Super Bowl betting players figure Bill Belichick would rather be in Dallas preparing for the Super Bowl, but instead the New England coach will be leading the AFC for the third time in the Pro Bowl, which comes back to Hawaii in its new spot before the Super Bowl.

Pro Bowl Odds – Sunday, 7:00 PM ET

Belichick won’t have his guy, Tom Brady, but he’ll be reunited with Matt Cassel, who will likely be behind Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers. The AFC is also deep at running back with Arian Foster, Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles. Defensively, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs will represent Baltimore, while Darrelle Revis and Nmandi Asomugha will get a chance to show they’re the best corners in the league.

Atlanta’s Mike Smith will make his Pro Bowl coaching debut, and he’ll have nine of his Falcons on the team, including Matt Ryan, but it is Michael Vick who will start at quarterback for the NFC. The offense may have to step up because there are a lot of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including Ndamokung Suh, Patrick Willis, Asante Samuel and the Chicago duo of Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.

The NFC opened as 1.5-point Pro Bowl betting favorites, but the game is down to a pick’em. The AFC has won six of the last 11 Pro Bowls, and there has been an average of almost 74 points scored in a game that will get competitive in the second half. We’re putting our money with the AFC as Belichick has been here before and he knows how to split up the reps, while this will be new for Smith. Put the AFC in your sports online betting picks this weekend.

When comparing the offenses of the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers it is easy to note stylistic differences. The Packers are led by their passing game, helmed by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, while the Steelers put an emphasis on the running game and ball control, relying on broken play heroics by their pivot Ben Roethlisberger, when necessary. With both teams preparing to put up points in Super Bowl XLV, it will be interesting to see what changes, if any, are made to their respective schemes. Rodgers is playing at an incredibly high level and with the game set to be played in Texas Stadium’s climate controlled dome setting; an air show is expected from the Pack. Pittsburgh will counter with their traditional smash-mouth approach; after all, it has won them two trophies.

After starting running back Ryan Grant was injured in the first game of the season, Green Bay became almost exclusively a passing team. With Rodgers, a strong offensive line and a deep receiving core, few teams could be as well suited as Green Bay was to become a strictly vertical attack. The Packers finished fifth in passing yards and Aaron Rodgers elevated himself to elite quarterback status, carrying the offense almost single-handedly. In the
playoffs, Rodgers has been untouchable, completing over %70 of his passes, including a spectacular performance against Atlanta on the NFL schedule in the Georgia Dome in which the quarterback complete %86 of his passes for 366 yards and 3 scores. Rodgers operates mostly out of shotgun with sets of three to four wide receivers. The Packers have four capable wide outs in Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Each receiver is different. Driver is a veteran, all-around receiver who is adept at medium routes to pick up first downs, Jennings is a speedy deep threat who is one of the league’s best at burning defensive backs downfield, Jones is a sharp route runner with the size and strength to make tough catches and lastly, Nelson is a shifty slot receiver whose skills at running after the catch stem from his time spent as the team’s kick returner. Rodger’s clever pre-snap recognition allows him to determine which of his four options will be best positioned to make a catch and the combination of his elusiveness and the Green Bay offensive line gives him time to make the play. Though Grant will not be in the lineup come Super Bowl Sunday, the Packers’ running game will still be effective. Coach Mike McCarthy had been using a running back-by-committee approach for the entire season but it was only in the wild card round against Philadelphia that he discovered his number one back. Brandon Jackson has proved worthy as an outside runner and receiver and John Kuhn has impressed in his role as a halfback-fullback combo but rookie James Starks seems to be the choice as the team’s top ball carrier. Starks’ size, at 6’2 218 lbs allows him to break away from tacklers and the rookie has also shown great vision and cutting ability as well.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are again vying for a Super Bowl trophy after another successful season at the top of the NFL standings. The Steelers’ way has not changed: run the ball, play defense. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians lives in the shadow of his Coach Mike Tomlin and defensive guru Dick LeBeau, but every year he manages to organize one of the league’s most effective units. The Steelers’ approach starts with the offensive line, which could be depleted for the championship game. Guards Chris Kemoeatu and Ramon Foster have had good years but their success has been aided by rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, who left the AFC Championship game with a high ankle sprain. That interior of the line will be crucial in creating holes for running back Rashard Mendenhall, who seems to be growing stronger as the season continues after he gashed the harrowed New York Jets defense for 107 yards on Sunday. If Mendenhall can get going against the Packers it will free Roethlisberger to make more plays in the passing game. Much of the Steelers’ aerial attack is based on Big Ben’s ability to extend the play so that receivers Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders can free themselves from coverage. Pittsburgh’s receivers are small, speed wide outs who are excellent at creating separation and running after the catch – skills that match perfectly with Roethlisberger’s broken, yet big, play ability.Still, the weakness of Packers’ defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ 2-4-5 scheme is covering the tight end position. The last time these two teams faced, Roethlisberger put up 500 passing yards mostly through completions over the middle of Green Bay’s defense, a tactic he will try again with tight end Heath Miller who made several crucial catches on Sunday.

Much will be made about the teams’ defenses leading up to the Super Bowl, with the age-old adage “defense wins championships” being muttered extensively. Still, viewers want to see offensive football and both these squads are capable of producing big plays. Rodgers and the Packers will come out throwing, looking to put up points early through the air, while Roethlisberger and the Steelers will control the ball from the jump, attempting to establish a grinding pace. Whoever wins the tempo battle will be in the driving seat for this game, but with two great quarterbacks armed with big game receivers in Ward and Driver, nothing will be settled until the clock hits zeroes.

Super Bowl betting players are preparing for their version of the Final Four, but we all know the real Final Four comes from college hoops, and here are our picks to make it to Houston.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes have the best big man in the country in freshman Jared Sullinger, and he’s surrounded by experienced shooters in Jon Diebler and David Lighty, along with William Buford. The Buckeyes should also be able to snag a No.1 seed as the class of the Big Ten.

Kansas

The Jayhawks have experienced players like Markieff and Marcus Morris, along with Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar. The X-factor is freshman Josh Selby, who is probably the most talented player on the team, but he still makes some poor decisions. Still, Kansas is the deepest team in the nation and can overcome that.

Syracuse

It’s really tough to figure out who will come out of the Big East, and it’s between UConn and Syracuse. We’re giving the edge to the Orangemen because of their 2-3 zone that forces teams to shoot from the outside, which boosts their chances. Syracuse also has one of the top forward duos in the country in Kris Joseph and Rick Jackson.

Texas

The Longhorns are a much better team than last year, as in, they play much better as a team. They can score from the perimeter, but the emergence of Tristan Thompson in the post makes Texas a real threat, so don’t wait until March to jump on their sports betting odds.

Those checking out NHL scores this weekend have three intriguing games to watch while the rest of the world focuses on NFL playoff betting, and here are some trends to check for before heading to your sportsbook.

Canucks Capitals Betting – Friday, 7:00 PM ET

The Capitals will likely be favored at home against the Canucks, who currently lead the NHL in points. The Canucks were last in Washington in 2008, and they’re 3-2 SU in their five trips to the nation’s capital, with three of those games going over the posted total. The line won’t likely be that high, given Washington’s inconsistency this season, coming with nine wins in their last 10 for Vancouver ahead of a road game against the Rangers on Thursday.

Penguins Bruins Betting – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

The Bruins should be favored at home in this contest against the Penguins, who are 2-3 SU in their last five visits to Beantown. Three of those five games have gone under the posted total, with a push and an over as well. The Penguins are still missing Sidney Crosby, which should push the lines more in Boston’s direction.

Flyers Rangers Betting – Sunday, 7:00 PM ET

It’s tough to say who will be favored in this Atlantic Division clash, as the Flyers are tied with Detroit for the most road wins in the NHL. The Rangers are 4-1 SU in their last five meetings at Madison Square Garden against the Flyers, with three games going under the posted total. Despite the Rangers’ record at home over Philadelphia, the Flyers had won four straight as of Thursday, so don’t expect the Rangers to be heavy favorites if you’re betting online.

Super Bowl betting is about to get serious as the league kicks off their postseason on Saturday, so with no delay, here is a look at the playoff picture.

The Favorites

New England (+130) and Pittsburgh (+500) are ahead of the back with Atlanta (+500) and the defending champs from New Orleans (+800), along with Chicago (+900). Everyone is looking for a Patriots-Steelers AFC title game, while Atlanta would love another crack at New Orleans, the only team to win at the Georgia Dome. Don’t count out the Bears if Jay Cutler can manage to not throw picks.

The Second Tier

Green Bay (+1000), Philadelphia (+1200), Baltimore (+1400) and Indianapolis (+1600) are in the next group, but at least one will be out after the Packers head to Philly this weekend. Baltimore and Indy are favored in their first-round games, but both have their flaws. The Packers look like the best bet to make some noise out of this group, as they’re strong on both sides of the ball.

The Darkhorses

The New York Jets (+2200) are offering some great value, and if Rex Ryan can finally get past Peyton Manning and the Colts this weekend, they could be a force. Kansas City (+4000) is a very young team, and we don’t think they’ll handle the pressure of the playoffs against Baltimore. As for Seattle (+12500), the Seahawks are the first team in the playoffs with a losing record, and they’re probably not worth an online sports bet to go all the way.

For the first time in seven years, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will host a playoff game on the NFL schedule. It’s a shame that a place so cold, so loud with so much history has been denied an elimination contest for so long, but the wait is over for the home of the Chiefs, winners of the AFC West division in the NFL standings. As fans snuggle into their long red parkas marked with the same logos that once adorned the helmets of Dawson and Thomas, as beers spill down to become ice in the upper bowl, two teams will take the frozen field with their breath and pain visible to compete for passage to the next round.

The opposition for the hometown Chiefs will be the Baltimore Ravens, led by their ruthless middle linebacker Ray Lewis. Lewis is at once relentless, violent and inspired – a force of nature with a philosophical focus. This combination of terror and concentration is what makes the Baltimore defense the perennial power it is, the driving force of the team the league’s best unit. Lewis’ men relish the opportunity to play in the winter months, where hits get harder and the stakes grow higher, but the Chiefs present an interesting challenge. K.C. quarterback Matt Cassel enjoyed a good if unspectacular season, throwing for 3,116 yards and 27 scores against only 7 interceptions. Cassel was able to limit his mistakes on account of his offensive line, which played brilliantly all season long. The line is powered by its bedrock left side; tackle Brandon Albert and guard Brian Waters. Albert, in his third season, displayed the consistency and athleticism at 6’5 315 lbs that made him a first round pick in 2008, using his improved footwork to protect Cassel’s blindside. Waters, an eleven year veteran, again proved his worth as a mobile, driving run blocker who can pull to either side and create massive holes with his impactful collisions. Another beneficiary of the line’s play has been running back Jamaal Charles, who enjoyed a superb 1,467 yard season, averaging a remarkable 6.4 yards per carry. Though statistics and divisional success might spur the Chiefs to great aspirations, the Ravens’ defense has seen many an upstart offense during their tenure as the league’s premier bad asses and they have chewed them up and spat them out all the same. Albert should expect a 60 minute battle with linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was among the league leaders with 11 sacks. Suggs is a devastating pass rusher who will use his speed and quickness initially and then will have no problem triggering his strength to grapple with opposing linemen. Waters will need to be quick out of his stance to handle the interior presence of Haloti Ngata, a dominant defensive lineman who has outstanding athletic ability for a man with his 6’4 350 lb frame. Cassel’s awareness of the locations of Lewis and safety Ed Reed will be paramount. Reed has been Lewis’ right hand man during the defense’s tyrannous reign, a playmaker with the talent and instincts to snatch the ball from the offense at any moment and return it to their house.

It seems that every season now Lewis will be asked if he’s slowing down, if he feels like he’s slowing down. True to form, the linebacker scoffs at such doubts, exuding the prevailing confidence that makes him such an authoritative leader for his team. Lewis is not stupid, he is aware of his humanity, aware of the fact that one day he will be unable to chase down ball carriers like a predator in a stampede, to stand tough like a fortress on fourth and inches, to strike fear with a stare. He knows his limitations tomorrow and that is what makes him so strong today – he feels that he must inflict his power now. Arrowhead will be the ideal setting for Lewis to grow his monstrous legend; a cold field with hordes of enthused Chiefs supporters cheering against him, an old school stage for an old soul gladiator.

The Pittsburgh Panthers intended to compete for something more weighted than the Compass Bowl this season. With a pair of proven playmakers on offense and a seasoned defense led by its own standout, Pitt was expected to rise above the unimpressive Big East competition. Those expectations, like the hopeful prospects that surrounded the hiring of the now dismissed Dave Wannstedt as Head Coach, were never met by the Panthers and their season will end with a game on the NCAA football schedule against Kentucky as the program stands on the brink of transition. The bowl, to be played in Birmingham, Alabama with relative media obscurity, will align a team without a coach across from a team without a quarterback – a signifier of the rudderless campaigns both programs have endured this year.

Wannstedt was fired in early December but after his supposed replacement Mike Haywood was arrested for a domestic violence charge over New Year’s weekend, the former Panther player who was beloved by the current roster was asked to lead the team for a final time. Citing a desire to not draw attention away from his team, Wannstedt has declined to coach the bowl game, leaving defensive coordinator Phil Bennett with the responsibility. Haywood’s hiring and sudden firing has been an embarrassing mishandle by the university. Athletic director Steve Pederson boldly stated that Haywood would bring discipline to the Pitt program – a comment that is laughable at this point, while Wannstedt has been so supported by his players that they lined up behind the coach in solidarity when he was fired and have posted comments on twitter expressing their want for him to be re-hired. Sideline fiasco aside, the Panthers’ offense will attempt to get the engine running early on against a marginal Wildcats defense. Pittsburgh’s top talents are at running back and receiver; Dion Lewis and Jon Baldwin. Lewis, who had a monstrous freshman year with 1,799 yards on an average of 5.5 per carry, has suffered a decline in his sophomore season; rushing for only 956 yards. Opposing defenses geared towards halting Lewis with a first year starter at quarterback for the Panthers, and while Lewis managed to supply steady production from the backfield, he only went over 100 yards in three games. Lewis was not the only player who was affected by a drop off at the quarterback position; junior Jon Baldwin, who is expected to declare for the NFL draft, also experienced a disappointing season statistically. Baldwin, who caught 57 balls for 1,111 yards and 8 scores in his sophomore season, accumulated only 810 receiving yards in 2010, leading the wide out to openly suggest that the team was attempting to sabotage his draft stock by sending him exclusively on deep patterns. The Panthers will need both Baldwin and Lewis to be on their game if they have any hope of giving Wannstedt a valiant send off.

Kentucky will be without their quarterback, senior Mike Hartline for the bowl game. Hartline has been suspended by Head Coach Joker Phillips following the pivot’s arrest for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Hartline had passed for an impressive 3,178 yards and 23 scores with a %66 completion percentage but Phillips has a steadfast belief in his team’s integrity and will not allow the quarterback to lead his team into a final battle. The Wildcats will turn to the explosive Randall Cobb for offensive energy in the absence of their passer. Cobb amassed an outstanding 2,191 all-purpose yards this season playing slot receiver and tailback while also returning kicks and passing for three touchdowns. Cobb has the ability to change a game with one play and he could give Kentucky the spark they need to overcome not having their starting quarterback on the field.

Kentucky had a competitive season in the SEC but still was only able to manage a 6-6 season, finishing second last in the conference in the NCAA football standings . Their season, like Pittsburgh’s, was, as a whole, a disappointment. The Compass bowl offers little in the way of retribution – the late date figures
to limit media attention and national interest, but both teams can earn a spot of optimism with a victory. Both squads will be troubled by the distractions of those who aren’t present but they would be better served by concentrating on who is actually digging their cleats into the hot southern turf.