Writers Round Table – NFC Divisional Champs
We’re less than 5 days from the 2009 NFL regular season and our writers are give us their NFL picks for divisional champs.
This will be a lot more difficult than predicting the AFC division winners; the AFC has a dominant team each in division and the rest just hoping for a wild card. Three of the four NFC divisions have three teams with the potential to win their division and even the West could turn into a race.
Odds to Win NFC East
New York Giants 7/4
Dallas Cowboys 11/4
Philadelphia Eagles 9/5
Washington Redskins 6/1
Bill McTavish – Finally a challenge, the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys could win this one but I think the Giants have less question marks. Their run game is solid and Elisha Manning has proven he can get it done at quarterback. If his receivers step up it will really open some holes for Brandon Jacobs and Ahmed Bradshaw.
Ethan Cade – One of the most underrated offseason signings was the Cowboys picking up Jon Kitna. Kitna will make Tony Romo a better quarterback. Cowboys take the East.
Delroy Jones – You two are throwing your money away. McNabb is going to have an MVP season to keep Mike Vick on the Bench. The Eagles are the team in the East.
Odds to Win NFC North
Minnesota Vikings 3/2
Chicago Bears 9/5
Green Bay Packers 9/4
Detroit Lions 15/1
Bill McTavish – Green Bay looks fantastic, the defense is solid and Aaron Rodgers has become a leader and a phenomenal quarterback. The Packers are the class of the North in 2009.
Ethan Cade – I agree the Packers are the nice choice but I’ll jump on the Favre bandwagon here, Minny was a great team with Tarvaris Jackson and Tarvaris Jackson is no Brett Favre.
Delroy Jones – I like the Vikings here for all of the reasons Ethan said but if you look at the Bears, they are another team playing without a QB for the last few years. They are adding a current Pro-Bowler, not a 40 year old past his prime Pro-Bowler, Jay Cutler makes this team the NFC North Champs.
Odds to Win NFC South
New Orleans Saints 8/5
Carolina Panthers 23/10
Atlanta Falcons 11/5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/2
Bill McTavish – The Gregg Williams effect will be seen in New Orleans this season, we can expect a much better defensive effort from the Saints every week. Drew Brees will come close to Dan Marino’s passing totals once again this season.
Ethan Cade – Carolina…I almost picked them but injuries look to derail the Panthers run in 2009, things can change but I’m not risking my money on them. I think the addition of Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons will take Matt Ryan and the Falcons to the next level.
Delroy Jones – I have to question Michael Turner and the 370 curse. Very few runners have come back after carrying so much in a season. If Turner response well and Gonzalez succeeds in giving Matt Ryan a short out and a tall target in the red zone the Falcons will be Champs.
Odds to Win NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 7/5
San Francisco 49ers 12/5
Seattle Seahawks 21/10
St Louis Rams 11/1
Bill McTavish – If Kurt Warner holds strong the Cardinals will repeat. The WR tandem of Fitzgerald and Boldin is the best in the league. Add Chris Wells to the run game and the Cards will have a much better regular season than they did in 2008.
Ethan Cade – Cardinals, Warner has another could seasons in him, they should take the West without much of a fight but they will be out early when the playoffs start.
Delroy Jones – Kurt Warner is at the end of the road, Boldin will cause a ruckus and the defense will let them down. I like what Mike Singletary has done to the 49ers, they play with pride, and Frank Gore is entering his prime. After almost a decade of obscurity, the 49ers will return to the top of the west.
Go Seahawks! Ok boys & girls….This is gonna be the year of the Seahawk!
with a New head coaching change Mora already has proven he can coach. He is one of only two new head coaches who has NFL head coaching experience, and the only one with a winning record. With key aqusitions this past summer & recent signings of Lawyer Milloy, TJ whosyourmomma, & EDGE & rookie Aaron Curry…I See the seahawks regaing form from past years & Taking the NFC West .. Go Hawks!
Make sure you get your bets in…but I think you would be better served placing them on another team.