2011 Superbowl & NFL Football Betting News

Now that Peyton Manning has been cast off by the NFL’s oldest horse-logoed team and has signed with the league’s other horsey team, the Denver Broncos, the question is — how’s he gonna do? Will he be able to put up his usual numbers and double-digit win totals outside the perennially pathetic AFC South? We take a look at a dozen Peyton Manning prop bet offerings for the 2012 season.

Peyton Manning Prop Bets:

• Odds of A Peyton vs. Eli Broncos-Giants Super Next Year: +5000
• Odds of Peyton Manning Winning 2012 NFL MVP: +700
• Odds of Peyton Manning Winning 2012 Comeback Player of the Year: EVEN
• Odds Peyton Manning’s first regular season first pass as a Bronco will be Complete: -180
• Odds Peyton Manning’s first regular season first pass as a Bronco will be Incomplete: +150

This week’s dramatic signing of free agent quarterback Peyton Manning by the Denver Broncos has thrown a dark cloud of uncertainty over the future of Tim Tebow, America’s top-selling religious author and favorite quarterback who can’t throw good except occasionally in the fourth quarter and overtime. Naturally, this has given rise to some web hilarity.

This particular piece of web hilarity was emailed to me last night by my longtime friend and colleague Landon Evanson of Bugs&Cranks. Subject line: Be Careful What You Wish For…

I hope you’ve enjoyed laughing at Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow, and Tim Tebow’s religiosity. And the Denver Broncos. And Jesus.

Now that the Denver Broncos have landed free agent quarterback Peyton Manning, reportedly giving the former Colts QB nearly $100 million over five years, what will happen to last year’s miracle worker Tim Tebow? Oddsmakers would bet against Tebow being a Week 1 starting quarterback in the NFL next season, and see his most likely landing spot as the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If you want to bet on Tebow starting at quarterback the first week of the upcoming 2012 NFL season, you can get even odds on Yes, while No is -140. There are odds for five teams that Tebow could start 2012 with, including staying in Denver to back up Manning:

• Jacksonville Jaguars +125
• Denver Broncos +175
• Miami Dolphins +250
• New England Patriots +450
• Cleveland Browns +1000

The Buffalo Bills have given Mario Williams the richest contract ever given to an NFL defensive player, landing the former No. 1 overall draft pick with a six year deal worth over $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed. Only two other players on either side of the ball have ever gotten $50 million in guaranteed money – St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Despite the megabucks, the question Williams seems to be getting most is “Why would any amount of money be worth moving to Buffalo?” Williams, who was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006 and was limited to playing in only five games last season by a torn chest muscle, did his best to explain. “You hear so much about living here, until you actually get here and see what’s here and see the fans and everything this great city has to offer, even seeing my name on pizzas — it definitely got the message across,” said Williams at his introductory news conference on Thursday. “You don’t get many chances like this to be the guy who can help the team get across the hump. And that’s definitely what I’m here for.”