NFL Week 1 Picks: Fabulous 5
What's up everyone, each week I will be posting my Top 5 NFL picks against the Las Vegas spread. Last year, I was lucky enough to hit at a 57% success rate. That percentage is totally insane, but let's try to have some fun and duplicate that again this season!
Here are the Week 1 picks against the Las Vegas spread:
Detroit Lions (+2)
The Detroit Lions made a surprise playoff appearance last season and Matt Stafford finished as a top 10 quarterback on the year. Fatty boy is good. Since the arrival of offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, Matt Stafford has elevated his game drastically. The Arizona Cardinals stroll into Detroit and don't see a big enough change in this team to think they've improved that much from last season. The defense isn't as dominate as they once were and this offense still has too many question marks. Pro-Bowl RB David Johnson will get his share but it won't be enough to fend off these hungry Lions. Take the points, but don't be shocked if Detroit wins OUTRIGHT.
Tennessee Titans (-2.5)
Last season the Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans met in Week 3 at Nissan Stadium. Down 7, QB Marcus Mariota led the Titans down field and scored a game-tying touchdown, only to be called back by a controversial offensive pass interference call, losing the game 17-10. With an upgraded wide receiver corp, look for Mariota to take advantage of the big play through the air, after wearing the Raiders defense down through the run game. Another close game, but the Titans get their revenge in a thriller.
Los Angeles Rams (-4.5)
Chuck Pagano and the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts travel to Los Angeles to take on the new and improved Rams. The Colts are one of those teams that when you remove the quarterback, the rest will crumble and crumble badly. Without Andrew Luck, the Colts join the ranks of the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. Eat the points as the youngest head coach in NFL history shines in his first game. Rams win and QB Jared Goff gets the media chirping. Pump the brakes, the answer is still Wentz.
San Francisco 49ers (+5)
Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers travel to San Francisco for their Week 1 matchup and they may be in for a bit of a surprise. The Panthers will be starring down the barrel of a completely revamped 49ers team. The front office, coaching staff, and players have all featured a makeover and with that will come the element of surprise. I like the Niners to keep Cam and company in check and take an early lead before the Panthers get it together. The Panthers barely escape Kyle Shannahan's new team in a close game as the guinea pigs for the rest of the NFL. Take the points.
Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5)
The Chargers travel to Denver for a Monday Night Football matchup against the Broncos. Playing at Mile High on national television will be no easy feat but I like the Chargers' chances against a Denver team in decline. The Broncos showed that they didn't need Peyton Manning to win last year after a solid 7-3 start. After their bye week, the Broncos ended their season on a 2-4 run, and QB Trevor Siemian just looked bad. Look for Joey Bosa to be a problem for the Bronco's offensive line all night and the return of WR Keenan Allen to remind everyone why he's a true number one receiver.
Summary:
Lions +2
Titans -2.5
Rams -4.5
49ers +5
Chargers +3.5
