Picking the NFC East Division Winner
While most people wait to bet on football until the season starts, I find there is much more value in picking up futures bets with many teams. Often, the odds change greatly the closer we get to the start of the NFL Season. With some thought in the off-season, you can find great teams at a great price by betting the NFL futures. That being said, we will look at the NFC teams in search of some value picks for division winners.
NFC East Tale of the Tape
The NFC East could very well be the toughest division in football in that there is not a weak team among the group.
The New York Giants are thought to be the team to beat in this monstrosity of a division. Finishing 12-4, last season’s division champions picked up Hakeem Nicks to fill the shoes of the troubled Plaxico Burress at Wide Receiver. The defensive line remains solid, and the offensive line stays intact. The backfield remains solid despite the loss of the speedy Derek Ward. Ahmad Bradshaw should be able to provide a change of pace for the punishing Brandon Jacobs. The Giants are currently the NFC Chalk at odds of 140 to win the division.
Philadelphia Eagles sit at odds of 150, and appear to be severely overvalued. Quarterback Donovan McNabb returns as the starting quarterback and an aging Brian Westbrook leads the shallow backfield. Brian Dawkins will no longer be donning an Eagles helmet this season, after signing with Denver. However, the Eagles secondary still remains top notch.
The Dallas Cowboys provide the most value from a futures standpoint, getting odds of 260. The Cowboys locker room will prove to be a far healthier environment this season as the “Tyrant” is “Out” of Dallas and headed to Buffalo. Injuries and locker room drama plagued the Cowboys last season and now that the drama has been handled and injuries have healed; this may be the Cowboy’s year to reign supreme in the NFC East.
The Washington Redskins presently command odds of 450. A slightly above average squad all around, I could possibly foresee a wildcard out of them. I do not see anything suggesting this team can make it to the top of the division, considering the division consists of above average teams.
Overall, I foresee the best value pick for the NFC East division winner in the Dallas Cowboys. Though the Giants sit as the odds on favorite to win the division, the changes in the locker room combined with the healing of last season’s injuries makes the Cowboys the team to beat in my eyes.