Say what you want about the AFC vs. NFC Pro Bowl but the fact remains it still draws better TV ratings than most any other sport. It also brings a solid amount of betting action at best sportsbooks online. The Pro Bowl gets ripped for the players lack of effort and physicality. It also gets criticized for rules that turn it into what many call “flag football.” Yet the Pro Bowl endures, and after an absurd backyard draft format, it is in the classic Conference format of its past.
AFC vs. NFC
Date and Time: Sunday, January 28, 2018, 3 p.m. Eastern
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
NFL Betting Lines: NFC -3.5, OU 46
AFC vs. NFC TV Coverage: ESPN
The AFC will be coached by Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin has been head coach of the Steelers since 2007. Tomlin has one Super Bowl and two AFC championships. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2008. His career record is 124-66. Tomlin is only 45 years old. Tomlin’s Steelers were upset at home by the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Playoffs. Tomlin’s Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on the AFC squad. Roethlisberger is a six time Pro Bowler. Another Steeler that figures to have a prominent Pro Bowl role is running bac LeVeon Bell. Bell is a three time Pro Bowler. Tomlin will also have his kicker on hand with Chris Boswell. Boswell has nailed a staggering 90% of his career field goal attempts. The presence of Steelers will make the AFC an appealing choice for best sportsbooks online action. Pittsburgh is among the most public of NFL teams. Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs is a dangerous punt returner with three career touchdowns.
The NFC coach is Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints. Payton is 54 years old and has been Saints head coach since 2006. Payton has one Super Bowl championship. He was Coach of the Year in 2006. Payton’s Saints suffered a crushing playoff defeat to the Vikings on the final play of the game known as “The Minnesota Miracle.” Payton will also have his own Saints quarterback on the NFC roster with Drew Brees. Brees is an 11 time Pro Bowler. Running back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams stands a good chance to contribute. Gurley rushed for 1305 yards this season with 13 touchdowns. Just as impressive was Gurley’s 64 receptions for 788 yards. Gurley posted six touchdown catches. Pharoh Cooper of the Rams brings the element of breakaway potential on kick returns. Cooper averaged 26 yards per kick return with a touchdown. Yet another Ram, Greg Zuerlein, is on the NFC squad as kicker. Zuerlein has a career long 61 yard field goal. This is his first Pro Bowl. Zuerlein hit 38 out of 40 field goals this season,
There is no shortage of talent in this The Pro Bowl will simply come down to execution and desire. The AFC won the sportsbook online matchup last year 20-13.
Matchup to Watch.
This matchup is always a challenge to handicap for best sportsbooks online action. The intense criticism of the Pro Bowl prior to last year forced the NFL to try and improve the product.
AFC vs. NFC Prediction
Since the NFL is still feeling the Heat for past Pro Bowl farces that ended up with basketball scores a tight game can be reasonably expected.
Online Football Betting Pick: Under the Total.
Online Football Betting Score Prediction: NFC 17, AFC 16
Check out last year’s Pro Bowl highlights.
2017 Pro Bowl Edition:
The 2017 Pro Bowl takes place on Sunday in Orlando on ESPN. The NFL is going back to the AFC vs. NFC format and adding a skills competition that takes place on Sunday. The NFC should end up being favored in this contest at the best sports betting sites as they have more offensive talent and the Pro Bowl is almost always a high scoring game with very little defense being played. Let’s look at the contest and Pro Bowl picks.
NFC is -4 (-115) point favorites against the AFC and the total is set at 81½ (-110).
The Pro Bowl should be another offensive shootout as the last time it was the traditional AFC vs. NFC format it was the NFC winning 62-35. The teams are composed of 21 offensive players and 18 defensive players with five special team’s players and one long snapper. The AFC will be coached by Andy Reid while the NFC will be coached by Jason Garrett.
The Pro Bowl will not have players from the Atlanta Falcons or the New England Patriots who are playing in Super Bowl LI next week. The AFC team also has lost a lot of offensive talent as the Pittsburgh big three of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell have all pulled out.
The NFC team is still loaded on offense even without the Atlanta players as the NFC features the Dallas Cowboys trio of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant and the NFC has David Johnson who many people consider the top all around running back in the league.
The last time the NFL had the AFC vs. NFC format was in 2012 and the teams combined for nearly 100 points to go over the total at the best U.S. sportsbook sites. Looking back at the last six years of that format from 2007 to 2012 the scores were 42-30, 30-21, 41-34, 55-41, 59-41 and 62-35.
Rosters
AFC Pro Bowl Roster
Offense
Wide receiver: Antonio Brown*, Steelers; Amari Cooper*, Raiders; A.J. Green, Bengals; T.Y. Hilton, Colts
Tackle: Joe Thomas*, Browns; Donald Penn*, Raiders; Taylor Lewan, Titans
Guard: Marshal Yanda*, Ravens; Kelechi Osemele*, Raiders; David DeCastro, Steelers
Center: Rodney Hudson*, Raiders; Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
Tight end: Travis Kelce*, Chiefs; Delanie Walker, Titans
Quarterback: Tom Brady*, Patriots; Derek Carr, Raiders; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
Running back: Le’Veon Bell*, Steelers; DeMarco Murray, Titans; LeSean McCoy, Bills
Fullback: Kyle Juszcyzyk*, Ravens
Defense
Defense end: Khalil Mack*, Raiders; Cameron Wake*, Dolphins; Jadeveon Clowney, Texans
Interior linemen: Geno Atkins*, Bengals; Ndamukong Suh*, Dolphins; Jurrell Casey, Titans
Outside linebacker: Von Miller*, Broncos; Lorenzo Alexander*, Bills; Brian Orakpo, Titans
Inside/middle linebacker: Dont’a Hightower*, Patriots; C.J. Mosley, Ravens
Cornerback: Marcus Peters*, Chiefs; Aqib Talib*, Broncos; Casey Hayward, Chargers; Chris Harris Broncos
Free safety: Devin McCourty*, Patriots; Reggie Nelson, Raiders
Strong safety: Eric Berry*, Chiefs
Special Teams
Punter: Pat McAfee*, Colts
Kicker: Justin Tucker*, Ravens
Long snapper: Morgan Cox*, Ravens
Return specialist: Tyreek Hill*, Chiefs
Special teamer: Matthew Slater*, Patriots
Replacements (as of 1-25-17)
Quarterback: Alex Smith, Chiefs, for Carr (injured); Andy Dalton, Bengals, for Brady (Super Bowl), Philip Rivers, Chargers for Roethlisberger (injured)
Running back: Jay Ajayi, Dolphins, for McCoy (injured); Melvin Gordon, Chargers, for Le’Veon Bell (injured)
Center: Jeremy Zuttah, Ravens, for Maurkice Pouncey
Linebacker: Zach Brown, Bills, for Dont’a Hightower (Super Bowl); Ryan Shazier, Steelers, for C.J. Mosley (injured)
Guard: Richie Incognito, Bills, for Yanda (injured)
Center: Eric Wood, Bills, for Ryan Kalil (injured)
Tackle: Andrew Whitworth, Bengals, for Penn (injured)
Wide receiver: Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos, for Cooper (injured); Jarvis Landry, Dolphins, for Green (injured); Demaryius Thomas, Broncos, for Antonio Brown
Defense end: Carlos Dunlap, Bengals, for Clowney (injured); Leonard Williams, Jets, for Mack (injured)
Strong safety: Darian Stewart, Broncos, for Berry (injured)
Free safety: Eric Weddle, Ravens, for McCourty (Super Bowl)
Punter: Dustin Colquitt, Chiefs, for McAfee (injured)
Special teamer: D.J. Alexander, Chiefs, for Slater (Super Bowl)
NFC Pro Bowl Roster
Offense
Wide receiver: Julio Jones*, Falcons; Odell Beckham*, Giants; Mike Evans, Buccaneers; Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Tackle: Tyron Smith*, Cowboys; Trent Williams*, Redskins; Jason Peters, Eagles
Guard: Zack Martin*, Cowboys; Brandon Scherff*, Redskins; T.J. Lang, Packers
Center: Travis Frederick*, Cowboys; Alex Mack, Falcons
Tight end: Greg Olsen*, Panthers; Jordan Reed, Redskins
Quarterback: Matt Ryan*, Falcons; Aaron Rodgers, Packers; Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Running back: Ezekiel Elliott*, Cowboys; David Johnson, Cardinals; Devonta Freeman, Falcons
Fullback: Mike Tolbert*, Panthers
Defense
Defensive end: Everson Griffen*, Vikings; Cliff Avril*, Seahawks; Michael Bennett, Seahawks
Interior linemen: Aaron Donald*, Rams; Gerald McCoy*, Buccaneers; Fletcher Cox, Eagles
Outside linebacker: Vic Beasley*, Falcons; Ryan Kerrigan*, Redskins; Thomas Davis, Panthers
Inside/middle linebacker: Bobby Wagner*, Seahawks; Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Cornerback: Janoris Jenkins*, Giants; Patrick Peterson*, Cardinals; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Xavier Rhodes, Vikings
Free safety: Harrison Smith*, Vikings; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers
Strong safety: Landon Collins*, Giants
Special teams
Punter: Johnny Hekker*, Rams
Kicker: Matt Bryant*, Falcons
Long snapper: Jake McQuaide*, Rams
Return specialist: Cordarrelle Patterson*, Vikings
Special teamer: Dwayne Harris*, Giants
Replacements (as of 1-25-17)
Tight end: Jimmy Graham, Seahawks, for Reed (injured)
Running back: Jordan Howard, Bears, for Johnson (injured)
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins, for Rodgers
Offensive tackle: David Bakhtiari, Packers for Peters (injured)
Guard: Trai Turner, Panthers, for Scherff (injured), Josh Sitton, Bears, for Lang (injured)
Outside linebacker: K.J. Wright, Seahawks, for Kerrigan (injured)
Inside/middle linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys, for Kuechly (injured)
Interior linemen: Linval Joseph, Vikings, for Donald (injured)
Kicker: Matt Prater, Lions, for Bryant (Super Bowl)
* Indicates starter
Pro Bowl Picks
This should be another offensive shootout that should favor the better offense of the NFC. We’ll look for the NFC to win and for the game to go over the total at the best sports betting sites like MyBookie sportsbook.
