NFL Pro Football 2008 Preseason Week 1 Picks late games

NFL Pro Football 2008 Preseason Week 1 Picks - late games

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Fearless Rick's NFL Preseason Week 1 Picks - Late Games

Rick Gagliano | August 9-11

All times Eastern - Click here for early games.

SAT, AUG 9

Buffalo at Washington (-3 1/2, 36) 7:00 PM FedEx Field - The Redskins looked fairly well-polished in their Hall of Fame Game win over Indianapolis, and will have an edge on the Bills with a game already under their collective belts. While the Bills are projected to be a competitive team this season, there's not a lot of emphasis on winning in the preseason. Most of Buffalo's focus will be on testing out rookies and various positions on defense. Washington should roll along - at home - to their second preseason win.

Prediction: Redskins 24 Buffalo 13

Atlanta at Jacksonville (-3 1/2, 34) 7:30 PM ALLTEL Stadium - The preseason is probably the only time we'll see Atlanta as a favorite this season. The team is still in a relative state of dishevelment on the heels of the Michael Vick fallout and now the departure of 2007 head coach Bobby Petrino. The Falcons will begin to come out of their funk in 2008, but the first warm-up game is probably just an evaluation process.

Chris Redman will start for the Falcons, but rookie Matt Ryan won't be far behind. Don't expect much from the Falcons offense, as the Jags are loaded on defense. This could become a real blowout in the second half, though Jacksonville will probably take it a little easy on their fellow southerners. Take the Jags in the first half and full game. They just look better all around.

Prediction: Jaguars 20 Falcons 10

Indianapolis at Carolina (-4, 35 1/2) 7:30 PM Bank of America Stadium - Indy gets its second game in a week, and on the road, to boot. Coach Dungy doesn't put much emphasis on winning preseason games, so the home team Panthers are likely to do as they please in the second half. The Colts may do what they did against Washington last week: take a lead into the half and fold up their tents. Indy's second and third string defenders don't really look all that good.

Prediction: Panthers 27 Colts 19

Tampa Bay at Miami (-2, 32 1/2) 7:30 PM Dolphin Stadium - While not in Tampa, the game is still in Florida and it will feel somewhat like home for the Buccaneers, who really didn't want Brett Favre after all. Coach Gruden is pretty comfortable with aging, smart quarterbacks like Jeff Garcia, so expect the Bucs to score early, but not much after that. If the Dolphins score at all, it will be late, and probably not enough.

Prediction: Buccaneers 20 Dolphins 6

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St. Louis at Tennessee (-3, 33) 8:00 PM LP Field - The Titans are one of the best-coached teams in the league and have the home stand here, while the Rams have been sluggish offensively and downright stupid on defense. This could turn into the mismatch of the week.

Prediction: Titans 21 Rams 7

Denver at Houston (-3 34 1/2) 8:00 PM Reliant Stadium - Houston should bury the smallish Broncos, who are in year two of the post-Elway-Plummer years. Last season was a disaster for Denver, so Shanahan and his staff are hoping for better, but the Texans may really surprise some teams this season. Looks to be a long night for Denver defenders.

Prediction: Texans 34 Broncos 13

Dallas at San Diego (-3, 35 1/2) 10:00 PM Qualcomm Stadium - Potential Super Bowl match-up, but pretty early to tell. LaDainian Tomlinson will not play, as usual, and Dallas' superstar receiver Terrell Owens will see limited action. A pretty even match, so the home team is the pick.

Prediction: Chargers 28 Cowboys 21

MON, AUG 11

Cincinnati at Green Bay (-3, 36) 8:00 PM ESPN Lambeau Field - Lots of story lines here, not the least of which the un-retirement of Brett Favre and his departure to the Jets. That leaves the starting job to QB-in-waiting Aaron Rodgers, who will finally get his shot after warming the bench for three years. He's ready.

On Cincy's side there's Carson Palmer and the ongoing antics and contract squabbles of Chad Johnson, plus some new running game schemes. The Packers are probably not as good as people think, the Bengals not as bad. Should be a good one, and close, and OVER, so take the points.

Prediction: Bengals 24 Packers 23

All times Eastern - Click here for early games

Copyright 2008, 2009, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.

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