DET -10 To control Myles Garrett, Sewell and Decker is about the best OT duo you could ask for, and even the best of defenses eventually tap out when there's no support from the offense. CLE's win vs. GB will be a blip on the radar of another lost season that will result in the (unfair) firing of Stefanski.
For DET, Morton's offense is in a lather, while the defense should be able to contain Judkins. I just don't see an "on switch" for the CLE attack in this spot. Aidan Hutchinson vs. a CLE 3rd-string RT called "KT Leveston" and LT Cornelius Lucas reeks of a game-wrecking situation. I anticipate double-digit DET wins vs. CLE and Week 5 vs. CIN.
t;LIKEt;
MIN -2.5 Vibes are good in MIN. Prepare for louder "should Wentz remain the starter" chatter following this one. This is what Kevin O'Connell does, and the Steelers have been far more lucky than good this season.
I'm concerned that D.K. Metcalf may be able to light up MIN's suspect secondary, but given that Aaron Rodgers was 30th in QBR and 33rd in YPA vs. the blitz in '24, I doubt the Flores defense will allow the immobile Rodgers the time to locate Metcalf.
CAR had their game, bet against. *I want to love NE, but they have div rival BUF next. I still think they show up at home and CAR brings less. Dont get me wrong 5.5 spread is scary for a slouch offense, but I tease so...
This is that sneaky game we're looking for.
Ok, in Vrabel I trust. Gonzalez should be back vs McMillan. When I first saw the line I was confused, now I understand. NE also brings the #2 run D w 2.8 YPC.
@RDGS Yeah they're going 15-2 again even though they lost half their offensive line and both coordinators, and a third of their defense isn't even back from injury yet
To be fair, BAL was without an elite DT (Madubuike) and Van Noy. Replay the game with those two healthy and I doubt DET is ripping off all those 10 yard + runs. But yeah, DET came to play and probably would have won regardless, especially now that Derrick Henry is Mr. Butterfingers.
Never understood this - since most gamblers lose money betting football, how about gamblers pick their winners and then bet the opposite of what they really think? Comments anyone?
Bengals aren’t bad. Their defense sucks but blocking is underrated. Not great but not bad. And they have the best wr group in football along with a top ten rb.
Vikings missing a ton of starters including qb rb s LT
Wentz and Mason are probably upgrades from McCarthy and Aaron Jones. Darrisaw may play. Meanwhile, CIN will likely be without Shemar Stewart, Cam Taylor-Britt and D.J. Turner.
The Chargers feel different this season. Tougher. Meanwhile, Bo Nix has sophomore slump written all over him. The Chargers will win SU and ATS despite the injuries. Jim Harbaugh COTY?
Greetings Mr. Bitter and good luck this year. I'm curious where you found out that Carolina will be wearing white jerseys. I'm a firm believer that wearing dark uniforms on a warm, sunny day is idiotic. I live in the Southwest and will never buy a vehicle that isn't gray or white. The Jaguars over the last 2 years have indicated to me that they were not serious about winning because they always wore their dark uniforms at home. There was a reason why the Cowboys always wore white jerseys at home before they started playing indoors. At least Miami always wears white at home !
The Gridiron Uniform Database constantly updates uniform matchups as uni announcements are released. Has all the historic uniforms, too. Fun little site.
Why, oh why, won't the Lions wear those sweet silver pants??
@Mr. Bitter & Baird : I found it unusual that the Titans will be wearing the darker jerseys and the Rams the white ones this week. Granted the Titan jerseys are more of a light blue than a solid deep color but a team serious about winning should take advantage of the least little things, especially with a gametime temp forecast of 88. I took the Jags [ white jerseys also ] against the Bengals. The Saints against the Niners. Both games offer the dogs 3 1/2 points and I like another 3 1/2 point dog on Monday night - the Raiders. I seem to remember some bad blood between Harbaugh & Carroll from their college days. I don't think the Raiders are as bad as everyone thinks and Geno Smith is a decent enough QB to keep them competitive in most games. Good luck everyone.
Week 1 was great with 15U Den ML, 4U win on Vegas teasers, 11 on teasers w local guy and 0.5 McLaurin under. 30.5U win is much better than my 20U loss to start last season. NYG +12.5 & KC +3 failed to cover.
FWIW - I love AC for DROY but the odds are so baked (+160) that I have to wait to make sure he doesnt get hurt. They cant drop much further, but yes he will win.
Week 3 look ahead - WAS 1st true TNF/short week vs tough GB team = they expectedly looked weak. Before TNF I loved WAS look ahead to bounce back week 3 vs LVR who will be putting full effort into home opener vs LAC on MNF. Extra time for WAS + LVR short week + natural letdown + travel cross country = I loved WAS. BUT, the injuries to Ekeler, Brown and Wise jr are BIG. IF Jaden and Terry can finally get on the same page & if the rookie RB can step up & if LVR suffers some kind of bad luck on MNF then I'm back to loving WAS in week 3. I'm hitting Deebo props either way.
I'll try to post my plays after the fight tomorrow & limit the rambling. My main bet hinges on CAR LT and AZ RG. C'mon Hernandez! Leaning Connor over props either way
*Feeling Tyreek Hill squeeky wheel props + Nico Collins props (Dean size mismatch + said he took pay cut cause he loves TB which tells me he lost a step + HOU home opener). I hope Kirk can suit up to take pressure away.
Yeah, Carter's DROY chances look promising. The Dart era could begin as soon as this Sunday for the Giants, which may increase the likelihood that Thibodeaux gets traded, meaning even more snaps/opportunity for Carter.
I still think Malaki Starks is in a great position to rack up some big plays and narrow the lead, and I've got my eye on CIN LB Demetrius Knight Jr., who was flying around everywhere and super-productive Week One. Could be a Shaquille Leonard-type situation where Knight just puts up so many numbers that he forces the voters' hands.
Love those clean angles in your LV/WAS look ahead. I worry about WAS, too. Daniels is the real deal, but WAS is due some serious luck regression this year. (Which we may already be seeing with the injuries.) Also: While I get the idea of surrounding Daniels with a veteran cast during his rookie contract window, WAS's roster feels too old.
ARI -6.5 I gave Bryce Young one week, and Walt is right - Bryce Young sucks. He has limitations that can't be overcome at the NFL level, and - like last season - I'm betting his poor performance will snowball. I expect the ARI D to get some TOs and Conner/Benson to take turns gashing the CAR D.
I kinda like the Cardinals this year. Yeah, they're probably looking at a 2-0 start vs. two of the worst teams in the league, but ARI's roster is talented and they could easily be 6-1 going into their BYE.
NE +2.5 There's a better chance that Mike McDaniel will be DET's OC in '26 than MIA's HC, and everyone knows it. MIA is a mentally and physically soft team that may have already tapped out. For me, MIA is an AUTO FADE until I see reason for them not to be.
I have my question's about Drake Maye and worry about NE's secondary, but as long as the Pats employ TreVeyon Henderson as RB1 - I'm guessing they will - they should win SU.
NYG +6 If Russell Wilson's Week One performance rolls over to Week 2 - which it easily could behind that Andrew Thomasless O-line and "force-feed Malik Nabers" scheme - then the Dart Era might arrive before halftime. I try not to put too much stock into preseason, but preseason Dart looked like an immediate upgrade from Wilson, and could easily spark the Giants to (at least) a backdoor cover. I'm assuming a lot here, but no risk it, no biscuit.
Note: I don't trust Guyton and Steele vs. Carter and Burns.
TEN doesn't have much of an edge rush, but they get interior pressure. The Rams could be without both starting guards and be forced to rely on Beaux Limmer and Justin Dedich to keep Jeffery Simmons off of Stafford. Could have something to do with the TEN love right now.
@Mr. Bitter Limmer 27 pass (ouch!), but 89 run block grade As an Anaheim Rams fan, I'm obligated to to rebut w Verse (90) vs Moore Jr (26 pass block). 2, 3 or 4 sacks for Verse?
Verse is such a beast. With J.C. Latham OUT, Byron Young should get in on the sack fun too. TEN is going to ruin Cam Ward.
Dotson is playing and Sweat is OUT for TEN. Should be a workmanlike win for the Rams unless they're looking ahead to PHI Week 3. Rams are well-coached, so I doubt that happens.
"Week 2 is often known as Overreaction Week because people form wild opinions based on what transpired in one week of football."
Then you proceed to overreact to the Lions Week 1.
I guess Detroit better fire their 2 new coordinators because of "Massive Regression". How about we wait until Week 8 and 9 and see where the team is at before you validate your opinion?
)
@ Walt
It amazes me that you thought the team that just got beat by the browns, was going to smoke the Cowboys!