Handicapping the AFC South
The AFC South was formed in 2002, and since then it’s been dominated by the Indianapolis Colts. In 13 seasons, the Colts have won the division nine times, including each of the past two seasons.
The AFC South was formed in 2002, and since then it’s been dominated by the Indianapolis Colts. In 13 seasons, the Colts have won the division nine times, including each of the past two seasons.
The 2015 NFL season is quickly approaching. Football time is the best and most fun time for bettors to place wagers. Grabbing futures now can payoff in the log run as odds will change rapidly as the season gets closer.
With Organized Team Activities (OTAs) kicking off this week for NFL teams, football fans are already starting to get the itch. The 2015 season should be a fascinating one from a parity standpoint, especially with the New England Patriots likely coming back to Earth some, with the loss of Darrelle Revis and Tom Brady’s suspension.
The story of the NFC North of late is Green Bay and everybody else. The Packers are the lone constant and the Bears swap coaches when they really swap quarterback’ the Vikings don’t know what’s going to happen with their best player – Adrian Peterson; and the Lions seem to never be able to get out of their own way.
Now that the draft if behind us training camp is just around the corner. It might have been a while but I think the AFC East can make a case for being the toughest division in football. They have the defending champion New England Patriots, much improved teams in New York and Buffalo, and Miami looks like a .500 outfit at least.
The bulk of NFL free agency is behind us. So is the draft. And all schedules have been released for teams across the league. What does this mean? It’s time to look ahead to next season, as not much else will change between now and when the season kicks off in September.
Belichick and Co. set their sights on a sixth-straight division title
You have to go all the way back to the 2000 season to find the last time New England posted a losing record (5-11) and was out of the division title race. That was Bill Belichick’s first year as head coach and since that point his teams have won the AFC East in 11 of the next 13 seasons.
2014 NFC East – Chip Kelly’s high-flying Eagles poised to soar to even greater heights in 2014
The betting odds remain tight to win the NFC East this season for all four teams, but the clear edge lies with Philadelphia repeating as champions after winning the division last year at 10-6.
The Steelers are poised to get back to a long tradition of winning seasons.
Ever since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, the Bengals have won three AFC North titles, the Steelers come into the new season with five division crowns and the third-favorite Ravens have claimed the division title four times.
Aaron Rodgers keeps the Packers the team to beat in the NFL’s Black and Blue Division
Green Bay has once again been opened as a heavy favorite to win the NFC North this season and they are one of the top favorites to win the conference. Despite the posted odds, do not count Chicago or Detroit out of this race after battling the Packers to the bitter end for last season’s title.
The NFC East was once one of the elite divisions in football, but it has fallen on some hard times of late. That isn’t to say that the division hasn’t offered some exciting football, with the division winner settled in a head-to-head matchup on the final day of the regular season four of the last five times.
The AFC East has belonged to the New England Patriots ever since Drew Bledsoe was knocked out of a game against the New York Jets and replaced by a young Tom Brady. Since then, the Patriots have failed to win the division only once in a span of 11 seasons from 2003 through 2013.
The Carolina Panthers took their turn at winning the NFC South title in 2013 with 12 wins, but heading into the new season the Oddsmakers like the Saints’ chances to capture their fourth division title since 2006.
Luck has everything to do with the Colts odds. Indianapolis took a brief hiatus from dominating the AFC South in 2011 with Peyton Manning lost for the season, but they are back on top under the guidance of his replacement Andrew Luck.
2014 NFC South Division Preview
The unpredictable NFC South looks to be a crapshoot again in 2014 – no team has repeated as champion in this division since 2002 – bad luck for Carolina who went 12-4 last year and claimed the crown. The Saints will be better and will be looking to knock off the Panthers who again have a solid lineup – top to bottom.
2014 AFC South Division Preview – A Slam Dunk for the Colts?
The AFC South belonged to the Indianapolis Colts last year and a look at the division reveals that it will be theirs to lose once again this upcoming season. On paper the AFC South looks like the Colts and only the Colts – the rest of the division will be lucky just to get to the .500 mark.