The Week 1 Picks

Sunday, September 9, 2007

The Match-up: Denver (-3.0) @ Buffalo
The Skinny: Buffalo’s run defense surrendered an average of 141 yards a game last year. And what to the Broncos do best?
Straight Up: Denver
Against the Spread: Denver

The Match-up: Miami (+3.0) @ Washington
The Skinny: Redskins QB Jason Campbell barely played in the pre-season due to a knee injury and RB Clinton Portis didn’t suit up at all. Yet Washington is still favored in this game. That should tell you all you need to know about the Dolphins.
Straight Up: Washington
Against the Spread: Washington

The Match-up: Pittsburgh (-4.5) @ Cleveland
The Skinny: I know the Browns are sitting Brady Quinn because they play some tough defenses, including the Steelers, early in the year. But why not throw the kid in the pool and see if he can swim? I’m hoping for a big week from Steelers RB Willie Parker, first round draft choice of the Northeast Box Company.
Straight Up: Pittsburgh
Against the Spread: Pittsburgh

The Match-up: Tennessee (+6.5) @ Jacksonville
The Skinny: Even though David Garrard edged out Byron Leftwich for the QB job in Jacksonville, I wouldn’t look for much of an aerial attack from the Jaguars. With runners like Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, why throw it at all?
Straight Up: Jacksonville
Against the Spread: Jacksonville

The Match-up: Kansas City (+3.0) @ Houston
The Skinny: I know Damon Huard was 5-1 as a starter for the Chiefs last year, but the Kansas City offense is still one-dimensional, and that one dimension missed most of training camp due to a contract hold out. I can’t see the Chiefs stumping Matt Schaub and the Texans.
Straight Up: Houston
Against the Spread: Houston

The Match-up: Philadelphia (-3.0) @ Green Bay
The Skinny: Including the post-season, Eagles head coach Andy Reid is 5-1 lifetime against his former employer. Make that 6-1.
Straight Up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia

The Match-up: Carolina (+1.0) @ St. Louis
The Skinny: Panthers QB Jake Del-overrated went undrafted in my 12 team, 14 player Fantasy Football league. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
Straight Up: St. Louis
Against the Spread: St. Louis

The Match-up: Atlanta (+3.0) @ Minnesota
The Skinny: Let’s see, one team is my sleeper for 2007, and the other will start Joey Harrington in place of the con-Vick-ted felon they had a season ago. Minnesota’s defense is very underrated, and should impact this game one way or another.
Straight Up: Minnesota
Against the Spread: Minnesota

The Match-up: New England (-6.5) @ New York Jets
The Skinny: This is a scary game for the Pats on many fronts. Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison are out. Asante Samuel and Randy Moss haven’t played in a while. And, Eric Mangini is extremely motivated to face his former boss, the uber-genius Bill Belichick. I don’t know if the Jets will win, but they’ll keep it interesting.
Straight Up: New England
Against the Spread: New York Jets

The Match-up: Tampa Bay (+6.0) @ Seattle
The Skinny: It seems that nobody is talking about in the Seahawks as an NFC contender, but they could change all that on Sunday.
Straight Up: Seattle
Against the Spread: Seattle

The Match-up: Detroit (+1.5) @ Oakland
The Skinny: Honestly, I never thought I’d be talking about a match-up between the "high-powered Detroit offense" and "mauling Oakland defense." In truth, it could be the Raiders offense (or lack thereof) that decides this game.
Straight Up: Detroit
Against the Spread: Detroit

The Match-up: Chicago (+6.0) @ San Diego
The Skinny: Let’s hope this potential Super Bowl preview is more entertaining than the one witnessed last night.
Straight Up: San Diego
Against the Spread: San Diego

The Match-up: New York Giants (+5.5) @ Dallas
The Skinny: Dallas WR Terry Glenn will miss the game with a bad knee, but I’m sure she’ll be fine in the long-term. Eli Manning always starts the season relatively well.
Straight Up: New York Giants
Against the Spread: New York Giants

Monday, September 10, 2007

The Match-up: Baltimore (+2.5) @ Cincinnati
The Skinny: The line tells me a lot here. The Ravens are widely viewed as one of the top five teams in the AFC, yet they’re an underdog in Cincinnati. Ocho Cinco and Ray Lewis have already been trash-talking.
Straight Up: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati

The Match-up: Arizona (+3.0) @ San Francisco
The Skinny: Showcase game for two of the league’s up-and-coming QB’s, Arizona’s Matt Leinart and San Francisco’s Alex Smith.
Straight Up: San Francisco
Against the Spread: San Francisco

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Week 1: 1-0 Straight up; 0-1 Against the Spread
Season: 1-0; 0-1