UNDER-Standing NFL Totals in 2010
With the coming arrival of the start of NFL training camps approximately two weeks away, pro football betting enthusiasts everywhere are getting set for what promises to be an exciting 2010 campaign.
Devoted NFL gamblers that are looking to get their preseason and regular season wagering off to a strong start will be enlightened by this look at several teams that I believe will get very defensive – and thereby produce a majority of Under outcomes against the O/U total in 210.
With training camps getting set to start in a mere matter of days, let me get busy.
The San Francisco 49ers (11-5) and Arizona Cardinals (11-5) both recorded a league-high 11 Unders last season while doing it in polar-opposite ways and I genuinely believe each team will again produce more Unders than Overs in 2010.
Frisco has an outstanding defensive unit under no-nonsense head coach and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary and I expect them to be very strong defensively again this coming season while running the ball better and playing in a lot of low-scoring affairs.
The Cardinals faced high O/U totals all season long in 2009 – and didn’t score quite enough points to play Over the total more often than not. With Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin gone and Matt Leinart (I guess) taking over, I suspect the Cards will take a slight step backwards offensively and produce a slew of Unders because of it.
Seven more teams produced 10 or more Unders last season and all have legitimate chances of playing to at least nine Unders in 2010, though I have pared the list down a bit to reflect what I believe will happen in 2010.
New England
The Patriots went 5-10-1 in O/U wagers last season, mostly because their offense didn’t quite live up to expectations. Now going into 2010, I believe the Pats are going to be more mediocre than mighty – and will again play Under the total more often than not as they have improved their defense a bit, if not their offense quite as much.
Tampa Bay
I wasn’t real impressed with the rebuilding Bucs last season, but I do believe head coach Raheem Morris knows how to coach defense with the best in the business. Tampa Bay (6-10 O/U) will be solid on defense, if not better, while the offense will be slightly improved under clearly talented second-year quarterback Josh Freeman.
Carolina
I know the Panthers lost Julius Peppers this offseason, but Carolina (6-10 O/U) head coach John Fox is a defensive genius in my book. Carolina will still be very tough defensively – and likely mediocre offensively under first-time, full-time starter, Matt Moore.
Dallas
The Pokes went 6-10 O/U last season and should be good for at least another nine Under outcomes in 2010 as they possess arguably the best front seven in all of football heading into 2010.
More teams that I believe could play Under more often than not in 2010 include Cleveland, Denver, Oakland and Cincinnati all of whom recorded nine Unders a year ago
Last but certainly not least are Rex Ryan’s high-pressure NY Jets who went 7-8-1 in O/U wagers last season. The J-E-T-S will once again be downright beastly n 2010 and should be one of the best Under producers in the league this coming season.

