Add injuries to another sports betting controversy for the NFL. In an attempt to purify the game of football, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff have implemented new repercussions, for players that fake injuries in order to help their teams get better yardage. With more coaches and teams adopting a ‘faking’ approach, NFL betting lines have been askew. Today we will be looking at how the NFL plans to punish fake offenders.

The NFL sent all 32 teams a memo yesterday, indicating that any players that fake injuries to take advantage in a game, will not only be suspended, but their teams will be fined and lose draft picks. For fishing games enthusiasts, the suggested punishment for faking injuries, stems from an incident on Monday Night during the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants game. During the game, one of the defensive players for the Giants appeared to fake an injury, in order to slow down Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams no huddle offense. The Giants would go on to win the game in rather convincing fashion.

Thanks to the lockout this offseason, players have been dropping like flies in the first two weeks of the regular season. Meaning to say, for players to fake injuries is immoral, but also shows, that teams are using the long layover due to the lockout as an advantage over their opponents. However, the NFL under Goodell is putting a stop to the shenanigans right away, as the last thing they need, is a scandal.

The rumor of fake injuries has also put the NFL between a rock and a hard place. For instance, players are injured and comeback all the times in games, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are faking. Now, if a player is injured and comes back, the NFL might not know when to punish teams.

If you’re fishing for a trio of games to wager on in the third week of the NFL regular season, we have you covered and this weekend, the AFC is the place to be for sports betting players.

Patriots Bills Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Patriots are 9-point favorites as they go for their 16^th win in a row over the Bills, and their eighth straight win in Buffalo, but the Bills are off to a great start and riding a lot of momentum. However, you can’t beat history and Tom Brady has the Bills’ number (that number is a 103.0 passer rating in 18 games).

Bet On Sports: New England -9

Jets Raiders Odds - Sunday, 4:05 PM ET

The Jets are favored by 3.5 points in Oakland, where they have won two of their last three trips, and covered the spread once. The Raiders are playing above their weight right now, but unless Darren McFadden can have a monster day, the Jets should avoid a BetOnline football upset.

Bet On Sports: New York Jets -3.5

Steelers Colts Odds - Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

The Colts are 10.5-point underdogs at home against the Steelers, who are 3-2 SU and 2-2 ATS in their last five trips to Indianapolis, and they should come away with a win this week. But the Colts are a solid bet to cover as Kerry Collins has a passer rating of 90.7 in five meetings with Pittsburgh, and the Colts will play with some semblance of pride this week, enough to keep it close.

Bet On Sports: Indianapolis +10.5

Even bass fishing guides will be tuned into the third week of the NFL, and in particular, there are a slew of solid matchups in the NFC to check out. Here are the best of the bunch.

Lions Vikings Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Lions are 3.5-point favorites on the road in Minnesota, where they haven’t won since 1997 and only once in the last six games have Detroit covered the spread at the Metrodome. But this week, they’ll snap that skid as the Detroit offense looks scary good. The Vikings gave away a win against Tampa Bay and that could have taken the win out of their sails.

Online Betting Pick: Detroit -3.5

Falcons Buccaneers Odds - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The line for Atlanta’s trip to Tampa Bay hasn’t come out yet, but they’re 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five trips to Raymond James Stadium. Those who bet football online watched the Bucs escape Minnesota with a victory, while the Falcons are coming off a huge win over Philadelphia.

Online Betting Pick: Atlanta

Packers Bears Odds - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

In this rematch of last year’s NFC title game, Green Bay is a 3.5-point favorite in Chicago, where they are 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS, but they claimed the “W” on both accounts in the postseason. The Bears were manhandled in New Orleans, but they’ll bounce back against the Packers, particularly on defense.

Online Betting Pick: Chicago -3.5

There should be time for online fishing games for a number of players in the NFL, as Week 1 was littered with injuries that have put some big names on the sidelines. Here are the three biggest names who won’t take part in Week 2’s action (not counting Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning, who would be on this list until he returns).

Brian Urlacher, Chicago

Urlacher isn’t actually injured, but he may miss this week’s contest against New Orleans due to the death of his mother. The Bears said that Urlacher will understandably get the time that he needs, but they’ll miss if he is gone as Urlacher is the emotional leader of the entire team, not just the defense. The Bears are also 7-8 when Urlacher doesn’t play.

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco

NFL betting lines would have the 49ers as an underdog at home against Dallas with Crabtree in the lineup, but he is extremely questionable because of a foot injury that he says will bother him for the rest of the year. It’s not like the 49ers have a lot of offensive weapons for Alex Smith (which is a conversation in itself), so this will put more pressure on running back Frank Gore.

Steven Jackson, St. Louis

The Rams were hit hard by injuries last week, and even though Sam Bradford should play, Jackson will be out because of an ailing quad, and that puts pressure on Bradford and an aerial attack that also lost receiver Danny Amendola indefinitely. Look for the Rams to be an underdog on the road against the New York Giants on Monday night in your sports betting online book.

Put down those fishing maps for a minute and head over to your sports betting book as the NFC looks to follow up an incredible Week 1 with more Week 2 action. Here is a peek at the top three games of the weekend.

Bears Saints Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Saints are 6.5-point favorites at home against the Bears, who put a beating on Atlanta last week, while New Orleans came up just short in a shootout with Green Bay. Chicago is 4-1 SU and 2-1-2 ATS in their last five meetings with New Orleans, with four games going over the posted total. While everyone looks at the Saints’ offense against the Chicago defense, can New Orleans stop Chicago? We like the Bears against the spread.

Pick: Chicago Bears +6.5

Packers Panthers Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Packers are 10-point favorites on the road according to NFL betting lines, and their defense will be out to prove something after the Saints ran wild on them. Cam Newton will be out to show that last week’s record-setting performance was no fluke, but the Panthers’ rookie is going to hit some obstacles along the way, and this will be the first. Green Bay is 3-2 SU and ATS in five meetings with Carolina.

Pick: Green Bay Packers -10

Eagles Falcons Odds - Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

In the game of the week, the Eagles are 3-point favorites on the road against the Falcons, who got manhandled by Chicago and will have a chip on their shoulder. Philadelphia is 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS in five games against the Falcons, and we’re taking their corners against the Atlanta wideouts in this betting showdown.

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles -3

Stop planning that striper fishing trip and check out the games in your sportsbook for Week 2, and today we’ll look specifically at the AFC, where it’s going to be a fun year if Week 1 is any indication.

Ravens Titans Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Baltimore will probably be favored on the road, especially after wiping the floor with Pittsburgh in their opener to make a statement. The Titans lost a close one against Jacksonville and will make their 2011 home debut, but Chris Johnson has to prove something after a poor opening week. The problem is, he’s going against Ray Lewis.

Sports Betting Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Browns Colts Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

It’ll be interesting to see what Bet Online football odds say about this game, as it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts were home underdogs after getting trounced in Houston. An injured Peyton Manning may have been more productive than Kerry Collins, and the Browns will be hungry after losing to their state rivals from Cincinnati. This may be the most intriguing game of the week.

Sports Betting Pick: Indianapolis Colts

Chargers Patriots Odds - Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Patriots should be favored at home in this AFC showdown, and they’ll have a short week after playing in Miami on Monday night. San Diego needed to rally to beat Minnesota at home, and the Patriots are going to be ready for them as these two have one of the most underrated rivalries in the league.

Sports Betting Pick: New England Patriots

Fishing enthusiasts looking for an advantage over their local bookies, this NFL season should stop their search at the injury report. Weekly, all 32 NFL teams send in an injury report to the league offices, to indicate which of their players will not be playing in that weeks games. The injury report can play a huge role on the NFL betting line, because of the importance of certain players to their teams. Today we will look at a couple of injuries and their impacts on games.

Indianapolis Colts At Houston Texans (-8.5) - No game has been effected greater this week by injury, then the Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans game. For the first time in 14 years, Colts future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning, will miss the first game of the season, due to neck surgery. What was originally believed to be a simple injury, which would require Manning to miss training camp, has extended into the regular season. Manning, the centerpiece of the Colts offense, and fantasy football legend, could miss up to six weeks with his injury. As a result, several bookmaking sites have set the point spread rather high, while others have removed the game all together.

Chicago Bears At Atlanta Falcons (-4.5) - With Matt Forte holding out for a new contract, and backup running back Marion Barber out with an injured calf muscle, the Bears are being faded heavily on the betting line this Sunday. The Bears recently released Chester Taylor, with the belief that either Forte would be back, or Barber would be healthy enough to go in week one. Instead, third string running back Khalil Bell will get the call as the Bears number one running back this week. Hopefully for Bears fans, Roy Williams and Devin Hester can assist Jay Cutler in the pass game.

Every year the division winners are predicted for both conferences, and while the majority of the time the projections are right, there are those few instances where the prognosticators get it wrong and a couple of underdog NFL betting lines’ teams make it in. While these teams may not have the talent to contend for a playoff spot, two of the four will emerge from week one of the regular season with a win, opening their season off on the right note.

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-3)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Jaguars finished at 8-8 a year ago, and the team was able to make some key roster additions without losing any of the core contributor’s from last year’s roster. That continuity could be the key for a team that has the talent to contend, but has lacked the consistency and direction to get it done. Head coach Jack Del Rio and a core group of Jacksonville players that include quarterback David Garrard and running back Maurice Jones-Drew are on the clock, and will need to prove that they can lead the franchise to bigger things or risk having their chance expire. The Titans are a team in transition with a new head coach and a new quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, and they may not have the weapons to make up for a lack of sports betting preparation for a tough road visit against a division rival in week one.

NFL Betting Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars -3

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns (-6.5)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Year after year it seems as though Browns’ fans have been forced to suffer in the AFC North basement, while the other three teams in the division have taken turns at the top. With the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens both considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders, Cleveland will be hard-pressed once again to do anything special. But with a promising young quarterback and a confident head coach, the Browns may be on the verge of turning that corner with a little more talent. They won’t contend for a playoff spot this year, but they should be able to get a couple of big wins including fishing for a big one in a home opener against a Bengals’ team that is almost completely void of an identity.

NFL Betting Pick: Cleveland Browns -6.5

Stop entering fishing contests for just a second and head over to your favorite sports betting book as the NFL regular season is about to kick off, and the NFC has a trio of matchups that should get the conference off to a rocking start.

Saints Packers Odds - Thursday, 8:30 PM ET

The Packers are 4-point favorites at home in this meeting of the last two Super Bowl winners, and while most of the attention will go to the quarterbacks and the offenses, the defenses will be the difference in this game. Green Bay can also learn a thing or two from the Saints about playing with the pressures of being the defending champs.

Falcons Bears Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Since MLB baseball betting players in Chicago don’t have to worry about the White Sox or Cubs anymore, they can turn their attention to the Bears, who are 3-point underdogs at home. The Falcons could have the best offense in the league, but their defense has to catch up if they’re going to boost their sports betting odds.

Eagles Rams Odds - Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Finally, Philadelphia is a 4.5-point favorite on the road in St. Louis, where the up-and-coming Rams are going to pose a tough test. The Eagles made a lot of moves in the offseason to place themselves among the favorites for the NFC and the Super Bowl, but they need to win games like this to earn faith among online sports betting players.

With the NFL lockout over, and preseason wrapping up this weekend, it is once again that time of year, for fishing games handicappers to pick the upcoming Super Bowl Champion. As always, 32 teams enter week one with a shot at the Super Bowl, but as February rolls around, only two sports betting teams will remain. Here is our prediction for Super Bowl 46.

Super Bowl 46 will feature two teams entering their primes, the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. Last season, the Houston Texans once again infuriated their fans, as a poor defense was the team’s Achilles heel as they missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year. This offseason, the Texans hired former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Philips to become the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Wherever he has gone, Philips has had strong defenses. For example, in 2004 when Philips took over as the defensive coordinator for San Diego, he was able to turn them into one of the top 15 defenses in the league. Given that Houston ranked dead last in defense last year, a jump to the top 15 would be more than welcome. As well, the additions of Daniel Manning and Jonathan Joseph to the defensive secondary should help the Texans dramatically this season.

Also last season, the Atlanta Falcons elevated their game from a playoff pretender to an annual contender. Atlanta went an impressive 13 and three during the regular season, prior to being dismantled, by eventual Super Bowl Champion, the Green Bay Packers. This offseason, the Falcons added depth to both the offense and defense, in an attempt to build upon there 2010 - 11 results.

On paper, both Houston and Atlanta are at the point in their current regimes, where a playoff run is necessary. If neither team is able to make it to the Super Bowl, they each may have to consider rebuilding.