The interminable mess that is the NFL’s labour dispute only got worse for fans last week when it was revealed that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling extending the lockout imposed by the owners.

At this point, the conflict has become more of a legal battle than the balanced negotiation it should have been. Instead of making trade-offs to come to a mutually satisfying agreement, both parties have taken to the courts in the hopes of gaining bargaining power.

DeMaurice Smith, the head of what was the NFL Players Association – no longer an actual union since the players voted to decertify it – has taken to grandstanding for the public like he’s engaged in a WWE-style feud. He talks of “counterpunching”, not “laying down” amidst the “chaos” the league is allegedly creating.

His rhetoric is only further poisoning the already-toxic relationship between the two sides, so even if they ever do get back to the bargaining table, it’s hard to imagine a respectful atmosphere of cooperation emerging. Expect NFL news to still be dominated by stories about lawsuits and finger-pointing instead of what to do about escalating rookie salaries and whether to extend the regular season.

The next major step is the antitrust suit being filed by a number of players against the league, colloquially known as “Brady vs. NFL”, with initial hearings set for early next month. The players want the lockout lifted on the grounds that it is unlawful, while the league is countering that the decertification of the union is a sham. (By no longer operating as a labour organization, the players can operate under antitrust legislation.)

The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be moving further and further away, with the scheduled start of the preseason only two months away. Even if a deal can be struck, the league still needs to have a free agency period, sign rookie contracts, and hold training camps. Week one of the 2011 NFL season was suppose to encompass the 10^th anniversary of September 11^th, but it’s now entirely possible that greed and ego are going to get in the way of what would be a major cultural moment for the United States.

Oh, and if Ray Lewis is to be believed, a football-less fall will apparently turn the country into some kind of anarchic, crime-riddled wasteland, because people won’t have anything better to do. So that’s not good either.

NFL betting players are always looking for an edge when it comes to their odds, and underdogs are a good way to win against the spread. Here are the top five underdogs so far this year.

Kansas City- Heading into Week 10, the Chiefs are 4-1 ATS as an underdog, due to a young team that is responding to good coaching. There may not be many more chances to take the Chiefs as underdogs, so do so when you can.

Baltimore- The Ravens are 2-0-1 as an underdog, but they’re dangerous because they’re a team that plays with a chip on their shoulder all the time. Give them an “us against the world” mentality, and you’re going to be in trouble.

Washington- The Redskins are doing their best to be a poor team, but there is too much talent to say they’re terrible. Washington is a resounding 5-1-1 as an underdog, and with their defense, you’re not likely to see them get blown out.

Detroit- The Lions are 5-1 as an underdog because of their last few seasons where they were laughingstocks. Their draft picks are starting to pan out, and you watch: the Lions could end up in the playoffs next year, so get in on the action while you can.

St. Louis- Everything about the Lions can be said about the Rams, who are 5-2 as an underdog. Sam Bradford is playing well above his status as a rookie, No.1 pick or not, but their improved defense is the reason why NFL betting players should lay an online sports bet on the Rams.

NFL football betting players are gearing up for the second half of the season, so with no delay, let’s get into the top four games in Week 9 NFL football betting action.

Buccaneers Falcons Betting – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Falcons are favored by 8.5 points in this NFC South showdown, but the Bucs have given them some problems at the Georgia Dome in the past, and they got a lot of confidence after their coach said they were the best team in the NFC.

Dolphins Ravens Betting – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Ravens are 5-point favorites against the Dolphins, who are going against their third consecutive AFC North opponent. Miami has made it tough for Baltimore to cover the spread at home against them, so this should be a good one.

Colts Eagles Betting – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Eagles are 3-point favorites at home in this matchup of two distinctly different quarterbacks: Peyton Manning has kept Indianapolis going in the face of injuries, while Michael Vick’s running ability poses a big set of problems for the Colts’ defense.

Chiefs Raiders Betting – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Raiders are 2.5-point favorites against the Chiefs in this AFC West rivalry, and Oakland has put together two brilliant performances on both sides of the ball. The young Chiefs have been one of the big surprises of the NFL season, and a win over a divisional rival may be the thing that makes betting players have some faith in them.

With the college football season nearing the end and the NFL season entering the final quarter, there’s plenty of action this weekend that will keep me glued to the couch.

We’ve got the Civil War, with Oregon vs Oregon State betting, with a Rose Bowl berth on the line for Oregon State. We’ve got the Steelers vs Patriots odds in Gilette Stadium, which denotes AFC supremacy. And we’ve got the Jaguars vs Texans odds on Monday Night Football. Enjoy the latter game.

But here’s a shocker in what might be the biggest game of the weekend:

Everyone is talking about how much the BCS is going to factor in a potential tie in the Big 12 between Oklahoma and Texas but everyone is forgetting that there are Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State odds to deal with first.

I’m predicting Oklahoma State causes Bedlam and upsets Oklahoma this Northbet.com wagering weekend in what is their biggest game in school history. This is their Super Bowl and they will be focused on putting on a show at their new stadium. The bye week should also help.

Online betting pick: Oklahoma State +8 & +250