Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks » Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl 44

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:04:30 +0000

Are you ready for the big game?

In case you’ve been living under a rock lately, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will collide this Sunday in Miami, Florida where we’ll see which of these two teams will be crowned the Super Bowl XLIV champions.

Who will take the big one? Let’s look at the Indianapolis Colts, who have already recorded their most single-season wins in franchise history with 16. The quest will be a second Super Bowl title in a four-year span and since they’ll be playing in their fourth Super Bowl appearance in Miami, it seems the stage is set for the Colts to win their second Super Bowl title.

You see the last time Peyton Manning and his Colts were in Miami playing for the Super Bowl, they defeated the Chicago Bears 20-17. Manning was also the league MVP that season, the same as he is now coming to Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida.

That’s why the Colts should take this one easy.

Sure, the New Orleans Saints are as good as the Colts this season with both teams flirting with perfection all year to post the best win-loss record of their respective conferences. Both the Colts and the Saints also have Pro Bowl quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Drew Brees respectively. That’s probably why Super Bowl XLIV will prove to be a high scoring affair.

However, while Drew Brees have become one of the most explosive quarterbacks to ever play football, he ain’t no Peyton Manning. Manning has been here before, leading the Colts to the playoffs every year since 2002 that includes a Super Bowl season back in 2007. A win in Miami Sunday will further solidify Manning as the very best to ever play quarterback in the NFL. Brees is good but Manning is simply just a notch better.

Manning was openly criticized for never...

Super Bowl XLIV Betting Propositions

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:02:57 +0000

It’s that time of the year when bettors go ga-ga over one huge football game, betting on everything from coin tosses to who among the Colts will wear panties.

Well, maybe not that last one. (I hope…) Seriously, Super Bowl XLIV should once again generate all kinds of betting propositions since this is only the biggest sporting event of the year other than the World Cup and it will be the last time we’ll ever get to enjoy football until we hit August again later this year.

Get ready, because here they come again, Super Bowl prop bets. Every year, a part of the media coverage around the big game focuses on the astounding number of proposition betting options that online sportsbooks roll out.

These prop bets range from the obvious (correct score of the game) to the unique (the Over/Under on the length of the national anthem). Over the next week and a half, we’ll look at some of the Super Bowl prop betting options offered and where the betting public are putting their money.

On that note, SPORTSBETTING.com has hundreds and hundreds of props listed and some of the most innovative options you’ll find anywhere.

Let’s get the popular coin toss one out of the way at the start here. The prop bet ”will the opening coin toss be heads or tails?” is currently listed at -115 for both options (I don’t really see this line moving due to heavy one-sided action…)

The Total for the Super Bowl is at 56 and of course there are numerous props related to the Over/Under. For example, one betting option is, ”what will the actual total score of the game be? An even number (-110) or an odd number (-120)?” See how crazy that is? Not even Peyton Manning can figure that one out.

There is also a proposition on the...

The Best of the Best in 2010 Pro Bowl

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:25:57 +0000

For the first time ever, the Pro Bowl will come a week before THE big game, as this year’s Pro Bowl kicks off Super Bowl week with a bang.

Yes, the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl will now come before the Super Bowl and this year, the best players from both the AFC and the NFC will play at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida for this year’s annual showcase of the league’s premiere talent.

This way, football fans will be able to further build their anticipation heading to Super Bowl XLIV and as far as this year’s Pro Bowl starters are concerned, both teams’ rosters have some familiar faces.

Leading the pack for the AFC squad is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Other selections include Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and Colts teammate Reggie Wayne.

Dallas Clark, who also plays for the Indianapolis Colts, was also voted in for the Pro Bowl to play tight end, starting tackles will be the Dolphins’ Jake Long and the Broncos’ Ryan Clady. Starting guards for the AFC will be the Patriots’ Logan Mankins and Alan Faneca of the New York Jets.

Faneca’s teammate Nick Mangold will be the AFC’s starting center.

Over on the NFC side of things, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona and DeSean Jackson of Philadelphia, were voted in by fans to play for the conference.

This year, the Minnesota Vikings have the most players on the 2010 Pro Bowl with eight total players that include five starters on offense and defense. Philadelphia, Dallas, and Indianapolis followed them up with six players. The New Orleans Saints, the San Diego Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens each have five players of their own on the team.

One shocking revelation was that the...

Can Ravens take the Colts out too?

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:04:08 +0000

After they took down Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots last weekend, you can no longer question what these guys can do anymore.

The 2010 NFL playoffs continue with a huge AFC divisional playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens are fresh from eliminating NFL Comeback Player of the Year Tom Brady and his Patriots, this time they are looking to take out the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player of the Year Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts.

A tall order? I’d definitely say so. I mean, Peyton Manning just won his fourth league MVP trophy, his second in a row. And as long as Manning is leading the offense, the Colts can score with the best in the league. But if there’s a team that can come up with an upset win at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, it’s the Ravens.

Fresh from their 33-14 win over the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens offense will once again rely on their running game led by their three-headed monster of Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain.

Rice had a huge game last week with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 22 rushing attempts against the Patriots. The Ravens are hoping for the same against the Indianapolis Colts this weekend. Rice has produced 5.3 yards a carry this season. Willis McGahee on the other hand rushed for a 5.0 yards a carry.

The Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens met way back on November 22nd with the Colts pulling out a 17-15 victory as a 1-point road favorite. The Colts were very sloppy in that game and were just fortunate to win despite committing three turnovers with Peyton Manning throwing two interceptions.

Despite the poor outing against Ray Lewis and the rest of the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis will still rely on Peyton Manning this weekend. After all, he did have an MVP season for the Colts. He hit 68 percent of his passes with 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, once again getting great protection from his offensive line with just 10 sacks.

Manning probably hopes his line will be able to...

Can Colts, Saints remain undefeated?

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:02:13 +0000

13-0, that’s what both teams are gunning for this Sunday.

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are still undefeated at this point of the 2009 NFL football season. They have the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons respectively, can they come out of Week 14 still perfect?

First, the Indianapolis Colts. Unlike the Saints, the Colts have been here before, 12-0 with only four more games to play in the season. In fact, the Colts have been so dominant that they have this massive 21-game winning streak going for them when they take on the Denver Broncos. 21 straight wins, that’s incredible.

Can they beat the Denver Broncos this Sunday to remain perfect? The Colts would sure love to beat the Broncos alright, but their main concern is to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They could care less about a perfect season.

”Being 12-0 is always a good thing,” Colts running back Joseph Addai said. ”I think the winning streak builds confidence. We’ve seen too many teams that go undefeated and toward the end of the season they really don’t make it all the way to the Super Bowl title.”

If Peyton Manning and the Colts beat Denver on Sunday for their record-setting 22nd consecutive regular season victory, they will also clinch the AFC’s top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And that is more important to these guys than making the 1972 Dolphins cry.

A win over the Broncos (8-4) would make the Colts 13-0. San Diego (9-3) and Cincinnati (9-3) are the only other AFC teams who can reach 13 wins, but they still play each other. The winner of that game would lose a tiebreaker to Indianapolis at 13-3 based on common opponents.

As far as the New Orleans Saints are concerned...

2009 NFL Week 3 Betting Picks and Tips

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:02:18 +0000

What happens when the two best running backs in football face-off in one field?

That’s exactly what we’ll find out when the 2009 NFL football season resumes at the Metrodome where the Minnesota Vikings play hosts to the San Francisco 49ers.

You read it, the season continues with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the San Francisco 49ers in a game of two undefeated teams. Both teams are looking for their 3rd straight win in as many games and in a face-off between the two best running backs in the league, something’s gotta give.

The San Francisco 49ers will bring their monster back Frank Gore to the Metrodome to do battle with Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, currently the league’s leading rusher. In a game like this, the X-Factor may decide the outcome and as far as that is concerned, obviously, the X-Factor is Vikings quarterback Brett Favre.

Brett Favre currently is doing a solid job in his first two outings with the Vikings. The NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and interceptions, Favre ranks first in the league in completion percentage (77.1) and second in passer rating (110.2) through Sunday. He has thrown three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Shaun Hill better come up with his A-game for the San Francisco 49ers because once both teams’ running game cancel each other out, this game will be won in the air.

This is definitely THE game to watch this weekend. Our pick? Vikes by a touchdown.

On Sunday Night Football, the Indianapolis Colts will gun for their 3rd straight win against the Arizona Cardinals who have limped to a 1-1 start out of the gate.

The Indianapolis Colts are now relying on...

Still betting on a QB named Manning?

Jeffdstuff — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:41:37 +0000

The Manning brothers have become two of the best quarterbacks in the game and yet, they don’t have anyone to throw the football to this year.

You read it, Peyton and Eli Manning have quite a dilemma coming to the 2009 NFL football season. Both of these guys lost their primary receivers and without that playmaker to throw the football to, they better learn some pointers from Peterson and start running for TDs.

However, if there’s anyone in the league who can win games without a decent wide receiver, a Manning can. And as far as both Peyton Manning and Eli Manning are concerned, the 2009 season will definitely bring both of these guys new challenges but I expect both of them to persevere.

And since Peyton Manning is the older brother, we’ll start with him. The Indianapolis Colts will be missing some very familiar faces for the 2009 NFL season. The most glaring of which is the departure of premiere wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

However, as unfortunate as the absence of Marvin Harrison will be on the Colts’ playbook, many probably saw this one coming as early as last season and even the season before that. You see, Harrison has struggled to stay on the field with health issues the last few years. And although he was able to come back from it time and time again, he was simply never the same guy the Colts knew to be.

Fortunately for the Colts, they still have guys like Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez to keep the passing game going. Let’s see how will it all work.

Meanwhile, his brother Eli Manning also lost his favorite target with Plaxico Burress set to do time in prison for a couple of years. To make matters worse, Eli also lost his no.2 guy when the Giants chose not to re-sign 13-year veteran Amani Toomer.

Of course, New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese tried to compensate by using two of the Giants’ first five picks in April’s draft to fill the open receiver positions. Reese took UNC’s Hakeem Nicks in the first round before drafting Ramses Barden in the third.

Only time will tell if both guys can make...

Will Marvin Harrison play this season?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:06:01 +0000

It’s shocking really how one of the premiere wide receivers in the game still doesn’t have a team to play for.

Now former Indianapolis Colts wideout Marvin Harrison, now a free agent, said he has no plans to retire and that he wants to play in the 2009 NFL football season, according to his agent, Tom Condon.

Condon said the problematic knee that has limited some of the speed and overall effectiveness we usually see from Marvin Harrison hasn’t been an issue either. Harrison, who is now 37, was released by the Indianapolis Colts after the 2008 season, in large part for salary-cap relief. Harrison, who didn’t agree to a restructured contract, was scheduled to count more than $13 million against the Colts’ 2009 cap.

”I played in 15 games last year and a playoff game, and I intend to play again this season,” Marvin Harrison said in an interview.

Marvin Harrison and Indianapolis parting ways in the offseason ended Harrison’s 13-year run with the Colts, with whom he established himself as one of the top receivers in NFL history and built up likely Hall of Fame credentials that include 1,102 receptions for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns.

Last season, Harrison had just 60 catches for 636 yards and five touchdowns, the lowest full single season totals of his career. That’s after he missed 11 games in 2007 because of a knee injury, catching just 20 passes and scoring one touchdown.

There hasn’t been much interest in Harrison at this point, but Condon said he expects his client to sign with a team soon before the season begins.

Harrison was selected by the Colts with the 19th selection in the 1996 NFL Draft, a selection which was obtained in a trade that sent Jeff George to the Atlanta Falcons. Harrison has gone on to become one of the more productive receivers from that draft class, surpassing fellow wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Eric Moulds, Amani Toomer, Muhsin Muhammad, Terrell Owens and...

Marvin Harrison won’t play for the Colts

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:16:22 +0000

We may have probably seen the end of the great era of Colts football.

Indianapolis’ second most popular football star (next to Peyton Manning of course…) is parting ways with the Colts, creating a lot of buzz in the process even before the 2009-10 NFL football season kicks off.

Yes, Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison has been having his problems with the Colts front office lately after team executives asked the veteran to take a pay cut. For a guy who has been one of the Colts’ most identifiable players, who ranks second in the league in career receptions and holds all of Indianapolis’ major career and season receiving records, it was understandable why the veteran isn’t too fond of the situation.

Understandably still, Marvin Harrison has already asked the Indianapolis Colts for his release even before the team decided to part ways with the star. What was the reason for the team to ask their premiere receiver to take a pay cut? Read on.

Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian told reporters Sunday at the NFL annual scouting combine that the team was trying to rework Harrison’s deal to lower the receiver’s salary cap number from approximately $13.4 million, the highest number of any wideout in the NFL.

Harrison is scheduled to make $9 million in 2009.

The AFC powerhouse is in the middle of a salary cap crunch of sorts as of late. Next year’s cap is expected to be $123 million and Polian won’t be able to keep his prized wideout at his current price, leaving him no choice but to release him.

‘’The new cap rules, that’s not something we planned for,'’ Polian said before releasing Harrison. ‘’As a result, we have some issues with veterans, including Marvin. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to work through that. I don’t know if...''

Chargers in AFC Divisional Round

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:25:10 +0000

It was a disappointing last hurrah for this year's NFL Most Valuable Player.

In case you haven’t heard, the 2009 NFL playoffs kicked off this weekend as league MVP Peyton Manning saw his Indianapolis Colts lose to the San Diego Chargers while Chad Pennington’s Cinderella season was cut short for him by the Baltimore Ravens when his Miami Dolphins could only muster nine points to Baltimore’s 27.

Of course, Pennington’s mishap was nothing compared to what Peyton Manning had to endure.

He was coming into this AFC wild card game with the San Diego Chargers only a day after he was proclaimed as the 2008 NFL Most Valuable Player. To see him go out like that again to the same team was just unfair.

Darren Sproles scooted 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime and the San Diego Chargers beat the Colts 23-17 in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night, ending Indianapolis’ nine-game winning streak a day after Manning won his third Associated Press NFL MVP award.

Sproles came up big on a night when the Chargers played the final 2 ½ quarters without LaDainian Tomlinson, who stood on the sideline in obvious discomfort from what appears to be a serious groin injury.

Fifty years after the Baltimore Colts won the first overtime game in league history by the same score over the New York Giants for the NFL title, the Indianapolis Colts were not as fortunate. The Colts were victimized by Sproles, who rushed 23 times for 105 yards, caught five passes for 45 yards, had 106 yards on four kickoff returns and...