NICU8697
09-08-2006, 02:12 PM
Just wanted to toss out my 2 cents for the NFL games in week 1.
First I have to say that the Steelers are my lock to cover the 1.5 pts against the Dolphins at home....huh? They did? By how many? Oh ok then. So on we go. I just use Danny Sheridan's odds listed on USAToday.com. Remember these are just my picks and should be used for entertainment purposes only. :nono:
Chicago (-3.5) at Green Bay
First off a disclaimer, I am a Packer fan. The Packers were awful last year and in the off-season they went out and traded away their biggest offensive threat, Javon Walker, for some magic beans. Yes they upgraded the D and while the pick of AJ Hawk in the first round is impressive I believe the 3rd round selection of Abdul Hodge from Iowa will be almost as big. However, they still stink. The only reason the spread on this game isn't 15 is because they're playing in Lambeau. Take the Bears, give the 3.5 and join me in remembering back when Brett Favre could do it all on his own.
Denver (-3.5) at St. Louis
I live in St. Louis. I get to listen to non-stop Rams talk on the AM radio and believe me, things were more exciting when "Mad" Mike Martz was running this team into the ground. It's just not fun hearing their new coach give all the typical coach answers. The Broncos have produced a 1000yd back in pretty much every season since Mike Shanahan took over. They very well may produce one in the first week this season. The Rams couldn't stop the run with 15 players on defense. The addition of the aforementioned Javon Walker means that every time Jake Plummer rolls out off of a play-action fake he'll have one old (Rod Smith) and one new (Walker) stud WR to look for. Now he just needs something borrowed and something blue....wait. Denver will rack up a ton of yards and Champ Bailey will shut down Torry Holt. The only chance the Rams have is to jump out to an early lead because if the Broncos get the lead they'll just grind it out on the ground and play keep-away. Take the Broncos giving 3.5.
Cincinnati at Kansas City (-2)
Everyone seems to think that since Carson Palmer's knee didn't explode in the preseason that he's back to 100% and will throw another 30 TDs this year. Not I. The Chiefs are always tough at home and they have definitely upgraded their awful defense in the off-season. Ty Law, Patrick Surtain and Sammy Knight will have their hands full with the Cincy WRs but I think the three are up to the challenge at home. While everyone's focusing on the weapons on the Bengals' offense they seem to forget that the Chiefs have a RB that gained over 1700yds and a QB that threw for over 4000yds. This should be a high-scoring affair so giving away a FG doesn't bother me. I'll take the Chiefs and give away the deuce.
But Jeremy, you say, you've taken all the favorites, anyone can do that. Ah yes but now we go with a couple of "dogs". One a surprise dog and one a big dog. Woof.
Dallas (+2.5) at Jacksonville
Hey, did you know that Terrell Owens was on the Cowboys this season? I wasn't sure if you missed it, but ESPN did a real small segment on him once back in April so I thought I'd let you all know. Sheesh. Yes we ALL know about TO, he's a pain, he's self-centered, he's arrogant, he's a child in a man's body, but you know what else he is? A phenom. I mean I despise his antics as much as the next guy but you just can't deny what he does ON the field. In this game I believe that the Jacksonville D will do an admirable job shutting down the Dallas running game. The one thing I don't think they'll be able to do is shut down TO. He'll get his yards, he'll probably get a score (or 2) and the Dallas D shouldn't have a hard time holding the Jags to under 15 points. So since I think Dallas will win this game outright, taking the 'Boys AND the 2.5 is a no-brainer.
And finally...(congrats on making it this far)
Buffalo (+9.5) at New England
All great dynasties must come to an end. Just as that Ming fella. Deion Branch has put the Pats' house in a bit of disarray and even though they're not the type of team to revolve around any one player (as long as his name's not Brady) the sideshow that is the Branch holdout hasn't helped anyone's focus in the Northeast. I believe Buffalo is a team on the rise. I think Lee Evans and Willis McGahee are in line for big years and the Bills' D is better than many people think. Now before you go and think I'm high right now (it's not even 4:00 here, yet) I'm not saying that the Bills are going to go into Foxboro and beat the Pats. But they should be able to keep the score reasonably close. Give me the Bills, give me 9.5 and give me an ice cold beer cause FOOTBALL'S BACK BABY!!!
First I have to say that the Steelers are my lock to cover the 1.5 pts against the Dolphins at home....huh? They did? By how many? Oh ok then. So on we go. I just use Danny Sheridan's odds listed on USAToday.com. Remember these are just my picks and should be used for entertainment purposes only. :nono:
Chicago (-3.5) at Green Bay
First off a disclaimer, I am a Packer fan. The Packers were awful last year and in the off-season they went out and traded away their biggest offensive threat, Javon Walker, for some magic beans. Yes they upgraded the D and while the pick of AJ Hawk in the first round is impressive I believe the 3rd round selection of Abdul Hodge from Iowa will be almost as big. However, they still stink. The only reason the spread on this game isn't 15 is because they're playing in Lambeau. Take the Bears, give the 3.5 and join me in remembering back when Brett Favre could do it all on his own.
Denver (-3.5) at St. Louis
I live in St. Louis. I get to listen to non-stop Rams talk on the AM radio and believe me, things were more exciting when "Mad" Mike Martz was running this team into the ground. It's just not fun hearing their new coach give all the typical coach answers. The Broncos have produced a 1000yd back in pretty much every season since Mike Shanahan took over. They very well may produce one in the first week this season. The Rams couldn't stop the run with 15 players on defense. The addition of the aforementioned Javon Walker means that every time Jake Plummer rolls out off of a play-action fake he'll have one old (Rod Smith) and one new (Walker) stud WR to look for. Now he just needs something borrowed and something blue....wait. Denver will rack up a ton of yards and Champ Bailey will shut down Torry Holt. The only chance the Rams have is to jump out to an early lead because if the Broncos get the lead they'll just grind it out on the ground and play keep-away. Take the Broncos giving 3.5.
Cincinnati at Kansas City (-2)
Everyone seems to think that since Carson Palmer's knee didn't explode in the preseason that he's back to 100% and will throw another 30 TDs this year. Not I. The Chiefs are always tough at home and they have definitely upgraded their awful defense in the off-season. Ty Law, Patrick Surtain and Sammy Knight will have their hands full with the Cincy WRs but I think the three are up to the challenge at home. While everyone's focusing on the weapons on the Bengals' offense they seem to forget that the Chiefs have a RB that gained over 1700yds and a QB that threw for over 4000yds. This should be a high-scoring affair so giving away a FG doesn't bother me. I'll take the Chiefs and give away the deuce.
But Jeremy, you say, you've taken all the favorites, anyone can do that. Ah yes but now we go with a couple of "dogs". One a surprise dog and one a big dog. Woof.
Dallas (+2.5) at Jacksonville
Hey, did you know that Terrell Owens was on the Cowboys this season? I wasn't sure if you missed it, but ESPN did a real small segment on him once back in April so I thought I'd let you all know. Sheesh. Yes we ALL know about TO, he's a pain, he's self-centered, he's arrogant, he's a child in a man's body, but you know what else he is? A phenom. I mean I despise his antics as much as the next guy but you just can't deny what he does ON the field. In this game I believe that the Jacksonville D will do an admirable job shutting down the Dallas running game. The one thing I don't think they'll be able to do is shut down TO. He'll get his yards, he'll probably get a score (or 2) and the Dallas D shouldn't have a hard time holding the Jags to under 15 points. So since I think Dallas will win this game outright, taking the 'Boys AND the 2.5 is a no-brainer.
And finally...(congrats on making it this far)
Buffalo (+9.5) at New England
All great dynasties must come to an end. Just as that Ming fella. Deion Branch has put the Pats' house in a bit of disarray and even though they're not the type of team to revolve around any one player (as long as his name's not Brady) the sideshow that is the Branch holdout hasn't helped anyone's focus in the Northeast. I believe Buffalo is a team on the rise. I think Lee Evans and Willis McGahee are in line for big years and the Bills' D is better than many people think. Now before you go and think I'm high right now (it's not even 4:00 here, yet) I'm not saying that the Bills are going to go into Foxboro and beat the Pats. But they should be able to keep the score reasonably close. Give me the Bills, give me 9.5 and give me an ice cold beer cause FOOTBALL'S BACK BABY!!!