There are six teams in the AFC Conference that are all fighting to be AFC Conference Champions. NFL oddsmakers have the New England Patriots listed as 11/10 odds favorite to win the AFC Conference. Let’s take a look at who else could content with Tom Brady and the Patriots. Be sure to make your 2012 NFL AFC Conference Predictions before Wild Card Weekend kicks-off.
Odds to win the 2012 AFC Conference:
New England Patriots 11/10
Baltimore Ravens 2/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 4/1
Houston Texans 16/1
Cincinnati Bengals 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Baltimore (12-4, 4-4 V) finished atop the AFC North thus receiving a first round bye. They’ll take on the winner between Pittsburgh and Denver on Sunday Jan 15th. They beat Pittsburgh twice this season 35-7 at home, in Week 1 and 23020 on the road in Week 9. They didn’t play Denver this season. Once again it’s their defense that trumps their offense. They are 3rd overall (288ypg) with a 4th ranked pass rush (196ypg) and 2nd ranked rush defense (92ypg). Their offense relies heavily on their running game led by RB Ray Rice. Rice was the NFL’s second-leading rusher and the only player in the league to amass more than 2,000 total yards. He set a Baltimore Ravens franchise record with 15 touchdowns, earned a second straight Pro Bowl berth.
Pittsburgh (12-4, 5-3 V) won the AFC Wild Card and will face Denver on the road, Sunday Jan 8th They never met this season and won their last meeting 28-10, in Denver. Once again it’s their defense that trumps their offense, just like Baltimore. They are 1st overall (271ypg) with a 1st ranked pass rush (171ypg) and 8th ranked rush defense (99ypg). The big question is the health of QB Ben Roethlisberger. He sprained his ankle on Dec. 8, and hasn’t been the same. Pittsburgh has scored two touchdowns in 10 quarters with him on the field. Roethlisberger hasn’t been able to follow through on his passes because he is unable to put weight on his left leg. He has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating. RB Rashard Mendenhall was hurt and is out of the playoffs as well as Mewelde Moore.
Houston (10-6, 5-3 H) finished atop the AFC South, but lost three straight games heading into the playoffs. They host Cincinnati Saturday Jan 7th. They met once this season with Houston winning 20-19, on the road. Their offense is built around the powerful, versatile Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson, who missed more than half the season. Foster would get some consideration for the MVP. All Johnson does, in his ninth season with the Texans, is catch everything thrown his way, often smothered by the league’s best cornerbacks. Foster, Johnson and whoever is quarterback has the solid foundation of the Texans’ offensive line. Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has a damn good case for the Coach of the Year. He molded Houston’s 4-3 defense that was ranked 29th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed in 2010, into a 3-4 unit that ranks fourth in points allowed and second in yards allowed this season.
Cincinnati (9-7, 5-3 V) got a Wild Card and will face Houston, Saturday Jan 7th. The Bengals success revolves around rookie QB Andy Dalton, who has 3,398 yards passing with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. But what has to be better is their defense. The Bengals were ranked 10th in the league in rush defense, allowing 104.7 yards per game, but the second half of the season has been a struggle. The Bengals allowed just one team to rush for more than 100 yards in the first eight games (Denver) but six times in the final eight games opponents topped the century mark rushing against them. Baltimore’s 221 yards last Sunday, led by Rice’s 191 yards, were the most given up this season by the Bengals. The Bengals are 8-1 this season when they hold teams to less than 100 yards on the ground and are 1-6 when they don’t.
Denver (8-8, 3-5 H) lucked out and made the playoffs despite losing their final three games. They host Pittsburgh, who they didn’t play this season, Sunday Jan 8th. They revolve around QB Tim Tebow who has struggled lately. Tebow finished the Broncos’ 8-8 season ranked last among NFL starting QBs in completion percentage (.465), and Sunday he faces the league’s No. 1-ranked defense in his first playoff start. He will have to play aggressively against the Pittsburgh Steelers without being reckless. Defenses have progressively gotten better at keeping Tebow hemmed in. The result has been a meager completion percentage (.411, 30-of-73) for Tebow in the past three games, along with three lost fumbles and four interceptions.
Point-Spreads recommends you make your 2012 AFC Conference Predictions before Wild Card Weekend starts.
The Bottom Line: The Pats for sure are a favorite, but I think Pittsburgh and Baltimore can’t be written off. NFL Point Spreads Expert Tyler Morgan went 4-1 ATS in Week 17, winning on underdogs Jets vs Dolphins to bring his NFL Predictions record to 73-39-4 for the season. Morgan, whose 2011 NFL Picks are hitting at 65% against the spread. Tyler’s moves have put thousands of dollars into his clients hands week after week. The good news for NFL Football bettors is – TYLER MORGAN’S PICKS ARE FREE – unlike most self proclaimed experts who charge big bucks to subscribers. Put a few Morgan Silver Dollars in your bank account by getting Tyler’s winning plays for FREE. Feel free to sign up to get NFL Picks Free!
