NFL betting players are gearing up for a big weekend, so let’s jump right into this week’s divisional-playoff picks.

Cardinals vs Saints odds – Seven points is far too big of a spread for the Saints to have, even at home. The Cardinals are rolling behind Kurt Warner, and the Saints were awful to end the season. I’ll take Warner over Drew Brees, thank you very much. CARDINALS +7

Ravens vs Colts odds – The Baltimore defense looked very good against New England, but the Patriots were missing Wes Welker, who is a huge part of their offense. Peyton Manning and the Colts will be deadly, and it doesn’t hurt them that Joe Flacco is hobbling around with a hip problem. COLTS -6

Cowboys vs Vikings odds – In this highly-touted matchup between Minnesota’s Brett Favre and Dallas’ Tony Romo, I’ll take Favre’s experience. Look for Adrian Peterson to break out of his slump, as well. VIKINGS -2.5

Jets vs Chargers odds – The Jets are a good story, but a team with a rookie head coach in Rex Ryan, and a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez against a team that has won 11 in a row? No thank you. Anyone who gives out betting tips will tell you how much experience counts at this time of the year. CHARGERS -6

Some NFL betting news to throw your way - do you think Michael Vick will play football in 2009? Sportsbook odds give it a big thumbs down as far as him playing in the NFL in 2009, but there is other opportunities, like the CFL.

Those who bet sports know that Vick has definitely paid his dues after two years in jail but will the NFL Commissionner, Roger Goodell, deem that to be enough time? Is Goodell above the law to punish Vick even further?

I wouldn’t put it past him but from an NFL betting standpoint, it would be good to see Vick around in the NFL. Think about it: Dan Orlovsky, Sage Rosenfels and Gus Frerotte all started at quarterback last season. So did J.T. O’Sullivan, and Shaun Hill, and Ken Dorsey. Vick is better than all of those quarterbacks and should get another chance. He’s just over 30 and those who bet sports know that for a quarterback, that’s not ancient. Give him a chance to get some money back.

The Detroit Lions aren’t worrying about Baseball Classic odds or the March Madness odds right now. They are wondering whether they should draft a quarterback with the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Like last year, there are questions about the quarterbacks. Nobody was fully sold on Matt Ryan, but look at how he turned out.

Those who bet sports didn’t really know much about Joe Flacco either, but he turned out pretty well.

Sportsbook odds don’t have Stafford - or a quarterback- favored to go as the top pick in the draft. That’s likely because new head coach Jim Schwartz is more of a “line of scrimmage” guy, which might mean they opt for an offensive tackle instead.

I’ll take a break Baseball Classic odds as the tournament rosters are about to be announced tonight to talk about a different roster move in the NFL. Pro Bowl defensive tackle is rumored to be heading to the Washington Redskins in a deal that could break the $100 million range.

Those who bet sports might not really care, but for NFL heads this is an insane contract.

Haynesworth is a lazy player who performed well on essentially two one-year contracts. Now he’s going to have long term security and he’s going to mail it in.

Online betting handicappers have watched several free agent signings by the Washington Redskins just blow up in their faces. This will be the next.

Back to March Madness odds and Baseball Classic betting. The NFL season is still a ways away.

There’s not much else except for some NBA betting tonight so we’ll focus on the NFL combine. The league is focused in on Indianapolis and we’ll see if the league is duped by a couple of fast tight ends.

As most scouts have it right now, Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew is the top tight end in the draft. But Jared Cook, in most cases not a Top-5 tight end prospect, just flew up a lot of draft boards with a 4.5-second run of the event.

That’s the fastest time since Vernon Davis became the sixth pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft because of his insane 4.38 time in the 40. Sportsbook odds suggest that it will be a long time before anyone breaks Davis’ time.

And if that’s the case, then Cook looks great with a 4.5 time. Southern Mississippi’s Shawn Nelson could be the guy who helped himself the most. He might have eclipsed Pettigrew as the top tight end because he ran a 4.56.

NFL betting isn’t as far away as you think. I’ll be doing some betting and picking for the NFL Draft, which is at the end of April. Most sportbook lines will have some options for you so pay attention to the combine and speculation as we approach the draft.

You might be distracted by UFC 95 betting, and the upcoming March Madness betting hoopla, but let’s focus on the NFL for just a minute (and not just NFL betting).

Start your countdown, free agency begins in eight days! Teams have already started - and have been playing - franchise tag and nine players have already received the designation.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby (ARZ), Punter Michael Koenen (ATL), Linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs.  (BAL), Matt Cassel (NE), Running back Brandon Jacobs (NYG), Running back Darren Sproles (SD), Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (STL), Receiver Antonio Bryant (TB).

Should be interesting. Guys like Sproles have been tagged, but he might just get traded. Another guy like Julius Peppers could earn a tag as well, just so the Panthers get something for him.

NFL betting is like 200 days and counting. For now, I’m looking forward to UFC 95 lines and the World Baseball Classic odds. But I still have my eye on the NFL.