NFL Betting – Rookie of the Year: This is the time of the year when NFL prop bets and NFL future bets get plenty of attention from the sports betting public. You can bet on everything from who will win the Super Bowl, Conference Champions, Division winners, NFL MVP, top passing QB, top receiver, and on and on.

BetRepublic.com has discussed a few of these future bets both in articles and on the sports betting TV programming.

In the mix is the betting offer of who will win the Rookie of the Year award in the NFL. It’s always a bit of a crapshoot to figure out who the top rookies will be in any sport. Every year gazillions of dollars get spent on rookies who haven’t played a single down but because of the thorough scrutiny that these rookies endure from NFL scouts and pundits it would seem like a given that the top rookies on draft day will be the top rookies at season’s end.

Rookie of the Year odds:

Aaron Curry considered the top player in the draft by many draft experts was selected fourth over-all by the Seahawks and is currently listed at 5/1 at many online sportsbooks as the favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Following Curry is the Chiefs Tyson Jackson at 7/1, James Laurinaitas of the Rams at 8/1 and Brian Orakpo of the Redskins along with the Bengals Rey Maualuga and Jerry Peria of the Falcons all at 10/1.

Curry will step right into the starting outside linebacker spot for the Seahawks. Curry is extremely tough, physical, fast and aggressive. He is very sound technically and was the winner of the Butkus Award for top college linebacker in 2008. Linebackers are the current sexy pick for rookie of the year as eight of the last nine winners have played the position.

The Chiefs made Tyson Jackson the third overall pick just ahead of Curry and he is the total package at defensive end. Jackson has a quick burst with exceptional strength. The Chiefs are switching to the 3-4 defense and don’t really have a big body in the middle to give some relief to the defensive ends.

I like former USC standout LB Brian Cushing at 12/1 to have a solid year. He joins a defense in Houston that is ready to become one of the best in the league. He is a fierce competitor that plays with a high motor.

The Denver Broncos, in search of a new identity, selected running back Knowshon Moreno with the 12^th pick. Moreno looks to be another electrifying running back that will step right into the league and be a success. He also has good hands out of the backfield, which will keep him on the field and give him plenty of touches. Running backs have won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award 10 out of the last 16 years.

Check out BetRepublic.com this week as there will be a full 30-minute sports betting TV show dedicated to looking at the top NFL future odds, prop bets and early season betting opportunities.

Running back Chris Beanie Wells of the Cardinals is listed at 5/2 and RB Donald Brown of the Colts and WR Michael Crabtree of the San Francisco 49ers are both listed at 7/2 at most online sportsbooks.

Wells is considered the most powerful runner in draft but was banged up quite a bit in college. He still produced big numbers at Ohio State and will benefit from playing in the Cards pass-first offensive system. Donald Brown will be competing with the Joseph Addai for carries so his numbers won’t be as gaudy as either Moreno or Wells.

Michael Crabtree is unsigned and has announced his intention to potentially sit out the year and re-enter the draft next year. Even if he signs he has missed so much important camp time that he will be a non-factor as a rookie.

The quarterback position is the most difficult transition to make from college to the NFL. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had great success last year but its highly unlikely the same success will happen for Jets pick Mark Sanchez and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford. Sanchez is listed at 7/1 and Stafford at 8/1. Both are good bets to start the season but both will be challenged to have the success of their two rookie predecessors.

The Jets have a lack of proven receivers and the Lions have a lack of talent everywhere but do have one premiere receiver in Calvin Johnson to give Stafford a top weapon.

I like LB Clay Matthews of the Packers who is listed at 12/1 to win the award. He will start and make a ton of tackles on a revamped 3-4 defense under the coaching of Dom Capers.

I believe that the Giants Hakeem Nicks at 18/1 is good value for top offensive rookie. He has good hands, speed and toughness and moves into a top offense where he will get a lot of looks from Eli Manning.

Good luck with whatever early NFL bets you make. Again, check BetRepublic.com for daily picks, sports betting TV programs and to hooked in to the sports betting communities only true social networking site.