Setting Odds for Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2013 Class

On Saturday August 4, 2012, six more legends will be enshrined in Canton, including Curtis Martin, Chris Doleman, Willie Roaf, Cortez Kennedy, Dermontti Dawson and senior nominee Jack Butler.

The 2013 Hall of Fame class will be a banner year, with several impressive candidates eligible for the first time.

Speculating how the 44-person panel will vote this fall will be tough because there are so many factors they have to consider when finalizing their ballots.

These players have been semifinalists and finalists, along with several players eligible for the first time.

Is this the year that Cris Carter finally gets in to the Hall of Fame?

All statistics and awards are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com

Jerome Bettis, Running Back

Played for: Los Angeles Rams 1992-1995, Pittsburgh Steelers 1996-2005

Six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro

Jerome Bettis was always a fan favorite because of his playing style. Known more for his 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, Bettis finished his career as the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history. (LaDainian Tomlinson passed him in 2011..

Bettis finished his playing career in storybook fashion. He helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

The two-time finalist will have to wait a few more seasons for his enshrinement.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 50:1

Kevin Greene, Linebacker/Defensive End

Played for: Los Angeles Rams 1985-1992, Pittsburgh Steelers 1993-1995, Carolina Panthers 1996-1999, San Francisco 49ers 1997

Five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro

Kevin Greene, third all-time with 160 sacks, finally made it to the finalist stage of the voting process in 2012.

If Greene is going to reserve a spot in Canton, it will have to happen soon. There are several sack artists, including Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan, that could be vying for the same spot in the next few years.

It took 10 years for Greene to be a finalist. He is still in for a long wait.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 40:1

Priest Holmes, Running Back

Played for: Baltimore Ravens 1997-2000, Kansas City Chiefs 2001-2007

Three-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro

Priest Holmes is eligible for the first time this season, but like Terrell Davis, he could be in for a longer wait.

Holmes won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in a reserve role and then went on to star with the Chiefs for six seasons. His three-year run from 2001-2003 rivals that of any running back in league history.

Unfortunately, voters are likely to take in his entire body of work when considering his candidacy.

Holmes will have to wait several more years.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 30:1

Terrell Davis, Running Back

Played for: Denver Broncos 1995-2001

Three-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro

Oh, what could have been with Terrell Davis.

Davis was one of my favorite players growing up, but injuries ended his career prematurely.

There is not much of a history of letting a player in to the Hall of Fame based on a career cut short by injury. If there were ever to be an exception, it would be Davis.

Davis, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and MVP of Super Bowl XXXII, had a three-year span like no other. From 1996-1998, Davis averaged 369 carries for 1,765 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He broke the 2,000-yard mark in 1998, which still stands as the fourth-highest total in league history.

The six-time finalist will have to wait another year.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 25:1

Bill Parcells, Head Coach/General Manager

Coached: New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins (VP Football Operations)

Bill Parcells’ candidacy for the Hall of Fame was delayed with each new position he took.

Parcells survived the first cut in 2012, but was not selected.

Parcells has the track record to get in with two Super Bowl wins and a third appearance. It will be up to the voters if they will give away a spot deserving of a player to a coach.

Parcells will be a finalist again, but his chances are slim.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 20:1

Andre Reed, Wide Receiver

Played for: Buffalo Bills 1985-1999, Washington Redskins 2000

Seven-time Pro Bowler

Andre Reed has had a long wait for the Hall of Fame. He has been a finalist for the last six seasons without making the final cut.

Reed has impressive career totals, but not as impressive as his contemporaries under consideration. He ranks 10th in receptions, 12th in receiving yards and 12th in receiving touchdowns.

Reed can take solace that it took Art Monk until his eight try to be inducted.

Reed’s chances are slim in 2013. He remains third in the pecking order behind Cris Carter and Tim Brown.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 15:1

Charles Haley, Defensive End/Linebacker

Played for: San Francisco 49ers 1986-1991 and 1998-1999, Dallas Cowboys 1992-1996

Five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro

Charles Haley has come up short as a finalist for the last three seasons. The five-time Super Bowl Champion has the career of Hall of Famer, but his conduct off the field has likely kept him from his induction.

Haley deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but with several other prominent defensive linemen becoming eligible, he will have to wait his turn again.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 14:1

Tim Brown, Wide Receiver

Played for: Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1988-2003, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2004

Nine-time Pro Bowler

Tim Brown has the resume to be a Hall of Fame wide receiver, but the voting panel has not seen it that way.

Brown, a dominant receiver and kick returner, sits atop most of the statistical leaderboards: fifth all-time in receptions, fourth all-time in receiving yards and sixth all-time in receiving touchdowns.

For Brown, it is not a matter of if he will be a Hall of Famer, but when for the three-time finalist.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 12:1

Will Shields, Guard

Played for: Kansas City Chiefs 1993-2006

12-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro

Will Shields was a finalist in his first year of eligibility last season, but fell short from the final cut.

Shields was a mainstay at right guard in Arrowhead Stadium, never missing a game in his career and going to 12 Pro Bowls.

Guards are a tough sell to the voters because the position is not glamorous and does not show up on the box score.

Shields has a good chance to make it on his second try with Dawson and Roaf out of his way.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 10:1

Cris Carter, Wide Receiver

Played for: Philadelphia Eagles 1987-1989, Minnesota Vikings 1990-2001, Miami Dolphins 2002

Eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro

It is been one of the bigger mysteries why Chris Carter is not in the Hall of Fame.

Few wide receivers have his track record of being a dominant force as he was in his 12-year career in Minnesota. He has better career numbers than both fellow perennial snubs Tim Brown and Andre Reed.

The five-time finalist is a near lock to enter Canton in 2013.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 8:1

Warren Sapp, Defensive Tackle

Played for: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1995-2003, Oakland Raiders 2004-2007

Seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro

Warren Sapp is a first-year eligible player in 2013. The former Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Champion was a dominant player, causing teams to game plan around blocking him on every play.

The jovial defensive tackle averaged a half of a sack each game for his career.

Sapp is a popular member of the media and was a dominant player. He has a good chance of becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 6:1

Larry Allen, Guard/Tackle

Played for: Dallas Cowboys 1994-2005, San Francisco 49ers 2006-2007

11-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro

Larry Allen is one of the more prominent first-year eligible candidates.

Allen was the linchpin of the Dallas offensive line for over a decade and was a personal favorite of longtime broadcaster John Madden.

Helping Allen’s candidacy is his reputation as one of the all time greats as an active player. However, most importantly, he has a championship ring from Super Bowl XXX.

He has a great chance to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION:  4:1

Jonathan Ogden, Tackle

Played for: Baltimore Ravens 1996-2007

11-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro

Jonathan Ogden was one of the premier left tackles in the league for over a decade. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2000 and was a Pro Bowl player in every year of career after his rookie season.

When he is inducted in to the Hall of Fame, he will be the first player inducted from the Baltimore Ravens.

Ogden was considered a first-ballot during his playing career and is a good bet to live up to that billing in 2013.

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 3:1

Michael Strahan, Defensive End

Played for: New York Giants 1993-2007

Seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro

Michael Strahan is another strong candidate to enter the Hall of Fame on his first attempt.

He is has a Super Bowl ring and still owns the single season record with 22.5 sacks. His 141.5 sacks ranks as the fifth-highest in league history.

For my money, Strahan is a first-ballot Hall of Famer

ODDS FOR 2013 INDUCTION: 2:1