Pitt Panther Picks 'em: Week 1
The lines I'm using are from here
home team in caps
NEW YORK GIANTS (-4) over Washington
Final Score: New York Giants 16, Washington 7
I'm not big on the Giants this year, but the Redskins have looked awful in their last two preseason games. I say they start slow under a new head coach and the Giants win this by at least a TD.
Arizona (-2.5) over SAN FRANCISCO
Final: Arizona 23, San Francisco 13
Mike Martz isn't Midas, the 49ers offense will not be much better this year. I think Kurt Warner is a really underrated QB, he had a rating of at least 85 in each of his past 4 seasons. I say the Cards win this by double digits.
Seattle (+1) over BUFFALO
Final: Buffalo 34, Seattle 20
Although Seattle plays much better at home, the Seahawks are the far superior team here. Some people are predicting 8-9 wins for the Bills, I am not one of them. I say this team has 6-10 written all over it, and this is the first of the 10.
Cincinnati (-1.5) over BALTIMORE
Final: Baltimore 17, Cincinnati 10
I don't like to pick Cincinnati, considering they've gone through a lot of shenanigans this offseason. However, the Ravens will be starting Joe Flacco. I think this is a huge mistake. Flacco will be a bust. If they had started Troy Smith, I would've picked them, but they went Flacco so I go Cincy.
Dallas (-5.5) over CLEVELAND
Final: Dallas 28, Cleveland 10
Under Tony Romo, Dallas has been a very good team on the road. They have been 10-2, with one of those losses coming at in their last regular season game, in which Romo didn't play much as they had already clinched a first round bye. I like what Cleveland did in the offseason, but Dallas was just as impressive, adding Felix Jones, Pacman Adam Jones, and Mike Jenkins. I say Dallas wins this one by at least a TD. I also think Brady Quinn will be the Browns' starting QB by the end of the season.
Detroit (-3) over ATLANTA
Final: Atlanta 34, Detroit 21
I REALLY don't like Atlanta. Matt Ryan won't be very good this year, Michael Turner will struggle behind their O-Line, outside of Roddy White their receivers are crap, and their defensive ineptitude defies description. I think Detroit's offense will be good this year. Kitna is a solid QB, they've got a pretty good rookie RB in Kevin Smith, and they've got a pair of very good young WRs in Williams and Johnson. I say Detroit wins this one by double digits.
INDIANAPOLIS (-9.5) over Chicago
Indy has already won this game, the only question is by how much will they win. I don't think Chicago will score more than 14 in this one. Their offense is just lousy. At QB they have Rex Grossman, ouch. They have a rookie RB who might be good, if he had an O-Line. their starting receivers are Marty Booker, who's 57, and Rashied Davis, who I honestly had never heard of. I say Indy wins this one by at least two TDs.
JACKSONVILLE (-3) over Tennessee
Final: Tennessee 17, Jacksonville 10
It will be interesting to see if Richard Collier's shooting has any effect on the Jaguars first game, positive or negative. I'm picking them here because I like their offense, especially Garrard. Defensively, they're above average. Some people have them taking the division, I do not. I do not like the Titans. Vince Young should have another sub par year after the Titans front office yet again failed to get him any receivers. I say Jacksonville wins this by a TD.
The New England - Kansas City game has been taken off the board
Faces at the U.S. Open
