Handicapping NFL Week 1: Picks of the Week
Each week we’ll dig deep to bring you our Picks of the Week. Not sure we can pick better than this guy, but we’ll give it a shot.
Editor’s Note: Picks were submitted by Bear Goggles On’s own Bart. Incidentally, the video above was also shot by Bart. Yes, he’s that talented.
"You know the family,the overly-competitive-gambling-on-every-activity, sport, or-trivia-question-brought-up-at-Thanksgiving-Dinner-family; well, that’s how I grew up. We’ve bet on everything from Liar’s poker, regular poker, ping-pong, Atari football (that’s right, the one with the three fat players), bags, pool, weight-loss, or how late my one brother shows up to Christmas Dinner. If it is possible to have more than one outcome, it means it is something we could lay a friendly wager on. So, when it comes to football, easily the most exciting sport to guess at the outcome, I’ve been paying attention for years and I want to bring that to Boomer’s Beargoggles site on a weekly basis. Throughout the year, I’m going to pick the 3 best games of the week, 1 upset special, and of course, the Bears game. At the end of the season, I’ll be looking for at least a 600 record. It all starts with my favorite weekend of the year, WEEK 1 of theNFL:I’ll take the Saints to beat the Vikings. I think it is going to be a low-scoring game and Brett Favre will be rusty from not reporting to camp on time. The Saints will come out and throw the ball in the first half, but will turn it around and the pound the ball in the 2nd Half. Favre will look to his Tight End to make plays for him…….oh shoot, sorry, that game already happened. How’d I do?Panthers (+6.5) @ GiantsI think if this game was later in the year, the spread would be up over 7. Carolina is going into New York with Matt Moore under center and RT Jeff Otah still watching from the sidelines. NY Giants Defense can concentrate on DeAngelo Williams and force Moore to try to beat them, which won’t happen. Give Carolina the points and feel good about yourself by the 3rd Quarter.SanFran (-3) @ SeattleLast year, our Bears contingency visited Seattle for the game. It is an exceptionally loud stadium, but the noise won’t last for long during this game. The 49ers, much like their baseball Giant counterparts, will sneak up on alot of people this year with their Defense shutting teams down and Gore finishing them off. The 49ers are a road team and still giving 3 which means the oddsmakers theoretically put them at about a little less than a TD favorite (home team gets 3 points by virtue of being at home). I’d put it more about 10.Jaguars (-3) vs. Denver The battle of the backs, Moreno vs. Jones-Drew. MJD wins. By the way, I’m not a fan of the Denver QB situation – Orton, Tebow, Quinn. If I’m Jacksonville, I’d bring my Safeties in (Orton can’t throw accurately over 15 yards), focus on slightly injured Moreno, and pin my ears back going after the QB. Also, be sure to pay attention to those West Coast/Mountain teams traveling to the East. That, in and of itself as a variable, should give you more than 3 points. Take the Jags -3.UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:Cincinnati (+4.5) @ New EnglandI didn’t jump on the Cincinnati band wagon like others I know when Terrell Owens was signed. Carson Palmer is going to revert back to pre-injury form and have a big year. Adding Terrell Owens to the mix helps, but I don’t necessarily think it makes them the most dominant ever. Wasn’t it funny that no one wanted Terrell, but as soon as he went to Cincinnati – everyone thought that it made them world beaters? If that was the case – how come no other team wanted him? Regardless, this spread is based on everyone still feeling that New England is the 16-0 New England team, which it is not. This will be a close one, one that Cinci may even pull off. I’ll definitely take 4.5 pts on this one.THE BELOVED:Bears (-6.5) vs Detroit It’s really scary after this horrific pre-season to feel comfortable picking the Bears – much less by 6.5 pts. However, Detroit’s secondary can be exploited and the Bears offense will vary it up enough between pass/run to win this game. I’m concerned about the gaps on the Bears Defense between the linebackers and safeties – hopefully their line gets some pressure on Stafford and their safeties come up a little more on those posts. Feel comfortable taking the Bears this week, because if you check my season-long predictions on the Bears, you’ll notice that I don’t like them too much the next 3 weeks."
Editor’s note #2: my own pick is the over in the Bears-Lions game. The number is set at 44.5 and I think they cruise past that midway through the third quarter.