With one game to play in the betting on NFL season, there isn’t much left to be determined as far as the playoff picture for either conference, and that will likely mean that at least a few players rest this week. While in the past a variety of stars have sat out the final game of the season, or rested following limited action, that won’t appear to be the case this week with many teams still fighting for their spots.

The entire NFC sports betting playoff picture is still wide open except for the Chicago Bears’ spot atop the NFC North, and despite the fact that the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints will both participate in this year’s postseason, they have yet to determined who will advance as the division winner, and that will mean that the Falcons’ defensive end Jamaal Anderson will likely play, as well as Saints’ running back Reggie Bush. Even though the New England Patriots are the only team in the AFC that have clinched their spot and a bye, it appears as though many players will still play, including wide receiver Wes Welker, who was injured in the final game a year ago. Welker missed last year’s playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but will likely dress this week and says he wants to play this week regardless of the past. Expect players that practiced this week to play.

This week marks the end of the NFL betting regular season. That’s right fans, we have entered the final week of one of the most ridiculous football betting seasons in recent memory. With teams still battling it out for the final playoff spots, here are a few games that should be put at the top of your betting list.

Baltimore Ravens v Cincinnati Bengals - At first glance, you may be scratching your heads as to why this game would be at the top of your list. However, consider the fact that there has been talk around the NFL, that the Cincinnati Bengals will be one of a handful of teams rebuilding in the offseason. Mean to say, this game means more to the Bengals than it does to the Ravens, as most if not all of the Bengals roster will be battling it out for jobs for next season.

What’s more, the Baltimore Ravens will be looking to avenge a week two loss to the Bengals, which in effect thwarted their hopes of becoming AFC North Champions this season. With revenge on their minds, look for the Ravens to be up for this game against their divisional foes.

St. Louis Rams v Seattle Seahawks - This is another game that in years past nobody would have watched. But considering that the NFC West is proving to be the one division where a sub 500 team can make the playoffs, this game is of great importance. Going into last week’s game against the 49ers, the Rams were in first place in the West division. However, with all three teams, of the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers needing to win out for the rest of the season, this final game of the season may be the West’s Super Bowl.

During the regular season, NFL betting sites put out an injury report for fans both gambling and playing fantasy sports to refer to in order to set the best possible roster. With two weeks remaining in the regular football betting season for 2010-11, week 16 is shaping up to be the most lethal as a result of key injuries around the league. Here are several injuries that have huge implications for week 16.

Aaron Rodgers QB Green Bay Packers – After being forced out of the Packers game in week 14 against the Detroit Lions due to a concussion, Rodgers was cleared to return to practice on Wednesday December 22. With the Packers literally hanging on for dear life and needing to win their final two games of the season against tough foes the New York Giants and Chicago Bears, Rodgers return to the lineup was a much needed boost.

Mark Sanchez QB New York Jets – At 10 wins and four losses on the season, the Jets are putting together one of the more impressive seasons in the last decade of New York football. With that said, the Jets may be without sophomore starting quarterback Mark Sanchez due to a shoulder injury for his throwing arm. Sanchez although having an injured shoulder, was able to guide his Jets to a narrow win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. If Sanchez can’t go this week, fans can all but guarantee that the Jets Wild Card hopes may be dashed.

Joseph Addai RB Indianapolis Colts – Before the start of this season, to even have speculated that the Colts would be struggling for a playoff spot would have been an absurd reaction. Now in week 16 with several injured players likely done for the season, running back Joseph Addai who has missed part of the season due to a neck injury will be a welcome addition. The Colts are playing for their playoff lives and the run game has sorely missed Addai over the last couple of weeks.

Offshore NFL betting is coming down to crunch time as the playoffs are on the horizon, so here are some quick picks for Week 16.

Panthers Steelers Betting - Thursday, 8:20 PM ET

The Steelers are 13.5-point favorites at home, and they’ll be on fire after losing to the New York Jets at home. While the Panthers won last week, it was at home against Arizona. The Steelers in Pittsburgh are not Arizona at home.

NFL Picks: Steelers -13.5

Jets Bears Betting - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Jets showed heart to come back in Pittsburgh, but will likely be underdogs on the road in Chicago. The Bears still have to play Monday night in Minnesota, and the short week could play havoc, especially having to play on a frozen field at the University of Minnesota.

NFL Picks: New York Jets

Giants Packers Betting - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Giants are trying to come back from the worst collapse of the season, losing a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit at home to Philadelphia. The Packers put up a good fight, but lost at New England without Aaron Rodgers, and the NFL betting line depends on if he can play after last week’s concussion.Either way, we’re taking the Packers because the Giants may not be able to bounce back from Sunday’s heartbreak.

NFL Picks: Packers

Saints Falcons Betting - Monday, 8:30 PM ET

The Falcons are 2.5-point favorites at home, where Matt Ryan is 19-1 as a starter for Atlanta, who romped at Seattle. The Saints lost a hard-fought game in Baltimore, but they’re still the team to beat in the NFC South, and if anyone is worth an upset pick in your sports book, it’s New Orleans.

NFL Picks: Saints +2.5

Online Sports Betting offers sports fans an exhilarating and secure means to make money and have some fun. Here are a few basic concepts you need to understand before you start making sports wagers online.

Sports Betting 101 - Opening an Account

Now that you have made the decision to wager on sports, like when you play video poker online, you need to create an online sportsbook account. The Internet is littered with sportsbooks looking for new customers. Many, if not all, offer sign-up bonuses and incentives for fresh registrants. Just find a popular online sportsbook, take advantage of their sign-up bonus and you’ll be good to go.

Sports Betting 101 - Depositing Money

It is relatively easy to deposit funds into your online sportsbook account. The most common payment method is the credit card. However, some credit card companies prevent funds from being dispersed in sports book accounts. Other methods include bank wires, Western Union and e-checks.

Sports Betting 101 - Straight Bets

A straight bet is the most frequent type of bet in sports wagering. The potential bettor puts their money on either the favorite or the underdog. In straight bets, you risk $11 to make $10. In basketball and football, the straight bet takes into account a point spread. For example, the Arizona Cardinals are hosting the Seattle Seahawks. You bet on the Cardinals, who were favored by two points. Arizona must defeat Seattle by at least three points in order for you to win the bet.

Sports Betting 101 - Money Line Bets

A money line bet does not factor in the point spread. You bet on either the favorite or the underdog to win. The odds are higher that the favorite will win, so you must risk more money, same as placing your bets in a casino slots online. In contrast, betting on the underdog to win will yield a higher payout because their odds of the underdog winning were lower.

Sports Betting 101 - Betting on the Totals or Over/Under

Betting on the total score of a game between two teams is known as a total or over/under bet. For example, it is predicted that the total points scored in a college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and Duke Blue Devils will be 144. If you bet on the under, the two teams would have to combine for 143 points or less for you to win the wager.

Sports Betting 101 - Parlay Bets

The parlay provides potential bettors with an opportunity to earn a huge payout without having to risk a great amount. It involves at least two games and as many as 12. The more games are involved, the lower the odds will be, and higher the payout will be. In the event that one of the games in a parlay is a tie, the payout decreases. If you lose any game in a parlay, you do not win anything.

Those doing NFL betting online will have to check the injury report right up until game time as there are a number of important players who could be in the lineup, or on the sidelines.

Matt Cassel, Kansas City

The Chiefs’ quarterback missed last week’s 31-0 beating in San Diego because of an appendectomy, and Kansas City was terrible without him. He was limited in practice leading up to this week’s trip to St. Louis, and while it’s admirable that he wants to play, Cassel may be restricted, which means Brodie Croyle will get another start and that’s not good news for Kansas City fans.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Green Bay’s leader suffered his second concussion of the season in a 7-3 loss at Detroit, which means Matt Flynn will likely make his first NFL start after replacing Rodgers last week. The playbook was severely limited with Flynn, and the Packers could be in a world of trouble heading into New England to face the rampant Patriots.

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh

Usually when Pittsburgh needs a big play on defense, their all-world safety delivers it, and he was a monster in last week’s 23-7 win over Cincinnati with two picks, including one returned for a score. However, Polamalu had problems with his calf and Achilles this week and is questionable for this week’s visit from the Jets. Polamalu will probably play, but if he doesn’t play, Pittsburgh’s odds will take a late dive in your online sportsbook.

NFL football betting players have a number of matchups to watch this weekend, and two of them aren’t even on this list. New Orleans-Baltimore and Philadelphia-New York Giants will also be worth watching, but both the Ravens and Giants still have to play on Monday night.

49ers Chargers Betting - Thursday, 8:20 PM ET

The Chargers are 9-point favorites at home, where they are 5-2 ATS this season, and they know that a loss will end their hopes of reach the postseason. The same goes for the 49ers, but they don’t deserve it at all.

NFL Picks: Chargers -9

Jaguars Colts Betting - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Colts are 4.5-point favorites at home, where they are 7-2 SU but just 3-6 ATS in their last nine against the Jaguars, who have come out of nowhere to snag the AFC South lead. Look for Peyton Manning to get back to his best on Sunday, but the Colts can’t be trusted to cover.

NFL Picks: Jaguars +4.5

Jets Steelers Betting - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Steelers are 6-point favorites at home, and this won’t be a high-scoring affair as both teams are ranked in the top four defensively. But do you trust Ben Roethlisberger to make a big play, or Mark Sanchez?

NFL Picks: Steelers -6

Packers Patriots Betting - Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

Aaron Rodgers’s status for this game is uncertain, but we’re taking the Patriots regardless as they’re on fire right now, and Tom Brady has won 26 regular-season games in a row at Gillette Stadium. That’s good enough for our faith when betting online.

NFL Picks: Patriots

Throughout the 2010 sports betting NFL season, there has been much speculation on who will be the league’s MVP by season’s end. Will it be a quarterback again? Or will a different position player finally win the most prestigious betting title in the world of sports? While many of our colleagues appear to be on the Michael Vick bandwagon, we feel the MVP title should go to a future hall of famer instead.

Almost every year Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots are considered the NFL’s MVP. However, this season in an attempt to strengthen the NFL’s image as a league of second chances, Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles is likely to receive the MVP honor.

As it currently stands, Vick has the highest passer rating and pass completion rankings of any starting pivot in the NFL. While Vick has had a handful of exceptional games this season in helping the new look Eagles accumulate a record of eight and four, the real MVP of the year is Tom Brady.

To start the season, Brady and the Patriots had one of the best offenses in the league. Alongside Brady, the Pats also had wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker and a competent run game in Keith Faulk. However, with a season ending injury to Faulk, the trade of Moss, and an apparent off season for Welker, many felt that the Patriots with their youthful defense would be one of the bottom feeders of the NFL.

Instead, over the last six weeks, Tom Brady has proven that you or we could be his offense and he’d still guide us to a 10 and two record. After pulling off the incredible come from behind victory over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Brady followed it up with a blowout win over the rival Jets. Every week Brady breaks a new NFL record. What’s more, Brady still remembers dropping the ball against the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl. We can all but guarantee that en route to his fourth Super Bowl title, Brady will also be named the NFL’s top player.

NFL betting players have their typically busy week kick off on Thursday with a big AFC South game, then it only gets bigger from there in Week 14.

Colts Titans Betting - Thursday, 8:20 PM ET

The Titans are 2.5-point underdogs at home against the Colts in this battle of struggling teams, and it’s amazing that both are still in the AFC South hunt. The Titans have a barely-fit Kerry Colins at quarterback, while Peyton Manning is playing like he’s barely fit with 11 picks in his last three games. Still, the Titans are terrible offensively.

NFL Picks: Colts -2.5

Patriots Bears Betting - Thursday, 4:15 PM ET

There is no line out for this game yet as the Patriots have to play the Jets on Monday night, and we’re still going to take the Bears as New England has had a tough stretch of games, and they’re on a short week. The Bears are getting better as the season wears on, and they’re not getting any credit.

NFL Picks: Bears

Chiefs Chargers Betting - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Chiefs are 7-point underdogs on the road in San Diego, where the Chargers were surprised last week by Oakland (it was also their first December loss since 2005). We think the Chargers will get it together enough to take the win, but if you’re betting against the spread, Kansas City is the way to go.

NFL Picks: Chiefs +7

Eagles Cowboys Betting - Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

The Eagles are 3-point favorites on the road, but the Cowboys are a different team under Jason Garrett and have a lot of confidence after winning in Indianapolis. Philadelphia won’t be able to score on the Cowboys like they did against Houston, which is why the Cowboys are ready to pull off the sports betting upset.

NFL Picks: Cowboys +3

Those doing some NFL betting online have to check the injury reports right up until gametime, and here are the top three we think could affect NFL betting odds, as well as your fantasy lineup.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

The Vikings look to be going more towards the run under Leslie Frazier, but they may have to do it without their best running back as Peterson (ankle) didn’t practice, and will likely be held out until just before the Vikings host Buffalo.

Roddy White, Atlanta

White’s(knee) connection with Matt Ryan is a major reason that the Falcons have major aspirations of reaching the Super Bowl, and while he’s expected to play, it has to be worrying that White is banged up ahead of a three-game road trip that could go a ways towards proving that the Falcons can win away from the Georgia Dome. Watch how this plays out before the Falcons head to Tampa Bay in a big NFC South matchup.

Antonio Gates, San Diego

The Chargers have been decimated by injuries this year, especially to their receivers, but losing Gates (toe) may be the biggest one yet. The Chargers keep rolling, but it has to catch up to them soon. Gates returned to action last week after three weeks off (two missed games and a bye), and the Chargers would love to have one of the all-time greats back in the lineup. It would make them even bigger sports betting favorites over Oakland at home.