Just got back from the 2010 RotoWire Vegas trip, and aside from getting my ass kicked in poker, it was a good time. Fortunately, I made some incredibly shrewd futures bets that can only be described as "locks". Here they are in ascending order of ingeniousness:
New York Giants to win the Super Bowl - 15:1
The Giants folded down the stretch last year, but all the pieces are still in place to be a top team. Quarterback, check. Young, developing, explosive receivers, check. Offensive line, check. Explosive back, power back, check.
Elite pass rushers, check. Solid cover corners, check. Depth at safety - (if Kenny Phillips makes it back), check. Good linebackers - well, not so much.
Yes, it's a tough division, and yes, the backs were hurt, and the offensive line wasn't great last year. But this is a very dangerous team, health permitting.
Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl - 80:1
Like the Giants bet, this is also a lock. Ask even the casual fan this November who the two best players in the NFL are, and he'll be saying: "Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh, of course." Remember the 1999 Rams or the 2010 San Diego Padres? No one gave those squads a chance, either.
Texas Rangers to win the World Series - 14:1
Did the bookmakers at the Wynn not hear about the Cliff Lee trade? Do they not know that anyone who makes the playoffs is virtually 7:1 to win it all? The Rangers are the most likely team to make the playoffs this year (Yanks could lose to the Rays and Sox), and so they're virtually 7:1 as is. Moreover, they amassed their lead before they had Lee. At best, it should be 10:1.
Carolina Panthers to win the NFC South - 8:1
This is truly an insane line. There are really three teams that can win the NFC South (the Bucs could win, but it's pretty unlikely), so this line should be 2:1 if the three teams were equal. Carolina and Atlanta are close, though the Panthers played much better down the stretch, and that leaves the SB champion Saints. But as good as they were, they'll have the first-place schedule, and they've had plenty of mediocre seasons with Payton and Brees. At most this should pay 5:1, and it's paying eight.