In the world of sports betting, fans are always looking for certain teams to rise up and dethrone other teams of divisional crowns. For baseball fans, they are waiting for the Toronto Blue Jays to rise up and take over the AL East from both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. For football fans, in particular AFC South NFL betting lines enthusiasts, the Houston Texans are that team we have all wanted to see take over for the Indianapolis Colts. With so much optimism surrounding the NFL, will Houston finally make that jump to elite level status?

Led by Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts have developed a bit of a dynasty in the AFC South for the better part of a decade. Annually, the Colts are the AFC South’s lone representative in the playoffs, and it is almost always a foregone conclusion that they will make it to the AFC Championship. Last season, the Colts had plenty of injuries, but due to the incompetence of the Houston Texans defense, and the turmoil in both Jacksonville and Tennessee, Indianapolis was able to pull out another divisional title.

This season however, the Houston Texans appear ready to make the jump to elite level status because of a few moves this offseason. Firstly, the Texans were able to hire former San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator and Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Philips, to be the Texans new Defensive Coordinator. Secondly, late last week, the Texans signed former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph to a five year contract. These two moves alone, provide instant credibility to a defense that ranked 32^nd in both pass rush and rush defense in 2010.

With the returns of quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson, the Texans offense should be more than able to compliment the new look defense. What’s more, Peyton Manning is expected to miss the start of the regular season, and that can provide Houston the opportunity to jump out of the gate and never look back.