 This season will be a true test for the diehard Cincinnati Bengal fan when NFL betting on their team. The Bengals led by Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and Cedric Benson have perhaps the toughest schedule in the entire league. From start to finish, the Bengals will be clawing tooth and nail to get into the post season. However when betting on NFL teams such as the Bengals, fans should look at history when considering how this Bengal team fares. Bengals For instance, in 1988 the Boomer Esiason, Icky Woods led Bengals had one of the toughest schedules on paper before the season began. Yet they ended up going 12 and four, Esiason was named League MVP and the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl. Now in 2010, the Palmer and Benson led Bengals, go into 2010 with more depth to the roster then that of the 1988 Bengals. We aren’t suggesting the Bengals will go 12 and four as the league has evolved significantly. But we are proposing the idea, that since the Bengals have depth a key injury may not be so key overall in depleting the team’s success. For example, with such a difficult season on paper this year, which will see the Bengals facing some of the league’s best offenses in New England, Indianapolis and New Orleans, the Bengals defense having added depth will do wonders to the team’s overall success. Last season as many football fans will recall, the Bengals defense was ranked fourth overall but fell apart in the latter parts of the season due to injury. This year, the Bengals drafted enough defensive players that are NFL ready, that if an injury to a starter does occur they will be able to step in no problem. The Bengals may have the hardest schedule on paper, but that is just added motivation for them.
 The sports betting scene is filled with limitless options for wagering on every sport there is, from hockey to basketball, baseball betting and football, and although it may be difficult to find the type of bet that brings players the most success, one of the oldest and most played remains the football totals betting.
Even more so than the spread or parlays, football enthusiasts often put their money down on picking whether or not the number will go over or under the spread, otherwise known as betting the totals. Unlike some of the other types of wagers, this one is straight forward. The bettor can wager that the total amount of points scored in a game will be more than the number, or that the total amount of points scored in a game will be less than the number. For example, if the sports book places the totals number for the Minnesota Vikings- Detroit Lions game at 39 ½, players can wager that both teams will combine for more, or less points. So if the score is 20-14 in favor of Minnesota, the total is 34, which means it is under, and those that wagered that option win. However, if the Lions pull off the improbable comeback and win the game 21-20, then the total is 41, which means it is over, and those that wagered the over win. On the rarest occasion the number is even, say 40, and the total equals that amount, which results in a push, which means the player gets his money back and the bet is void, but only in the rarest circumstance does that happen.
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 2010 World Cup betting players have had to deal with injuries to some of their favorite players and teams, but they don't have to worry about holdouts, which is threatening to make for an interesting year for some. New York Jets Cornerback Darrelle Revis wants to be the highest-paid player at his position, and given that he's probably better than Oakland's Nmandi Asomugha, he probably should be. Revis sat out a few players at a Jets minicamp as a form of protest about his contract, and he's not the only Jet that wants more money. Revis is definitely deserving of his contract, and he's turning 25 in a month, and he's trying to get his money now. After two straight Pro Bowl seasons, the Jets may have to pony up. Tennessee Titans If the Jets have to pony up, the Titans definitely do. Chris Johnson ran for 2,006 yards last season, and he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season. Yet, he'll make just $550,000 this year and has yet to attend any of the Titans' OTAs in this offseason. With Vince Young as the quarterback, the Titans may need Johnson more than he needs them as Young hasn't proven to be the most stable player in the world, and that's not even counting his sometimes-wild arm. Johnson is arguably the best running back in the league, and the arguments are getting more and more quiet. We'd lay a sports bet on Johnson getting paid this year,
 NFL betting players scratched their heads when Cincinnati slapped their franchise tag on kicker Shayne Graham as that's usually reserved for a position player, and then they severed ties with Graham after this season. It could come back to haunt them as Graham is looking to go to a division rival. Graham hit 23 of his 28 field-goal attempts in 2009 with the Bengals, and he's fourth in accuracy in the history of the NFL. But his ticket was booked out of Cincinnati when he missed a pair of field goals under 35 yards in their loss to the New York Jets in the playoffs. The Bengals released Graham, but now he's looking to sign with Baltimore, who are also in the AFC North with the Bengals. The Ravens were 27th in the NFL in field-goal percentage, hitting 70% of their attempts as they split time between Billy Cundiff and Steven Hauschka, and Graham appears to be a more reliable option. The Ravens could also just be out to put a player that has been a thorn in their side on their team: Graham's 108 points against the Ravens is tied with Cleveland as the most of his career against a team, and he has hit 28 of 33 field-goal attempts against the Ravens. Field goals are crucial in the NFL, and a division that is pretty wide open heading into the season, three points could mean the difference between a win and a loss in every game. Having Graham on their side is an easy way for Baltimore to raise their betting odds for next season.
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Brad Childress Minnesota Vikings – With the Brett Favre saga coming to a close, the attention now turns to the Vikings bench boss. If Favre can’t put the Vikings over the top this season, Childress will be on his way out. This issue has carried over for a few years with Childress of his team’s being good enough but not just there. With all these poorer teams being able to turn it around with a new coach, Childress days as Vikings coach may be numbered as early as the middle of this season. If they Vikings lose in week one, and struggle out of the gate look for both Favre and Childress to be gone.
Andy Reid Philadelphia Eagles – This offseason, saw Reid trade star pivot Donovan McNabb to the rival Washington Redskins. Reid’s coaching safety will be resting in the hands of up and comer Kevin Kolb. If Kolb struggles and the Eagles miss the playoffs, Reid will be out.