Today we examine the 2010 AFC North looking at the football futures betting lines at Bodog.

Baltimore Ravens: 5-6

The Ravens enter 2010 looking ripe for a division title…and much more. They upgraded their one true weakness in the offseason—the receiver position—with the addition of WR Anquan Boldin, and RB Ray Rice and QB Joe Flacco are both on their way to becoming Pro Bowl players. Defensively, while there’s uncertainty surrounding S Ed Reed’s health, MLB Ray Lewis is still playing at a high level in his 15th season and there’s more than enough talent to get the job done.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5

Pittsburgh was fortunate to receive a favorable early season schedule and this should allow them to overcome the loss of QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games. They’ll lean on RB Rashard Mendenhall early on and become more balanced once Roethlisberger is back.  The Steelers will also be getting a healthy S Troy Polamalu back, and this will be a boon to the defense. His absence in 2009 turned a devastating unit into an ordinary one.  With a healthy S Polumalu manning the secondary, DC Dick LeBeau will once again harass opposing offenses, and this team will be making noise in the Wild Card race come December.

Cincinnati Bengals: 3-1

The surprise AFC North Champs of a year ago enter 2010 with high hopes. The main obstacle they’ll have to overcome is the first-place schedule they’ll have to play. This offseason has seen the Bengals upgrade its passing game significantly and teams will no longer be able to key on WR Chad Ochocinco. They’ll now have to contend with WR Terrell Owens (signed today), WR Antonio Bryant, TE Jermaine Gresham, and WR Jordan Shipley, all of whom make this potentially one of the best passing games in the NFL. Defensively, expect DC Mike Zimmer to lead another stingy unit which will be tough for opposing offenses to score on.

Cleveland Browns: 13-1

You can pen them in for last place right now. The Browns in time will be competitive, as Mike Holmgren has a track record of turning around programs, but it won’t come in 2010, in what should be Eric Mangini’s last as head coach. The organization is devoid of talent relative to the rest of the league and QB Jake Delhomme has been named the opening day starter. Enough said.

Pro Football 101 Betting Strategy:

Baltimore looks like the best bet , but this division, along with the AFC East, is clearly more open than others. However, the fact that they’ll play a second place schedule means we’ll put the lion’s share (~80%) of  money on the Ravens, and hedge our bets by placing 20% on the Bengals at 3-1. The latter is solid up and down the roster and capable of repeating after their offseason moves.

Today we examine the 2010 AFC South looking at the football futures betting lines at Bodog.

Indianapolis Colts: 2-3

GM Bill Polian does s good a job as any at retooling his roster and plugging in young talent to go with the proven commodities (QB Peyton Manning, WR Reggie Wayne, DE Dwight Freeney, etc.). The Colts enter 2010 coming off a disappointing loss in the Super Bowl, but as you look around the rest of the division, you realize it’s still the Colts and everyone else. The offense will actually be stronger this season (a healthy WR Anthony Gonzalez and better O-Line) and talent was added to the defense via the NFL Draft and Free Agency. As has been the case for over 90% of the last decade, this is the best bet on the board.

Tennessee Titans: 7-2

After starting the 2009 season 0-6, the Titans, at the insistence of owner Bud Adams, re-inserted QB Vince Young into the starting lineup and the team went 8-2 to close out the season. However, that number is a bit misleading. While some of the wins were impressive (last second victory over Arizona), they were blown out by the San Diego Chargers in the one game which truly mattered. That would’ve put them back in the Wild Card hunt. This year, it’s QB Vince Young’s team from the get go, but the offense will still run through superstar RB Chris Johnson. Defensively, things should be better than a year ago, but this unit is still a ways away from being a dominant as the 2008 outfit.

Houston Texans: 7-2

The Texans can score with the best of them, it’s the defense that keeps them from seriously competing for a division crown. The Texans drafted RB Ben Tate in the 2nd round to provide a ground threat to go with the passing game. Defensively, the team will be without controversial rookie of the year LB Brian Cushing for the first four games of the season, and CB Dunta Robinson flew the coop to the Atlanta Falcons in the free agency. While the likely Wild Card teams will come out of the AFC North and East this year, expect the Texans to remain in that conversation throughout.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-1

Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the promising team of 2007 is a distant memory. Outside of RB Maurice Jones-Drew and perhaps WR Mike Sims-Walker if he continues to develop, there’s question marks along the offensive line and at the receiving corps, and David Garrard is a middle of the pack QB in the NFL. Defensively, the team purged its front seven, including longtime DT John Henderson, and their replacements aren’t good enough to step in and make this unit a force. The decision to draft for need at the 10th pick (DT Tyson Alualu) was the worst pick in the Draft. Expect relocation talk to be hotly discussed throughout the year.

Pro Football 101 Betting Strategy:

Bet the Colts and don’t look back. A 66% return is excellent considering they’ve won the division 6 out of the past 7 years and appear stronger on paper this year than last. In fact, the only time they didn’t win the division (2008) was when Peyton Manning was coming off knee surgery and a few of the offensive lineman missed significant time. The Titans and Texans will fight it out for 2nd and the Jags will round out the rear.

The Football Futures Betting is available at Bodog and today we examine the 2010 AFC West.

San Diego Chargers: 1-3

Unless something miraculous happens, the Chargers will cruise to another AFC West Championship in 2010. They’re loaded across the board and drafted intriguing RB prospect Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State in the 1st Round to upgrade the running game. WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeill are potential long term holdouts, but I think another reason that GM AJ Smith has not caved into their contractual demands is he knows San Diego will have this division wrapped up by the time they come back in Week 12. Both players will then suit up and bring their A game as they will be playing for a long term deal in San Diego – or elsewhere – in 2011.

Denver Broncos: 6-1

Denver’s short run, all of six games to open the season last year, is done. Josh McDaniels has stripped this team of the young talent he inherited (QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler) and severed ties with DC Mike Nolan because of philosophical differences. He is now betting on one of the greatest college QBs in Tim Tebow to duplicate that success in the NFL and resurrect this organization back to a respectable franchise in the next few years. I don’t think it will happen under McDaniels. While he has shown definite ability to prepare his team and get them to play hard for him, his handling of star players will always keep this franchise at .500 or below while he is calling the shots. The Broncos are staring at a last place finish in 2010. The 2-8 finish last year was not an aberration.

Oakland Raiders: 7-1

The Raiders will be improved – it’s hard not to once you rid yourself of the biggest bust in NFL Draft history – but it won’t be to the point of competing for anything of consequence in 2010. 8-8 is a  more realistic goal. There’s talent on defense and offensively they have some nice young pieces to build on. They should also see a dramatic decline in turnovers under QB Jason Campbell, and the benefits of this will be twofold: it will lead to more scoring opportunities and keep the defense out of unfavorable situations.

Kansas City Chiefs: 7.5-1

The Chiefs are another team stockpiling young talent and have assembled a New England Patriots part Deux coaching staff (DC Romeo Crennel, OC Charlie Weis) around second year HC Todd Haley. However, this team’s ability to rise up and contend for the 2010 AFC West crown will be for naught with QB Matt Cassel behind center. He’s an average signal caller who leveraged a terrific New England offensive situation into a long term contract. There’s definitely some good, young talent on this roster, both on offense and defense, but not enough to raise the ceiling any higher than 2nd in the division in 2010.

* current betting odds next to team name.

Pro Football 101 betting strategy:

The Chargers are a lock – plain and simple. And your 33% return (bet $100 to win $33) will be much better than you’re receiving from the bank or 6 month CDs. The other teams have too much ground to make up in 2010 and none are on the cusp on unseating the Bolts.

1. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins enter the 2010 season a vastly improved team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Perhaps even more important than their ability to land prize Free Agent LB Karlos Dansby in Free Agency was their ability to snatch first year DC Mike Nolan from the Denver Broncos.

He went into a horrendous situation in Denver and turned a porous defense into a playmaking outfit from the outset.

A year ago, the Dolphins only managed 93 fantasy points, but an improved offense, which should be able to score points and eat away at the clock, coupled with the development of some of their younger defensive players under the tutelage of Nolan, has this D/ST an intriguing fantasy sleeper prospect entering the 2010 season.

Expect between 130-150 fantasy points when things are all said and done.

2. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are another fantasy football sleeper candidate because they will enjoy a 2nd place schedule this year and have the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their division… two teams that aren’t exactly offensive powerhouses. Atlanta was active and aggressive in both Free Agency and the Draft and upgraded the defensive side of the ball.

CB Dunta Robinson provides them with an upper echelon, big play corner who will line up against opposing teams’ top wide receivers. 1st round selection LB Sean Wetherspoon could make an early impact and the team hopes to get DT Peria Jerry back from a knee injury which will help solidify the trenches (D Line).

QB Matt Ryan and Co. should put up points in 2010 and the importance of playing with a lead cannot be discounted. This will allow DE John Abraham and Co. to pin their ears back and force opposing QB’s into mistakes.

The Falcons scored only 106 fantasy points in 2009. Look for 130-140 this year.

3. New York Giants

Did any D/ST disappoint more than the New York Giants in 2009? DC Bill “Ray Handley” Sheridan was handed one of the elite units in the game courtesy of Steve Spagnuolo and turned them into a laughingstock. Injuries played their role in the implosion, but the players never bought into his scheme or game plan. The Giants scored a total of 83 fantasy points, with just 33 coming after week 5, and if you take away the Washington game in Week 15 (23 points), a total of 10 points over a nine game period. Pathetic.

2010 has the Giants looking like a nice mid round fantasy sleeper selection. They went out and brought in highly touted DC Perry Fewell from Buffalo to run the defense, S Kenny Phillips appears to be on track to be back for the opener, and most of the pieces are still in place from their 2007 Championship team.

With proven schemes and game plans the team can buy into, plus the luxury of facing a 3rd place schedule, expect New York to once again crack the top 10 D/ST in fantasy football (and NFL) and score between 130-150 points.

1. Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals

Considered by many the top TE in college a year ago, Gresham suffered a knee injury which kept him out for the entire year. Healthy now, the Bengals picked him up in the 1st round of the NFL Draft and have big plans for the rookie out of Oklahoma in their passing game.

With the Bengals solid on the outside (WR Chad Ochocinco, WR Antonio Bryant), look for Carson Palmer to exploit the middle of the field and for Gresham to create mismatches against the LB’ers and Safeties opposing teams put on him.

The top fantasy football sleeper at this position should eclipse 60 catches and 8 TDs in his rookie season.

2. Jon Carlson – Seattle Seahawks

An underachiever on many levels thus far, the promising rookie out Notre Dame in ‘08 couldn’t avoid the sophomore slump in ‘09. Much of the drop off can be attributed to the injuries suffered by QB Matt Hasselback and along the offensive line (LT Walter Jones), which led to Carlson being kept in to block more often, and the result was just 51 catches for 7 TDs.

But the Seahawks know he’s capable of much more.

All signs point to a healthy QB Matt Hasselback in 2010 and this will result in a big bounce back campaign for Carlson provided there’s stability at the QB position. He’s extremely adept at finding openings underneath and in the middle of the field, and is a menace in the red zone.

Look for between 70-80 catches this year and potential for double digit TDs.

3. Fred Davis – Washington Redskins

His production will inevitably drop with the return of a healthy Chris Cooley, but Davis showed his potential in ‘09 and caught 41 passes for 6 TDs over the final 10 games of the season. In the process, he showed excellent acceleration for a 250 lb TE as well as soft hands.

It remains to be seen how this year will play out, but Davis could become a factor in the 2nd half of the season. Donovan McNabb loves to target his TEs and the Redskins lack firepower and talent at the receiver position.

We think Shanahan will employ many two TE sets and both Cooley and Davis will have a chance to put up points. At the very least, he’s an intriguing fantasy sleeper prospect  based on last year’s production, and is certainly worth a late round pick which could come into play over the fantasy playoff stretch.

1. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers decision to part ways with WR Santonio Holmes makes 2nd year WR Mike Wallace an enticing fantasy sleeper entering 2010. He led all receivers in his rookie year with 19.4 yards per catch and reeled in 6 TDs mostly playing in the slot. His deep speed is the best on the team and his adeptness to create space in the secondary means he will be their primary down field threat and big play receiver this season.

While the Steelers might rely on the running game until QB Ben Roethlisberger is back, expect Wallace to see his number called frequently and he will be a major factor down the fantasy football playoff stretch.

2. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants

Nicks burst onto the scene and showed great potential in his rookie season. After inuring his foot in the opener vs Washington, he came back three weeks later and caught TDs in four straight games. Overall, he finished with six TDs and a 16.8 YPC in 2009 and became the Giants big play threat on the outside.

He should take a huge step forward in his second year. WR Steve Smith, who emerged as the No. 1 and caught 107 passes in 2009, will see his totals drop as balls begin to shift towards Nicks.

Expect Nicks to top 1,000 yards with eight TDs in 2010.

3. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys

Bryant, selected by the Cowboys in the 1st round out of Oklahoma State, could make a big impact in his rookie season. The talented wide out, who scouts say could be better than last year’s top rated receiver, WR Michael Crabtree, will see a majority of one-on-one coverage thanks to the presence of WR Miles Austin and TE Jason Witten.

While historically, rookie receivers rarely make the sort of 1st year impact that rookie running backs do, this has changed in recent years.  Bryant will begin the season as the No. 3 but it shouldn’t be long before he supplants the highly overrated WR Roy Williams from his starting role.  And once he does, expect this 2010 fantasy football sleeper to emerge as the team’s deep threat and haul in some 50+ yard TDs.

1. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions

Best becomes an instant fantasy sleeper and will receive 15+ carries per game from the get go due to an injury to starter RB Kevin Smith. When the Lions grabbed him in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft, head coach Jim Schwartz, the former DC of the Titans, said Best’s speed reminded him of RB Chris Johnson. They can only hope so.

In 2010, he’ll be playing in what will be an improved Detroit offense. The passing game should (QB Matt Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, TE Tony Scheffler) be able to take pressure off the running game and Best, finding less men in the box, will break a few longs ones throughout the course of the season.

Expect him to be a factor on both the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield.

2. Ben Tate – Houston Texans

Just when it appeared that the Texans had finally found itself a starting RB, Steve Slaton regressed badly in year two and was relegated to a 3rd down specialist by season’s end. He developed a fumbling problem which incensed HC Gary Kubiak to the point where the organization went out and selected Tate with the 58th pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

But Tate fits the ideal back the Texans have wanted for years: big (5′11″ 220lbs), strong and fast. He was clocked at 4.43 in the 40.

With QB Matt Schaub, TE Owen Daniels and WR Andre Johnson a threat to light up secondaries, expect Tate to find a lot of room to run in year one.

Aside from the goal line, he’ll begin by sharing the carries with Slaton, but look for him to assert himself as the starter after Week 4.

3. RB Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders

Bush was a fantasy football sleeper entering the 2009 campaign but was hampered by a horrific JaMarcus Russell’ led offense which brought everyone’s numbers down. That problem is now gone. Russell has been cut and Jason Campbell, who was acquired from the Redskins, will provide more stability to an offense which was derailed by numerous turnovers a year ago.

Bush is a very big man with both the speed and moves to be an every down back.

RB Darren McFadden’s been given the nod to this point due to his lofty draft status in 2008, but that novelty has just about worn off.

Expect Michael Bush to split carries in the beginning but takeover as the No. 1 RB by Week 6 of the season.

1) Kevin Kolb – Philadelphia Eagles

This is an obvious choice from a fantasy sleeper standpoint. In Kolb’s limited time on the field last year, two starts and the 2nd half of the opener, he showed a lot of promise and tossed for over 741 yards and 4 TDs (17 and 27 fantasy points respectively in those starts).

Entering 2010, he’s now the man and there’s a lot to like. He’s blessed with a pass happy coach, and abundance of talent at the skill positions (WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, TE Brent Celek, etc), and could very well end up a top 10 fantasy QB at the end of the season if he can remain healthy for 16 games.

2) Chad Henne – Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins, primarily a running/Wild Cat team over the past few years, will have a new look in 2010. The off season acquisition of star WR Brandon Marshall plus the expected improvement of Henne in year two as a starter makes him an exciting fantasy sleeper prospect.

In 2009, he tossed for 2,800 yards and 12 TDs, which translated into 136 fantasy points. He was forced to spread the ball around as Miami didn’t have a top receiving threat which defenses were forced to key on.

Parcells changed that with the trade for Marshall, and when you include the steadily improving Davone Bess into the conversation, who’s a specialist in the short passing game, we think 20 TDs and 175 points is certainly within reach.

3) Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers

Things couldn’t be set-up better for Smith to have success in 2010 and that’s why he’s a nice fantasy sleeper entering the fantasy draft. The Niners went out and upgraded its O- Line (OT Anthony Davis, OG Mike Lupati) via the NFL Draft and this will provide him better protection in the pocket, and RB Frank Gore looks like he’s ready to have a big season on the ground.

Couple that with 2nd year receiver WR Michael Crabtree, last season’s breakout TE Vernon Davis, and the fact that they play in the worst division in football, and it’s easy to see why Smith could surprise.

He ended 2009 with 18 TDs and 132 fantasy points in 11 games, but over the course of a full season, 25 TDs is not out of the question.

11. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers defense finished mid pack points-wise last year but came on strong over their 11 game winning streak to finish the season. They’ve suffered no key losses to the unit in 2010 – aside from dealing the overrated CB Antonio Cromartie to the Jets, so look for them to put up solid points as the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders, who they play six times, aren’t very formidable.

12. New York Giants

The wild card is new DC Perry Fewell. The Giants have top 5 fantasy football D/ST ability but performed horribly under one-and-done DC Bill Sheridan in 2009, who managed to lead a top tier unit to just 83 total points. Injuries played their part as well. Look for Fewell, already established in the NFL as a coordinator, to get this D back on track and for the Giants to be a nice fantasy sleeper in 2010.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

This unit responded very well to DC Mike Zimmer’s and overcame key losses (DE Odom, LB Maualuga) to finish with 122 points. They have a lot of young talent and their secondary is adept at forcing turnovers. Expect them to be a low No. 1 D/ST right back.

14. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are a very well coached team and added some firepower when it signed OLB Karlos Dansby in the off season. They finished with only 93 fantasy points in 2009 but should be expected to increase that number to 120 plus in 2010 with the development of their young players and the addition of Mike Nolan to the Defensive Coordinator role.

15. New England Patriots

The Belichick defensive magic appears to have vanished but that could be a product of the old vets (Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Ty Law, etc) being gone. Stud MLB Jerod Mayo missed decent time in 2009 and the unit was often overwhelmed by quality offenses. The Pats have opted to go young via the draft and it remains to be seen whether Belichick can get this unit to consistently force turnovers and keep opponents out of the end zone week in and week out.

16. Tennessee Titans

The Titans got off to a horrible start under DC Chuck Cecil and couldn’t stop anyone through the air. Things improved over the year but they still only managed 95 fantasy football points after a stellar 2008. Some additions to the defense in 2010 should have them back between 110-130 points.

17. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ D was ravished by injuries to the secondary a year ago and finished with 109 points. Bill Polian addressed some of these issues in the off season and will expect DE Dwight Freeney and Co. to pressure opposing offenses into sacks and turnovers.

18. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are a strong fantasy sleeper entering this season. They went out and spent big money this off season and reeled in CB Dunta Robinson to head up its secondary. Tougher opposing schedule and injuries can be attributed to their poor 2009. Look for a bounce back this year and a nice fantasy upside.

19. Washington Redskins

DT Albert Haynesworth and his headaches aside, there’s talent and a new defensive philosophy in town with the addition of Jim Haslett as DC in Washington. Expect the coaching and scheme alone to contribute to an increase in fantasy points. LB Brian Orakpo’s an exciting young player who could reach 13-15 sacks in 2010.

20. Houston Texans

The Texans improved defensively and finished with 110 fantasy points in 2009. They’ll have to deal with the absence of LB Brian Cushing for the first four games of the season, but they’ve got enough talent on that side of the ball to be a spot fill-in fantasy defense in most leagues. KR specialist Jacoby Jones is an explosive special teams player who can be expected to score two or three times over the course of the season.