ODDS TO WIN THE AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis was 13-3 last season and won another division title. Jacksonville was the runner-up (11-5) based on their 0-2 record vs. the Colts. Tennessee finished 10-6 and also made the playoffs. Houston was 8-8 despite some major injuries and is on the rise.

The Colts have won five-straight division titles and are the favorite again. However, they have some big health issues to worry about as several star players are coming off season-ending injuries. Peyton Manning is also recovering from knee surgery and Indy hopes to get him back by early September. The Colts need several young players to come through this season but have gotten those results in recent years.

Jacksonville is very good but saw the need to improve a pass rush that let them down toward the end of the year. They used their first two picks on DEs but 1st-rounder Derrick Harvey has yet to sign. They also added some players at wideout who they hope will give David Garrard more options. A very good team but can they be great?

Tennessee made the playoffs without a passing offense last season but that will be hard to do in '08. They added little to the receiving corps and Vince Young hasn't looked good in two games in the preseason. However, their defense ranked 5th last season and they have a strong ground game.

For Houston to have a shot Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson have to stay healthy and they need a RB to emerge. The defense has to play without Dunta Robinson for half the season and that will be difficult. They are 4-14 within the division over the past three years and really need to reverse those numbers to have a chance.

The Colts have been the class of this tough division for a number of years but we see little value in backing them with such a low number. Tennessee and Houston are improving but still have a ways to go. Jacksonville has some questions also: are they better at wideout and can they mount a consistent pass rush? We think they could answer those questions positively and think they represent the best value in the division.

Our Pick - Jacksonville

AFC South Betting Lines

Indianapolis Colts 8-13
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-2
Tennessee Titans 9-2
Houston Texans 11-1

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