Rocco Leonardo

Saturday night the San Diego Chargers will be in their powder blues as they host newly voted league MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the ACF Wildcard game. Odds makers are calling Peyton and his Colts slight road favorites as they head into Qualcomm Stadium for their battle with the Chargers. NFL betting lines have Indianapolis at -1.5 with the total sitting at 50.

Manning won his third MVP award Friday, making him and Brett Favre the only players in NFL history to win the prestigious award three times. The Colts signal caller threw for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns after struggling early on. Indianapolis stumbled to a 3-4 start before rattling off eight straight wins to close out the season as the AFC's fifth seed.

The five-pack of New Year's Day bowls opens with the South Carolina Gamecocks taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Outback Bowl. Odds makers are calling the 8-4 Hawkeyes favorites against the 7-5 Gamecocks. NCAA betting lines have Iowa at -3.5 with the total in the contest sitting at 53.5.

The Gamecocks and coach Steve Spurrier will be looking to avoid a third straight loss and another late season collapse as they bring in the new year in Tampa. Once again South Carolina started strong but faded down the stretch, losing three of their final five games.

Some critics are saying that Spurrier has lost control of his team and...

NFL betting odds have the New York Giants as front runners in the race to win the Super Bowl over the 11 other teams in the NFL playoffs. Las Vegas sports books are calling the NFC's no. 1 seed 2-1 favorites to repeat as champions.

The Tennessee Titans, who had the league's best record at 13-3, are the favorite among AFC teams at 4-1.

"The Giants' playoff opponents aren't as good as the AFC playoffs teams, giving them an easier trip to the title game," says Mike Seba, a senior oddsmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Sunday afternoon in Buffalo the New England Patriots look to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Bills. Odds makers are calling New England a road favorite in this must-win for the Pats. NFL betting lines have New England at -6 with the total in the game sitting at 40.

For the Patriots they can clinch the AFC East title with a win or tie against the Bills and Miami Dolphins loss or tie to the New York Jets. Also, New England will clinch a wild-card spot with a win or tie and Baltimore loss. A loss will eliminate the Patriots from any play-off contention.

If the Patriots win and neither scenario plays...

With quarterback Donovan McNabb playing his best football in years, it is not a surprise that the Philadelphia Eagles are making a serious push for the final NFC playoff spot.

Sunday afternoon, the Eagles head to Washington to take on the Redskins for the next step in their improbable run at the postseason. Odds makers are calling the Eagles road favorites in Landover, Maryland. NFL betting lines have Philadelphia at -5 with the total in the game set at 37.

At 8-5-1, the Eagles will be looking to...

On Thursday night after a short week, the Indianapolis Colts head down to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. Odds makers are calling the Colts road favorites in a game that means little to the Jaguars. NFL betting lines have Indianapolis at -5.5 with the total sitting at 44.

The Colts', at 10-4, reign as AFC South champions is over, but after a slow start they have rattled off seven straight wins and are at the top of the AFC wild-card standings. With one more win this week in Jacksonville, the Colts will clinch a playoff spot and lock themselves into the no. 5 seed.

Sunday afternoon in a battle of division leader, the Denver Broncos head to Charlotte to take on a Carolina Panthers team that is very tough at home. Odds makers are calling the Panthers favorites as they host the visiting Broncos. NFL betting lines have Carolina at -6 with the total sitting at 48.

A win in this one combined with a Dallas Cowboys or Atlanta Falcons loss and the Panthers would lock up a playoff spot. However, with the rest of the NFC South breathing down their neck, a loss could knock Carolina out of sole of first place in the division.

Sunday the Green Bay Packers head south to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in a game in which neither team is going to the playoffs.

Odds makers are calling Packers slight road favorites in this game away from the frozen tundra. NFL betting lines have Green Bay at -2 with the total sitting at 46.

With the Pack at 5-8 and the Jags at 4-9, Jacksonville is out and Green Bay is still mathematically alive but is three games behind the Vikings with three to play. These two are quality teams that have had rough seasons, neither has given up...

The Associated Press is reporting that Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis unleashed a load of frustration toward coach Jim Zorn on Tuesday, criticizing the rookie coach for giving inconsistent messages.

In his weekly radio appearance on WTEM-AM, Portis let his frustrations be known about his lack of playing time in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Pro-Bowl running back was removed from the game after the first series of the second half.

"Either you feel like you need to sever ties with me, split ties with me," Portis said.

Sunday afternoon the Atlanta Falcons head to the Super Dome in New Orleans to take on their NFC South division rival Saints. Odds makers are calling New Orleans home favorites. NFL betting odds have the Saints at -3 with the total sitting at 51.5.

The 6-6 Saints are hanging by a thread in their battle for a playoff berth. New Orleans will be looking for revenge after Atlanta won the first game between these two teams back in November, despite the Saints' 521 yards of offense...