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.

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.

Even MLB betting players will be thinking about the upcoming NFL football season, as sports betting lines have been released after the conclusion of the lockout, and it should be no surprise that a familiar duo will battle for the AFC North Crown.

Pittsburgh (+100): The Steelers came up just short against Green Bay in the Super Bowl and they should be in the mix again; only off-field distractions should be able to slow down the Steelers, and they need to focus on avoiding fines (yes, you, James Harrison) and just play hard-nosed football.

Baltimore (+120): The Ravens are perennial bridesmaids to the Steelers in the division, and they may not have the ammunition to get past them this year. The health of safety Ed Reed is always a question, but the bigger worry is whether quarterback Joe Flacco can make the jump to the next level, like Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Cleveland (+700): The Browns are on the ascent with new head coach Pat Shurmur, who did excellent work with St. Louis pivot Sam Bradford and will be asked to the same with Colt McCoy, who will come into camp as the starter. But Cleveland is still very young, and that’s tough to overcome in this division.

Cincinnati (+1200): Oh, the Bengals; they won’t trade Carson Palmer, who has threatened to retire, and that means they need another quarterback because rookie Andy Dalton isn’t ready yet. It looks like yet another rebuilding year in Ohio, so it would be best to avoid the Bengals when you bet on sports this year.

Sports Betting Pick: Pittsburgh +100

NFL betting lines handicappers are beginning to grow impatient with the NFL and their players unions as the two sides appear to be dragging out the current labor dispute, just because they can. Heading into the 2011 sports betting NFL campaign, one of the most intriguing divisions, will be the AFC South. Here is a preview.

Last season, many fans and experts alike would argue that the Indianapolis Colts amidst all of their injuries were incredibly lucky to get into the playoffs as the AFC South division winner. With rumors that Peyton Manning won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, perennial underachievers the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to steal the divisional crown. Tennessee will round out the division, as they look to rebuild after the Jeff Fisher and Vince Young era.

Despite missing Peyton Manning for the start of the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts enter 2011 as the favorites to win the South. This belief by the bookies signals to football handicappers, that the bookies expect Indianapolis to pick up a competent backup quarterback. Last year, when the Colts put Manning’s backup in games, it was pretty terrible. If they go with the same backup tandem as last year, the Colts could find themselves rebuilding next offseason.

Heading into 2011, the Houston Texans anthem will be the Elvis song “It’s Now Or Never”, as the Texans have suffered from chronic choking disease long enough. Houston is one of those teams that has all the tools to take the next step, but just can’t seal the deal. However, by bringing in Wade Philips to coordinate the defense, the Texans have the opportunity to turn things around in a similar way to Philips old team, the 2004 San Diego Chargers.

PayPerHead.com, an online sportsbook service provider for local agents, today unveiled a new campaign featuring Vince Curatola, Johnny Sack of The Sopranos fame.

The campaign leads with Vince asking “Five bucks a head, that’s what I wanna pay…” and the website, featuring video and voice overs by Vince, walks you through the product, the process and the competition.

“Five bucks a head is really an industry first given our level of service,” a spokesman from PayPerHead.com explained. “And we very carefully and in great detail delineate on the website exactly what you get and at what price level at PayPerHead versus the other serious players, such as PPH International.”

As a sportsbook agent, what you get is a lot, including not only the traditional online sportsbook but an optional casino, live poker, in game live betting, mobile betting, tools for managing players and their funds, layoff and scalp accounts, even a “sharp check.” “We have the sharpest lines out there and one of the most experienced stages anywhere offshore,” the spokesman said, “so if we start seeing sharp action from one of your players, we can give you a heads up. What you want to do with him is up to you.”

The choice of Vince Curatola has intrigued many. “We always liked Vince’s character on The Sopranos, as John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni,” the PayPerHead spokesman said. “He had a certain style, always classy, but never over the top; there’s a calmness and authority about him that we really admire.  He brings that serious business demeanor to PayPerHead.com, the first sportsbook-service to EVER feature any kind of celebrity in its marketing.”

With post-up books like BetUS, Sportsbook.com and SportsInteraction stopping taking US players, Bodog and others struggling with “Ecom” processing problems, the street scene is heating up and players are posting daily in forums looking for a “local out.” Players want the biggest choice of markets, including live in-game betting, and the convenience of anytime betting online or via their mobile device, but more and more say “they want to bet online but prefer to settle in cash on Monday.”

Is this the future of online sports betting? It very well could be. And with firms like PayPerHead.com investing in marketing in an unprecedented way (celebs, who’d have thunk it?!) and in product (they also offer live poker, casino and in-game betting), expect to see this sector grow significantly this season.

For more information, see PayPerHead.com.

Super Bowl XLIII betting is taking up most of the NFL attention nowadays, but leave it to the Dallas Cowboys to make sure they aren’t forgotten this offseason. Already, Pacman Jones has been released under allegations of yet another shooting, we’ve had Troy Aikman calling out Tony Romo for going on a vacation before a playoff loss last season, and now, Michael Irvin will be the host of a reality show that gives one person a chance to win a spot on the Cowboys’ roster.

This is the LAST thing the Cowboys need, which is more cameras and more attention. The locker room is a mess, and it all started in the preseason when Dallas was featured in the “Hard Knocks” series. Now they want more cameras? I’ll only think this is a great idea if Emmitt Smith is Irvin’s co-host. There should actually be a Super Bowl XLIII betting prop to see how many mistakes Smith makes on Super Bowl Sunday’s pregame show.

A small break in the Super Bowl XLIII betting action to talk about the NFL draft, to be held on April 25 and 26 in its usual home of New York City. This draft will not have the name recognition of recent years, as most of the high-profile quarterbacks chose to stay in school.

Georgia’s Matthew Stafford and USC’s Mark Sanchez are generally expected to be the first two quarterbacks picked, but they lucked out as Heisman-winning Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, former Heisman winner Tim Tebow and Texas’ Colt McCoy returned to school for glory (any more glory for Tebow and he may explode, but that’s another story). The first three Northbet.com teams (Detroit, St. Louis and Kansas City) all need a new quarterback badly, and after the success of Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Joe Flacco in Baltimore, teams will probably be more accepting to pick a pivot with their first-round pick.

It’s not like any of those three teams will have good Super Bowl betting odds next season, but it’s a start, right?

Super Bowl XLIII betting players who are going with Arizona must be a bit worried by Anquan Boldin’s argument with offensive coordinator Todd Haley in the second half of their 32-25 win over Philadelphia to go to the Super Bowl. If you missed it:

Now, everyone is saying “that’s just part of the game” and “emotion” and whatnot, but Boldin’s been angry with the Cardinals all season due to a contract dispute, and they need him 100% focused for this contest. Boldin’s ability to draw coverage underneath allows Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston to take their defender deep in one-on-one coverage. If the Cardinals want to overcome these Super Bowl XLIII betting odds, they need all of their weapons.

The AFC was as hard-hitting as we expected in this contest featuring the top two defenses in the NFL. Baltimore’s Joe Flacco finally showed his rookie inexperience, throwing three picks as the Pittsburgh Steelers advanced with a 23-14 victory, covering the 5.5-point NFL spread. Big plays also carried the Steelers to the Super Bowl, as Santonio Holmes caught a 65-yard touchdown pass, while Troy Polamalu’s 40-yard interception for a score late in the fourth quarter sealed the game for Pittsburgh.

Arizona overcame the NFL betting odds to beat Philadelphia 32-25 at home as 4-point underdogs, and the Cardinals are now headed to their first Super Bowl. The Arizona defense continued their improvement, forcing three turnovers from the Eagles, while Kurt Warner was amazing, going 21-of-28 for 279 yards and four touchdowns.

Super Bowl XLIII odds have come out, with the Steelers opening up as 7-point favorites to win their sixth Super Bowl, while Arizona are under no pressure at all as their fans are just ecstatic to be mentioned in the same sentence as “Super Bowl XLIII Betting“.