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As we head into another NFL season, we initially thought about giving our predictions for the division, wild card and Super Bowl winners. But knowing just how inaccurate those things tend to be by the end of the year, we decided to go a different route. So below, you'll find our picks for the most overrated and underrated teams in the league, along with our win predictions for each team and the current Super Bowl odds, courtesy of our friends at MySportsbook.com.

Since we've no doubt offended many of you with our selections, feel free to post your comments, suggestions and insults on the Overrated/Underrated thread on The Scores Report, the National Sports Blog.

 

Gerardo Orlando Publisher		Pittsburgh Steelers In 2004, Bill Cowher brought the Steelers back to the basics, and they responded with a 15-1 season that ended in the AFC Championship Game. This year they will be fighting to make the playoffs. The Steelers went back to the running game last year, and were fortunate to get an amazing season out of Jerome Bettis after an injury to Duce Staley. The biggest beneficiary of the success in the running game was rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger. Yet by the end of the season, Big Ben’s limitations were starting to show. He’s big and physical, but he started making more and more mistakes as opponents began to scheme around Pittsburgh’s predictable offense. Big Ben’s woes continued this preseason, and now Bettis and Staley are both injured and they have lost Plaxico Burress. Even with the same personnel, the Steelers needed to make adjustments on offense, which would then really test Big Ben’s abilities. Now they have to do it with two injured backs. Roethlisberger lived a charmed life last year. This year reality will set in with a serious sophomore slump. Win prediction: 9 Super Bowl Odds: 19-1		Arizona Cardinals Dennis Green is on his way to reviving the most pathetic franchise in NFL history, though he will have some challenges early due to injuries on the offensive line. He has to find a way to protect Kurt Warner. If he’s able to do it, Warner could be deadly with an excellent crop of receivers. Larry Fitzgerald will be a star and this could be his breakout year, while Anquan Boldin is healthy and looks to rebound from a lackluster sophomore season. Rookie J.J. Arrington, who led the nation in rushing last year for Cal, looks like a great fit in Green’s offense. The key here, however, is the Cardinals' improved defense. Green has focused on finding players who want to play hard and win, and it’s showing up on the defensive side of the ball. If Warner can do the job at quarterback, this team can challenge for a playoff spot. If, however, he gets beat up like he did last year with the Giants, they will be in for a long year. Win prediction: 9 Super Bowl Odds: 50-1
Jamey Codding Managing Editor		New England Patriots I realize it’s sacrilegious to speak negatively of the two-time defending champs, and I’m sure my inbox will be crammed with hate mail because of this prediction. Regardless, not only will Bill Belichick and the Patriots fail in their three-peat attempt this season, but I’m betting they won’t even get the chance to defend their crown. Recovering from the loss of Tedi Bruschi, the heart and soul of their defense, will be tough enough for the Pats, but they’ll also be without linebacker Ted Johnson, who retired because of concussion concerns, and shut-down corner Ty Law, who now suits up for the division rival Jets. Still, the coaching staff incurred the biggest losses, with former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis now calling the shots in South Bend and Romeo Crennel, the team’s defensive coordinator since 2001, attempting to turn the Browns around. Without Weis, one of the game’s best play-callers, Corey Dillon will find it tough to match his numbers from last year (1,635 yards, 12 TD) and, defensively, the losses of Bruschi, Johnson, Law and Crennel will be too much to overcome. Win prediction: 11 Super Bowl Odds: 7-1		TB Buccaneers They won’t be back in the Super Bowl, but Chucky’s Bucs will win far more than five games, their total from last year, and they may just sneak into the playoffs. Most people don’t realize how well Brian Griese played for Tampa last year, throwing for 2,632 yards and 20 TDs in just 11 games. Give him a full year in Jon Gruden’s system, which made Rich Gannon an MVP three years ago, and Griese will have no problem putting up career numbers, especially with the weapons he has at his disposal. WR Michael Clayton delivered an electric rookie season last year and RB Cadillac Williams will deliver an electric rookie season this year, while veterans like Joey Galloway and Michael Pittman can still be productive in secondary roles. Sure, the defense is aging but newcomer Chris Hovan joins Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, Shelton Quarles and Simeon Rice in what should still be one of the better defensive units in the NFC. The schedule-makers didn’t do the Bucs any favors but games against Miami, San Fran, Washington and Chicago should be gimmes. Win prediction: 9 Super Bowl Odds: 65-1
David Medsker Entertainment Editor		Philadelphia Eagles Sure, the Eagles defense is so deep that they could afford to cut Corey Simon. Sure, they have Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, and David Akers could kick a bowling ball 70 yards in the middle of a hurricane. But the entire organization has made the fatal mistake of relying on enfant terrible Terrell Owens, the most self-centered player in football, to save them. Which means the team is one (inevitable) temper tantrum away from complete and utter chaos. McNabb and Owens don’t even talk to each other. Imagine a pitcher and catcher having that kind of relationship. It would never work, and neither will this. Worse, the depth at receiver after Owens, thanks to a season ending injury to Todd Pinkston, is anything but. Three-year veteran Billy McMullen has never caught a touchdown pass, and he’s battling with rookie, ROOKIE, Reggie Brown to be the #3 receiver. If Owens is out of the picture, or clearly not McNabb’s target, the running game is toast, which puts pressure on the defense and the kicking game to step up. So much talent. And yet not even remotely a sure thing. Win prediction: 11 Super Bowl Odds: 15-2		St. Louis Rams Think of the Rams as the NFL’s equivalent to the mid-‘90s Cleveland Indians. They’re going to allow a ton of points, but they’re going to score even more. Everybody knocks Marc Bulger, but the dude threw for just under 4,000 yards last season. They have Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk as their running tandem, and, oh yeah, two of the finest receivers in football, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. I also hear very good things about their #3 receiver Kevin Curtis. This team is going to spend a lot of time in the end zone. The defense, though, is the linchpin to this team. If they can keep the offense in the game, the Rams can do some serious damage. Their schedule is also highly favorable, getting Philadelphia at home along with games against Houston, New Orleans, Washington and the Giants, as well as two match-ups against Arizona and San Francisco. The potential is there to run off a whole bunch of wins, provided Mike Martz doesn’t coach the team into the ground. Win prediction: 12 Super Bowl Odds: 32-1
John Paulsen Senior Writer		Indianapolis Colts Everyone knows the Colts have a great offense. With a lineup that includes Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, Indianapolis is a threat to put 40+ points on just about anyone. The problem lies with their defense. Last season, they were 29th in total defense, 27th in yards per rushing attempt, 18th in scoring defense and dead last in opponents’ pass completion percentage. This is not going to get it done. There are signs of hope, however. The Colts D was third in the league in takeaways and sixth in the league in sacks. If the Indianapolis defense is able to crack the top 10 in most of the aforementioned categories, they might have a chance to make the big game. But until they prove their defense is at least a threat to stop the opposing team, we’ll continue to see the Colts exit the playoffs quickly. Win prediction: 13 Super Bowl Odds: 11-2		Detroit Lions The Lions aren’t going to win the Super Bowl this year, but they will improve and possibly put themselves in a position for a Super Bowl run in a year or three. I’ve always liked head coach Steve Mariucci and with stud RB Kevin Jones and receivers Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, the Lions have the makings of a very good offense. The big question is how QB Joey Harrington will perform in his fourth year. The Lions brought Jeff Garcia in as competition but he has since broken his leg, so it is unclear if he will be available at all this year. If Harrington takes a big step forward and can guide the Lions offense with reasonable efficiency, then Detroit has a chance to compete for the NFC North title. I think the Vikings will ultimately triumph, but the Lions are ready to pounce. Win prediction: 8 Super Bowl Odds: 45-1