The Week 1 Picks

Sunday, September 10th

The Match-up: Baltimore (+3.0) @ Tampa Bay
The Skinny: Nothing like starting off the year with a flip-flop game. My gut tells me that Tampa is good, but not great and that the Ravens are exponentially better with Steve McNair at quarterback.
Straight Up: Baltimore
Against the Spread: Baltimore

The Match-up: New Orleans (+3.0) @ Cleveland
The Skinny: You think I’m going against my sleeper this early? I am interested to see how many carries Reggie Bush gets, but I like the Browns to start off on a good note in the pound.
Straight Up: Cleveland
Against the Spread: Cleveland

The Match-up: Atlanta (+5.0) @ Carolina
The Skinny: Atlanta’s DeAngelo Hall might catch a break after calling out Panthers WR Steve Smith this week, because if Smith is on the field, he’ll beat Hall like a rented mule.
Straight Up: Carolina
Against the Spread: Atlanta

The Match-up: Seattle (-6.0) @ Detroit
The Skinny: The Seahawks open their NFC title defense in Motown looking to break the dreaded Super Bowl loser curse. If it’s going to unravel for Seattle, it probably won’t be this week.
Straight Up: Seattle
Against the Spread: Seattle

The Match-up: Philadelphia (-4.5) @ Houston
The Skinny: You’ve got to love a match up between an outstanding Philadelphia defensive line and a Houston offensive front that surrendered a league high 68 sacks a year ago. Well, unless you’re David Carr.
Straight Up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia

The Match-up: New York Jets (+3.0) @ Tennessee
The Skinny: Kerry Collins will likely start for the Titans after joining the club on August 28th. And the Titans drafted Vince Young 3rd overall in the April draft. Nice knowing you, Billy Volek!
Straight Up: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee

The Match-up: Cincinnati (+2.5) @ Kansas City
The Skinny: This line should tell me something. Cincinnati, one of my picks for the AFC Championship game, is an underdog in Kansas City? I don’t see it. Arrowhead is a tough place to play, but I’m on board with the Bengals this year. This could be the first game where I second-guess myself.
Straight Up: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati

The Match-up: Denver (-3.5) @ St. Louis
The Skinny: To prepare Jake Plummer for this season, Denver coach Mike Shanahan pumped in noise of the Broncos faithful vociferously calling for rookie Jay Cutler. Get used to it, Jake.
Straight Up: Denver
Against the Spread: Denver

The Match-up: Buffalo (+9.0) @ New England
The Skinny: If Deion Branch had any sense, he’d get his butt to Foxboro ASAP. He’s not going to find in a better situation than the one he’s got in New England. The Patriots will roll, even without Branch.
Straight Up: New England
Against the Spread: New England

The Match-up: Dallas (+2.5) @ Jacksonville
The Skinny: Memo to Jaguars defense – please take it easy on TOFU and his "strained hamstring." I don’t want that scrub to have any excuse to miss the October 8th game in Philly.
Straight Up: Jacksonville
Against the Spread: Jacksonville

The Match-up: Chicago (-3.5) @ Green Bay
The Skinny: Sunday marks what could be the beginning of the Brett Favre farewell tour. The same could be said for Chicago’s Rex Grossman. It’s possible that neither will be starting by the end of the year. Or by the end of this game.
Straight Up: Chicago
Against the Spread: Chicago

The Match-up: San Francisco (+7.5) @ Arizona
The Skinny: The last time the Cardinals were favored by seven and a half? 1986. Alright, I made that up. But it sounds believable, doesn’t it?
Straight Up: Arizona
Against the Spread: Arizona

The Match-up: Indianapolis (-3.5) @ New York Giants
The Skinny: Though it’s being billed as Manning Bowl I, this game is really all about defense, and which of these two talented units can make more plays. I’m going with the Colts, because I think Eli is more turnover-prone than Peyton.
Straight Up: Indianapolis
Against the Spread: Indianapolis

Monday, September 11, 2006

The Match-up: Minnesota (+4.5) @ Washington
The Skinny: The Redskins may be without Clinton Portis, putting them at a huge disadvantage. Even if Portis plays, Minnesota’s defense could take over this game by shutting him down and putting the game in Mark Brunell’s hands. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Vikings stole one in D.C.
Straight Up: Minnesota
Against the Spread: Minnesota

The Match-up: San Diego (-3.0) @ Oakland
The Skinny: So, the Raiders were so unhappy with their quarterbacks that they signed Jeff George off the scrap heap only to cut him, leaving them in a worse situation with Aaron Brooks back at the top of the depth chart. I wonder if Brady Quinn has started to plan his John Elway escape strategy yet.
Straight Up: San Diego
Against the Spread: San Diego