NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 1 Picks early games

NFL Pro Football 2008 Week 1 Picks

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Fearless Rick's NFL Week 1 Picks - Early Games

Rick Gagliano | September 4-8

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night games.

THU, SEP 4 Washington at NY Giants (-4, 41) 7:00 PM - It's only fitting that the reigning Super Bowl champion Giants open against the team that began their incredible road winning streak, plus, they get to play the Redskins at home before 70,000 adoring fans.

This looks like a treat for New Yorkers. While the Redskins are a good team and likely to improve this season, the Giants handled them twice last year and will probably do so again in 2008. Don't expect the Giants to lay an egg here. Instead, a dandy win and cover to begin the season.

Prediction: Giants 31 Redskins 17

SUN, SEP 7

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (-3, 42 1/2) 1:00 PM - Sure, New Orleans had a tough year in 2007, but, after starting 0-4, they finished up 7-5. The problem with that - besides it being an overall 7-9 record - is that they tossed the season away in the final two games, losing to Philly and Chicago, two teams that also did not reach the playoffs. The Bucs are probably going to be better than they were last year, and they beat NO twice. Anybody see a trend developing?

Prediction: Buccaneers 20 Saints 17

St. Louis at Philadelphia (-7 1/2, 44) 1:00 PM - The Eagles are one of those teams that has high hopes every year, but keeps missing the boat somehow. Lately, it's been because quarterback Donovan McNabb has not lasted past week 10. The same will probably hold true this season, but until then, the Eagles are a much better team than the Rams, and especially in Philadelphia. St. Louis may finish this season with 4 to 6 wins, but this certainly isn't one of them.

Prediction: Eagles 38 Rams 10

NY Jets (-3, 36) at Miami 1:00 PM - Ah, what a treat. Brett Favre and the Jets against the forgotten Chad Pennington and the woesome Dolphins. I'll go out on a limb and predict that the Jets won't make the playoffs and that Favre will be among the AFC interception leaders. Miami has had three weeks to get ready for this showdown and there's a chance that it will be a little wet as well. From the looks of things, the boys in Vegas don't believe there's going to be much scoring here either.

If the Jets are really as good as some people think they're going to be, wouldn't this line be more like -6? Looks like a major sucker bet to me.

Prediction: Dolphins 23 Jets 20

Kansas City at New England (off the board) 1:00 PM - I have to suppose this is off the board only because the status of Tom Brady has only recently been upgraded. The Pats' superstar QB will play, and even if he's only 80% good, he'll probably be healthy enough to throw a couple of TD passes against one of the leagues more porous secondaries.

Kansas City will have the opportunity to score - following every New England kickoff, of which there will likely be 6 or 7 - and may matriculate the ball downfield with some purpose on a couple of occasions. This will not be the monumental blowout some expect, though it will be lopsided.

Prediction: Patriots 34 Chiefs 17

Houston at Pittsburgh (-6 1/2, 43) 1:00 PM - The Steelers are just a step below the AFC elite - San Diego, New England and Indianapolis - say many, but others think they are about as ordinary as they come. Houston, on the other hand, has a long way up to look, and may well finish at the bottom of their division once again, but they are no pushovers. After an 8-8 season in 2007, there's reason for optimism in Texas.

Houston may stun the Steelers with a very organized defense and a clock-control offense that will raise eyebrows around the league.

Prediction: Texans 24 Steelers 17

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Cincinnati (-1 1/2, 38 1/2) at Baltimore 1:00 PM - These two have quite bit of history between them, playing twice each year in the AFC North. Since 1999, the favorite is 13-5 SU and ATS in this series, and since I am not about to buck a trend like that, I'll go with the road favorite here. While Baltimore still sports an excellent defense, their offense has continued to deteriorate to a point at which even the Bengals can find ways to stop them. Carson Palmer and Ohco Cinco get a win here.

Prediction: Bengals 27 Ravens 14

Detroit (-3, 40 1/2) at Atlanta 1:00 PM - The Motor City Manglers began '07 with a 6-2 record, but finished up 1-7 as the rest of the league caught onto their all passing - no defense game plans. While the Falcons are one of the worst teams in the league, let's not forget that Detroit isn't far behind. It just seems like such a slap in the face of Atlanta to be underdogs at home against such a sloppy, underperforming team like the Lions that I am forced to defend the honor of the South by predicting the Falcons a winner here.

Prediction: Falcons 34 Lions 31

Seattle at Buffalo (-1, 39) 1:00 PM - Probably one of the more intriguing games of the weekend pits stalwart NFC West champion Seattle in the Bills' lair, which is one of the more unfriendly places to play. Are these two teams going in opposite directions? Are the Bills going to be one of the surprise teams of 2008 and the Seahawks one of the league's flops?

While it may not be as drastic to say that, if the Bills played in the NFC, they would have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. In the AFC, it's a bit more crowded near the top, but Buffalo has the makings of one of the NFL's more exciting young teams and should carry the day at home.

Prediction: Bills 24 Seahawks 21

Jacksonville (-3, 36 1/2) at Tennessee 1:00 PM - Here's one of those road favorites that so many people like to bet against, but Jacksonville is not your ordinary road team. The Jags were 5-3 on the road last season, and one of those losses was at Indy, 28-25, and another the final regular season game, in which the Jags basically rested their starters. They were 6-2 ATS on the road, but lost their home opener to - guess who? - these very same Titans, 13-10. Here's where they get to repay the favor as Vince Young and his gang are not quite ready for prime time or the start of the season.

Prediction: Jaguars 20 Titans 10

All times Eastern - Click here for late Sunday and Monday night 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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