It seemed every week last year there were games where bad teams were getting a ton of points in NFL odds and failing. That should not happen as much in 2010 as many of last year’s bottom feeders have improved. You should not see as many double-digit favorites in NFL lines because teams like Detroit and Cleveland are better.
Last week early in the season the bad teams were really bad. Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Detroit and St. Louis were awful. Washington and Tennessee were no better. The Browns lost their first four games and later on lost seven in a row. The Lions started the season 1-8. The Rams were pathetic as they started with seven straight losses. The Titans were a disaster in their first six games against the NFL odds before turning things around.
Not This Year – There are not going to be as many bad teams this season. It is not going to be a season where teams like New Orleans and Indianapolis can just run over everyone. The Detroit Lions look to be the most improved team in the NFL. They have an exciting young rookie running back in Jahvid Best, a much improved Matthew Stafford, a very good defensive line and some real hope. The Cleveland Browns have Mike Holmgren running the show and a quarterback in Jake Delhomme that has won before so they should be better. The Rams have been awful for years but they have Sam Bradford at quarterback and he looks to be a rookie who can survive his first season and play well.
No Big Lines in Week 1 – There is only one game in Week 1 that has a line of even a TD at SBG and that game is no lock. The Giants are laying seven points to Carolina and there is no guarantee they even win that game.
Take the Underdogs – If we are right about the bad teams being improved this season it is going to be music to the ears of the sports books. The books hate it when there are rotten teams in the NFL because the public won’t bet them. The public takes favorites every week against the NFL odds. If the bad teams are better this season it will mean underdogs cover and the sports books win money.