depth to the lineup. Some experts say they did not feel their need in the secondary, but I believe Michael Hamlin out of Clemson is a considerable sleeper. LB Jason Williams could see some playing time considering how inconsistent the Cowboys have been in the middle of the field. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B-

Detroit Lions

It definitely helps when you have the overall number 1 pick in the draft and then you also have another late first pick to back that up. Matthew Stafford has all the ingredients to be a long term quarterback and late first round selection Brandon Pettigrew is an excellent addition. Pettigrew does everything well from blocking to catching passes. Detroit definitely had needs all over the field, but these two picks could really blossom into something nice. Overall NFL Draft Grade: A-

Green Bay Packers

The Packers possibly the best job of any team over the weekend. Grabbing DT B.J Raji was a perfect solution to the new defense. Clay Matthews will add more support in the 4 linebacker figuration. Offensive tackles T.J Lang and Jamon Meredith should come in and give Green Bay some much needed depth along the front line. Looking back no other team fit their specific needs as well as the Packers. Overall NFL Draft Grade: A

Minnesota Vikings

This could be one of the disappointment classes for the Vikings. Actually it could go either way as they have some talented players, but a lot of question marks surrounding them. Percy Harvin was tremendous at the college level, but size could play a factor. However, Harvin could make it the size factor with blazing speed all depending on how he fits into Minnesota’s offense. Jasper Brinkley had big junior season at South Carolina, but suffered a knee injury and red shirted his true senior year. Brinkley looked a step slower in all directions after the injury and that could throw up some red flags for the long haul. Overall Draft Grade: C plus

New Orleans Saints

The Saints did a fairly solid job over the off-season. Selecting Malcom Jenkins at the number 14 overall selection was a strong pick considering Jenkins could become a legitimate defensive force and quickly. Jenkins was the only pick in the first 3 rounds considering other transactions that acquired Jonathon Vilma and Jeremy Shockey. Chip Vaughn should also give defensive support in the distant future as well which was a big need for New Orleans after a dreadful secondary last season. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B-

New York Giants

Hakeem Nicks was a gamble selection in the first round, but could be a big time player. William Beatty should have been taken earlier and New York benefited from the offensive tackle being overlooked. WR Rhamses Bardin at one time or another was a sleeper pick on nearly every board and is another big target for Eli Manning. While it’s unfair sometimes to lay an entire class in the hands of one player, this one definitely falls on Nick’s ability to progress into an every down receiver. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B-

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles got a few selections that could make immediate impacts while a few others may never see the field. Jeremy Maclin could be a special team’s explosive threat and eventually develop into a big time receiver that possesses a lot of speed. After RB LeSean McCoy and Cornelius Ingram selections, it was a big fall off. However, those 3 guys should make some type of difference. The question is how long will that take? Overall NFL Draft Grade: C+

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco did not necessarily have a bad class of players, but just wondering if they really addressed the needs. However, Michael Crabtree has the size and hands to make him an exciting offensive threat. Expect to see Crabtree on the field this year and by the 2^nd half of the season to become a threat. Many have doubts on Alabama’s Glen Coffee, but he is a solid hard nose runner that should be able to find away to get playing time in the future. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks

Aaron Curry was listed as high as a possible number one selection and to be honest he may very well be the best all-around player in this year’s class. Curry will be a threat up the middle for some time to come. 2^nd round selection Max Unger has a lot of upside. He has great quickness for a center and could be used in a lot of pull down running situations. Expect WR Deon Butler to also find the field before too long as well. The entire group may not be a solid as hoped, but some solid talent nonetheless. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B+

St. Louis Rams

The Rams chose Jason Smith as the top offensive linemen in possibly the most talented class in the history of offensive big men. Smith could be ready to play on Sunday today and do not expect it to take him long to be extremely effective. James Laurinatis is another solid grab in the second round. St. Louis has had some problems with keeping guys on the field for long periods of time. These two selections should put those worries to rest. Overall NFL Draft Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers may get some eventual help from QB Josh Freeman who they selected in the first round. Freeman appears to have what it takes to make the field and be an effective quarterback, but still will need time to learn. DT Roy Miller and DE Kyle Moore should add some depth to the defensive side of the ball. However, the big problem with this class is that there is not one person that is going to come in and make an impact. At best they may have two or 3 guys in a few years to develop into solid players, but again that is only at best. Overall NFL Draft Grade: D

Washington Redskins

Brian Orakpo has the speed and explosiveness that NFL experts were drooling over after the NFL combines. Orakpo definitely has the ability to have a long tenure in the league. Kevin Barnes is a solid cover guy who could also make his way onto the field next season. After these two guys, the Redskins are another team that had a big drop off towards the bottom of the class. Robert Henson was a late selection that could blossom, but there will need to be a lot of work done to change some bad habits. Overall NFL Draft Grade: C+

The stage for the Final Four is set and we anxiously await one of the most famous spectacles in sports that will take place in Detroit, Michigan this Saturday. The road was definitely long and tough for the remaining teams left competing for a National Championship. Here at Bankrollsports, we nearly predicted all four teams in this year’s Final Four. The Louisville Cardinals were our pick out of the Midwest, but they fell one game short against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. However Connecticut, North Carolina, and our surprise team Villanova pulled through giving us a pretty impressive run. We will now turn the attention to the Final Four outlook and all the betting odds to take advantage of from the major sportsbooks like BetUS, Bodog, Justbet, and more. Take advantage of the final games of the season and close out the college basketball season by adding a few dollars to your wallet with considering some of these exciting prop bets.

Prop Bet #1 – Player to score most points

This prop bet is one that could be taken advantage of from many angles. Breaking down the way the Final Four is expected to unfold is that Michigan State and Connecticut could be in for a low scoring type game. While just on the other side, Villanova and North Carolina are extremely fast pace high scoring offenses that will likely rack up a lot of points. The game between North Carolina and Villanova is definitely best suited for a player to have a big night in scoring. While both teams have many weapons on offense, their guard play on both teams is extremely strong. We will take Tyler Hansbrough to be a big difference on the inside for the Tarheels. After all Hansbrough was the Player of the Year in 2008 and returned for his senior season to win a National Championship meaning now would be the perfect time for a veteran player to have a breakout performance.

Pick – Tyler Hansbrough (+200)
(Line @ BetUS Sportsbook – 100% Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #2 – Team to score first 10 points first? (North Carolina or Villanova)

Here is a simple analysis of how both teams’ get started in basketball games. North Carolina tends to get off to slow starts despite their explosive potential. Villanova has really gotten off to strong starts the entire tournament outside of their very first game in round 1 against American. The Wildcats really play tenacious defense and fly around the ball. Villanova speed will be difficult for North Carolina to anticipate especially coming out of the gates. Take consideration that everyone is expecting the Tarheels to win the game and they are receiving heavy favoring odds in this prop bet. However, Villanova likely comes out surprising North Carolina with their quickness and gets to the 10 point mark first. North Carolina just may need some time to adjust and we believe they will lose the battle to 10, but may win the war.

Pick – Villanova (+120)
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% “No-Commitment” Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #3 – 10 three pointers Over/Under? (Connecticut vs. Michigan State)

Looking at the numbers on paper the under bet perhaps may look the most intriguing. Connecticut attempts less 3 point shots than any team left in the tournament while Michigan State is known to drain a few every outing. However, this match-up is expected to be a grudge match especially on the inside. Think about what usually happens in these types of game and that is the 3 point shot becomes the difference maker in the contest. Expect Michigan State to make their share of shots behind the arc, but also expect Connecticut to drain a lot more than normal as well.

Pick – Over 10 (-120)
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% No-Commitment Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #4 – Total Points for Kalin Lucas 13.5 O/U?

Goran Suton has been the most consistent performer for Michigan State throughout the tournament. Suton has posted right at 20 points against Louisville and Kansas in march to the Final Four. However, Suton will be meeting the 7’3 Hasheem Thabeet inside the paint in this particular match-up. While both players are extremely talented and can have big nights, expect them to make it difficult for the other. Without Suton posting big numbers, Michigan State will desperately need someone to step up. Kalin Lucas has led the team all year in scoring and this will be a perfect scenario for him to score some points. The question here is not if he will score over 13.5 points, but will he be able to score enough to get the Spartans the victory.

Pick – Over 13.5 -120
(Line @ Bodog Sportsbook – 10% No-Commitment Bonus Using This Link)

Prop Bet #5 – Odds to win the 2009 NCAA Tournament MVP

The final prop bet left on the board is likely the most exciting as well although difficult to predict. The Tournament MVP usually comes from a member from a team competing in the Championship game if not the National Championship team. Then you have to look at who is best suitable to be in the National Championship, who has played really well so far, and who is likely to play well in the Final Four. One name comes to mind that gives a check mark for all scenarios and this is Ty Lawson. Remember Lawson came into the Tournament hampered with an ankle injury. However, Lawson has really been the X factor for North Carolina in March and nobody has been able to defend the talented junior guard. Lawson is averaging 20 points per game in his 3 outings in the Tournament despite missing the first round. This pick revolves around a few expectations. First we are banking that the Tarheels overcome Villanova and make it to the Championship game. Second up to this point their has not been anyone more impressive than Lawson and who is playing better basketball at this point in the season. With that combination, Lawson should be fit for the MVP.

Pick – Ty Lawson 7/2
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Current Odds To Win The World Series From Sportsbook.com (as of 10/27/09):
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• Philadelphia Phillies: (+165)
• New York Yankees:   (-195)

The Major League Baseball season is vastly approaching and some of the major sports books have already released betting odds for winning the 2009 World Series. Bodog Sportsbook (10% Signup Bonus) released all of the odds that you will see throughout this article as we break down some of the team’s chances to win the 2009 World Series and who is worth the chance to take a gamble on. Do not wait until the end of the year when the odds are much lower to bet, if you got some extra cash lying around place a wager on a team that you believe has the best shot because you will get the best odds before the season starts. If you are having trouble narrowing your choices down, hopefully we will give you some useful advice.

Predictions and World Series Futures (as of 2/24/09):

Leading the odds to win the 2009 World Series is no surprise to be the New York Yankees. The Yankees made some big moves in the off season to add to their all-star lineup. The biggest deal was signing superstar C.C Sabathia to a 7 year 160 plus million dollar contract. The wealthiest team in baseball also went out acquired A.J Burnett and Mark Teixeira. Teixeira has the ability to be an even better addition than Sabathia in the long run as the 29 year old is reaching his prime with the bat in hand fresh off 33 HR, 121 RBI, and .308avg in the 2008 season. However, Sabathia will likely make an immediate impact and could be seen on the mound as early as opening day against Baltimore. The Yankees will be a tough team to defeat in 2009 as they have filled some of their only weaknesses and should be primed for a big year if they can get past all the off the field issues mainly concerning Alex Rodriguez.

The Boston Red Sox were a mere game away from the World Series last season losing to the Devil Rays in Game 7 of the ALCS. The Red Sox made a lot of moves in the off-season with their biggest acquire coming by the name of Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox also signed Brad Wilkerson who I believe has more potential than many believe. Other names that were also added to the Red Sox dynamic roster include veteran John Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Takashi Saito. The Red Sox will be a great team to place a bet with for an AL Championship and World Series title with their biggest competition coming by the way of arch-rival the New York Yankees.

The Philadelphia Phillies will try to defend their 2008 World Series Championship by repeating. The Phillies are 10/1 favorites to make the accomplishment and will by led by a solid bullpen that could be among the best in the National League in 2009. Philadelphia signed Raul Ilbanez back in December to a 3 year deal. Ilbanez is a solid left handed hitter who will likely fall behind superstar Ryan Howard in the number 5 spot in the batting order. Philadelphia will likely battle the New York Mets for the top spot in the National League East Division in their attempt to repeat. However, outside of the New York Yankees only one team (Toronto) has repeated World Series Championships in the last 30 years.

New York Mets 2008 season ended in a disappointing way missing the playoffs by a single game to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mets will return many of the same starters in the field this season. While many experts believe the Mets will make at run at an NLCS Title this season, they must shake off the lackluster finishes of the past few seasons. Francisco Rodriguez was brought in to add some fire as a closer and he will be a valuable asset especially later in the season. However, there are still some questions revolving around the starting rotation and especially the rather weak outfield. Despite having the best odds out of any NL team at 7/1, they will still need to worry about winning their own division first.

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Team to watch out for…

The Atlanta Braves are the best team to place a gamble on if you are trying to take a chance to really bring in some money. The Braves slacked off over the last few seasons compared to their 14 straight NL East titles a few years back. Atlanta added two solid pitchers to the rotation in Derrick Lowe and Javy Vazquez. Atlanta ranked 3rd in the NL last season in batting average and their success with the stick will be a big component to their outcome this season. Young players Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar make up a strong middle infield on the defensive front that could be a force for years to come. If the youth has a breakout year, Atlanta could be a hot pick in 2009.