Bodog Beat

Kurt Warner had better pray to God that he can take his team to the Super Bowl this year. (AP Images)

Last week here on Bodog Beat, I broke down the New York Jets' first four games and speculated they would go 0-4 with a very tough opening month and the news that star linebacker Calvin Pace had been suspended that long.

Well, since the NFL season is only two months away, I thought I would try and break down every team's full schedule and get a feel for how that club might finish – obviously, assuming no major injuries. Doing four of these each week should get us right to opening weekend in the NFL. Hey, every fan looks at their team's schedule when it's first released and blurts out: 10-6 or the like. I certainly do!

While Bodog hasn't yet released the NFL over/under win totals, they should be out soon. For the time being, I will speculate what that number will be, as well as give Bodog's conference and Super Bowl title odds. I will go alphabetically by city, meaning we start with the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals.

Schedule:
Sept. 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 20: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27: vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:20 p.m.
Week 4: Bye
Oct. 11: vs. Houston Texans, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 18: at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 25: at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m.
Nov. 1: vs. Carolina Panthers, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 22 at St. Louis Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 29 at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 14 at San Francisco 49ers, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 vs. St. Louis Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:15 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 27th (opponents combined to go 113-143, .441, in 2008)
Projected record: 8-8
Projected Bodog over/under total: 8 ½
Bodog odds to win NFC: 10/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 25/1
I'm guessing most experts are going to think the Arizona was a fluke in 2008, and this team only did finish 9-7 before three improbable wins in the playoffs and a near-miracle upset of the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

The good news is that QB Kurt Warner did come back, and it appears receiver Anquan Boldin will be in the desert for one more season despite not getting a new deal or his wish for a trade. The Cards do need to figure out who their starting running back will be with Edgerrin James now gone. Either rookie Chris "Beanie" Wells or Tim Hightower figures to start, although they will no doubt split carries.

Arizona has the benefit of playing in the weak NFC West, so that should be good for at least four wins in 2009 — the Cards were *6-0 in the division last year. Let's say they sweep the three home division games and win at St. Louis. The Cards should also be able to beat Houston, Carolina and Green Bay in Glendale. That gets us to seven victories.

I only see one more good chance of a road win, and that's at Detroit (although the Cards struggled big time in the Eastern time zone last year before crushing Carolina in the playoffs). That's an 8-8 record. Certainly I don't forecast Arizona winning at the Giants, Bears or Titans, or beating the Colts in the desert. That means a winning record probably comes down to games at Jacksonville and home to Minnesota. I expect losses in both of those, however – again, barring the unforeseen injury, etc.

Since the 2000 Super Bowl, the runner-up in the big game has missed the playoffs the following season every year but in 2006, when the Seahawks made it back after losing to Pittsburgh. Sound familiar? I think Arizona also gets back, but by default of playing in a terrible division.

Get all your 2009 Super Bowl odds at Bodog.

* Correction made to reflect accurate stat. Thanks to those who caught my 3-0 error. Ouch.