If you play online poker, you’re still likely to get the urge to do some sports betting from time to time and the NFL is obviously a major player in the industry. Three teams stand apart from the rest when it comes to the favorites for the Super Bowl, but the second tier could make some noise as well.

New England (+590) and Philadelphia (+650) made the biggest splashes in the offseason as they try to chase down Green Bay (+635), who didn’t really make any changes to the team that won it all last season. All three teams have spectacular quarterbacks who will challenge for the Most Valuable Player award, but defense will be what separates the good from the great, and all three defenses have the potential to be great.

But don’t stop there, as San Diego (+1100), Pittsburgh (+1200), Indianapolis (+1200), Atlanta (+1200), Dallas (+1600) and Baltimore (+1600) are all in the mix and have legitimate chances to win the Super Bowl. The Steelers lost to Green Bay last year and should challenge again, and even though Peyton Manning may miss the beginning of the season, the Colts will be a threat when he comes back. The wild cards are San Diego and Atlanta, as the Chargers finished first in offense and defense last year, but missed the playoffs because of injuries and contract holdouts, while the Falcons may have the best offense in the NFL (which is saying a lot), but their defense will be the key to their betting chances in 2011/12.

During the 2010 – 11 NFL betting lines seasons, the NFC South was able to accomplish an intriguing feat. Essentially, the South housed two of the top teams in the entire league in Atlanta and New Orleans, a middle of the pack team in Tampa Bay and the league’s worst team in Carolina. Heading into this season, all four teams to make up the sports betting NFC South, will be looking to become synonymous with contenders in the NFL. Today we look at whether or not the NFC South can put together another impressive season.

If there was ever a season for a letdown, the 2011 – 12 seasons is the year. With a make shift training camp and preseason due to an extended lockout this offseason, it isn’t hard to imagine that more than one team will be a little rusty as the regular season moves on. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are both considered by many of our colleagues to be the two teams that will take a step back this year. For Atlanta, there has been so much hype over their offseason that it seems as though the team will be due for a letdown.

On the other hand, for Tampa Bay, critics see the team taking a step back, due to a learning curve. Remember, the Buccaneers are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and last season’s 10 and six record was a shocker to everyone.

Conversely, New Orleans is a big question mark, as fans wonder if they got lucky their Super Bowl year, and last year’s choke job was the real Saints team. This season, New Orleans, has one of the youngest offenses, which could pose as a problem as the defense gets another year older.

If you bet football online, you have noticed that Atlanta and New Orleans are even in the NFC North, but the Falcons are going to pull away from the Saints this season and they could rule the division for a while.

Both teams are listed at +120, but the Falcons’ offense will be one of the best in the league, adding rookie Julio Jones to the core of Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez. The Saints still have Drew Brees and offloaded Reggie Bush, but the defense may have to pick up the slack as the offense isn’t as explosive as before. Tampa Bay could be a sports betting darkhorse to ride at +360 because they may have the best defense in the division, but they’re still young on both sides of the ball. Finally, Carolina brings up the rear at +2000, which is good for expectations that will be placed on rookie quarterback Cam Newton, who gives Panther fans a reason to hope for the future. However, this year (and probably next season) should be considered a wash.

However, it should be Atlanta’s division to lose, as long as the defense isn’t completely terrible because the offense should be able to carry them through the division. The Saints may be better off protecting their position from the Buccaneers, who will be a threat soon. But in 2001, take Atlanta to win the NFC North at your favorite sports betting sites.

Last season, the NFL betting lines couldn’t have been drawn any better, as the Super Bowl was contested between an AFC and NFC North team for the first time in the history of the league. Ultimately, the NFC North team would win the Super Bowl, but the matchup made most sports betting fans think, who has the better North division? Today we will be looking at which division is more competitive the AFC or NFC North.

The 2010 -11 seasons was one of the most intriguing in the history of the NFL, as not only did two teams from the same division faceoff in a semi final Championship game, but then two teams representing the same division in different conferences, played for the Super Bowl. On paper, the Pittsburgh Steelers should have destroyed a deflated Green Bay Packers squad in February, as the Steelers were very healthy in comparison to the Packers. However, injuries and all the Packers proved to be the best team.

Yet, having said that, entering the 2011 – 12 seasons, the AFC North in our opinion is a much stronger division than the NFC North. Made up of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati, the AFC North has been a part of three of the last four AFC Championship games. Mind you, the team representing the North has always been Pittsburgh.

On the other hand, the NFC North is made up of Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota. Over the last few years prior to last season, the Vikings had dominated the division before taking a step back. The NFC North is known as a highly offensive division, as each of the teams have incredible offenses, and decent defenses.

In the AFC North, all four teams have strong defenses, and decent offenses, that are literally built for the playoffs. With Baltimore and Cleveland improving significantly this season, and no team in the NFC North making that many improvements, it is safe to say the AFC North should be more competitive than the NFC North this year.