2010 NFL AFC South Division Preview
Always competitive, you only need to look at the Houston Texans record last year to get an indication of what this division is like: 9 – 7 overall, but 1 – 5 within their division. In any other division, you’re in the playoffs almost automatically with those stats, but not after scrapping it out in the 16 week war that is the AFC South.
The Colts are coming off their second Super Bowl appearance in three years, losing to the Saints. The Colts regular season was masterful, and they looked poised to remain undefeated before benching their starters for the last few games of the season. The amazing consecutive playoff appearance run by the Colts is unparalleled, and they seem to be able to re-create their brand of football regardless of who they have on the team.
To win the AFC South Division:
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Indianapolis Colts:
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-225 |
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Houston Texans:
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+1400
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Tennessee Titans:
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+230
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Jacksonville Jaguars:
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+1600
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The Tennessee Titans were coming off an amazing 13 -3 regular season in 2008, and left 2009 as a running juggernaut of a team, but struggled in passing and on defense. Adding Vince Young as a starter part way through the season sparked this offense after opening the year with six straight losses – including a 59 – 0 obliteration in week six- but it was too little too late for the Titans playoff hopes.
Houston has slowly built up both sides of the ball through the draft, and now possesses one of the leagues’ best quarterbacks and wide receivers. Houston was a decent team in 2009 and is only going to be more “mature” in 2010, not “old.”
Jacksonville Jaguars continued a downward spiral in 2009, a trend that started after a great 2007 campaign when their weak passing game was exposed and power running no longer cut the mustard. So do the Colts continue their divisional dominance in 2010?
Putting essentially the same team on the field that took them to the Super Bowl in 2009, the AFC South division is not so much Indy’s to win, as theirs to lose. The offense will be as lethal as usual, and they possessed one of the most opportunistic defenses in the NFL in 2009. Expect a lot of the same old Indianapolis Colts in 2010.
Two seasons ago was supposed to be the break out year for the Texans. Then it was supposed to be 2009. They have accomplished a lot in the last two years, but have failed to live up to lofty expectations. If there is a year for the Texans to surprise, it is this one. They only need to perform better within their own division to become playoff bound.
Tennessee went from an all-around monster of a team into a one trick pony. That pony? Chris Johnson. Johnson is not only the best offensive player on the Titans, but he stands so completely by himself in that regard you’d think he was starting on defense and special teams as well. Not much can be expected from a team that lost their identity so fast and in such a big way.
The Jaguars might be competitive in the AFC South, but that competition is for the last spot in the division. With nothing to build upon from last season, and nothing brought in to really change the scope of this team, they’ll again be a victim of the depth of their division.
MAKE YOUR BETS NOW 
