As we review the Indianapolis Colts AFC South Betting Odds for 2008 we know that they have one of the top offenses in the league.  They will be a big threat this year to win it all with Marvin Harrison back in the line-up.

Peyton Manning turned 32 in March, but that is not too old, as he should be Pro Bowl level for many years to come.  Green Bay's Brett Favre retired in the spring, Manning is right behind him for 160 straight gamed started heading into the 2008 season.  Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and continues to find ways to improve.  Marvin Harrison is expected to be fully recovered from the injury from last season which limited him to only 20 catches a career low.  Without Harrison last year, Wayne became the primary target for Manning with 1,510 receiving yards.   The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbook.com currently have the Indianapolis Colts 7/1 to win the 2009 Superbowl.

With Harrison returning this year, the Colts look to be dominant once again and will make a run at the title.  With all the weapons they have there is a slim chance that you will stop them from scoring.  They have two great tight ends in Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez.  It's not going to be easy for Clark to accomplish what he did last season.  It won't be easy for sure.  With Harrison injured last year, QB Manning found himself going to Clark a lot.  Clark responded with (56) catches, (616) yards receiving and (11) touchdowns.  Gonzalez is a good tight end but last season he was injured in his rookie season, he was their #1 draft pick.  You can't forget about wide receiver Reggie Wayne who has developed into one of the best receivers in the league.  Wayne had a team-leading 104 receptions for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.   The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbook.com currently have the Indianapolis Colts 5/9 to win the 2009 AFC South Division.

The Colts are looking to grab their sixth straight division title.  Last year the Colts suffered a big loss to San Diego at home as a 9 point favorite in the AFC Divisional playoffs.  The Colts should run away with this division once again.  They are 21-0 in September and October since 2005 and they appear to have an easy schedule in 2008 against Chicago, at Minnesota, Jacksonville, at Houston, Baltimore, at Green Bay and at Tennessee.  Just like last season November should determined where the Colts match up in the playoffs, with home field through out or not.

As we review the Jacksonville Jaguars  AFC South Betting Odds for 2008 we know they are a good team and won a playoff game last year.  But they are only 1-8 against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.  The rest of the league over the past few years 31-11. 

The Jags know they're not going anywhere unless they beat the Colts.  Manning and the Colts have defeated them nine of twelve meetings since 2002, including twice last season.  The Jags are a team on the rise right now.  They took a huge step last year when they won there first playoff game since 1999 and became the first team ever to beat the Steelers twice in the same year in Pittsburgh.  That success earned both coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback David Garrard long-term contract extensions.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Jacksonville Jaguars 12/1 to win the 2009 Superbowl.

What a huge decisio coach Jack Del Rio made last year in letting go quarterback Byron Leftwich and making QB David Garrard the starter.  It paid of for him big time last year.  Del Rio let go Leftwich 7 days before the 2007 season, but vice president Harris, didn't approve at all of making this move.  Del Rio then went to owner Wayne Weaver to get the approval to make the move.  Garrard showed everyone he was ready for the move, taking them to a playoff victory.  David Garrard spent 4 years on the bench as a backup QB to Leftwich, he was the seventh pick in the 2003 draft.  The preseason meant a lot to Del Rio last season as Garrard outplayed Leftwich in training camp and preseason games to win the starting job.  He should be even better this year being is second year as the starter.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Jacksonville Jaguars 2/1 to win 2008/09 AFC South Division. 

Jacksonville has one of the best 1-2 running back punches in the NFL with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones Drew.  Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards last year, and is now ranked 17th on the all-time rushing list.  Taylor is now 32, but that doesn't seem to be a problem as he has shown no signs of slowing down.  He finally got to his first Pro Bowl last year, and that is real surprising.  Drew added 768 yard rushing last season, and the Jaguars ranked second in the league in rushing.  Drew has charisma and is becoming the face of the team. 

Huge key addition to the team is wide receiver Jerry Porter.  The Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been searching for a No. 1 wide receiver since Jimmy Smith retired, reached a contract agreement in February with Jerry Porter, one of the top wide receivers in the unrestricted free agent market.  Porter, 29, was expected to sign a six-year, $30 million contract.  He played the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders.  In Jacksonville they hear all the time "comradery" in the locker room.  Compare that to what it has been like in Oakland the last 5 years.  You would have a bad attitude too. 

As we review the Houston Texans AFC South Betting Odds for 2008 we already know about the injuries in the past which have hurt them.  They have been improving ever year, is this the year they finally make the playoffs? 

Last year Houston finished 8-8, it was the team's best record in their six history.  If Houston doesn't have a winning season this year it will be considered disappointing.  If the Texans can stay healthy and survive the brutal first part of the season, then they could get into the wild card spot at the end of the season.  Coach Gary Kubiak and owner Bob McNair are shooting for a playoff run, but it's not going to be easy.  Health is a big concern for the team, they have been the most injured team over the past two years, Andre Johnson, Ahman Green, Schaub, Dunta Robinson.  The Texans have a tough schedule on top of their tough division, but I'm giving them a fighting chance, especially if they can etch out wins against Jacksonville.  They have a strong group of young players and they need to step up if they want to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Bodoglife.com currently have the Houston Texans 60/1 to win the 2009 Superbowl.

This will be quarterback Matt Schaub's second year in the league.  Selected by Atlanta Falcons in the third round (90th pick overall) of 2004 NFL draft…signed by Falcons on July 28, 2004…traded by Falcons to Houston Texans on March 22, 2007.  The Texan are anxious to see how Matt Schaub performs in his second year as the starter.  Schaub missed five starts last year and another four games leaving with early an injury.  He must stay on the field this season and prove he is the best QB on the team.  Last year Schaub's play was overshadowed by backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who won four of his five starts as Schaub's replacement.  Rosenfels will push Schaub in practice, as he has proven he could be the starter.  The AFC South Betting Odds at Bodoglife.com currently have the Houston 11/1 Odds to win 2008/09 AFC South Division. 

Is this the year this expansion franchise will finally have a winning season?  They were a franchise on the rise after they got #1 draft pick Mario Williams.  He may not have made it to the Pro Bowl last year but he will get there in the future.  Williams must pick up where he left off last season when he made 14 sacks at defensive tackle.  The 14 sacks was third best in the league last season.  They are on the rise but how far will it go this season is still the question. 

While it is true that Houston plays in one of the strongest division in the NFL, that only hardens them to playing outside of their division.  They went 7-3 against the rest of the league last year.  When you factor in the injuries to their best players (Johnson, Robinson, Green, and Schaub) it's easy to see why 2008 could be their first playoff season.  Offensively the key is to get a running game started this season.  Injuries hurt the Texans so much at running back the past couple of years, that they have now been able to implement the run-first offense.  They've really got some young talent on the come, and if they get steady play from their rookies, 10 wins is easily reachable.  Duane Brown in particular is the rookie they'll need to get the biggest contribution from.  He was drafted at 26 because Alex Gibbs wanted him.

Reviewing the early Detroit Lions NFC North Betting Odds for 2008 we already know that they haven't been to the playoffs since 1999, and a big start to the season might not mean they will make the playoffs.  Last year they went 1-7 in the last eight games of the season after starting 6-2. 

Last season Detroit went 7-9 and had their best season since 2000.  They have gone 38-81 since Matt Millen became the team president.  They haven't been to the playoffs since 1999, and they feel this is the year they will make it in.  They haven't won a playoff game since 1957, the year they won the title.  The Lions plan to be more consistent through out the whole season, meaning better balanced on offense and better on defense.   Last year Detroit started 6-2, and you would say how could they miss the playoffs?  They did miss the playoffs because they went 1-7 the rest of the way, and losing two tight home games to the Cowboys and Giants.  The NFC North Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Detroit Lions 80/1 to win the 2009 Superbowl.

Veteran Quarterback Jon Kitna got along with offensive coordinator Mike Martz last year.  Martz is gone and now he has to adjust to life without him.  Kitna has the advantage at the starting job, because of his experience, especially because the Lions are going to give their quarterback more control at the line this year.  Kitna will enter training camp as the starter and expected to enter the season as such.  But also coach Marinelli said youngsters Drew Stanton and Dan Orlovsky will have a legitimate shot to unseat Kitna.  "Last year was not a prediction, it was a statement of fact that if we didn't win 10 games, we would be disappointed, and I would say that would still hold true this year," Kitna said. "We will be disappointed, but we're going to be a better football team."  As far as using the close loss to the Giants as a talking point. Players compare themselves all the time to successful teams they have played, especially if they feel as though they matched up pretty well with them.  The NFC North Betting Odds at Sportsbetting.com currently have the Detroit Lions 6/1 to win the NFC North division.

As the champion NY Giants did last year, Detroit is determined to run the ball this year.  They want to control the ball through out the game and help out the defense.  In 2007 all year long there were to many three in outs, and they were a pass happy team.  Tatum Bell will be starting at running back, after missing 11 games last season.  He came over from the Denver Broncos in 2007.  The Lions are switching to a zone blocking scheme which Denver utilized last time Bell padded up there and Tatum racked up 1,025 yards in 13 games with Denver, not too shabby.  Combine that with the 6'1",  217 lb. frame of Kevin Smith and you have a running back tandem that has the potential to do some damage.  Smith was very productive in college in same zone theme Lions are installing this year.  The Lions only have to be 1 or 2 games better than last year to make the playoffs. If Smith brings a running game to slow down all the sacks Kitna takes, that alone should be enough (Not to mention Calvin improving with the normal second year wide receiver curve).