No rest for weary with this week’s opener
Maybe all the displays of unity last weekend overshadowed an awful week for our NFL picks.
And that came with a rare win in a Thursday night game, with the Rams over the 49ers. Hopefully, we can get it right with this week’s opener, between the Bears and Packers.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offence struggled to beat lowly Cincinnati in overtime last Sunday, hours after Chicago stunned Pittsburgh, also in OT. Working extra time heading into a short week isn’t exactly ideal.
Still, this is one of the more emotional rivalries in pro sports. The Packers are seven-point favourites over their longtime rival.
Packers, 21-16
Los Angeles Rams (plus 7.5) at Dallas
The Rams seem to be putting together a nice offence. We already know Dallas has one of those.
Best bet: Cowboys, 30-19
Tennessee (minus 2) at Houston
It’s early, but a Texans loss would be very damaging in the division.
Upset special: Texans, 20-17
New Orleans (minus 3) vs. Miami at London
Rebound time for the Dolphins after that New Jersey fiasco.
Dolphins, 23-21
Pittsburgh (minus 2.5) at Baltimore
Best rivalry in football, nasty and physical, but clean.
Steelers, 20-13
Oakland (plus 2.5) at Denver
Both teams come off offensive stinkers.
Raiders, 26-21
Carolina (plus 8) at New England
Both teams come off defensive stinkers.
Patriots, 36-23
Washington (plus 7) at Kansas City, Monday night
Washington might be better than we thought. They can prove it here.
Chiefs, 24-23
Jacksonville (minus 3.5) at New York Jets
Road favourites destroyed us last week. We barely learned a lesson.
Jaguars, 19-17
Buffalo (plus 7.5) at Atlanta
The Falcons have escaped twice on the road, but they routed Green Bay at home.
Falcons, 22-16
New York Giants (plus 5) at Tampa Bay
Just a feeling the Giants aren’t bad enough to be 0-4.
Giants, 17-13
Philadelphia (pick ’em) at Los Angeles Chargers
Just a feeling the Chargers aren’t bad enough to be 0-4.
Chargers, 27-23
Cincinnati (minus 3) at Cleveland
Just a feeling the Bengals aren’t bad enough to be 0-4.
Bengals, 21-20
San Francisco (plus 7) at Arizona
Just a feeling — oh, never mind.
Cardinals, 20-16
Indianapolis (plus 13) at Seattle
Until Andrew Luck is behind centre, staying away from the Colts doing anything special.
Seahawks, 22-6
Detroit (no line) at Minnesota
Really like what we have seen from the Lions thus far.
Lions, 24-20
2017 RECORD:
Last week: Against the spread, 5-9-1; straight up, 8-8
Season totals: Against the spread, 18-27-1; straight up, 29-18
Best bet: 2-1 against the spread, 2-1 straight up.
Upset special: 3-0 against the spread, 3-0 straight up