NFC South Turning Into Best Division in NFL

With the NFL set to resume working relations with its players union later this week, it is once again time to open up the sports betting debate as to which of the six divisions to make up the NFL is the best and most challenging? For years, NFL betting lines handicappers have suggested that the AFC is the more difficult conference to win in, while the NFC has more bottom feeder teams. However, over the last couple of years, as seen by Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and Green Bay seven months ago, the NFC is becoming a more respectable conference.

Over the last couple of years, the NFC South, made up of the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has become the best division in the NFL. During the 2010 – 11 NFL seasons, the average amount of wins in the NFC South was an astounding 10. To put this into perspective, consider that in the NFC’s East and West Divisions, a 10 and six record would have allowed a team to win the division. However, in the NFC South, that was only good enough for third place.

Meaning to say, the South is becoming the best division in the entire NFL, if for no other reason, then the fact that they have raised the bar for how well teams must play. Last season, Atlanta came out of nowhere, to accumulate the second best record in the NFL at 13 and three. New Orleans had an equally as impressive record, at 11 and five, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team synonymous with mediocrity finished third in the division with an overall record of 10 and six. Detroit rounded out the division with a six and 10 record, which if they had played in the NFC West, may have got the team a divisional crown.

This offseason, while the NFL lockout was lifted for the draft, the NFC South laid the smack down on the rest of the league, as each of the four teams drafted absolute studs. Atlanta traded eight draft picks to be able to draft Julio Jones, a wide receiver to compliment Roddy White. New Orleans had two picks in the first round, as they picked up former Heisman winner and only running back of the first round, Mark Ingram, as well as defensive stand out Cam Jordan. While both Atlanta and New Orleans made great moves at the draft to help them contend now, Detroit and Tampa Bay acquired talent for the future.

Detroit had one of the best drafts in the last couple of years, as Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley literally fell into the Lions lap with the 13th pick. Fairley and former 2009 second overall pick Ndamukong Suh will form one of the scariest defenses for years to come. Tampa Bay on the other hand, was able to draft two stud defensive prospects in Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. In theory, with the improvements to both Detroit and Tampa Bay, the fourth place team in the NFC South may win 10 games next season.

MLB Betting: Red Sox Look To Build Cushion In East Against Orioles This Week

Despite a slow start to the 2011 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox rallied to take control of the American League East by the All Star break, and if they can avoid another terrible stretch they should be able to lock up yet another division title this year. The Red Sox took two of three against the Tampa Bay Rays to open up the second half, and will look to take another series on the road against an AL East opponent as they take on the Baltimore Orioles to open this week.

Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles

Tuesday July 19, 2011 – 7:05 PM ET

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

MLB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox - 120

Despite consecutive wins the Orioles headed into their series against Boston an unbelievable 18.5 games back of the division leaders after posting the worst record in the AL through the first half. Baltimore managed to hurt the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians a bit in their first series back from the break, but should have a much tougher time against the Red Sox.

MLB Betting Preview: Boston Red Sox

While Boston’s bats continue to pace the majors in runs scored, the team has struggled to find consistent pitching behind All Star starters Jon Lester and Josh Beckett this season. The Red Sox will hand the ball to 24-year old Kyle Weiland on Tuesday hoping that the rookie can be better than he was in his first start, in which he gave up six earned runs in just four innings of work against this same Baltimore team. Weiland should feel a little more comfortable after getting his MLB debut out of the way, but Boston will need to give him a ton of run support if he is going to have any chance at clinching his first career win.

MLB Betting Preview: Baltimore Orioles

That run support will have to come against the 3-13 Jeremy Guthrie, who has allowed six earned runs in two of his four straight losses to see his ERA rise to 4.45 on the campaign. The 32-year old wasn’t awful in his last appearance against the Red Sox, but will need to stay in command of his location and make sure not to become too flustered early on. Unlike Weiland, Guthrie won’t have the best sports betting bonus offense in the majors behind him to bail him out if he struggles early, so he will need to bring his best.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The expectation is that Weiland will be calmer in his second career start, and that will translate to more consistency at the dish as he does a better job against the Orioles than he did when he made his sports betting debut against them. Guthrie has struggled over the past month, so Weiland shouldn’t have to be too good to get his first win.

GAB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox - 120

2011 Copa America Betting: Uruguay favorite against Peru

The Copa America semifinal started with Peru against Uruguay on Tuesday July 19th, 2011. Both teams fell apart in the tie after the teams that left as Luxbet online betting favorites.

The Peruvian franjirrojos beat Colombia in overtime, while the Uruguayans, reissued the "Maracanazo" 61 years ago against Brazil, in putting the competition to host Argentina in a penalty shootout. Uruguay, as bettors are favorites on the odds, but seeing how it's going the Copa America so far, full of surprises, any talk of favoritism.

In the group stage, teams were finalists with the final result of a tie. Paolo Guerrero Peru ahead on 23 minutes and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez managed to equalize in injury time of the first half in a match where charrúas deserved more. Uruguayan defender Mauricio Victorino is ultimately discharged with a thigh injury in his left leg produced during the match against the Argentines, and neither will play Diego Pérez expulsion. Meanwhile, Diego Godin and Edinson Cavani, are a serious doubt to play the "semis". If you can count charrúas with Sebastian Coates, who returns after serving a penalty.

As far as Peru is concerned, makes it to the semifinals 14 years after his last appearance. It is a Uruguayan Sergio Markarian, who has starred this sprung from the bench, and not the first time the Peruvian away to Uruguay's victory. In 1939 they took the championship to the "celestial," which finished second in the playoffs where the America's Cup was decided at that time. It was not until 1975 that Peru was able to reissue the championship, after getting rid of Colombia in three games. From then until 1983, when he finished third, one can not mention any results worth mentioning.