MLB 2010 Division Odds and Win Totals – National League Central
Teams have reported to 2010 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our division-by-division betting odds and team by team season win totals MLB baseball betting previews for the year.
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Over the past decade the NL Central has been dominated by St. Louis and Chicago, winning the division a combined nine times. The Cardinals have six titles and the Cubs have three.
The only other team to win the Central in this time frame was the Houston Astros in 2001. This trend is most likely to continue in the new decade as St. Louis is the odds-on-favorite to win the division in 2010.
Last season the Cardinals won the Central with a 91-71 record, but were swept by Los Angeles 3-0 in the Division playoff series. Chicago finished in second place, 7 ½ games back with a record of 83-78. In third place was Milwaukee, who finished two games under .500 at 80-82. Cincinnati was fourth with a record of 78-84.
Houston finished fifth at 74-88 and Pittsburgh brought up the rear, finishing 62-99, 28 ½ games back
Here is a brief preview of all the teams in the NL Central along with their future odds to win the division as well as their projected season win totals for the year.
Chicago Cubs
Odds to Win the NL Central 11-4
Win Total Over/Under 83.5
The Cubs are still pretty solid up and down with Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez anchoring the middle of the lineup and Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Demster leading the starting rotation. They may not be able to catch St.Louis but Chicago should compete for the wildcard.
Cincinnati Reds
Odds to Win the NL Central 10-1
Win Total Over/Under 79.5
The Reds are a very average team across the board and lack the talent to be able to seriously compete for the division. That being said they did recently sign lefthander Aroldis Chapman and will go with a youthful but talented lineup led by Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, and Drew Stubbs. If everything falls into the right place, they have a decent shot at ending up a few games over .500
Houston Astros
Odds to Win the NL Central 25-1
Win Total Over/Under 73.5
The Astros have a decent nucleus of talent on this team with players such as Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Michael Bourn on the offensive side. Their main weakness is the lack of a solid starting rotation which will once again keep their win total in the mid 70’s.
Milwaukee Brewers
Odds to Win the NL Central 7-1
Win Total Over/Under 80.5
The Brewers took some steps this offseason to try and address their woeful pitching situation, but will still have to rely heavily on Randy Wolf and Yovani Gallardo to carry the load. They still have a ton of offensive firepower led by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder to keep them in the hunt through most of the summer.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Odds to Win the NL Central 75-1
Win Total Over/Under 69
The Pirates have been the perennial cellar dweller in the Central the past few seasons and the prospect to get out in 2010 does not look good. They do have some hope with players like Garrett Jones, who hit 21 homers after getting called up last July and Pedro Alvarez, who should hopefully make his debut in the Majors sometime this summer.
St. Louis Cardinals
Odds to Win the NL Central 4-7
Win Total Over/Under 87.5
The Cardinal’s resigned Matt Holliday to a long term contract this offseason and combined with NL league MVP Albert Pujols have the best one- two punch in the league. With Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter they should also have one of the better rotations in the NL. There is definitely enough talent for this team to not only win the division, but make a serious run at unseating Philadelphia as NL Champs.
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