ScoresOddsPicks Shea Matthews previews Super Bowl XLV teams that have fallen.
In Friday's NFL futures discussion, we discussed the biggest risers in Super Bowl XLV status based on offseason transactions and the draft. Who are the biggest fallers so far?
FALLERS
Arizona Cardinals (+4000 NFL odds)
I have to think the NFC West is up for grabs now. The Cards added Joey Porter, Alan Faneca and Kerry Rhodes, yeah, but said goodbye to Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby. The "D" should improve but the offense could regress significantly.
Philadelphia Eagles (+1800 NFL odds)
This pick among the fallers is definitely up for debate in sports betting circles. The glass half full types believe the Kevin Kolb era is a welcome thing in Philadelphia. That may be true but we can't expect the team personality to transform overnight. Donovan McNabb was the face of the franchise for a decade; Kolb will have to take his lumps in his first season as a starter. Also, I'm not convinced LeSean McCoy has the body to be an every-down back. Mike Bell will spell him but has battled plenty of injury problems in the past.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+2000 NFL odds)
Has any other team suffered a free fall like Pittsburgh did this offseason? Top wide receiver and first-round pick Santonio Holmes got into trouble at a nightclub, got accused of assault and wound up shipped to the New York Jets. It's not often that you see teams eager to unload Super Bowl MVPs. Then there was the Ben Roethlisberger scandal. The franchise quarterback, accused of sexual assault, will miss the first six games of Pittsburgh's 2010 season. Given that the Steelers' two biggest offensive stars are playing for new teams and/or suspended, it's tough to imagine them starting the season strongly. What if they're out of contention by the time Big Ben returns? I'd avoid them at the sportsbook unless their listed odds worsen to the point that they're a bargain.
