Of all the transplanted fans who moved out to California and descend upon 5th Street (the bar I used to go to back when I had a life), the Chicago fans have to be my favorites: Same place at the bar, they’re always in jerseys, (Urlacher or Payton), they embrace any and all other Bears fans, and they raise hell during every play. So if I were to wish a winning season on anyone, it would be them.

Unfortunately, their defense isn’t what it used to be, Urlacher’s no longer a great player, and Kyle Orton is backed up by Rex Grossman.

5-11.

Detroit 6.5 W, O (-120) U (even) Proj. 6-10

They lost the maniac Mike Martz, and with a little luck, they will come to the conclusion that Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson are better receivers than Mike Furrey and Shaun MacDonald.

If they follow this line to its logical end, I expect them to come to the inevitable conclusion that it’s advantageous to get the ball to their better players.

This is similar to when the Cowboys came to the slow realization that Marion Barber was a far superior player to Julius Jones and adjusted their offense accordingly.

Long shot: Receiving Yardage leader for the season: Calvin Johnson, 60-1

Minnesota 8.5 W, O (-190) U (+155) Proj. 9-7

Don’t get roped in by their closing record, or the fact that Tarvaris Jackson threw 65 percent over the last five games. Those trends rarely carry over. They still have questions regarding their pass defense, and their best player has durability issues.

That aside, Tarvaris Jackson isn’t going to win any games that the defense and the running games aren’t going to win themselves. A team can make the playoffs that way, sure, but they’re not ripping off a 13-3 record and running away with the division unless they get extremely lucky (re: 2006 Ravens).

Green Bay 8.5 W, O (-115) U (-115) Proj. 11-5

As long as Aaron Rodgers isn’t horrible, they’ll win the division...well, that and if their corners don’t break down.

Listen:

I believe in Aaron Rodgers. I believe that my team, the 49ers, should have drafted Aaron Rodgers over Alex Smith, and I believed in Aaron Rodgers when No. 4 did his diva thing and held ESPN (and B/R for that matter) hostage for two months.

I hate Bret Favre.

NFC SOUTH

A wild division that crowns a new champion every year, and guess what.

Atlanta 4.5 W, O (-130) U (even) Proj. 4-12

It’s not the Falcons turn.

Tampa Bay 8 W, O (-140) U (+110) Proj. 9-7

Originally, I had them pegged to win the division by edging out Carolina and New Orleans, but the more I thought on last year’s team, I couldn’t shake the thought that they’ll get hurt, and one way or another, it’ll be just enough to keep them out of the playoffs.

New Orleans 8.5 O(-190) U(+155) Proj. 9-7

New Orleans, sorry about the 2007 Saints. *sniff* Everyone loved them. But they were fatally flawed, and their coach probably belongs on Broadway...you’ll get 'em in 2008...

But how is this a different team then last year? Their defense is still full of holes, (albeit only on the line, amidst the backers, and in the secondary), the running game is still miserable, and they don’t have a solid No. 2 receiver.

I mean, basically, you have Drew Brees, Marques Colston, a running back who’s renown for catching five-yard passes and two disgruntled guys from New York who may never have been as good as they were billed to be in the first place.

(Sean Payton can throw a hell of a mock funeral for a winning season, though.)

Carolina 7.5 W, O (-180) U (+150) Proj. 11-5

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