The NFL has moved the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl instead of the week after, which has created a little bit of a firestorm. The NFL is still forcing the players who were selected to show up at the game – even if they are not playing – which means that a number of players from the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints still have to go to the game and show up even though they are not playing. Furthermore, it throws off the preparation for the Super Bowl when they have to go and take time out of their busy schedule as is.

Nonetheless, for people actually betting the game, keep in mind that the AFC Northbet will be without its top three quarterbacks in Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers. Instead, Matt Schaub, Vince Young and David Garrard will be making their first starts.

Expect all three of those guys to be far more excited to play than the latter three would have been, which means we should see a better effort out of them. When handicapping All-Star games, its generally tough to find something to hang on but this is good enough to make a small sprinkle on the AFC as an underdog.

Pick: AFC +2