ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!! I'm ready. If Thursday night's opener is a preview of what's to come then it's going to be an exciting season.
There was unrealistic talks (in my mind) of New England going undefeated. That was ruined on the first night. The rookie Kareem Hunt going over 200 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs. Alex Smith going over 300 yards with 4 TDs and making 49er fans continue to wish they never let him go. I think this is going to be another exciting season filled with surprises.
As I mentioned in my introduction, I love football. I've been in one league over 14 years. This league has a $200 buy in with a $10 trade/FA pickup fee. Not enormous but definitely enough to make you take it seriously.
I also love to bet sports and typically do pretty well. So after joining this site I realized this is the perfect place to post my picks, record, and how I did for the year. Hopefully that ends up being a good thing. I will put my suggestion for all games, the ones I'm betting and the ones I'm highly confident with. And with that, let's get ready FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!
New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills (-8)
The season hasn't even started and the Jets look like they've already given up. No QB that makes you confident in winning, losing Enunwa to injury and the trade of Marshall and Richardson. While the defense is still decent Powell is not going to win you many games. The Bills trade of Taylor's best receiver in Watkins is not a great confidence boost either, but with McCoy you at least have a chance. Given McCoy and the Bills boasting a good defense, being at home, and Taylor being slightly underrated I give this game to the Bills.
Jets 13 - Bills 20
Atlanta Falcons (-6.5) vs Chicago Bears
Ryan is coming off a tough loss in the Super Bowl. With an upgraded defense, a great running game, and a top 5 receiver in Jones it's hard for anyone to keep this team out of the endzone. Chicago is a team with question marks. Will White stay healthy? Will Glennon do enough to keep Trubisky from starting soon. While Howard has proven himself to be a great back, I don't think he'll get many opportunities as this game should be out of hand by halftime.
Falcons 34 - Bears 17
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals (-3)
Flacco is back from injury. The running game should be average and the WRs should be decent against a depleted secondary of Cincinnati. I believe if this team is successful this year it will be because of the defense.
Dalton is an above average QB but with AJ Green back from injury it will really open things up for the running game. Hill, and Bernard are good and Mixon is a rookie with great potential. The defense will be suspect without Burfict and Jones but it will do enough.
Ravens 17 - Bengals 20
Pittsburgh Steelers (-9.5) vs Cleveland Browns
There aren't many offenses better than the Steelers. I expect big games from Brown, and Bell against a young Cleveland defense even though Big Ben typically struggles on the road. I believe Kizer will go through growing pains but has more potential than anyone the Browns had on their roster before. The Browns should lean on their running game and Crowell for as long as they can but this game should get out of hand.
Steelers 27 - Browns 13
Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) vs Detroit Lions
With one of the best running backs in the NFL in Johnson, a reliable receiver in Fitzgerald and a deep threat like Brown, Carson Palmer has a lot of offensive support. The Cardinal defense should be slightly worse than last year but still very good. Stafford is a lock for an average game as his receivers are very solid. Abdullah is finally healthy and should provide at least provide a possible threat in the running game. I don't think the defense will do enough to stop the Cardinal offense though.
Cardinals 27 - Lions 17
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans (-5)
The Jaguars boast what I believe is a young and up and coming defense. Fournette will be a workhorse behind a bad offensive line. And even though they have two above average receivers, that means nothing if Bortles can't get them the ball consistently.
Watson will be much better than Osweiler which should be an improvement to the offense. Miller is a good back and should be helped with better QB play, as should Hopkins. The Texans defense is one of the best and could lead them to the playoffs.
Jaguars 16 - Texans 17
Oakland Raiders vs Tennessee Titans (-2.5)
The return of Lynch won't provide a significant upgrade to the run game, and Carr, Cooper and Crabtree are as potent as any offense in the league. The defense led by Mack is at best above average and should have trouble in thus game. Mariotta has proven to be the franchise QB for the Titans and with Murray and Henry providing a ground attack and the acquisition of Decker who is hopefully healthy, this offense has all the power to match Oakland. I believe this is a shoot out and give the slight edge to the home team.
Raiders 31 - Titans 34
Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) vs Washington Redskins
Wentz is more experienced, more importantly he has better receivers in Jeffrey and Smith. Blount should provide a solid running game and this defense is easily above average.
Cousins is one of the best, and the addition of Pryor takes away the deep threat of traded Jackson but provides a big body redzone threat. Reed is back and Kelley should provide balance in the run game. I believe the Redskin defense has a little work to do to get to the level of the Eagles.
Eagles 27 - Redskins 24
Indianapolis Colts vs Los Angeles Rams (-4.5)
Without Luck, Doyle and Hilton's stats will suffer as will the offense as a whole which is no surprise. Gore is a good but aging back and the defense is suspect.
Goff has not proven himself yet, but with the addition of Watkins and what Kupp has shown in the preseason and running of Gurley, they have potential against the Indy defense.
Colts 10 - Rams 20
Seattle Seahawks vs Green Bay Packers (-3)
The Seattle D is still at the top, but a HOF QB like Rodgers is tough for anyone. Wilson is healthy and does decent no matter who's catching the passes but I think Graham has a comeback year. The run game will be by committee with I believe Rawls separating himself from the pack.
Rodgers is the key to this game. With Nelson back healthy and Adams stepping up I think the Seattle D has a tough time. Green Bay's D is no push over and should be good enough against Seattle. Edge to the home team.
Seahawks 17 - Packers 24
Carolina Panthers (-5) vs San Francisco 49ers
Super Cam is hopefully healthy and versus an average SF defense this is the perfect start. Benjamin should be hard to handle and McCaffrey is going to get a lot of touches. Carolina's defense should have a great game against this average at best offense.
Hoyer is a slight upgrade over last year and Hyde will carry the bulk of the offense. Garcon will do decent but not great against Norman and the defense will eventually get overwhelmed by the Panther offense.
Panthers 31 - 49ers 13
New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys (-4)
(Maybe slightly biased, I'm a Dallas fan)
The Giants offense has shown signs of struggle and with Beckham dealing with an injury and still only a decent run game at best I think the offense as a whole does decent because the Dallas defense is unproven. The Giants defense on the other hand I believe is one of the best in the NFL. Prescott is one of the best QBs that are a little more than a game manager in his second year and gets a lot of help from a healthy Bryant and Beasley. If we win this game it will be mainly because of the offensive line, and a run game consisting of a big dose of Elliott and McFadden. The defense is unproven but hopefully Marinelli helps them overachieve.
Giants 17 - Cowboys 20
New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings (-3)
When you have a guy throw like Brees with a 500 record like the Saints you know there's problems on the defense. Thomas is proven and the run game when leaned upon is above average. The defense should be better but not much, luckily they're playing Minnesota. Bradford and the offense is not great but should do decent against a lower tier Saint's defense. Rookie RB Cooks should carry the bulk with Murray as a power back. The Vikings defense wins this game.
Saints 14 - Vikings 16
Los Angeles Chargers vs Denver Broncos (-3)
Rivers is a top QB and with Allen back and Gordon becoming one of the top backs in football this offense if going to put up points. The defense is quietly one of the best in the NFL and with Bosa and Verrett coming back from injury they'll be even better. Denver still sports a top defense but the offense has slipped. With no one to consistently get Thomas and Sanders the ball Anderson has struggled to find open space. Playing at Mile High should help but won't be enough.
Chargers 27 - Broncos 20.
My bets:
Falcons (-6.5)
Steelers (-9.5)
Cardinals (-2.5)
Rams (-4.5)
Panthers (-5)
Locks of the week:
Falcons (-6.5)
Panthers (-4.5)
