Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen dies

Football Betting Lines

03/11/2010 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pro football Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen died early Thursday morning in California after a battle with cancer.

He was 69 years old.

Olsen was a two-time All-American at Utah State, playing both the offensive and defensive line, and won the Outland Trophy as the nation's outstanding interior lineman in 1961, then went on to star in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams.

In 15 seasons with the Rams, Olsen was selected for 14 Pro Bowls and was part of the famed "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line with Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy. He was selected as the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1962 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of Merlin's passing. He was not only an extraordinary football player but just a superb human being," stated Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry.

Olsen played in 208 NFL games with the Rams, helping the club to six division titles and three NFC Championship Game appearances. He was a member of two NFL All-Decade teams -- the 1960s and 1970s.

After his football career ended in 1976, Olsen made a smooth transition to the broadcast booth with NBC Sports. He also worked as an actor, first on "Little House on the Prairie" and then starring in "Father Murphy."

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

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