Football Betting – Value Might Be Found in Betting on a Team to Reach the AFC Conference Final

Already buzz is beginning to build regarding which teams have a shot to win the AFC Conference this upcoming NFL Season. The Indianapolis Colts are favorites to do so and could remain the favorites well until kick-off in early September.

That’s all well and good, but even NFL fans who don’t feel that taking the NFL odds on another team to beat the Colts, who feel that the Colts are definitely the team that will win the AFC Championship game, can make a few bucks by betting on a team to just face the Colts in the AFC Championship.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 60% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? Find out more exciting details HERE.]

Betting on a team to just Reach the Conference Final in a lot of ways makes more sense than betting on a team to win the Conference Final if gamblers truly believe that the favorite, in this case the Colts, are unbeatable and don’t have a strong opinion on a team to beat them. It’s like betting on a horse to place.

So, who are the best bets to just reach the AFC Conference Championship this season?

To Reach AFC Conference Final

Best Bet A: Baltimore Ravens +350

The Ravens’ #1 rival in their conference remains the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, I know that Cincinnati won the AFC North last season, but to me that was an anomaly. The Bengals had all off-season to look in the mirror and decide that they really aren’t that good.

The Ravens are still the team to beat in the AFC North along with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers’ issue is that they just aren’t as good as they were last season and they might be 2 and 4 before getting their QB, Ben Roethlisberger, back. To me, that puts the nail in the coffin for those guys.

Baltimore picked up WR Anquan Boldin. +350 on a team with RB Ray Rice, Boldin, and QB Joe Flacco on offense and a still stellar defense to just get to the AFC Championship game is a must bet in my opinion. I love’em.

Best Bet B: Indianapolis Colts +200

I’ve been called a Colts hater by some of my friends for basically riding them since before this past February’s Super Bowl. Hey, I was right, wasn’t I? The Colts did lose to the Saints because of a turnover, didn’t they? Okay, I said way more than that about the Colts before the last Super Bowl, but the truth is that this is a new season and I’ve turned my hater button off…at least for this write-up!

I’m not in love with the Colts and I don’t believe that they win the AFC Championship but +200 on these guys are just to good of betting odds for me to turn down. I mean, Indianapolis should win their conference, I wouldn’t bet them at the odds, but they should. Once they’re in the playoffs, I believe they are better than both the San Diego Chargers and possibly the New York Jets. I wrote possibly. What I’m saying is that betting on the Colts to make the AFC Conference Championship, just to make it, works in perfect concert with me betting on the Houston Texans to win the AFC South.

How? Well, the Colts are at -150 to win the Conference. They’re at +200 to just make it to the AFC Conference Championship game. I hope that makes sense to everybody. Value can be found in betting the Colts to make it to the game not in winning their conference or even in winning their division.

Best Bet C: New York Jets +325

I’d love the Jets as much as the Colts or Ravens to make it to the Conference Final but I believe that their road might be just a bit tougher to win their division. Also, that’s a big difference to me, +350 on the Ravens to +325 on the Jets. Even Steven, meaning that I believe that both the Ravens and Jets have an equal chance to make it to the AFC Championship game, I have to give the nod to the Ravens. That doesn’t mean, of course, that I dislike the Jets.

I believe that their running game is better with Shonn Greene carrying most of the load instead of him having to come into the game off of the bench and that the defense will be the best in the NFL. I just like the Ravens just as much as I like the Jets. That’s all.

Worst Bet: San Diego Chargers +250

The NFL odds on the Chargers to Reach the AFC Conference Final makes no sense to me. How are they better than they were last season again? Can somebody please explain this to me?

San Diego is counting on a rookie RB, Ryan Matthews, to carry the load on offense for them. Oh, yes, I forgot, Vincent Jackson, their top wide receiver, is being a pain in the ass. Who knows if he’ll even be in camp on time?

Oh…wait…this just in, San Diego started camp today! Guess what? Mathews isn’t in camp, neither is Jackson, nor is left tackle Marcus McNeill…nor LB Shawne Merriman.

+250? Really?

Best Underdog Bet: Denver Broncos +1200

I’ll be the first to admit that coach Josh McDaniels let this team implode last season, but this season’s team is different for a number of reasons. First of all, QB Kyle Orton is better than the man he replaced, Jay Cutler. Second, the ridiculous entity that is Brandon Marshall no longer wears blue and orange. Third, the defense might be better because the running game should be better and that running game was pretty good last season.

Finally, I just got done writing why I don’t like the Chargers. Well, +1200 on Denver are good NFL odds.

So, I’m going to take a shot on McDaniels getting his team together, RB Knowshon Moreon improving, and Orton providing steady leadership under center.

Check out the NFL sportsbook by clicking this link.