Football Betting

The AFC North has been well known as the most physically demanding divisions in the National Football League. Sportsbooks have been making money off their games for years. It’s the rivalry involved – no matter who’s playing whom in the AFC North, it’s a big time rivalry game.

Let’s be honest, the division had been dominated of late by two of the NFL’s best teams – the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh has won the Super Bowl 6 times and played for 7 last year. They lost to Green Bay, but the Steelers have had a lot of success. Pittsburgh was 12-4 last year, 10-6 ATS. The team is getting older, no doubt, but it’s hard to argue against their chances at yet another playoff birth.

The Baltimore Ravens were also 12-4 overall, a little worse than Pittsburgh against the spread, 8-7-1. Baltimore doesn’t have age on their side, either – but offensively they have some young guys maturing at the right time and a good group of veterans like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs leading their defense.

The Bengals haven’t impressed much over their existence, and last year was no different. They lost many close games, and just being part of the franchise has driven Carson Palmer to an early retirement. The Bengals were 4-12 last season, but 7-9 ATS, giving sports betting types hope. They have gotten much younger and improving on those numbers looks like quite the task.

Finally the Browns. They’re in a better spot than Cincinnati, or so it seems. They have young pieces that had time to grown last season. That’s why they were 5-11 straight up and against the spread. They should be a couple games better this year, and possibly hop over .500 ATS.

For the Super Bowl, there are always lots of prop bets available as well as that is surely the case for Super Bowl XLV on Sunday in Dallas.

Including lots of quarterback props, NFL Betting fans have lost to choose from when the Green Bay Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Will Ben throw a TD pass, which is at -200 moneyline odds, or will he throw an interception, at +160, this is an example for Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger, what will happen first for him on Super Sunday. Throwing a touchdown is at -230 and throwing an interception is at +190, for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Complete at -210, incomplete at +170, throwing an interception at +1200, guessing what will be Ben Roethlisberger’s first pass is. A completion is -230, an incompletion is +195, and throwing an interception is +1200, for Rodgers.

With the over/under total at 247.5 there’s also the total passing yards by Ben Roethlisberger. The under at -135 as well as the over is at +105 odds.

In Super Bowl prop bets, for Rodgers, the over/under is 272.5, with the over at -135 and the under at +105.

With over at -115 and under also at -115 the over/under for the total pass completions by Ben Roethlisberger is 19.5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a good look at the players who will be holding down the fort for Ben Roethlisberger during the quarterback’s season-opening suspension, in their 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. For Big Ben’s fast return, the results may leave the Steelers pining. Football betting fans are keen on this matchup between Steelers and Broncos.

Roethlisberger was pulled early to give his back-ups some much-needed work, while he started the game. Byron Leftwich went 0-4 in limited play and Leftwich’s presumptive backup, the presumptive starter during Roethlisberger’s absence, Dennis Dixon, went 9-16 with two interceptions. Batch did manage to go 3-4 with a touchdown, for now the third string quarterback, but also threw an interception.

After seeing starter Kyle Orton go down after a controversial hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the Broncos almost had their own quarterback issues. However, Orton returned on the next series, after sitting out a play. Tim Tebow replaced him later. Tebow had a mixed game, going 5-10 with an interception and a touchdown, who had a mixed game, going 5-10 with an interception and a touchdown

Than Denver’s, Pittsburgh’s offense proved more productive, outdoing the Broncos in first downs, total yards, total plays, and time of possession. However, on returning the Broncos for touchdowns, they were able to capitalize on two of the three Steelers’ interceptions and gained an advantage with penalties, committing only eight for 67 yards while the Steelers committed 11 for 93 yards.

In the NFL, The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a powerhouse team. In the past 5 years they have won the Super Bowl Championship twice and have won it for 6 times in total. They boast a record of playing the highest number of AFC conference championship games and have been appearing in the Super Bowl for once every ten years for the past three decades. They are better known as the “Steeler Nation” for their consistency and hard work. Heinz Field is the home stadium of the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh as well. The team plays in the North Division of the AFC and is based out of Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were formerly Pittsburgh Pirates, the fifth oldest franchise in the NFL and were founded by Art Rooney in 1933. The name was actually from the MLB team in the area, eventually were known as Pittsburgh Steelers.

Art Rooney was well respected but Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have much to brag about. The management then in 1950’s signed Bobby Lane which ended up the winning drought and by cutting Len Dawson and John Unitas. The move worked in Detroit but later Lane just couldn’t reproduce same impressive run.

In the late 1960’s, hiring Chuck Noll as the coach, who brought players like Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene, changed the fate of the Steelers. 1972 advancement to the AFC Championship Game proved to be their best season and for the first time they won the Super Bowl in 1974. By the time 70’s came to a close, Steelers ended up with two more Super Bowl rings. With four Super Bowl Championships in six years, there record is unmatched. In 1976 the team only allowed 28 point in their last 9 games of the year.

Eighties was not as good as seventies. Art Rooney passed away in 1988 and Bill Cowher took over as head coach. In 2005, Steelers captured Super Bowl again. Though 2009 was not much impressive but they are always a big threat in big games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2010 draft with a lot of holes to fill after a disappointing 2009 season, two years removed from their Super Bowl win over the Arizona Cardinals. There may not be a CB worth taking when they use their first round pick (18^th overall), but their most obvious gap is at cornerback.

Instead, they may look for a quality guard and a offensive tackle who will help improve their uncharacteristically mediocre running game. In their quest to regain their status as a dominant running team, they will also look to add depth at running back.

To take either Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers) or Mike Iupati (OT/G, Idaho), the Steelers will likely use the 18^th overall pick. To become an NFL left tackle who will have the responsibility to protect the quarterback’s blindside, Davis has the potential with his size and mobility. Iupati is the top-ranked guard who could be a strong component in the Steelers rushing attack.

Struggling against Oakland Raiders journeyman quarterback Bruce Gradkowski in a must-win December game, the Steelers secondary was a key part of Pittsburgh’s melt down at the end of the year. The Steelers should be hoping cornerback Kareem Jackson of Alabama is still available when they make their second round pick (52^nd overall) as upgrading at cornerback is a must for them.

The Steelers own the 82^nd overall selection in the third round. Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer whose stock has fallen lately, is a powerful inside runner.  He would be a steal as a third round selection.