The Draft Is Now a Part of NFL Betting

The 2010 NFL Draft kicks off in prime time on ESPN, April 22 and while NFL teams will be betting their futures on how wisely they select from the pool of eligible collegiate talent, NFL betting fans will be risking their bankrolls on pretty much the same thing.

The draft, which consists of seven rounds, not only has become a cottage industry for evaluators, prognosticators and analysts but for bettors, as well. You can thank sportsbooks for that because where there are uncertainties there's also always been a willingness to post odds and accept bets on those outcomes.

The biggest question with any draft is which player will be chosen first. The St. Louis Rams, who by virtue of their league worst 1-15 record get to select first, will answer that question. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is the overwhelming 1/10 favorite to be the correct answer. Bradford was spectacular on Pro Day, erasing any doubts that his surgically repaired shoulder would limit his effectiveness. Barring a contract dispute or some blockbuster trade, Bradford seems headed to St. Louis.

The Rams originally had their sights on Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, now the 2/1 second choice to be the first player selected in the draft. Suh might wind up with No. 2 Detroit or be a better fit in Tampa Bay with the No. 3 overall pick. Gerald McCoy, a defensive tackle from Oklahoma who some consider superior to Suh, is the third choice in this unique future bet at odds of 4/1. McCoy's stock seems to have slipped a bit but he won't fall any further than Seattle at No. 6 and still could go second or third in the selection process.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who some scouts think is the equal of Bradford (some thought Ryan Leaf measured up to Peyton Manning, as well) is next in line at odds of 5/1.

Oklahoma State's Russell Okung, ranked the best offensive tackle in the draft, is a 12/1 shot to be the first overall selection. He could go second in the draft to the Lions, who want to protect last year's top selection in the lottery, quarterback Matthew Stafford, fourth to the Redskins, who now that they have Donovan McNabb need to give him time to throw the football, or fifth to the Kansas City Chiefs. Beyond Bradford, there seems to be a fair amount of uncertainty involving the first half-dozen picks.

Sportsbooks also are offering odds on which player will be selected second in the draft. This is a far more competitive future book with both Suh and Okung listed at odds of 2/3 and McCoy quoted at odds of 5/4. You're right; that is a lot of vigorish at the top.

Florida's Tim Tebow was a great college quarterback, leading his team to a BCS Championship while winning the Heisman Trophy but there's concern that his talents won't translate to the next level, reason enough for sportsbooks to offer odds on Tebow's placement in this draft.

You can get odds of 3/1 that Tebow is drafted in the first round, 11/10 that he's a second round selection, 9/4 that he goes in the third round, 9/4 that he goes in Round 4 or later, or 66/1 that he's not drafted.

There's also a future book on which of the NFL's 32 teams will draft Tebow. Jacksonville, where Tebow would help fill seats, is the even money favorite, followed by Washington at 5/2 and Cleveland at odds of 3/1. It's 9/2 that Tebow will be Tom Brady's understudy in New England and 7/1 that Tebow trades sun block for galoshes and heads to Buffalo.

Offensive linemen always are at a premium and there's an over/under proposition on how many will be selected in the first round. Lay -130 (bet $130 to win $100) that fewer than 7 1/2 offensive linemen are taken in the first round or take even money (bet $100 to win $100) that more than 7 1/2 blockers go in Round 1.

There's a similar over/under bet for wide receivers taken in the opening round of the 2010 draft. The number here is just 2 1/2 with "over" the favorite at -200 and "under" the dog at +160. Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant and Notre Dame's Golden Tate look like first rounders but Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas could be a late first rounder or an early second rounder, adding intrigue to the bet.

With saturation TV coverage and enterprising sportsbooks doing their part, the 2010 NFL Draft is just another way for NFL betting fans to get into the action.