The story and tradition of one of the oldest football stadiums in NFL betting history is celebrated today in the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin, where eight Sunday’s a year the Packers take to the field for regular season home games. One of the most distinct and unique stadiums in the NFL, Lambeau Field has been the home of the Packers since 1957, when it was recognized as City Stadium. The new City Stadium replaced the old City Stadium as the home for the Green Bay football team, and after long-time head coach Curly Lambeau passed away in 1964, the stadium was renamed after him. There isn’t much else in terms of sports betting venues in that area of Wisconsin, and that only adds to the prestige and allure of the legendary Lambeau Field.

The second-largest stadium in all of Wisconsin behind Camp Randall Stadium on the college campus, Lambeau Field can sit up to 73,094 on game-day. The Kentucky bluegrass surface is reinforced with Grassmaster, and while the construction of the stadium at the time was under $1 million ($4.63 million in 2012), more than $295 million in renovations have been made to the stadium ever since. There aren’t many other 5Dimes teams that have the same advantage playing at home as Green Bay does, and it’s their legendary stadium that remains such a historic site for a Packers’ team that has established itself as a perennial Super Bowl contender for years to come.

The people who bet on sports will be able to tell you what a back judge’s job is, in large part because football is the most popular sport to bet on in the United States, and because we’ve just concluded another wild weekend of action in both college football and the NFL.

Those who monitor college football betting know that a back judge is responsible for action that occurs in the secondary. While the referee focuses on the offensive backfield and the umpire sets his sights on the action in the trenches near the line of scrimmage, the back judge must reserve his attention for the open-field dimensions of each and every football play. When a receiver not only breaks past the line of scrimmage but works his way into the middle third of the field on a vertical passing route, the back judge is the person who needs to be in position to make a ruling on that post or deep crossing pattern. It is the back judge who will regularly make pass interference calls. He must emerge from his initial position at the start of a play and move in a direction that will enable him to contain the action in front of him. He will either move toward the middle of the field or to the sideline, depending on the flow of a passing play. This is the kind of stuff that a bodog review would offer when explaining a back judge’s most important responsibilities. 

All of the betting sites can appreciate a good NFL defense, and everyone knows that it takes a good defense to win a Super Bowl. But the truly great defenses in NFL history had that little extra edge to them. Opposing offenses were genuinely scared to play the top defenses of all time, and that is just one of the ways that these defenses built their reputations. Let’s take a look at the three defenses that the football betting experts consider to be the best NFL defenses of all time.

Pittsburgh Steelers – 1976

The “Steel Curtain” was more than just a cute nickname, it personified exactly what this defense was all about. With players like “Mean” Joe Greene and Jack Ham lining up at the line of scrimmage, there was no way that the opposing offense stood a chance. The “Steel Curtain” didn’t just try to tackle a player, it tried to put that player out of the game. More often than not, the curtain was successful at thinning the opposing herd by the end of the game.

Chicago Bears – 1985

You may get some argument about how good this Chicagoteam really was in 1985, but you will get no argument about how good the defense was. A 5 dimes review of this defense shows names like Singletary, Perry and Hampton. It was a defense that no one could run or pass against, and it remains as one of the best in NFL history

Baltimore Ravens – 2000

The Baltimore Ravens in 2000 proved that a defense could win a Super Bowl despite an average offense. Lead by linebacker Ray Lewis, the 2000 Ravens carved out a spot as one of the greatest defenses to ever play in the NFL.

The various sportsbook reviews on the market will say that the perfect NFL quarterback for your fantasy football aspirations is one that will throw a lot inside the 10-yard line and other red-zone situations. Many of the best online betting sites will point out that the ultimate fantasy football quarterback is one who will throw 20- and 25-yard touchdown strikes on many occasions, racking up yards and points at the same time while also removing the need for his team to take extra snaps inside the five-yard line, when running plays can take touchdowns away from the quarterback. This might seem like one big extended online poker game in which football is not necessarily the focus, but it’s all part of the unique calculus of fantasy football, which is not quite the same as the battle waged between teams. Fantasy football is about players more than teams, a way of assessing the players who are (and aren’t) in position to accumulate several high-value statistics while minimizing their most negative numerical values and outputs. It’s a different beast, and there’s no doubt about the matter. Yet, for all of the ways in which fantasy football is different from a team competition, a player’s strengths and weaknesses are usually connected to the team he plays for. A great fantasy football quarterback must have great receivers around him, or he won’t amount to much. A great fantasy football quarterback must have lethal red-zone threats around him, or he won’t be supremely productive. This is why Aaron Rodgers – who has lots of fast receivers at Green Bay – and Tom Brady, who has elite red-zone targets such as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to throw to, are your best picks for a fantasy football league at the quarterback spot.

A proper Bet Online review (check here for a review of their sportsbook) of an NFL team would tell you if a team struggles to hold on to big leads, and you can check out for these signs; they’ll usually tip you off.

If a starting quarterback goes down, that is definitely going to affect a team’s online sports betting odds as it hurts them on both sides of the ball. The offense certainly isn’t going to function any better with a backup quarterback, and that also brings down a defense’s confidence level as well as their energy levels because if the offense loses momentum from their lead, that means the defense is on the field longer and when you’re on the field for a long time, mistakes happen and usually in the form of big plays.

Turnovers are usually another hint that a team is in the process of giving up a lead because one or two in a row will halt an offense’s momentum and that is when things start to go downhill in a hurry. Once momentum swings from one side to the other, it’s tough to stop it and a team that commits a couple of turnovers back-to-back will be in trouble.

It’s good to know these signs of momentum switching hands because if you can get a feel for it, you can make it pay off for you in terms of live betting, especially if you’re an online football betting player.

Even those following the NHL trade deadline had an eye on the NFL combine over the weekend as the best in college football strutted their stuff for scouts and executives alike, but when it comes to the draft, all everyone wants to know is, who will take Robert Griffin III with the second pick?

1. Andrew Luck – Indianapolis

There is no way that the Colts don’t take Stanford’s Luck, the best quarterback prospect since a guy named Peyton Manning, who Indy fans know all too well.

2. Robert Griffin III – Cleveland

The Heisman winner stole the 2011 season with his incredible athleticism, and he’ll be a better pick for success than his school when it comes to March Madness betting success.

3. Matt Kalil – Minnesota

Kalil may be the best non-skill player in the draft and the Vikings have to bolster their offensive line if they’re going to get a feel of what Christian Ponder can do.

4. Justin Blackmon – St. Louis

Cleveland and Washington are in the running for St. Louis’ No.2 pick, but the Rams can’t be sure that Blackmon will be there sixth, when the Redskins are slated to pick and they really need another receiver for Sam Bradford.

5. Trent Richardson – Tampa Bay

Richardson will go in this spot, although the Bucs could also look at LSU cornerback Mo Claiborne, but either way, look for an SEC player to head to Tampa Bay, who don’t have much to lose in the eyes of sport betting players.

Even if you’re a WWE fan, you probably remember Super Bowl XLII from four years ago as the New York Giants beat New England in possibly the biggest upset in the history of the event; the Giants came in as a 12.5-point underdog, but used a vicious front four to knock off New England’s record-setting offense. The Patriots have a chance to redeem themselves in Indianapolis, not to mention, a home loss to the Giants from earlier in the regular season.

The Giants needed overtime to win 20-17 in San Francisco, with Eli Manning throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns, while Lawrence Tynes kicked a 31-yard field goal to send the 49ers home. The New York defense had another fantastic game, stopping the 49ers on 12 of 13 third downs, while the special teams forced a pair of big fumbles out of Kyle Williams at rainy Candlestick Park.

The Patriots gutted out a 23-20 win at home over Baltimore, although they were a bit fortunate to see Billy Cundiff’s 32-yard field goal attempt go wide left at the end of regulation. They also overcame a poor day from Tom Brady, who was picked off twice, but the defense made a few big plays to keep the Patriots’ Super Bowl hopes alive.

Superbowl odds have the Patriots as a 3-point favorite to open betting for the big game, even though they’re only 3-2 SU in their last five meetings with the Giants, but they’re also 1-4 ATS. The Giants won 24-20 in New England, but bank on the Patriots to make some adjustments and get their revenge to snap a two-game skid against their rivals from New York. Take the Patriots to cover the spread in your best online sportsbook.

Even those that keep an MMA blog were glued to their televisions for one of the craziest wild-card rounds in recent memory, and the first where the home team won all four games. Next is the divisional round, and here is a look at Saturday’s games.

Saints 49ers Odds – Saturday, 4:30 PM ET

New Orleans is a 3.5-point favorite on the road in San Francisco, where the 49ers are a sparkling 7-0-1 ATS this season. However, players who purchase price per head software have watched Drew Brees and the Saints roll through the season, although their three losses came on the road. The big key here is experience and the 49ers don’t have a lot of it when it comes to the postseason. The Saints have plenty and the defense should be able to force a mistake or two out of Alex Smith. Take New Orleans to cover on the road here.

Broncos Patriots Odds – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

New England is a 13.5-point favorite at home against the Broncos, who took out Pittsburgh in one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. The Patriots have already beaten the Broncos, a 41-23 win in Denver back in Week 15, and they’re 7-1 SU at home this season, although they’re only 4-4 ATS. New England forced three turnovers in Week 15 and they lead the AFC in that category, so the Patriots are the pick to make this weekend for Super Bowl betting players.

The NFL playoffs are kicking off this weekend and on Saturday, there are a couple of intriguing games, one from each conference, that will be sure to get your attention.

Bengals Texans Odds – Saturday, 4:30 PM ET

Houston is a 3-point favorite at home as the AFC South champions, and they’re in the playoffs for the first time in their history, but some players that use price per head software will tell you that the Texans are really banged up, especially on offense. The Bengals are in the postseason for the third time since 1990, and they’re led by the rookie duo of quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green, but their defense is no joke, either. This should be a low-scoring affair that is defense-heavy, and wild-card weekend begins with an upset. Take Cincinnati on the road to avenge a 20-19 loss from Week 14 to the Texans.

Lions Saints Odds – Saturday, 8:30 PM ET

New Orleans is favored by 10.5 points at home, where they are 8-0 ATS and have already defeated the Lions in a 31-17 victory in Week 13. The Saints’ Drew Brees may be the league MVP, but he’ll need his defense to step up and contain the Detroit duo of pivot Matt Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson, who might be the best wideout in the NFL. In the end, it might be Detroit’s indiscipline that ruins their chances because they’ll take too many penalties to stay with an experienced New Orleans team. Go with New Orleans to cover the sport betting spread.

A BetOnline review of the season for Cincinnati would give them credit for staying on track with a young quarterback and wide receiver, but the playoffs would be the icing on the cake for the Bengals, who hold their destiny in their hands. However, they’re hosting a Baltimore team that still has its eye on the No.1 seed in the AFC.

Ravens Bengals Odds – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

Baltimore (11-4) won the North title with a 20-14 win over Cleveland, and they’re looking to solidify their standing among those that purchase pay per head sportsbook services by winning out to give themselves a chance to steal the top seed from New England, who need to lose this week at home against Buffalo. Joe Flacco threw two scores as the Ravens raced out to a 20-0 lead to go 8-0 at home for the first time.

Cincinnati (9-6) held off a furious rally by Arizona for a 23-16 win on the road, and the Bengals held on to the final playoff spot in the AFC with a gutsy performance. They picked off John Skelton three times and took advantage of a few Arizona penalties to come away with the win, while Andy Dalton threw two more touchdowns for the Bengals.

The Ravens are a 2.5-point favorite on the road in Cincinnati, where they are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games, but Baltimore will come away victorious on this day. These veterans know they haven’t played their best down the stretch and they’ll aim to make a statement on Sunday. Go with Baltimore to cover the spread when you bet on sports this weekend.