Sports betting experts know that offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. The NFL has had some impressive defensive units in its history, and there are a few entering the 2011 season that could be remembered as some of the most physical units of all time. Here is a quick look at the defenses to watch in 2011 and which teams could be dominating on the line of scrimmage this year.

Detroit Lions

Online casino wagering football fans had no problem watching Detroit Lions’ rookie Ndamukong Suh be named defensive rookie of the year in 2010. The Lions went ahead and added Nick Fairley to their defensive line in the 2011 draft, and a defensive unit that was already getting better just got a huge boost.

Pittsburgh Steelers

You can say that James Harrison is a dirty player and Troy Polamalu over-commits too easily, but both of those players are still excellent defensive football stars. The Pittsburgh defense is physical and intimidating and one of the main reasons why the Steelers will be playoff contenders again in 2011.

Baltimore Ravens

The Raven defense is anchored by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. If both of those players can stay healthy in 2011, then the Ravens have a good chance at being a contender. The Ravens defense is an interesting mix of veterans and younger players that just learned how to play together last season. In 2011, they get to really unleash their defense.

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have a fast and aggressive defense that is extremely difficult to get away from. The secondary can stay with any group of receivers, and the Green Bay Linebackers are some of the most gifted athletes in the league.

The 2011 – 12 NFL betting lines are set to open in a few weeks after a new collective bargaining agreement was decided upon earlier this morning. After four long and grueling months, sports betting enthusiasts from around the league are trying to determine, which division will be the best this year. Here is a preview of last year’s most surprising division, the AFC West.

Made up of the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, the AFC West has been dominated by the Chargers for nearly the entire decade. That was until last season, when Kansas City and Oakland both emerged as middle of the pack teams. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos took a huge step backwards last season, finishing near the bottom of the standings in the entire NFL.

Entering the 2011 – 12 seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders are surrounded by optimism amongst fans and ownership alike. Kansas City shocked the entire NFL last year by winning the AFC West, before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Conversely, Oakland finished with a 500 record for the first time since going to the Super Bowl early in the decade.

This season, the Kansas City Chiefs will look to show that last year was no fluke. Chiefs pivot Matt Cassel is coming off a career season, and should be able to improve on those numbers. The biggest move of the Chiefs offseason was drafting several impressive wide receivers to help Dwayne Bowe carry the offensive load. If the Chiefs defense can continue to improve, we see no reason why the Chiefs can’t start dominating the division.

The dark horse in this division will be the Denver Broncos. Many people don’t believe the Broncos will be much of a threat; however with a new quarterback at the helm anything is possible.

Even online poker players know that NFL teams need good receivers in this day and age; the league depends on passing now, and while there are a ton of good quarterbacks, they wouldn’t be where they were without the receivers. Here are the best of the bunch.

Andre Johnson, Houston

Johnson is fast, big, he’ll go over the middle and he showed that he had some fire in last year’s fight with Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan. Simply, Johnson is unstoppable and still has a few good years left at 30.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona

It’s amazing that Fitzgerald had another 1,000-yard season given Arizona’s awful quarterback situation, and the Cardinals will need to improve that to convince Fitzgerald to stay. He may have the best pair of hands in the NFL.

Brandon Lloyd, Denver

Lloyd came out of nowhere to lead the league in receiving yards, but now he has to prove that he

can do it again. Also, along with Fitzgerald, Lloyd didn’t have a fumble last year: these two were the only receivers in the top ten to keep that category clean.

Roddy White, Atlanta

White led the league in first downs, and now the Falcons drafted Julio Jones to take some pressure off White, which will surely help their sports betting odds. Expect another big year from White.

Greg Jennings, Green Bay

It’s no betonline.com scam, Jennings quietly was one of the best receivers in the NFL before last year, but his role in the Packers’ run to the Super Bowl brought him to the forefront and at 27, he’s in his prime. Jennings can do it all, and he is a big reason why Green Bay is one of the favorites to repeat in your best online sportsbook.

When it comes to NFL betting lines, the best race of the season could come from the AFC East, where New England is favored as they’ve dominated the division over the last decade, but the New York Jets are coming in a hurry.

New England (-140): The Patriots rolled through the East, winning the crown for the eighth time in 10 years, and they’ll be back again as long as Tom Brady is at the helm. But the defense is still improving, and the Patriots still don’t have a deep threat.

New York Jets (+135): The Jets have a top-three defense and that will take you a long way, but they also have a quarterback in Mark Sanchez that is gaining in big-game experience and a solid game to run down the clock, as well as minimize mistakes, which boosts their sports betting odds.

Miami (+700): The Dolphins have quarterback issues and Chad Henne may not be the starter when the season starts. Miami also has to replace Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams, maybe both as they’re free agents. The defense is good, but not better than the Jets.

Buffalo (+1800): The Bills bring up the rear and again, they’re not going to go anywhere with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, but they have bigger offensive worries, such as C.J. Spiller not getting many touches, a lack of receivers (although Stevie Johnson emerged last year) and a suspect offensive line.

Prediction: The Jets offer better value, and it’s their time to knock the Patriots off their perch, especially after last year’s upset postseason win in New England. It’s no betonline com scam, take the Jets in your online sports betting picks.

The sports betting world seems to have backed off on the importance of the running back to a winning football team, but running backs made their point in 2010. Let’s take a look at some of the running backs that will be shifting the NFL betting lines in 2011.

Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams

Why will Steven Jackson be a force in 2011? Because he is no longer carrying the offensive load by himself, defenses cannot just key in on Jackson to stop the Rams. Jackson will have room to run in 2011, and he will make good use of it.

Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson can get a little fumble-prone when he carries the ball a lot, but he also gets better when he plays more. Since the Vikings will be breaking in a rookie quarterback in 2011, Peterson will pretty much be the Minnesota offense.

Arian Foster – Houston Texans

Arian Foster will be sharing the backfield with the now-healthy Ben Tate in 2011. The Texans just took a good offense and made it that much more dangerous. Tate will be a change of pace back that will get defenses softened up for Foster, and Foster will have another great year in 2011.

Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers

The defending Super Bowl champs won it all last year without a running game. It wasn’t until the wild card round of the playoffs that James Starks came out of nowhere and lit up the league. The reason the Packers did not have a running game is because starting running back Ryan Grant was injured in the first game of the season last year. This year Grant is healthy and looking to re-gain his form as an elite NFL running back.

NFL betting lines enthusiasts have as much idea about when the lockout will end, as they do who will win the NFC South division. Known as one of the most open divisions in sports, the NFC sports betting division is made up of 2010 Super Bowl winner the New Orleans Saints, last year’s surprise teams the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the worst team in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers. Here is a preview of this exciting division.

Similar to the AL East in baseball, the NFC South is a division that requires at least three of the four teams to have 10 or more wins, if they hope to qualify for the playoffs. Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned heads by coming out of seemingly nowhere to narrowly miss out on the club’s first playoff appearance since the 2002 Super Bowl. Conversely, the Atlanta Falcons impressed everyone with a 14 and two record, while the New Orleans Saints finished the year with a 12 and four record. Carolina disappointed completely, as they only managed to win two games in the post Jake Delhomme era.

When the NFL season finally does get underway, there will be a ton of optimism surrounding the NFC South. Firstly, all four teams had incredible drafts, with the Buccaneers particularly standing out. Secondly, no matter how you look at it, the Carolina Panthers under Ron Rivera will be an improved team over the one that only won two games a season ago. Atlanta and New Orleans will once again be at the top of the class, barring injuries to all world pivots Matt Ryan and Drew Brees respectively.

Projections: By drafting former Alabama Heisman winner Mark Ingram, the New Orleans Saints finally will have a true running back to compliment the team’s passing game. However, having said that, the Atlanta Falcons should be expected to win the division after giving up eight draft choices for first overall selection wide receiver Julio Jones. Tampa Bay will possess the scariest defense in the NFL, but will just miss out on the playoffs for another year in a row.

Even MLB betting players are starting to think about the NFL season, as some seem to think that we’re close to a conclusion of this lockout situation, and that means it’s time to start thinking about Super Bowl odds. Here are the top five quarterbacks that could take their team to the promised land.

Tom Brady, New England

If you needed one guy to win a Super Bowl, wouldn’t you take Brady? He would be even more efficient with a deep threat, but the New England quarterback still puts fear into the heart of opposing defenses.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

The defending Super Bowl winner has to prove that last year was no fluke, but he has the tools, including mobility, and he has a slew of weapons that make him look even better. You may not find a more naturally talented pivot in the league.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

This guy is a one-man coaching staff, and that Manning had the type of season he did with no running game and all of his receivers outside of Reggie Wayne getting hurt, shows that he’s still one of the best in the game.

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Speaking of injuries, Rivers had to deal with a ton last season; name another receiver outside of tight end Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson, who missed a lot of last year with a contract dispute. Rivers may be the grittiest quarterback in the NFL.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia

Vick’s mobility adds a different aspect to this danger, but he’s also improved a lot as a throwing quarterback. If the Eagles can keep him upright and improve their offensive line, watch their odds soar in your sports betting book.

Those watching NFL betting lines should prepare for another exciting season in the NFC North whenever the NFL season kicks off, as the division put two teams in the conference championship game, and they have the Super Bowl winner as well.

Green Bay (-250): The Packers could still be improving and should win the division this year, although it’ll be tough to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Aaron Rodgers still has a lot of weapons (including a healthy Ryan Grant), and the defense is getting better as well.

Chicago (+400): The Bears need some help for Jay Cutler, who doesn’t have great targets to throw to, and that is the only thing holding Chicago back from being a real force when it comes to Super Bowl odds. The defense is still good with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, but the offense has to improve.

Detroit (+450): The Lions could be a good darkhorse bet, and they could even overtake the Bears if Matt Stafford can remain healthy under center. The defense is scary up front with Ndamokung Suh and rookie Nick Fairley, but the rest of the unit has to catch up.

Minnesota (+1000): The Vikings are in rebuild mode, but they still have some good pieces in Adrian Peterson, a healthy Sidney Rice and a solid defense. But there is a major question at quarterback as rookie Christian Ponder looks to take over from Brett Favre, and that is going to hurt the Vikings’ sports betting odds.

Later this week, NHL betting online sites will be taking wagers on which of the league’s top free agents will be signed for the most money. Each year, the NHL free agency period helps the 30 teams discover whether or not they stand a chance at making the playoffs for the upcoming season. With a few big name betting free agents already off the market, here is a look at remaining stars.

Brad Richards C – If there was ever a need for a top line center in today’s NHL; Brad Richards would define the center teams are looking for. At 31 years of age, Richards is scoring at a point a game pace, as he quarterbacks the power play and takes key face offs. Richards has had a history with concussions; however that shouldn’t intimidate teams from taking a run at him. Expect Brad Richards to receive an increase from his current $7.8 million deal. With teams such as Philadelphia, New York Rangers, Toronto, and even Florida and Tampa Bay in the mix, Richards could earn close to $10 million over the next eight years.

Christian Ehrhoff D – After quarterbacking the Vancouver Canucks power play and defense corps for the last couple of years, Ehrhoff will be seen as a hot commodity for many NHL teams heading into next season. Ehrhoff has both, an absolute cannon from the point and good vision on the ice, making him a deadly number one defenseman in the NHL. With rumors that the Canucks can only keep one of he and partner Kevin Bieksa, Ehrhoff may be sought after by close to 10 teams.

Brooks Laich C/W – The versatile second center for the Washington Capitals will have many suitors this off season. While he has yet to break out and score at a point per game pace, Laich offers intangibles, like the versatility to play all over the ice, along with excellent penalty kill skills. Look for up to 15 teams to try and acquire the speedy star’s services.

NFL betting enthusiasts are hoping that the 2011 – 12 campaigns will finally be the year that the NFC West becomes an intriguing division. Annually, the NFC West has become synonymous with the carpet elite teams wipe their shoes on. However also annually, the winner of the NFC West goes on a run in the playoffs and comes up just short in winning the Super Bowl. Here is an online betting preview of one of the most infuriating divisions in all of sports.

Made up of the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams, the NFC West is one of the youngest divisions in all of sports. Last season, the St. Louis Rams literally came within a head to head victory against the Seattle Seahawks of qualifying for the playoffs. Seattle, which has become one of the worst teams in the NFL, shocked everyone twice last year. First, they defeated the Rams in week 17 to qualify for the playoffs, with an unimpressive eight and eight record. Secondly and perhaps more importantly, the Seahawks then went into the first round of the playoffs and decimated defending Super Bowl Champions the New Orleans Saints.

Although the Seahawks would eventually lose in the second round to the Chicago Bears, they provided their fans and the league with a glimmer of optimism, by the impressive end of the season. This year, the defending NFC West Champions go into what remains of the offseason in hopes of a running back and a quarterback. Last year Matt Hasselbeck showed the Seahawks he still has some energy in the tank. However, if the Seahawks expect to contend, they need to upgrade at quarterback.

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers were once again mediocre in 2010 – 11. Comparable to the Seahawks, the Cardinals and 49ers each need a veteran quarterback to help lead the charge while each clubs youth movement gets brought along.