Handicapping by Liz

Well here we go with another NFL season and I for one am very glad it is FINALLY here. So let’s get started.

One of my best bets this weekend has to be Cincinnati at home giving Denver 4 points. Carson Palmer is back and what a receiving corps he has with Ochocinco, Chris Henry and Laverius Coles. Denver has their top 2 QBs, Kyle Ortin and Chris Simms injured and they may have to start rookie Brandstater, not good news for Bronco fans. I think having Palmer back, the home crowd and maybe see Ochocinco kick a field goal or kickoff is all the Bengals need to cover this 4 point spread. Lay the points.

Well, what can you say Tom Brady is back and he now has Joey Galloway on one side and Randy Moss on the other. Buffalo has an offense that just fired their offensive coordinator and Marshawn Lynch is on suspension. The line is 10 ½ and I just don’t think going into New England under these circumstances that it’s enough. Lay the 10 ½ points and take New England at home, and as Moose the Greek says “New England will squash the Bills like eggplant”, and that’s a direct quote. Who am I to argue

Also a game that has a very good team facing a team in disarray. The Kansas City Chiefs go into Baltimore after firing their offensive coordinator(seeing a trend here?) and head coach Haley is now the quarterback coach and the offensive coordinator. (I wonder how much money that saves the Chiefs, and don’t they know that jobs are hard to find right now, give 2 other guys a job. The Chiefs also have a question mark at quarterback as Matt Cassell is still iffy. For Baltimore and their lack of offense I find the 13 point line kind of high but things just don’t look good enough on the Chiefs side, and you have to think that Baltimore’s defense will score a few to get it over the 13 point spread. Lay the 13 and take Baltimore at home against the Chiefs.

Next pick is going to be Seattle at home giving the Rams 9 points. Being a Giants fan it is hard to go against one of the best coaches the Giants ever had in Steve Spagnuolo. However, Seattle is home has their QB back and healthy and Hasselback has a fully healthy wide receiver corp. The Rams are 3-9 ATS in division play and the Hawks are 8-4 ATS in division play.
Sorry Steve but you are going to lose. Lay the 9 and take Seattle.

My last pick this week has to go to the Minnesota Vikings on the road giving the Cleveland Browns 4 points. I’m not a big fan of what Brett Favre has done the past 2 years but he should give the Vikings the lift they need to get to get by the Browns and cover the 4 point spread.

As for O/U bets, I like OVER in the Cincinnati game(43), Houston(44 ½) and Minnesota(40). As for an under bet I lean towards the Giants(37 ½).

Well let’s hope that Heinz Ward remembers the next time, after costing all those Steeler bettors their first bet of the season.

As always bet with your head and not above it.