Last Updated on August 4, 2010 11:40 am by Anthony Rome
Eagles Season Odds
For the first time in roughly a decade, the Philadelphia Eagles will not have Donovan McNabb under center when they start the season. Can Kevin Kolb lead them back to the playoffs?
On Easter Sunday, the Eagles parted with McNabb by surprisingly trading him to the Redskins for a second round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. (It wasn’t a surprise that they traded him at all, just that they traded him to a division rival.) The trade marked the end of the McNabb era and the beginning of the Kolb era in Philadelphia. Now it’s up to Kolb to take over the reins of Andy Reid’s offense and get the Eagles back to the playoffs.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Eagles 20/1 to win the 2011 Super Bowl and 10/1 to represent the NFC this year. They’re also +275 on the money line to win the NFC East and have an over/under season win total of 8.5 games.
Heading into April’s draft, the Eagles were looking to bolster both of their lines, safety and linebacker positions. In the first round, they took undersized but highly productive defensive end Brandon Graham from Michigan and in Round 2, they selected free safety Nate Allen from South Florida. In Round 3 they selected another defensive end in Washington’s Daniel Te’o-Nesheim.
While he probably won’t start as a rookie, Graham should give Philly’s pass rush a boost this season. Trent Cole will still be counted on to be the team’s top edge rusher, but the additions of Graham and outside linebacker Ernie Sims (acquired via a trade with the Lions) should upgrade the Eagles’ defense. Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs return as the team’s starting cornerbacks, while Quintin Mikell and Allen will start at the two safety positions.
Offensively, everything revolves around Kolb. If he can perform at a high level, then the Eagles’ 20/1 Super Bowl odds would represent a nice value. But if he fails to succeed over the course of a rigorous 16-game season, then the Eagles could crash and burn. The good thing is that with young skilled players like DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin around him, Kolb will have plenty of weapons around him in order to help him succeed.
2011 Super Bowl Odds: Philadelphia Eagles 20/1
Odds to Win NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 10/1
Odds to Win NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles +275
2010 NFL Season Win Totals: Philadelphia Eagles O/U 8.5
Posted: 8/4/10 11:40 AM ET