NFL QB Props - Peyton Manning vs. The Field

What can you say about Peyton Manning except that after a rookie season where he was intercepted 28 times, he has been on a roll. Every succeeding year he has played in the NFL has resulted in a completion rate of 62% or more. He has thrown 333 career touchdown passes in 176 games, and has thrown for 4000 yards or more in nine of his eleven seasons.

Manning's best season was 2004, when he passed for 49 touchdowns and only ten interceptions, also posting his career high in yards with 4557. Last year was not his most sensational from a statistical standpoint, as he had 27 TD's, his lowest figure since 2001. He was his usual accurate self, though, hitting 66.8% of his throws, and rebounded from a slow start that was due to an injury that kept him out of the pre-season nfl betting. His performance was enough to win his third MVP award.

This season he's got a new head coach in Jim Caldwell, and he won't have long-time offensive coordinator Tom Moore in that same capacity (he's now a "consultant"). Still, since Manning's like a coach on the field, most people are not expecting him to be affected too badly.

That having been said, let's do some comparisons, as they relate to propositions in the BetUS NFL betting odds:

P MANNING VS ROETHLISBERGER

Peyton Manning ~ Colts -6½ TD Passes -120

Ben Roethlisberger ~ Steelers +6½ TD Passes -120

As we've reiterated before, Ben Roethlisberger has had over 18 touchdown passes in a season only once. If it was up to Mike Tomlin, he wouldn't have to have any TD passes at all. Manning is going to put up his numbers. They aren't always gaudy, but there is an upside here that is far more than what Big Ben is likely to produce. MANNING (-6.5, -120)

P MANNING VS PALMER

Peyton Manning ~ Colts -5½ TD Passes -120

Carson Palmer ~ Bengals +5½ TD Passes -120

This is actually a close one, because we know what Carson Palmer has been able to accomplish when healthy. It's just so tough to fathom Palmer staying healthy for a whole season. If he does, he has a good chance to stay within this number because I can see Manning not having to be so totally dependent on his passing game, while Palmer has to rely on Cedric Benson to achieve some balance for him. PALMER (+5.5, -120)

P MANNING VS RIVERS

Peyton Manning ~ Colts -2 TD Passes -120

Philip Rivers ~ Chargers +2 TD Passes -120

I prefer Manning's variety of weapons here, because he's now going to bring Anthony Gonzalez into the picture a lot more now and there is rookie Donald Brown, who can transform short passes into some longer touchdowns. MANNING (-2, -120)

P MANNING VS MCNABB

Peyton Manning ~ Colts -7½ TD Passes -120

Donovan McNabb ~ Eagles +7½ TD Passes -120

McNabb is going to be going after some big numbers this season, and this year he's got more to work with than perhaps any season in the past. Manning will throw more touchdowns, but McNabb has the potential to reach 25 touchdowns or more with his current crew, which makes us believe he can keep it within this number. McNABB (+7.5, -120)