Sports betting guide

The Major League Baseball All Star break is over and the second half of the season is underway.  On Sunday night two teams looking to climb back into contention after a substandard start to the season will do battle as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the ‘Gateway City’.   The Dodgers started slowly after their torrid late season run last year but thanks to improved play and the struggles of the San Francisco Giants they’re

Adrian Peterson’s uncanny return from reconstructive knee surgery after only nine months of rehab defined the 2012 Minnesota Vikings. Peterson came within eight yards of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2105 yards. More importantly, he willed the Vikes into a surprising playoff berth. Despite the success, the front office traded away highly skilled but injury prone wide receiver Percy Harvin to fellow conference contender Seattle in exchange for a 2013 first-round draft pick. On a team lacking legit playmakers

The Green Bay Packers have won 47 games during the last four years. Aaron Rodgers has been named Super Bowl MVP and league MVP during the last four years. Clay Matthews has totaled 42.5 sacks and won NFC Defensive Player of the Year during the last four years. Entering 2013, the Packers are once again poised to make another legit run at the Lombardi Trophy. But just how good will they actually be? Let’s take a look.

Whatever momentum the Detroit Lions gained during their 2011 playoff run came to a screeching halt in 2012 after they plummeted from 10-6 to 4-12. Matthew Stafford regressed, the running game stalled, and the defense continued to be porous. Head coach Jim Schwartz is firmly on the hot seat, so another flop likely won’t be tolerated by the powers that be. The talent is there, but a lack of discipline and an inability to come through in the clutch is

After 81 wins in nine years, one trip to the Super Bowl, and another to the NFC Championship, Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith was fired last December. The foundation from last year’s 10-6 campaign is still in place, minus future Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who retired in the offseason. New head coach Marc Trestman was plucked from the CFL and is expected to rejuvenate a stagnant offense. In a crowded NFC, can the 2013 Bears return to the

The 2012 Tampa Bay Bucs’ defense  pulled off a dubious statistic by ranking first against the run and last against the pass. In order to prevent a repeat disaster, the front office traded for Jets All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, signed 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson, and drafted Mississippi State corner Johnthan Banks. The offense has a chance to be one of the league’s most explosive attacks, providing quarterback Josh Freeman avoids a prolonged slump. Here’s a preview of the 2013

With “Bountygate” and Sean Payton’s year-long suspension in the rear window, the New Orleans Saints can get back to the business of contending for another title in 2013. They finished number one in passing offense in 2012, but fielded a defense that yielded the most yards in league history. Overrated defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was hired to “fix” the unit, and as long as Brees is engineering 30 points per game, Ryan should be able to plug a few of

The Cam Newton era is off to a not-so impressive 13-19 start. Of course blaming Newton for the team’s failings isn’t telling the whole story. The “new age” dual threat quarterback has accounted for 62 touchdowns in two seasons. Problem is the front office has done a poor job of surrounding him with scary talent. Steve Smith is 34. Brandon LaFell has never eclipsed 700 yards. The backfield is aging and injured. Will the ‘Cats take the next step in

After years of flirting with contender status, the 2012 Atlanta Falcons led by quarterback Matt Ryan finally won a playoff game and came within a few points of advancing to the Super Bowl. Entering this season, the Falcons are a popular pick to take the final step and claim the NFC title. In a conference loaded with promising teams, getting over the hump won’t be easy, but Atlanta is poised to make a serious run.

The most important ACL in professional football this offseason belongs to Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. After undergoing surgery in January, the team, and the rest of the league, have been eagerly waiting to see if Griffin would mirror the supernatural healing powers of Adrian Peterson and be ready for Week 1. The jury is still out, as Mike Shanahan has wisely been cautious with his franchise signal-caller in training camp. Can Washington repeat their 2012 heroics in 2013 with