Each week I will post an outline that I will be constantly updating. I will fill it in as I go on with thoughts on each game (even if I'm not going to bet that game) and what bets I will be on. Come Sunday morning I will have a post with my official card for the day.
DAL @ TB
Pick: TB -6 (I like all the way up to -10), under 52, Tease TB -1.5/u57, Godwin to score a TD
I feel this game is either a gift or a curse from the gambling Gods for the start of the football season. My biggest bet of week 1 will be on TB as I think they absolutely dominate this game. I have already bet it at -6 weeks ago but I believe TB wins easy by double digits. I don't think DAL is going to score much this game and that's why I like the under and teasing TB with the under in this game. TB is bringing everyone back under the leadership of Brady who will have them focused up for opening night which he's already saying "this team hasn't done anything yet" so unlike other teams that win a SB for the first time in forever I like the leadership Brady brings to keep this team focused. All the coaching is back as well so I see this dominate defense picking up right where it left off. Now we have Dallas who has a new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn which will take time for the players to learn his system. Most importantly, we do not know how healthy Dak is nor how well he is going to perform since being injured and what a worse way than to take your first snaps (he's not likely to play preseason) against this dominate defense. DAL was a joke last year and they are no match for the defending champs come opening night.
PIT @ BUF
Pick: under 49
I will have more on the side of this game as we get closer, but I like the under here. Sure BUF has the offense to put up A LOT of points but PIT's defense is too good for me to see that happen. PIT's offense vs BUF's defense also makes me think there's not going to be much scoring. I could see this game being 24-17 either way giving us plenty of room to hit the under.
NYJ @ CAR
JAX @ HOU
Pick: HOU ML +140
HOU is awful and is going to be awful this year BUT I like them week 1 when they're max motivated AND playing a divisional opponent which gives them familiarity. Rookie QBs and Rookie Head Coaches did not win a game last year in week 1 and I don't see it happening this year either. Everyone is high on Lawrence and Meyer but so far what we have seen is awful play from this team. They have been picking in the top 10 of the draft year after year and having their best players requesting a trade for a reason. In the NFL you have done nothing until you prove it so give me the underdog here as the public is going to be all over Lawrence and the Jags.
LAC @ WAS
Pick: WAS ML +100
I like both of these teams this season and I think WAS has a good chance to win their division. This feels like a good spot for WAS with a solid defense and everything we know about Fitz Magic is he shows up early in the season. Chargers have lost a lot on defense which I think is going to take time for them to figure that out. Herbert is looking to make strides this year and I think he does, but I like WAS at home to get the job done and win this game.
PHI @ ATL
Both of these teams look terrible! Granted, ATL has not played its starters BUT I do not like what I see if they have injuries and have to go to backups. The wise guys in Vegas LOVE ATL but honestly they love ATL every year and lately it hasn't played out that well for them. As a fan I like the Minshew trade and hope he gets some playing time this year as I like to root him on, but I expect PHI to be drafting top 5 this season. I can't back either team with so many unknowns at this time BUT maybe something will change as we get closer to kickoff.
MIN @ CIN
Pick: MIN -3.5
I'm really hoping with how bad MIN has looked and how the public loves Burrow that this line will move to 3 but I would play it at -3.5 currently and I think a lot of sharps are going to be on this side too. I'm high on MIN in general this season more than most BUT I am very LOW on CIN and think they will be picking top 5 again after this season!
SF @ DET
I can tell you now SF is going to be one of my teaser plays of week 1 because they are not losing to DET. I'll probably lay the -7.5 I just don't like that number at the moment. Realistically I could see SF winning this game 35-14 due to their defense mainly. People forget how injured SF's defense was last year and the pieces that are coming back. Add that to Geoff being terrible and in a new system this could get ugly fast. Might even looking at SF 1H as well.
CLE @ KC
MIA @ NE
Pick: NE -2.5, under 45.5
This is not a homer pick, I LOVE NE in this game at home and will bet on them a lot this season when the number is right. Belichick is amazing against rookie/2nd year QBs and against former assistant coaches, which we have both here. Oh did I mention they are at home? They've got 2 capable QBs an are going to play ugly smash mouth football this season. Patriots defense is going to surprise a lot of people this season and going to give Tua trouble in this game. The score is going to look close in this game BUT those who watched will see Patriots dominating from start to finish.
DEN @ NYG
Pick: DEN -1.5
Denver is going to be a surprise this year and I think they have the best defense in the league this season. I think NYG could also surprise some people as this is a make or break year for Jones. Denver will win this game and we will find out how good the NYG really are this season.
GB @ NO
BAL @ LV
Pick: BAL -4.5
I don't care what this number is I LOVE BAL in week 1. They ended preseason exactly how they like to with a dominate win. People forget that BAL is a bully and they beat up on teams early in the season AND with inferior opponents. Which the Raiders are. Plus they need to get right quick because they have KC week 2 at home. Normally I would worry about look ahead here but there's no chance of that giving it's opening game. Trust me with this one BAL is going to win easily.
CHI @ LAR