NFL Futures Betting Picks – Make a Winning Wager on teams to Reach the NFC Conference Final

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The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints were clearly the two best teams in the NFC in 2009 and generally looked like they would reach the conference finals while one team walked away with the outright conference championship.

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Well, that team turned out to be the New Orleans Saints who, eventually went on to win the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Now, heading into the 2010 NFL regular season, it appears that both, the Saints and Vikings will have a much harder way to go in order to duplicate their respective feats from last season.

NFL betting buffs across the globe will enjoy this informative breakdown on just which two teams I believe will be squaring off against each other in the conference finals when the conference wild card and division showdown playoff dust settles.

To Reach NFC Conference Final

• Dallas Cowboys +250
• Green Bay Packers +325
• Minnesota Vikings +325
• New Orleans Saints +225

NFL betting Analysis: The Cowboys look very solid on both sides of the ball entering the 2010 regular season and appear to have all of their bases covered – except one that is. Dallas could have issues at one of the most important positions in all of football after they decided to part ways with veteran left tackle Flozell Adams.

The Green Bay Packers have a pro bowl quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and were ranked in the top five in both, offense and defense last season, but needs to shore up its mediocre rushing attack.

The Minnesota Vikings are once again absolutely loaded on both sides of the ball and will undoubtedly be in Super Bowl contention once they get Brett Favre back in the fold.

Last but not least, the New Orleans Saints have arguably the best quarterback in the game today in Drew Brees and are the current defending Super Bowl champs.

However, the Saints will need to upgrade a defense that gave up points last season like they were going out of style.

Next in Line

• Atlanta Falcons +500
• New York Giants +500
• Washington Redskins +900
• Philadelphia Eagles +450
• Arizona Cardinals +1000

Analysis: The Atlanta Falcons have a pro bowl-caliber quarterback in Matt Ryan, a rushing title candidate in Michael Turner and a future Hall of Fame tight end in Tony Gonzalez.

If Atlanta plays some solid defense – and avoids the injuries that killed them last season – they will have a very legitimate shot to win the NFC South and possibly a lot more.

As far as the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals are concerned, I think the myriad question marks that each franchise has heading into the regular season will derail each from really competing for a berth in the NFC title game.

The only team that I have yet to mention is the Washington Redskins who could be very good under Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb in their first season together in the nation’s capitol.

The Skins have a top-10 defense and will undoubtedly be much more competitive on offense than they were under Jim Zorn last season. Still, I think the Skins are likely a year or two away from really competing for the conference crown.

Overall Analysis: Let me just keep it real by saying that I fully expect two of the first four favorites on this list to actually reach this season’s NFC Championship game.

Having said that, let me also say that I genuinely believe that all four teams stand nearly equal chances of reaching the conference finals, though three of the four teams in particular, stand out to me.

I am going to rule out the New Orleans Saints this time around for the simple fact that the Saints have a defense that is akin to Swiss cheese.

I’m also going to pass on the Dallas Cowboys reaching the NFC title tilt (although it really could happen) in large part, because I don’t believe quarterback Tony Romo is in the same class of signal-callers as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

That leaves the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.

With both teams residing in the NFC North, one team will have to reach the postseason as a wild card and will undoubtedly have a tougher way to go because of it.

However, when I look at both teams, I see solid quarterbacks that won’t cost their teams games because of a high amount of turnovers and sound defenses that are each ranked in the Top 10.

It’s not very often that you see two teams from the same division reach the conference finals, but I say that’s exactly what happens this season.

I do want to add that Minnesota’s chances of reaching the conference final hinge on the return of Brett Favre.

If Favre doesn’t return to Minnesota, I believe the Dallas Cowboys stand the next best chance of reaching the NFC Championship game.

Dallas has a arguably the best front seven in the league on defense and phenomenal rushing attack and I believe the Pokes will be much better with its passing attack in 2010 thanks to the addition of gifted rookie wideout Dez ‘I Ain’t Carrying No Shoulder Pads’ Bryant.

Make your NFL picks here!