The annual Pro Bowl game comes out way this Sunday and for those of you that just have to get their football fix; this game will certainly fill the void. Unfortunately while this game lives up to the talent expectations, it lacks in intensity, hard hits and superb execution. <\/p>\n
NFL Pro Bowl<\/strong> Oh well \u2013 it\u2019s a football game nonetheless.<\/p>\n Honolulu hosts the best that the sport has to offer \u2013 minus those taking part in the Super Bowl and those who declined the invitation because of injury or in Ray Rice\u2019s case \u2013 family reasons.<\/p>\n The NFC is currently favored by 4 points \u2013 and so they should be!<\/p>\n The NFC will start Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and have Drew Brees come off the bench followed by Cam Newton who will be in for mop-up duties. The AFC will trot Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Andy Dalton out onto the field \u2013 huge advantage NFC!<\/p>\n At running back, the NFC has the edge as well. LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch will all suit up for the NFC while the AFC counters with Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster \u2013 Ray Rice who is perhaps the best rusher in the AFC has declined the invitation to play in this game. The NFC\u2019s advantage is slight but it is an advantage.<\/p>\n We all ready know that the QBs of the NFC are far superior to that of the AFC \u2013 now let\u2019s look at the Wide Receivers!<\/p>\n Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Greg Jennings and Roddy White will be the targets for Rodgers and the boys while erratic Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers have Mike Wallace, Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson and AJ Green at their disposal. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n It is clear who the better unit is here!<\/p>\n At Tight End, the NFC again has a huge advantage now that Rob Gronkowski is otherwise occupied. Jimmy Graham is the best tight end in the Pro Bowl, hands down. Not even the AFC\u2019s Antonio Gates can measure up.<\/p>\n Defense is largely non-existent in the Pro Bowl but let\u2019s talk about it anyway.<\/p>\n Baltimore players – Safety Ed Reed (nerve impingement, sore shoulder and a sprained left ankle), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (thigh) and linebacker Terrell Suggs (undisclosed) will all miss this Sunday\u2019s game for the AFC – that’s a huge difference maker, believe it or not.<\/p>\n The NFC, for that reason alone has to be given the slight edge in this game.<\/p>\n Betting Prediction:<\/strong> I think you know where I am going with this. Truthfully, I could have stopped at the quarterbacks and made my pick! Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees on the same team are simply unfair!<\/p>\n With little defensive intensity hindering them, they should explode \u2013 there is no way that anyone could keep up!<\/p>\n
\n Date\/Time: Sun, January 29, 2012, 7:00 PM ET<\/strong>
\n Venue: Aloha Stadium Honolulu, HI<\/strong>
\n Broadcast: NBC<\/strong>
\n Pro Bowl Betting Lines from betonline.com<\/strong>
\n Spread: NFC -4<\/strong>
\n Moneyline: AFC +150: NFC -170<\/strong>
\n Over\/Under: 73 points<\/strong><\/p>\n