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Baltimore Ravens – B+
Baltimore already had a quality team in place, so they needed help in just a few areas to put them over the top. It looks like they got what they needed. Cornerback Jimmy Smith has a ton of talent and should challenge for at least the nickel spot right away. The team got younger and faster at receiver by taking Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss. Tackle Jah Reid should help provide depth on the offensive line. A solid draft overall.

1) Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn

This year’s top pick is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The Panthers have holes all over the field, but their passing game in 2010 was horrid. New Head Coach Ron Rivera has no loyalty to last year’s second round pick, Jimmy Clausen, and Newton brings immediate excitement to a down franchise. While he may not be ready to play right now, his physical abilities and intangibles make him too hard to pass up.

2) Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, Defensive Lineman, Alabama

Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore is mostly set at the skill positions, but needs to address their aging defense. Linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed are nearing the end of their careers, and three other members of the secondary are free agents so that area must be addressed. Nose tackle Haloti Ngata is also a free agent, but the team would be silly to not give him a long term deal. The offensive line may need a boost as well, with center Matt Birk a free agent and Michel Oher possibly switching to right tackle from the left side.

The Baltimore Ravens (11-4) beat the Browns 20-10 on the road last week, and they still have a chance to win the AFC North with a win here coupled with a Pittsburgh loss. One would think that beating the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11) here would be an easy chore, but try telling that to the San Diego Chargers!

The NFL latest line for this contest is Baltimore -10 at home, with the betting total set at 43.

The Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) are coming off of their fifth straight loss Monday night vs. the Steelers while the Indianapolis Colts (5-3) are coming off just their third loss all year at Philadelphia.

The NFL odds list Indianapolis at -7 at home, with the betting total set at 47.

While this spread may seem low at first glance, consider that the Indianapolis Colts are still badly beat up and Austin Collie is the latest addition to the injury list after suffering a severe concussion last week that was very difficult to watch.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off of just their second loss of the season in a hard fought road battle vs. the Super Bowl Champion Saints, while the Cincinnati Bengals continued their descent into oblivion with another home loss to the Dolphins.

The NFL betting odds currently list Pittsburgh at -5 on the road, with the betting total set at 41.

This marks the third straight road game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a situation that does not turn up as much as it used to. In fact, this situation has happened just 15 times since 2005, and interestingly, the team playing the third straight roadie is 10-5, 66.7 percent ATS, including a perfect 4-0 as a road favorite as the Steelers are here!

The Cincinnati Bengals will surprise this season, and it’s amazing how a team that actually won its division by going 6-0 against divisional foes a year ago and improved itself in the off season still remains under the radar.

Add in the fact that they potentially own the best secondary in the AFC and quite possibly the entire league, and those +875 NFL Futures on Cincinnati winning the AFC sure look tasty!

But first things first as they get a chance to make an immediate statement by going on the road to take on the New England Patriots in a nice Week 1 NFL Matchup.

A Look Back – The Cincinnati Bengals were the real prized team in the 2009 NFL betting campaign, as they came out of nowhere to win the AFC North, a division in which they were supposed to finish in third place. There isn’t much more expected out of Cincinnati this year, especially considering the fact that QB Carson Palmer still doesn’t feel like he is up to stuff after a dismal 2009 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals are officially where troubled NFL players go to be rehabilitated before resuming their careers.

The late Chris Henry, Odell Thurman, Cedric Benson, Larry Johnson, Matt Jones and now Adam “Pacman” Jones are all players with regular off-field conduct issues who have found a home with the Cincinnati Bengals while they get their careers back on track.

Benson has been the biggest success of the bunch rushing for 1251 yards and 6 TDs last season while Johnson showed enough last year to be offered a contract from the Washington Redskins this year.