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Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
Prediction: Carolina Panthers
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Entering 2010, the New York Giants are a very difficult team to figure out. Will they be like the group that started the year 5-0 SU (4-0-1 ATS) or the one that finished 3-8 SU (2-7 ATS)? Not sure, but we do know that they laid down in the Meadowlands finale vs. these Panthers, losing 41-9 as seven-point chalk and will have revenge on their minds in the 2010 season opener. Only problem is that the Panthers are on a 6-1 ATS run for HC John Fox when taking more than six points and underrated QB Matt Moore led the team to a win in four of five starts. Grab the points.
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Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Prediction: Detroit Lions
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After spending most of his rookie season on his back looking up at the stars, Lions QB Matthew Stafford is poised to become one himself in the very near future. Yes, he took his licks last year where he was winless in eight road starts, with just one spread win. And he was 0-6 SU and 0-5-1 ATS in division duels. Aside from the invaluable experience gained last season, Stafford is healthy once again and will be performing under a new offensive line. The Bears, on the other hand, have been bad the last two years while covering the number in only 12 of 32 contests. They are also are winless pre-season favorite led by a quarterback in Jay Cutler who is 16-36-1 ATS as a starter in this league, including 4-15-1 as a home favorite. Toss in the fact that NFL teams that finished 4-12 or worse each of the last two seasons are 7-6 SU and 10-3 ATS in season openers and you can understand while well gladly take the points in this contest today.
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Play: San Francisco 49ers -3/108
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ABSOLUTE GIFT of a line here. Besides an entire new coaching staff with Pete Carrol who has been embattled with the USC, Reggie Bush stuff, the Seahawks also had the highest player turnover from last season of any NFL team in the offseason. I am not sold on this team, running back by committie, a QB that is immobile, and a defense that is suspect.
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I do however LOVE San Fran this year, both on offense and defense. The pressure is off QB Alex Smith with a running game consisting of Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook. That is a hell of a 1-2 punch! Add in a solid WR unit with Crabtree set to come out of his shell this season, and an attack defense, along with win at all costs head coach Singletary, and you have a divisional game out of the gate won by the better team in this one.
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San Fran 23 Seattle 10 ** Lay the Wood here. Under looks tasty too!
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Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Play: Denver Broncos +3
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The Broncos secondary will be able to shutdown Jacksonville's passing attack without much effort. Denver will than focus on stopping the run with only their front seven. Maurice Jones-Drew injury is a minor concern and he is coming off a heavy workload in 2009-10. Denver has a history of starting fast so don't be surprised if the Broncos win this game straight-up. Take Denver plus the points!
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Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Play: Pittsburgh Steelers +1.5
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Rarely do you see the Pittsburgh Steelers as an underdog at home, but with out the services of starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, they find themselves a one and a half point underdog. Back up QB Dennis Dixon has played well in the chances he has had to play. He may struggle a little in this game, but he is definitely capable of leading the Steelers to a win. Pittsburgh O-line did struggled in the preseason, but Dixon has the ability to get outside of the pocket to run or can make throws down field. On defense Troy Polamalu is now back and healthy anchoring a very strong well coached defense. The Steelers have a lot of speed on defense and love to bring complex blitz schemes. How the defense can hold up against the Falcons offense will be what determines who will win this game. We see the Steelers having a small edge in this game being at home with a good defense and good run game.
Nick “The BookieKiller” Parsons
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Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
PICK: Carolina Panthers +7
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I'm looking ahead to Week 1, and will recommend a play on the Carolina Panthers, currently sitting as 7-point dogs as they hit the road to take on the New York Football Giants.
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Carolina went 9-7 ATS last season; it went 1-3 ATS in the pre-season this year, with its lone win coming in Week 3 when of course the starters saw the majority of the playing time.
The Giants went 6-9-1 ATS last season; they went 1-2-1 in the pre-season this year, losing badly on the road in Week 3 to the Ravens, 24-10.
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The last time these teams met, the Panthers destroyed the Giants 41-9 in New York back on the 27th of December.
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The Giants were inconsistent last year and plagued with injury.
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Their running game was a disaster; Brandon Jacobs has yet to make it through a full season since becoming a starter in 2007; Ahmad Bradshaw enters his final year of his rookie contract so should be plenty motivated; that said, he's also been prone to the injury bug.
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The defensive line will be looking to bounce back from a sub par campaign; it was ravaged by injury last season and will be an issue again this year.
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DE Osi Umenyiora was recently advised to have hip surgery on an injury that's been bugging him since 2006; he's chosen to ignore that advice and will be playing through injury.
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Tom Coughlin has put an emphasis on running the ball more effectively and to take better care of it; in 2008 this team turned it over 22 times; in 2009 the Giants had 24 turnovers which led to 102 points for their opposition. They will also look to be more effective in the red zone as they converted only 48% of their 56 total possessions into TD's, which ranked them 11th in the NFC.
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Although its just pre-season, Carolina's defense ranked first overall, and second in points allowed. They also had a league high 18 sacks.
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Pre-season or not, that's impressive.
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Once thought the weak point of this team, its clear that the defense is going to be a strength heading into the 2010 campaign.
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And that's good news for Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen who should benefit from the return of veteran Steve Smith who remains on track to play in this game.
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Carolina's pass rush is awesome; those 18 pre-season sacks came from a variety of players; the line is led by Charles Johnson.
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I believe the Giants have more questions than answers coming into this season and look for the Panthers to keep this one closer than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe; consider a second look at CAROLINA on opening Sunday gentlemen!
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Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
PICK: New York Giants -5.5
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The New York Football Giants will officially christen their new stadium by hosting the same opponent the team closed out its old venue against. Hopefully (for Giant fans and bettors), the result will be different than when the Panthers routed the Giants 41-9 in Week 16 of last year. Most NFL fans remember that the Giants opened 5-0 SU (4-1 ATS) in 2009 but then collapsed, finishing with just three wins in the team's final 11 games. At 8-8, the Giants missed the playoffs after four straight appearances, which had included the team's historic 17-14 Super Bowl win over the then-undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Panthers pounded a Giants defense which was in shambles by that time (New York would lose at at Minnesota 44-7 in Week 17) for 247 yards rushing. New York's defense would surrender 40 or more points in FIVE of its last eight games but the league's deepest (and most talented?) DL is back healthy, the LB corps is greatly improved and like the DL, the secondary has retuned to health plus added FA safety Antrel Rolle from Arizona. Ex-Bills DC and interim head coach Perry Fewell is now running New York's 'D.' The Panthers are coming off an 8-8 season and released QB Jake Delhomme (who led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII) plus the team's most recognizable defensive player, DE Julius Peppers, has taken his All-Pro status and 81 career sacks to Chicago as a free agent. Matt Moore went 4-1 SU (5-0 ATS) as the team's starter late last year but the Panthers did not score a single offensive TD in the preseason, averaging just 8.3 PPG in four games (both TDs were scored off TOs). Rookie QB, second-round pick Jimmy Clausen is waiting in the wings, but he's NOT ready. Moore enters 2010 as the Panthers' unquestioned starter but the strength of the offense is RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who both ran for more than 1,100 yards last year. Moore owns just eight career starts, so expect Carolina to run the ball. Most of New York's defensive woes last year were in the passing game, so the Giants match up well. New York led the NFL in rushing yards two years ago but morphed into more of a pass-oriented team last year. Eli set career highs in completions (62.3%), yards (4,021), TDs (27) and QB rating (93.1) last season, doing it all with a no-name cast of receivers. Smith caught a team-record 107 passes (1,220 yards / 7 TDs), Nicks had 47 catches (16.8 per / 6 TDs) and Manningham may be the most elusive and explosive of the group (57 / 14.4 / 5 TDs). RB Jacobs struggled after back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards and 5.0 YPC last year (835 YR / 3.7 YPC) but he's back healthy plus Bradshaw (778 YR / 4.8 YPC) is a terrific change-of-pace option. Expect the Giants to be more balanced in 2010. I like the Giants here in this early-season matchup. New York is much more established right now, as the Panthers are making what I'd call a "half-hearted commitment to a youth movement" The Giants will be playing in a charged-up environment at their new stadium and fast starts to the season are nothing new for this team under HC Tom Coughlin (he's undefeated in each of the past two Septembers). Lay the points.
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Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
PICK: Buffalo Bills +3
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Nobody is expecting much from the Bills this season. Living near Buffalo, there is a lot of negative feedback swirling around from the media to the fans and a lot of it is justified. However, this is a team that will surprise in a few spots just as it will implode in others and this looks like a good one to fit into the former. The home opener in Buffalo is sold out so the home team will have the same huge edge it normally does against Miami where the Bills are 5-0 the last five meetings (not counting 2008 in Canada).
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Expectations are much higher in Miami where the Dolphins are looking to contend with the Jets and Patriots in the AFC East. While winning the division may be a stretch, being put into that class means good things are supposed to happen and with that, the value comes out on the other side. The Dolphins were favorites in Buffalo last season by the same number which was the first time they were laying chalk since 2002. Miami lost that year as well as last season to a 3-7 Bills team.
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Buffalo isn’t going to beat any team in a shootout even though Trent Edwards looked much more improved in the preseason. His offensive line is a concern but that also performed well in the exhibition campaign. The Bills need to control the tempo of the game as they have a stable of backs that can all run the football effectively. Buffalo showed an impressive ground attack in the preseason, averaging 130 ypg and while preseason is not a great judge of performance, it is still a good sign for the team.
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The Dolphins have a new defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan after the defense finished 22nd last season so a change was needed. This is a totally different system and I am not so sure it is going to be strong right out of the gate but the potential is definitely there. Miami will have new starters at nine positions, with end Kendall Langford and strong safety Yeremiah Bell the only certain holdovers from last year. That is a big turnover in this league and when implementing a new system, it can make things tougher.
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The Dolphins offense remains pretty much intact but the addition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall can add some needed explosiveness to it. The problem is at quarterback however. Chad Henne is far from horrible as he put up a 75.2 passer rating a season ago but he threw more touchdowns than interceptions and his inconsistency is an issue. He has the potential to be above average and after a year of starting, it could happen sooner rather than later. I do not give him an edge over Edwards at this point.
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The Dolphins, like Buffalo, will rely on a strong running game. The Bills goal is to stop that run and it will definitely be a challenge as they did not do a good job last season. Buffalo has to show some disguises though. If you mix up looks at a young quarterback like Henne, they can get rattled even with all of the skill players around them. The Bills could very well make Henne beat them, something he could not do last year.
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Buffalo is on a perfect 5-0 ATS run in their season openers so coming out strong has not been an issue. Miami meanwhile has been strong within the division and on the road in conference action but you cannot discount the fact it is 3-12-2 ATS in its last 17 games in September. As mentioned, the Dolphins have struggled here and are 1-5 ATS in the last six in Western New York and Canada while going 3-8-1 ATS the last six years overall. 3* Buffalo Bills
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San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
PICK: San Francisco 49ers -3
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Not many teams had a worse month of August than the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Pete Carroll mercilessly purged the team of veterans -- half the opening day roster didn’t play here last year. Legendary offensive line coach Alex Gibbs quit last week, leaving behind an injury riddled unit that features only three players that were on the team at the start of training camp six weeks ago.
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The Seahawks didn’t find a full time feature back in August, despite putting loads of time and energy in developing their running game. QB Matt Hasselbeck looked old and tentative, a shell of the Super Bowl quarterback that he was just a few years back. This is not a team poised to win many games right now, and an opening day matchup against the 49ers looks like an extremely tough test for this last place contender.
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San Fran is the real deal, a ‘hyped’ team in August for good reason. Following a decade of mediocrity, the 49ers returned to respectability in 2009, and are poised to take the next step in 2010. Mike Singletary had them ready to go out of camp last year, covering the spread by a whopping 50.5 points on their way to a 3-1 SU, 4-0 ATS start, including a road win to open the season as underdogs at Arizona. With a full year of starting experience under his belt, look for QB Alex Smith to finally show his capabilities here, leading the 49ers to a relatively comfortable victory. 2* Take San Francisco.
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Cowboys vs. Redskins
Play: Under 40
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The Cowboys return one of the nastiest stop units in the league. Head coach Wade Phillips’ defense ranked 9th in yards allowed (315.9 YPG), 4th against the run (90.5 YPG), and 2nd in points allowed (15.6 PPG). It also terrorized opposing quarterbacks dropping them 49 overall times. Where they did falter however was against the pass where they allowed an average of 22.5 YPG (#20).
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Washington grossly underachieved throughout the Jim Zorn era, and because of it, Owner Daniel Snyder lured Mike Shanahan out of retirement with the hope that he can infuse some offensive magic into a unit that averaged less than 17 PPG each of the L/2 seasons.
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As bad as Washington's offense was last season, the guys on the other side of the ball represented the franchise very well. LB London Fletcher and company ended up ranking 10th in YPG allowed (319.7 YPG), 16th against the run (112.4 YPG), 9th against the pass (207.2 YPG), and 18th in points allowed (21 PPG). It also got solid pressure on opposing QBs accumulating 40 sacks on the year.
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When these division rivals hook up, you're pretty much guaranteed a defensive minded contest. The 'under' has cashed in four of the L/5 meetings with it coming in twice last season. Dallas' offense struggled immensely throughout the pre-season, and I think it's going to need another game or two before reaching its potential. The Redskins won't just automatically get it their first time out either; especially against Big D's stop unit. Expect a low scorer in the first SNF game of the season.
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Broncos vs. Jaguars
Play: Under 40½
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The Broncos' HC McDaniels is looking to improve on last seasons poor rushing performance. He's going looking to do this by having a bigger offensive line versus the lighter zone blocking of last season. However, it's going to be a stuggle today as his three "big guys" are all nursing injuries. Instead he'll have three offensive linemen who will be playing their first NFL Games. That will spell trouble for the running game and will force QB Kyle Orton to pass more. The problem with that is Orton is missing last years big two receivers of Marshall and Scheffler.
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The Broncos also come into this game with a bigger on the defensive line as well which should cause problems against a Jaguars team that is hoping to pound the ball with RB Maurice Jones-Drew. They also have a secondary full of veteran players with Champ Baily, Brian dawkins, and Andre Goodman.
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Don't look for much offense on either side of the ball so the total will be hard to eclipse. Take the Under
RANDALL THE HANDLE
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RANDALL’S BEST
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Bengals @ Patriots
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Line: New England by 4½
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Dare we say it but the Patriots could be just another run-of-the-mill football team these days. While the offence can never be ignored with a healthy Tom Brady guiding it, question marks remain at the running back position and on the offensive line with G Logan Mankins holding out. Things go downhill from there on the defensive side as the Pats lost a couple of key guys to injury and the effects have been evident, primarily in their secondary. The Bengals excel in underdog role having covered 7 of 9 last year and with a solid defence and an upgraded passing game, an upset would not surprise us. TAKING: Cincinnati +4½
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Ravens @ Jets
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Line: Jets by 2½
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No question about it, the Jets can play defence. How else do you wind up in the AFC Championship game after averaging just 21.4 points per game and employing the 31st ranked passing offence? Unfortunately for the Jets, that bump and grind style can work against some but is unlikely to succeed against a foe that is comparable on defence but is noticeably better on offence. The Ravens are loaded up after some offensive upgrades during off-season and the only four-letter word that Rex Ryan may be uttering after this one is ‘Rice’ as Baltimore ’s stud running back leads the way. TAKING: Baltimore +2½
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Falcons @ Steelers
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Line: Atlanta by 2
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Talk about an overreaction. We realize that the Steelers are less efficient without Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup but that still doesn’t warrant the Falcons being favoured as a visitor here. The Steelers pride themselves on defence and while last year’s absence from playoff activity was disappointing, Pittsburgh’s stop unit still ranked no. 5 in the league. That placing was achieved without defensive star and leader, Troy Polamalu, who returns in fine form. Conversely, Atlanta had trouble slowing down most teams last year with its 21st ranked defence. Wrong side favoured here. TAKING: Pittsburgh +2
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THE REST:
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Panthers @ Giants
Line: NY Giants by 6½
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The Panthers won four of five to close out last season including a 41-9 clobbering at these Giants. The G-Men haven’t done much to improve and are without key defender Antonio Pierce. Carolina can pound the ground here to stay close. TAKING: Carolina +6½
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Dolphins @ Bills
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Line: Miami by 3
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This one smells fishy. Pun fully intended. Many are high on the Dolphins while the Bills are expected to be grouped with the doormats. Seeing will be believing as Miami has issues on defence and are void of a pass rush. TAKING: Buffalo +3
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Lions @ Bears
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Line: Chicago by 6½
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Jay Cutler has lived up to expectations. That is, if you count his play against these Lions only. Cutler was picked off 26 times last year but never against this divisional foe while piling up 417 yards and six touchdowns in two contests. Bears must win these types if they expect to contend. TAKING: Chicago –6½
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Browns @ Buccaneers
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Line: Tampa Bay by 3
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Well, at least one of these mutts will be 1-0 out of the gate. Our guess is that it will be the Brownies. Cleveland closed out 2009 season with four straight wins. The Bucs haven’t been favoured since 2008. TAKING: Cleveland +3
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Raiders at Titans
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Line: Tennessee by 6
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Despite having JaMarcus Russell as its quarterback last year, the Raiders still managed wins over the Bengals, Steelers and Eagles. The Titans rely on the run and that makes spotting juicy points quite risky. TAKING: Oakland +6
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Broncos @ Jaguars
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Line: Jacksonville by 2½
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Broncos unlikely to have blazing start like last year’s 6-0 run. Sadly, a disastrous 2-8 mark followed the rest of the way. Denver’s best receiver now dresses for the Dolphins while its league-leading sacker is gone for the year. TAKING: Jacksonville –2 ½
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Colts @ Texans
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Line: Indianapolis by 2
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Once again, we will give the Texans a chance to step on our achy breaky hearts. However, with so much talent and coming oh so close to knocking off this foe in both meetings last year, we’re hopeful that Houston has learned from its mistakes. TAKING: Houston +2
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Packers @ Eagles
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Line: Green Bay by 3
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Packers getting a lot of pre-season press and now must live up to expectations. Offensively, the Pack should be fine but with secondary issues to Atari Bigby (ankle) and Al Harris (knee), Kevin Kolb will be afforded ample opportunity to tally fair share for his side. TAKING: Philadelphia +3
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49ers @ Seahawks
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Line: San Francisco by 3
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The Seahawks are as appealing as heartburn. Still, they remain a tough out at Qwest Field as visitors find it difficult to operate amongst the loud confines. Niners expected to win this division but still must prove they can win with Alex Smith as QB, on road, in division. TAKING: Seattle +3
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Cardinals @ Rams
Line: Arizona by 4
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Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has been thrust into his NFL apprenticeship and while the youngster has looked good in pre-season, they are playing for keeps now. That said, we're not prepared to spot divisional points on the road with what appears to be a demoralized Arizona bunch. TAKING: St. Louis +4
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Cowboys @ Redskins
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Line: Dallas by 3½
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Dallas may be the most complete team in the league but the Redskins don’t care. This is one of the NFL’s marquee rivalries and you can always expect the unexpected. Washington’s unheralded defence keeps this squad within striking distance at all times. TAKING: Washington +3½
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Chargers @ Chiefs
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Line: San Diego by 4½
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Every year since the league went to eight divisions of four, there has been a team that went from worst to first. Could the Chiefs be this year’s surprise squad? Insiders like what they’ve seen and if it is to occur, this would be a perfect place to start. TAKING: Kansas City +4½
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HOUSTON +1.20 over IndianapolisCE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Week one in the NFL is almost always the toughest from a wagering standpoint, as it’s difficult to get a true read on teams with all the player movement in the off-season. The Colts have been a model of consistency for years and every season they’re one of the favorites to win it all. This year is no different and with Peyton Manning running the show, who could argue? With a QB like Manning and with a strong pedigree, it’s not easy to go against the Colts. Having said that, the Colts are just a 1½-point favorite against a team they’ve beaten 15 out of the last 16 games. Wow. So, what we have here is the hyped up Colts that always take a lot of wagering money, a tiny favorite against a team they own and that has never made the playoffs since moving to Houston. That’s a red flag and one that should not be ignored. Let’s not forget that the Texans are loaded offensively. They won its last four games a season ago and they might have the best one-two punch in the league with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Schaub threw for an NFL-high 4,770 passing yards with 29 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions last year. Also keep your eye on Texan RB Arian Foster. Foster had a good preseason and posted 216 rushing yards with three touchdowns over Houston's final two games of last year. This is a good team that was expected to take it to the next level last year but just fell short. As a result, they’re not as high on the radar chart but they’re as dangerous offensively as any team in the business and this season they’re primed to make a run. The betting line says Texans because the oddsmakers could have made the Colts a three-point choice and not swayed a single bet. Play: Houston +1.20 (Risking 2 units).
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PITTSBURGH +1.05 over Atlanta
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We’ve been hearing it for weeks that the Steelers simply can’t compete without its star QB. The media always overcompensates for such things and the result is a whole lot of folks thinking the Steelers are in big trouble until Big Ben returns. Not so fast. This is still the Steelers. This is still a team with a terrific defense that will enter this season with low expectations, at least for the first four weeks. That alone gives the rest of the squad tremendous motivation and you can expect them to respond. The Steelers will once again put big-time pressure on the opposing QB and let’s not dismiss the impact of a healthy and raring–to-go Troy Polamalu back on the field for Week 1. Also note that the Steelers are 19-5 at home since Mike Tomlin was hired and that’s significant. Dennis Dixon is not going to be asked to work miracles. Instead he’ll be asked to manage the game and avoid mistakes. Expect a heavy dose of RB Rashard Mendenhall, a guy that averaged 4.6 YPC last season and that rushed for over 1100 yards. The Steelers will play its usual methodical game and they’ll play it with double the motivation, as they’re not getting the respect they deserve. The Falcons are a quality team with quality players but this is a tough spot. For one, they’ve never won at this venue and they’re very unlikely to get any running game going, as the Steelers always excel against the ground game. This is going to be as hostile an environment as any in the first week and Atlanta simply does not warrant this billing against a quality opponent on the road. Play: Pittsburgh +1.05 (Risking 2 units).
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Cincinnati +4½ over NEW ENGLAND
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Interesting matchup that features two teams whose deficiencies were exposed in last year’s first-round playoff matches. The Pats were absolutely shredded and bullied for 234 yards on the ground in its 33-14 home loss to the Ravens while the Bengals couldn’t move five yards in its playoff loss to the Jets. Cinci went out and signed Terrell Owens and while Owens is not the explosive receiver he once was, he still demands some attention from opposing defenses. Also note that the Bengals have a high caliber RB in Cedric Benson. The Bengals were 6-0 when Benson rushed for over 100 yards during the regular season and he could find more lanes to run through this year with opponents having to show more respect to the pass. Carson Palmer didn’t have a great year but he was limited in his options and could easily be a top-ranked QB again this year. Aside from T.O., the Bengals used its #1 selection to draft OSU standout Jermaine Gresham and suddenly the Bengals have many more options other than Chad Ochocinco. The Bengals strength last season was a defense that ranked fourth best in the business and they might even be better this season with its best past rusher back in Antwan Odom and an outstanding cornerback combo of Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. Fact is, the Patriots have a lot more questions than the Bengals. The defense has taken the hardest hit in the preseason with injuries and the impact is clear based on the players left behind. At cornerback, the Patriots are carrying five players into Week 1 and not one among the group has more than three years of experience. Defensive standout Ty Warren is among those on the rack and that hurts. Frankly, the “dynasty” showed a big decline a year ago and could get worse this season. You can never count out a Belichick-coached team or Tom Brady for that matter. However, the Pats are an overvalued team while the Bengals are undervalued and the result is a inflated and very beatable number. Upset possibility. Play: Cincinnati +4½ +1.00 (Risking 2 units).
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Dolphins at BillsFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The 'Fins shuffle off to Buffalo on Sunday and we feel that the "short" is the way to go in this NFL AFC-East Game One matchup. Miami is laying at bit too many with an improved Bills team playing at home in front of their rabid fans. This one goes to the wire with an outright Buffalo upset no surprise. Bills have gone a fine 5-1 ATS last six at Ralph Wilson Stadium vs the Dolphins as part of a 12-5 ATS "home run" last 17 times in this series. Tropical Fish can't swim in Lake Erie...take the points!
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There was a lot to like about the Packers in 2009. Owners of the top ranked rush defense and best in the league in turnover margin last year, Green Bay made huge strides across the board, improving from six wins to 11, despite an offensive line that was ravaged with injuries. Bad news for the rest of the league is head coach Mike McCarthy really likes his team's chances in 2010. "We're a better football team in 2010 today than we have been in the past... I really like the way our football team looks on paper; I like the individuals that we have added,” was McCarthy's assessment of the team after the NFL Draft. Convincing to the Big Man as James Patrick Sports complimentary selection is Green Bay Packers.