The NFL has a six game slate of Week 1 action and we take a look at which sides or totals could be ripe for the plucking.
Preseason Handicapping –
Nobody wants
to see the NFL season commence more than I, but let’s face it kids, the NFL preseason
is a crapshoot. Many of the players on the field today will be watching the NFL
on their flat screens right along with the rest of us this season. And you’re
going to gamble that the future Ted in accounting can cover Brandon Lloyd or
that Big Vinny, who will be driving a cement mixer near you, will fend off a
double team by two veteran offensive linemen and stop a slashing Michael Bush
dead in his tracks. Well good luck with that compadre because it’s your dough
on the line.
That being
said, you can cut way down on your average wager and still put your money where
your mouth is and manufacture a reason or two why this team should cover or
where this total is apt to fall. We can create our own reality and pretend to know
how long the starters will play and how a 7th round running back
will fare against an undrafted linebacker trying desperately to secure a roster
spot.
So, without
further ado let me allow you a glimpse into the mind of a handicapper who will
rely on mental snapshots of last season and the improvements made in the
offseason yet may not get the desired results. Caveat emptor, you’ve been
warned and no, these NFL pick,s regardless of my successes or failures, will not be
counted towards or against my official record.
Redskins at Bills
How good is
the Redskins new toy RG3? Starting Thursday we will begin to find out. Of
course the Skins want him to make a statement so all the fat cats in the
owner’s box can slap each other’s backs and congratulate themselves. But the
Bills have a few new weapons of their own in prized free agent signing Mario
Williams as well as another gem in Mark Anderson formerly of the Patriots.
The ‘Skins
are favored by 2 but I’m not sure how the football odds makers arrived at that number. Perhaps
it’s all the squares begging to throw money at a team who signed a prodigy. I
personally like the Bills to improve this season and there’s no time like the
present.
Bills +2 is the play.
Saints at Patriots
Tom Brady
has more weapons at his disposal than a team of Navy Seals so why not see what
they can do in week 1. Fire off a few rounds while you’re out there and watch
things go boom! On the flip side is Drew Brees who is a one man assault team
all by himself and when you factor in two defenses that were quite frankly,
rather offensive last year, let’s look for the scoreboard to light up.
Play Over 40 in this one.
Steelers at Eagles
You think
the Eagles have just a little bit to prove after last season? Michael Vick
can’t be injured because he hasn’t even played but give him time. Of course
there is the tragic passing of Andy Reid’s son that will no doubt cloud this
entire contest but I’m going to bank on Philly proving to their fans that last
season was an aberration and this edition is the real deal.
Play the Eagles +1 ½.
Ravens at Falcons
This defense
is getting older and my guess is that the vets get a bunch of rest while the
younger players get the lion’s share of the time. Matty Ice of the Falcons will
want to prove he can score against the best defenses in the league and in this
case, he may be playing against bench warmers who happen to reside below the
best defensive players on the depth chart.
Play the Falcons -2 ½.