The online betting for football has reached the halfway point of the season and there were some things we expected, and other things that came as a surprise. Most people expected the Indianapolis Colts to struggle without Peyton Manning, but no one expected 0-8 at the midpoint of the season. The Buffalo Bills came out of nowhere to challenge for the AFC East title, but it looks like the Jets are getting ready to run away with it in the second half of the year. The Philadelphia Eagles are far from being a "Dream Team" and the Washington Redskins should have really drafted a quarterback.

Everything picks up pace as we hit the second half of the 2011-2012 NFL season. Will the Eagles really pour it on and challenge for the NFC East title? Will the Patriots make the playoffs as the AFC East champion, the AFC wild card or maybe not at all? It will be fun to see what happens as the rest of the NFL story lines play themselves out in the second half of the season.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2011

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3 1/2) @ Cincinnati Bengals

That is a really good defense in Cincinnati, but the Steelers should pull out a close game.

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3)

John Elway sees his shadow which means at least seven more weeks of Tebowmania.

Pick; Denver Broncos

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) @ Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts, meet 0-9.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys (-5 1/2)

The Buffalo secondary will make Tony Romo pay for his standard rash of bad decisions, the Ryan Fitzpatrick carves up the Dallas secondary.

Pick: Buffalo Bills

Houston Texans (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are making all kinds of mistakes it did not make last season. The Texans are on quite a roll right now.

Pick: Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans @ Carolina Panthers (-3 1/2)

The Carolina defense has been steadily improving for the first eight weeks of the season. Cam Newton and his team will make the second half of this season very interesting.

Pick: Carolina Panthers

Washington Redskins @ Miami Dolphins (-4)

I actually had to flip a coin with this one.

Pick: Washington Redskins

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (pick 'em)

The game of the week that will have Drew Brees and the boys come out on top.

Pick: New Orleans Saints

St. Louis Rams @ Cleveland Browns (-3)

What in the world has happened to the St. Louis Rams?

Pick: Cleveland Browns

Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles (-14)

It looks like Philadelphia kept the right quarterback.

Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

Baltimore Ravens (-6 1/2) @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks just have no offense to put up against a dominating Baltimore defense.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (-2 1/2)

A playoff team is able to extend its first half of the season momentum on through to the second half of the season. This game will show whether or not the Lions are a playoff team this year, or if it is still a couple of years away.

Pick: Detroit Lions

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers (-3)

The 49ers get running back Frank Gore back this week. It will be a long plane ride back to New Jersey for the Giants.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers

New England Patriots @ New York Jets (-2)

That weak defense is going to cost the Patriots some games in the second half of the season; starting with this one.

Pick: New York Jets

MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers (-13 1/2)

Christian Ponder is a nice story for the Minnesota Vikings, but he is about to meet the best team in the NFC.

Pick: Green Bay Packers