NFL Betting – Pro Bowl Preview

Football fans used to be lost in NFL betting purgatory in the bye week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. But, for the second year, the NFL fills that void with the Pro Bowl, pitting the best players from the AFC and NFC – except for those playing next Sunday in Arlington – against each other.

Handicapping the Pro Bowl NFL pointspreads is sometimes a shot in the dark. The rosters change daily as players originally voted into the game drop out due to injuries or personal reasons. Also adding to the mystery of Pro Bowl betting is motivation.

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Last year, the league moved the game to Miami after holding the NFL All-Star event in Hawaii for 30 years. But with many players not seeing the incentive to play in South Florida, the NFL is back in the South Pacific, hosting Sunday’s game at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Whether the tropical surroundings serve as inspiration or distraction to the players remains to be seen.

The AFC are the defending Pro Bowl champs, knocking off the NFC 41-34 as 2.5-point underdogs last year. That snapped a two-game NFC winning streak and marked the sixth time the AFC has won in the past 10 seasons. This year’s AFC squad boasts some of the league’s elite talents including the NFL’s top passer, top receiver, and top rusher.

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is the starting pivot for the AFC, having passed for 4,710 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. Lining up on the wing for Rivers are the NFL leader in receiving yards, Denver Broncos WR Brandon Lloyd, Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe, and New England Patriots WR Wes Welker. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Marcedes Lewis and the Oakland Raiders’ Zach Miller have been voted as the AFC’s tight ends.

The AFC is also loaded in the backfield with NFL leading rusher Arian Foster making his Pro Bowl debut. Foster was a monster for the Houston Texans this season, marching for 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns. Also getting carries for the AFC are Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles and Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson.

Rounding out the AFC roster are defensive notables such as Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis, New York Jets corner Darrelle Revis, and Raiders corner Nnamdi Asomugha.

The NFC squad isn’t short on talent either. Leading the charge is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who is returning to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2005. Vick’s playground-style of play could be perfect for the relaxed setting of the Pro Bowl.

The dual-threat QB was all over the board in his last trip to Honolulu, passing for 205 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, while adding a rushing score to his stat line. Luckily, the NFC has the arms of Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan and New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees to lean on if Vick loses his way.

The NFC receiving corps features the talents of Falcons WR Roddy White, Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson, Eagles WR DeSean Jackson and Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, who won Pro Bowl MVP in 2009 with two touchdowns and 81 yards on five catches. Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten and Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez give the NFC a receiving edge over the AFC at tight end.

Running the ball for the NFC will be Falcons RB Michael Turner, Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson, giving the conference some powerful downhill legs but not much finesse or breakneck speed. Peterson won the 2008 Pro Bowl MVP award, rushing for 129 yards and two scores.

Notable members of the NFC defense include Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers, Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware, Washington Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall, and Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson.

Last year’s game played over the 57-point total, giving the Pro Bowl a 2-2 over/under count in the past four seasons. The AFC and NFC have combined to average 64.25 points in that span while facing an average total of 62.25 over the past four seasons. The NFC is 3-1 ATS in that stretch.