Thursday 8 September 2016

NFL Picks Week One sponsored by Studio Yukupo

Yes, it's back! I'm not talking about football season, I'm talking about my picks column which I'm sure someone out there missed. This one goes out to you, buddy. Last Year I went 134-114-8 with my picks and I'm certain I will be just as terrible this year with the added wrinkle that I'll be singling out (fiveling out?) five games Las Vegas Super Contest style just to embarrass myself even further.

My general thought on how the season will go is that I have no flipping idea because pretty much every team has a fatal flaw that makes me not want to trust them. Even though W̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶H̶u̶n̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games, it's difficult to look past them in the AFC. It will take an almighty fluke to overturn that sort of organizational superiority even with the quarter season handicap. In the NFC on paper it ought to be Green Bay, but the question is will Aaron Rodgers be distracted by his loser brother Jordan popping up everywhere attempting to expand his brand? I have a sneaking feeling about Tampa Bay but a conference title might be too much, too soon for them...

Picks after the jump.

Week 1
Key: 
Home Team listed in CAPS
(*) = Point spread


Panthers (-3) at BRONCOS
Buccaneers (+3) at FALCONS
Bills (+3) at RAVENS
Bears (+5.5) at TEXANS
Packers (-4.5) at JAGUARS
Chargers (+7) at CHIEFS
Raiders (+1.5) at SAINTS
Bengals (-2.5) at JETS
Browns (+4) at EAGLES
Vikings (-2.5) at TITANS
Dolphins (+10) at SEAHAWKS
Giants (PK) at COWBOYS
Lions (+3.5) at COLTS
Patriots (+6) at CARDINALS
Steelers (-3) at REDSKINS
Rams (-2.5) at 49ERS

I pick: Broncos, Buccaneers, Ravens, Bears, Packers, Chargers, Saints, Bengals, Browns, Titans, Dolphins, Cowboys, Lions, Patriots, Steelers, 49ers

Chris picks: Panthers, Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Jaguars, Chargers, Raiders, Jets, Eagles, Titans, Seahawks, Giants, Lions, Patriots, Steelers, 49ers.

Super Picks: Broncos (+3), Buccaneers (+3), Ravens (-3), Packers (-4.5),  Dolphins (+10.5)

People have been talking up the Panthers for a possible return to the Super Bowl, but I don't see it. Teams that lose that big game historically struggle to get out of the blocks the following season, the effects sometimes seem psychological and if there's any coach/QB combination I could envision being affected by such a thing it has to be Carolina. Denver is starting the lowly Trevor Siemian (???) which you would think does not bode well but teams won't have tape on him yet so he could well do a Nick Foles. At home with the emotion and momentum of the crowd behind them, I think they can pull this first one out.

If there's one thing you can be sure of this season, I will be picking against the Bills and Jaguars at every opportunity I get. I'm not a believer in either, especially the highly disappointing Jacksonville who just don't seem well coached. When one aspect of their game starts to work, another will not just falter but totally collapse. They have too much talent on the team to look this bad and I think Gus Bradley could be gone before the end of the season.

As long as I have been following the Seahawks, I know that they almost always start terribly in the first game of the season and there is absolutely no way they cover 10.5 points, even against the sad sack Dolphins. Tune in next week if I remember to write another one of these to see how I did!

No comments:

Post a Comment