Week 2 Late Games

Looking forward to another great weekend of football. Let's get right to the late games:

SEA @ SD (+6)

Seattle looked great against the Packers in week 1. Meanwhile, the Chargers answered the question “can you ever just be ‘whelmed’?” on offense. While not an under-whelming performance, they truly looked uninspired in their loss to the Cardinals. I can’t see them scoring more points on a much better Seahawks defense, even playing at home. Six points are a lot for a visiting team, but I like the Seahawks to cover.

Spread: SEA

Straight Up: SEA

Score: 31-17

STL @ TB (-4.5)

I just checked the TV listings and this game is being blocked out in both the St. Louis and Tampa local markets. I think everyone would rather watch Shawshank Redemption another time, than be subjected to this. Much like the Giants, until the Rams prove that they can score, I pretty much like any team playing them. Lovie Smith’s Bucs couldn’t pull out the victory last week against a Camless Panthers team. This week, no one really knows who will be starting at QB for the Rams, but really, does it matter? Since I don’t think either team is likely to score that much, I’ll take the Rams to cover (moral victory anyone?), but I like TB to win. 

Spread: STL

Straight Up: TB

Score: 13-10

KC @ DEN (-13)

These two teams are heading quickly in two very different directions. The Chiefs lost two of their anchors on defense last week for the season (Mike DeVito and Derrick Johnson). This would be bad enough if they also can't seem to figure out a way to score. Enter Peyton Manning and the Broncos and this will always make for a double digit spread. Look for Manning, who is so adept and exposing other team's weaknesses, to do just that on Sunday. I don't see this game being very close, my only question is if the Broncos ease up on the gas enough to let the Chiefs hang around. This week, I think they learn their lesson and put the game far out of reach.

Spread: DEN

Straight Up: DEN

Score: 38-13

NYJ @ GB (-8.5)

Green Bay had a tough go having to start their season in Seattle. Although the Jets are certainly a lesser opponent than the Seahawks, the Packers may have to try to win without Eddie Lacy. If that is the case, expect a heavy dose of Rodgers to any number of his WR's (particularly Cobb & Nelson). I think the Jets will stick around most of the game, but in the end, Rodgers will always have one last TD in his back pocket. Jets to cover, but Packers for the win. 

Spread: NYJ

Straight Up: GB

Score: 27-20 

HOU @ OAK (+3)

I feel for Derek Carr. He makes his first career start against a pretty good Jets defense only to go make his home debut against the Texans and J.J. Watt. Oh yeah - he also plays for the Raiders. Neither of these teams looked overly impressive on offense, so I think this game will be close the whole way. I think the Texans are better and the Raiders haven't figured out just yet how to win close games. Texans to win, but I'll take the points with the home Raiders.   

Spread: OAK

Straight Up: HOU

Score: 19-17 

CHI @ SF (-7)

The Bears and 49ers started their seasons in almost polar opposite fashion; the former by a FG in OT, the latter taking the lead on their team's first defensive possession and never looking back. Despite the off the field troubles for the 49ers, they seem to be one of the better balanced teams in the NFL this year. Meanwhile, we know Chicago has made a marked change towards the offensive end. Last week, the 49ers pretty much scored at will - I expect much of the same against the Bears. The only question is how many points their defense will let up. In the end, I think they do enough to cover.  

Spread: SF

Straight Up: SF

Score: 31-21 

PHI @ IND (-3)

The Eagles got a scare last week from the Jags, proving that they are a team will vulnerabilities. That's the good news (for all non Eagles fans). The bad, they also proved that they could score 34 unanswered points in one half. The Colts, meanwhile, went on the road and nearly came back on the Broncos, proving that they too can score in bulk (17 points in the second half). I don't see either defense being too effective in this game, so I think it will come down to clock management. I like Andrew Luck's ability to do so, particularly at home and think the Colts do enough win and cover.

Spread: IND

Straight Up: IND

Score: 36-31 

Thursdays Are Meaningful Again

Summer is almost over and the consolation for not having that tan that you wanted or enough beach time is the fact that Thursday night kicks off the NFL season. We all now can spend the majority of our weekdays pretending to work while we quadruple check the injury reports, fantasy waivers and weather forecasts as if we are all NFL GM’s and then the majority of our weekends ruing each decision we had made and every trade we didn't make. Over here, we’re going to do some old fashioned picks against the spreads.

Week 1, it should be noted will be game picks with slight team overviews. Subsequent weeks will take into consideration the previous week’s play. I simply just don’t put all that much weight into pre-season play (Thank you Eli and my Giants or Adrian Peterson).           

GB @ SEA (-5.5)

The Super Bowl champs start their season off at home, a place they rarely lose. Aside from wanting to start the season off with a win on the road, Green Bay will also look to avenge last year’s painful last second loss on the phantom catch by Golden Tate.

  

Seattle looks to continue its dominance on both sides of the ball.  A fierce defense led by all-mouth MVP, Richard Sherman, looks to compliment a balanced offense highlighted by Marshawn Lynch.  Beastmode, who often goes untouched into the end zone, seems to like his toys sans fingerprints as well.

Green Bay won a fairly weak NFC North last year, but returns a hopefully healthy Aaron Rogers, sophomore running back, Eddie Lacy and solid group of wide receivers. Of all the players on that offense, perhaps the most scrutiny will be on rookie center, Corey Linsley, making his debut before the home “12^th Man” Seattle crowd. Rumor has it that Rogers petitioned the NFL to go old-school auto-QB mode and self-hike every snap, but Roger Goodell was having none of it. Regardless of potential botched snaps and a few missed signals due to the crowd, any Rogers’ led team should be just fine.

I think both teams will show some off-season rust, with Seattle taking the game, but Green Bay covering. Seattle by a FG.

Spread: GB

Straight Up: SEA

Score: 17-14