2011 Playoffs: 9-2
Casual fans and gambling addicts alike, we have finally made it: The start of the 2012 NFL regular season. Prepare yourself for 21 weeks of backdoor covers and confusing explanations/hilariously bad calls from replacement referees, among other things.
The rest of the picks will be up before kickoff on Sunday.
Dallas at New York Giants (-3.5)
Because the defending Super Bowl champion never loses its season opener. Because the Cowboys have no offensive line. Because even though Dallas' improved its secondary, the thought of taking Tony Romo on the road against the Giants pass rush is something I'm going to pass on. And lastly, BECAUSE THE COWBOYS HAVE NO OFFENSIVE LINE.
On an unrelated side note, mostly everyone I've talked to missed the return of the 'Junglebird' of U.S. Open fame during this past Saturday's Notre Dame-Navy game in Dublin, Ireland, so I figured I'd post the video below.
I have no idea how he continues to get tickets to these events, but I was watching the game and then all of a sudden he appears out of nowhere and performs an Irish jig at the goal line.
Indianapolis (+9.5) at Chicago
My hope is that with Reggie Wayne and the rest of the Colts receivers having balls spiral towards them instead of into the hands of defenders, they can keep this close in Chicago.
Miami at Houston (-10.5)
...And the Ryan Tannehill-led Dolphins quickly become one of our favorite teams to pick against in 2012!
New England (-6.5) at Tennessee
Washington (+9.5) at New Orleans
These will be the two 1 o'clock games I'll get here in D.C., and there's a good chance one of them will have the underdog furiously driving down the field in the final minute looking for our first backdoor cover of the year.
Philadelphia (-8.5) at Cleveland
When was the last time picking a rookie quarterback who will be throwing to Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi and handing off to a running back who had surgery one month ago EVER worked out?
Jacksonville (+4.5) at Minnesota
Two awful teams playing in a game no one cares about; A perfect time to talk fantasy football!
After keeping A.J. Green and DeMarco Murray from a season ago, my opening day roster (12-team, PPR) shakes out as follows:
QB- Michael Vick
RBs- Murray, Darren McFadden
WRs- Green, Wes Welker, DeSean Jackson
TE- Antonio Gates
K- Robbie Gould
D/ST - Minnesota
I'm telling you, ANYTHING other than 16-0 this year would be a disappointment.
Atlanta (-1.5) at Kansas City
This feels a lot like last year, when everyone loved Atlanta heading into their Week 1 opener at Chicago, and then the Bears won 30-12. And yet, I am being suckered in again.
St. Louis (+9.5) at Detroit
Hopefully bringing in Jeff Fisher can reduce the 20 and 30-point blowouts of last season down to single digits this year.
Buffalo (+3.5) at New York Jets
Very hard to do but simply through their preseason play, the Jets moved from 6-point favorites to where they are now at 3.5.
San Francisco at Green Bay (-5.5)
Let me be the first to state that the 49ers passed on Aaron Rodgers in 2005 to select Alex Smith, and that now they'll be going head to head on Sunday.
Carolina at Tampa Bay (+2.5)
Seattle at Arizona (+2.5)
One of these picks is bound to be terribly, terribly wrong.
Pittsburgh (+1.5) at Denver
What a great start to the Sunday night season, and great way to conclude a day of having not moved for 10 hours straight.
Cincinnati at Baltimore (-6.5)
San Diego at Oakland (+1.5)
Every year, I always mention how great it would be if we had two Monday Night Football games on a weekly basis. And then, I'm reminded what an awful idea it is when it's 1:45 a.m. and I'm watching the Raiders commit their 38th penalty of the night.
