Week 1 NFL picks

Recalling my gambling days, I’ve always found the over-abundance of information available about the weekly NFL matchups to be a bit of a handicap. There are times you can know too much.

So if you’re reading my picks each week, you’re not going to find any wonderful insight, or some nugget of info that’ll blow the lid off your fantasy league; just a guess, and maybe a couple sentences offering the reason. The team in bold is my pick.

Miami @ Pittsburgh

The Dolphins looked great in the preseason, but it was just that – preseason. For now, I’m going with the champs.

Atlanta @ Carolina

It looks as though this may actually be a pretty epic clash between these NFC South rivals for the next couple of years, which is nice. Strong rivalries make leagues better. No Steve Smith is a hiccup for Carolina, but they should have enough to win this one.

Baltimore @ Tampa Bay

This one makes it three home teams in a row. I have no special faith in Tampa, I just have no reason to believe Baltimore is going to be good any time soon.

Buffalo @ New England

I’m going off the board here. New England’s defense looked shaky in the preseason, and Buffalo may just have enough weapons to pull this one out.

Cincinnati @ Kansas City

A great test for both teams. They both seem to have aspirations of making some sort of run this year, and a week 1 loss will test Cincinnati’s resolve.

Denver @ St. Louis

I hate Denver. St Loo is the pick.

New Orleans @ Cleveland

Drew Brees just loves these game-breaking running backs, doesn’t he? If Reggie Bush is half the back LaDainian Tomlinson is, the Saints are going to look very good this year.

New York Jets @ Tennessee

The Jets are playing for a first-overall pick next spring. Tennessee may soon join them. For now, Tennessee gets the nod.

Philadelphia @ Houston

I can’t even name the guy Houston drafted ahead of Reggie Bush. Hope you enjoy playing for the first-overall pick again this year Houston.

Seattle @ Detroit

Well, Detroit’s in shambles. Jon Kitna looks like he’s got the starting job, that can’t be good. But I can tell you this, I’m not picking a team QB’d by Kitna to win many games.

Chicago @ Green Bay

Too soon for the tundra of Lambeau Field to freeze, and too late in the career for Brett Favre to pull many wins out for this Packers team.

Dallas @ Jacksonville

I haven’t read the words Jacksonville or Jaguars once in the entire preseason. Every day I read about Terrell Owens’ escapades in Dallas. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

San Francisco @ Arizona

Ugh.

Indianapolis @ New York Giants

This game’s been getting some hype, which invariably means Peyton Manning will fall apart and the Colts will lose.

Minnesota @ Washington

Can “ugh” be the write up for two games in the same week? This early in the season, and there are already enough teams no one cares about to garner two “ughs”? Competitive balance my ass.

San Diego @ Oakland

Black hole, Raider Nation, blah blah blah. Philip Rivers doesn’t need to do a whole lot to help his team win some games. He basically just has to show up and give the ball to LT, and let him and the defense do what they do.