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Published: January 27, 2010
The NFC will do battle with the AFC in the annual NFL Pro Bowl to take place on Sunday January 31st in prime time. Kick off time at Dolphins Stadium in Miami Florida is scheduled for 7:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.
The LVSC NFL odds makers have set the opening point spread in this game and the NFC were opened as a 2 ½ point favorite with the over under coming in at 60.
The early money from the NFL betting public has come in on the AFC, as the NFC is currently a 2-point favorite. The total has seen early movement in the betting towards the under, as the over under is currently lined at 56 for the NFL betting public to play into.
NFL money line gamblers can make a play on the favored NFC at –130 with the underdog AFC bringing back +110 to win the Pro Bowl without the benefit of getting the points on their side.
The 2010 NFC versus AFC Pro Bowl will be played the week before the Super Bowl and is an experiment by the league. The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts pro bowlers will not play in this game. Another twist this year is that the NFC and AFC Championship losing coaches will not coach the squads. Norv Turner will coach the AFC and Wade Phillips the NFC.
The NFC will start Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and in relief will be Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. Rodgers had a fantastic season hitting on 64.7% of his passes with 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. In the NFC Wildcard playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals it was Rodgers completing over 80% of his passes for 235 yards a touchdown and no picks. McNabb in the 2009 season hit on 60.3% of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. McNabb did a good job of breaking in a lot of young players this season. Tony Romo had a good season hitting on 63% of his passes with 26 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. Romo did a good job of protecting the football this season despite being sacked 34 times on the season.
The NFC running backs will be Adrian Peterson, DeAngelo Williams and Frank Gore. Peterson rushed for 1383 yards on the year for 4.4 yards a carry average. This was well below his career 4.9 yards a carry average. DeAngelo Williams had a productive season with a 5.2 yards a carry average and 7 rushing touchdowns. Frank Gore was a late addition for the injured Steven Jackson and he averaged 4.9 yards a carry this season with 10 rushing touchdowns.
Their receivers will be DeSean Jackson, Miles Austin, the Giants Steve Smith and Roddy White. At tight end will be Vernon Davis and Jason Witten. The NFC will have a good advantage having Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb passing to familiar targets.
Jared Allen and Julius Peppers lead a strong front four for the NFC. The notable linebackers for the squad are DeMarcus Wade and Brian Orakpo.
The AFC took a big hit in their quarterback position, as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Phillip Rivers will not play in this game. Getting the start will be Matt Schaub, with Vince Young and David Garrard backing him up. Schaub had a great season hitting on 67.9% of his passes with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. With a weak crop of quarterbacks to select from the AFC had no choice but to invite Vince Young and David Garrard to Miami. Young completed just 58.7% of his passes this season with 7 touchdowns and 9 picks in only 10 starts. Garrard hit on 60% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Jaguars did not protect him very well as he was sacked 42 times for the second straight season. Garrard did a poor job of protecting the football with 14 fumbles on the season.
The Running backs for the AFC will be starter Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice. Chris Johnson rushed for over 2000 yards on the season with 14 touchdowns and an impressive 5.6 yards a carry average. Jones-Drew contributed with a 4.5 yards a carry average this year for the Jaguars with 15 rushing touchdowns. Second year back Ray Rice had a good season for the Ravens with a 5.3 yards a carry average and 7 rushing touchdowns.
The AFC wide receiving crew will be Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall as starters. Their backups will be Chad Ochocinco and Vincent Jackson. At tight end will be Antonio Gates getting the start and Heath Miller backing him up. Note there are no Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans in the pass catching positions.
The AFC is taking a huge hit on defense with missing players. Defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are playing in the Super Bowl. Linebacker Brian Cushing is injured. Notables will be Haloti Ngata at nose tackle, James Harrison and Ray Lewis at the linebacker position. The lock down corners will be Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha.
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NFL Trend: The over is 8-2 in the past 10 AFC versus NFC Pro Bowls
