NFL Week 1 Picks with Odds

Here we are again entering another NFL season. There are some interesting matchups with some interesting betting odds.

For example: Last years Superbowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles are only a 2 point favorite playing the Falcons at home. It used to be that the home team enjoyed a 3 point advantage. Nick Foles, who engineered the SB win will start because Carson Wentz hasn't been cleared to play.

The odds makers are putting a lot of faith in Andrew Luck's return with the Colts a prohibitive favorite over the visiting Bengals.

The Saints are a 10 1/2 point favorite playing at home against the Jamies Winston less Buccaneers. Good pick here but 10 1/2 points in the 1st game of the season is tricky.

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings with the Vikes a 7 point favorite.

And last, but not least, Jon Gruden and the Raiders are a 4 point dog to the visiting LA Rams. How much will the loss of Kalil Mack hurt Gruden's spread offense?

Here are my picks for Week 1. Remember...if you bet, legally this year, based on my picks...you're crazy! My picks are in CAPITOL letters.

Thursday

(WIN)Falcons @ EAGLES -2     The run in 2018 continues...Fly Eagles Fly.

Sunday

(LOSS) STEELERS (-4) @ Browns     The Browns will win, just not this week.
(WIN) BENGALS @ Colts (-3)     Colts need more than "Luck" to win this one.
(LOSS) TITANS (-1.5) @ Dolphins     This really is a "pick'em"
(WIN) 49ers @ VIKINGS (-6)     Honeymoon over for Garoppolo.
(WIN) Texans @ PATRIOTS (-6.5)     Going against a 40 year old Brady is crazy!
(LOSS) Buccaneers @ SAINTS (-9.5)     Brees breezes...Get it?
(WIN) JAGUARS @ Giants (-3)     Jags win despite Bortles.
(WIN) Bills @ RAVENS (-7)     We might even see RGIII in this rout.
(WIN) CHIEFS @ Chargers (-3)     Chiefs win...it's the regular season.
(PUSH) Seahawks @ BRONCOS (-3)     Legion of Boom becomes Legion on Gloom.
(WIN) REDSKINS @ Cardinals (even)     Steady Alex Smiths guides the 'Skins.
(WIN) Cowboys @ PANTHERS (-3)     Take the Panthers at home.
(LOSS) Bears @ PACKERS(-7.5)     The 'Pack is back!

Monday

(LOSS) Jets @ LIONS (-7)     J-E-T-S...Forget it Jet Fans...Rookie QB
(WIN) RAMS (-6) @ Raiders     As much as I am rooting for Gruden...I don't see it!

So there you have it...Week 1 is a lock...I see a 16-0 week...What do you think?

The experts and I disagree on 8 of the 16 games this week. The so-called experts prefer
the Falcons, Texans, Browns, Chargers, Cardinals, Seahawks, bears and Jets. We'll just see!

NFL Picks Week 17

After an 8-8 week I've decided on a new strategy for picking the winners. This new plan will only work for the last week of games because I need 15 weeks of data.

I took an average of the scores by every team to pick my winners. 3 games should be toss ups, SD @ KC, CHI @ Minn and ARI @ SF.

I went against the scores in one contest, PHIL @ NYG because the Eagles will be down after elimination and Mark Sanchez is their QB.

Here Goes:

(W)Cleveland @ Baltimore     Ravens 26-19     Back to the drawing board at QB for Browns
(W)Dallas @ Washington     Cowboys 28-19     How bout them Cowboys
(W)Indianapolis @ Tennessee     Colts 29-16     Unless all the Colts rest
(W)Jacksonville @ Houston     Texans 23-15     JJ Watt sets record for TDs by DL
(L)San Diego @ Kansas City     Chargers 23-22     Go Bolts, make me a winner
(L)NY Jets @ Miami     Dolphins 24-16     Sad goodbye to Rex Ryan
(L)Chicago @ Minnesota     Bears 21-20     This is a hard one to pick
(L)Buffalo @ New England     Patriots 31-24     Patriots rest but still win
(L)Philadelphia @ NY Giants     Giants 24-17     Eagles are just bad the last 4 weeks
(W)New Orleans @ Tampa Bay     Saints 25-17     There must be a passing record for Brees to get
(L)Carolina @ Atlanta     Falcons 25-20     Falcons can win NFC South...Yes a team will be in
(W)Detroit @ Green Bay     Packers 30-20     Rodgers just getting warmed up,,,again
(W)Oakland @ Denver     Broncos 29-19     Offense starts with Peyton...he said so!
(L)Arizona @ San Francisco     Cardinals 19-18     Lindley, Lindley, he's our man!
(W)St. Louis @ Seattle     Seahawks 25-21     No trick plays this time Fisher
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh     Steelers 25-21     "No Bengals victory in Pittsburgh" says Ben

NFL Game Picks Week 16

After an 11-5 week last week, thank you Aaron Rogers and Chip Kelly, I'm sure to knock 'em dead this week.

(L) Tennessee @ Jacksonville     Titans 20-17     Tossup. Titans defense wins
(L)Philadelphia @ Washington     Eagles 28-24     Eagles O too fast
(W)San Diego @ San Francisco     Chargers 30-21     Harbaugh looking East
(W)Minnesota @ Miami     Dolphins 20-17     Tossup. Going with the home team
(L)Baltimore @ Houston     Ravens 20-13  Defensive struggle...Ravens with too much O
(W)Detroit @ Chicago     Lions 28-13     Cutler out...Goodbye Bears
(L)Cleveland @ Carolina     Browns 20-10     Why...I don't know
(L)Atlanta @ New Orleans     Saints 30-24     Brees wants to get to 8-8
(W)Green Bay @ Tampa Bay     Packers 35-13     It was too cold in Buffalo
(W)Kansas City @ Pittsburgh     Steelers 17-13     Good D by both teams
(W)New England @ NY Jets     Patriots 30-13     Brady or Smith...Brady
(L)NY Giants @ St. Louis     Rams 20-10     Not much O but good D in STL
(W)Buffalo @ Oakland     Raiders 17-12     I don't know...Raiders D
(L)Indianapolis @ Dallas     Colts 20-17     No Murray...No win!
(W)Seattle @  Arizona     Seahawks 22-9     Lindley v. Seahawks secondary...no way!
Denver @ Cincinnati     Broncos 28-13     Manning all better this week

Saints Beat Listless Bears 31-15 on MNF

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints looked like a new team on Monday night, defeating the Chicago Bears 31-15. Brees threw for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions in the win. The Saints improved to 6-8 on the year, a game in front of the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South Division.

Jay Cutler went 17 of  31 for 194 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions against a stingy, swarming Saints defense. Cutler was sacked 7 times for the game.

Read the ESPN recap here.