New teammates Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall should bring some bite to the Bears offense.

US PRESSWIRE

NFL 2012 division odds: Long shots worth a look

By ASHTON GREWAL - COVERS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Parity is one of the things we love about professional football. Last year’s division winner could be this year’s punching bag. The draft and the schedule give less talented teams the chance to turn things around in a hurry.

Putting down some cash on a long shot to win the Super Bowl is fun, but really, you're chances are slim. I've always liked betting on long shots to win their division. Only four-team pool (as opposed to 32 to win the Super Bowl) and there's always a fair amount of turnover.

We’ve only had five repeat division champs over the last four years. Eight divisions, five repeat champs. Only eight of the past 32 division winners have been priced at minus money. Check out the chart below:

You can check out all the NFL divisional odds for this season here, but let’s zero in on two teams worth a look as long shots to win their respective division.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1600 to win the NFC South

It was only two years ago this team went 10-6 and looked to have a future Pro Bowl quarterback in Josh Freeman. Last year didn’t go according to plan. The Bucs quit on former coach Raheem Morris and finished with 4-12 straight up and against the spread.

The Bucs brought in a new head coach (former Rutgers boss Greg Schiano), signed an explosive wideout (Vincent Jackson) and made some nice additions to its secondary (rookie safety Mark Barron and free agent signee Eric Wright).

The NFC South has a history of seeing teams go from worst to first. No one knows who’s in charge in New Orleans and Asante Samuel alone won’t fix Atlanta’s shaky defense.

Chicago Bears +525 to win the NFC North

Remember how good this team looked before Jay Cutler went down? Let me refresh your memory. The Bears were 7-3 and had just knocked off the Eagles, Lions and Chargers in successive weeks. The Monsters of Midway turned into Wusses of the Windy City once Cutler broke his thumb.

But Chicago made a major upgrade at backup QB bringing in former Redskin and Raider signal caller Jason Campbell. Factor in the upside of kicking offensive coordinator Mike Martz to the curb and bringing in receiver Brandon Marshall and you start to see a team that can challenge the Packers for division supremacy.

Of course, we’ve got to do some hoping, praying and wishing that all-purpose running back Matt Forte doesn’t hold out.

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Posted by jimmygo89
10 months ago

The link that you have shows the Bears at +350, not +525. I agree with most of the posters that there isn't much value there, particularly in such a top heavy division (Detroit/GB). Although, I wont be an a--hole and kill you for it like some of these guys. I also feel that the Bears b/u QB situation is much better, but they have a lot of other issues...have they even signed Forte yet? He was like 65% of their offense last year. I agree with you on the Bucs...good value there. Two others are; Redskins 7/1 Rams 10/1

Posted by 7MrG7
10 months ago

Bears finish 3rd, behind Green Bay and Detroit.

Posted by usmail
10 months ago

BOTH CUTLER AND CAMPLE ARE NOT GOOD THE GUY WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE IS A JOKER. WATCH THEM PLAY AND YOU WILL BELIEVE ME.

Posted by lvexpert41
10 months ago

Cleveland Browns are 25to1. worth a small wager if Brandon Weeden is the real deal.

Posted by tmurda666
10 months ago

word...

Posted by earthWake
10 months ago

Heres to you, 2008 AFC East Champs. The Miami Dolphins!!!

Posted by Coloneljim
10 months ago

Tennessee Titans get a look here.

Posted by SwishSwish1234
10 months ago

I dont think the Bears will make the playoffs let alone win the division.

Posted by Rob34
10 months ago

And another thing I have to laugh at. Just who wrote this article talking good about Jason Campbell. Former Redskin and Raider Quarterback. Last time I looked Campbells record is terrible. He is a losing Quarterback and now he's a backup. This article is an utter joke.

Posted by Ashton_Grewal
10 months ago

Jason Campbell is a huge improvement over former Bears backup QBs Caleb Hanie and Todd Collins.

Posted by Rob34
10 months ago

I'm not buying into the Bears and Brandon Marshal. I don't think Chicago will win the division until they hand Lovie Smith his pink slip. The NFC North will continue to be won by the Packers as long as Mike McCarthy is head coach at Green Bay and Aaron Rogers is the Quaterback.

Posted by crocnzeeba
10 months ago

Although the price isn't nearly as good, I'm giving the Seahawks a long look in the NFC West.

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Top Response

Posted by Ashton_Grewal
10 months ago

"Jason Campbell is a huge improvement over former Bears backup QBs Caleb Hanie and Todd Collins."

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Sports Betting Headlines »

Featured Free Play

MLB: Chi. Cubs vs. Cincinnati

Pick:: Cincinnati
Start:: May 24, 2013 - 7:10 PM
Capper:: Bryan Power
Offered at:: 5dimes @ -140 Cincinnati
Analysis:

1* Cincinnati (7:10 ET): Obviously, I'm on a real tear on the basepaths right now. Really, it's been going on all season as I'm 69-32 L101 MLB plays & 45-17 L62! But with Thursday's 3-0 SWEEP, things are really amping up as I'm 15-2 my last 17. Those records don't even include the success I've been having with my free plays. Today, I'm going to take Cincinnati as the host the Cubs.....

Starter Scott Feldman does give the beleaguered Cubbies somewhat of a fighting chance here, but it won't be enough against the red hot Reds. Cincinnati comes into tonight having won 10 of 12. They also have the advantage of having had Thursday off while the Cubs were in Pittsburgh. Chicago got swept by the Pirates (I had the Under y'day) and has now lost four in a row. Things are once again not looking good on the Northside. A big reason why is that they are scoring less than three runs per game on the road.

The Reds come in averaging 5.5 runs per game at home and will be starting Bronson Arroyo, a hot pitcher in his own right. Arroyo hasn't allowed any runs in either of his last two starts (14+ IP) & has a career 3.04 ERA in 26 starts vs. Chicago. Already this season, the Reds are 5-1 head to head w/ the Cubs. Why not lay the juice with the far better team at home? 1* Cincinnati.

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