SARASOTA, FL – It’s here! Football Sundays are back starting today and so are the always stellar Cheesy Bruin’s NFL Weekly Picks. Cam Newton may use dental floss to dislodge pesky portions of orange but I prefer a toothpick to rid remnants of bookies from my mouth after chewing these chumps up at a 60% rate. Don’t believe me? Look at the archives. I’m documented, people! The way I roll here? I pick the Best Bet, Favorite, Underdog, Over and Under for you to beat your man every week of the NFL season. Looking for a quick start in Week #1 with these gems…
FAVORITE: My travels have me currently based about one hour south of Tampa Bay and my ear is always to the grindstone in various NFL locales, so I can glean you the best information possible. There’s a boatload of excitement regarding the Buccaneers this year. Jameis Winston is in better physical shape than last year, seeming to have matured in only his second year under center. He is leading the team in and out of the huddle. The offense is healthy and boasts two big-bodied wide outs in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson and a new slot man in the diminutive Adam Humphries (watch for some good production from this guy). A blend of youth and veterans dot the roster in what should be a good year for the Red & Pewter.
The better team doesn’t always win every game, however, and I get the feeling this is one such instance. Knowing how to read a point-spread means everything in this business. It separates the diamonds from the dogs. The line on Tampa Bay’s visit to Atlanta has dipped to 2.5 with the home team Falcons favored. Vegas ‘wiseguys’ will lower a point-spread to a whisker under a field goal in order to get more money on the favorite, which means there’s an awful lot of money on the road dog; the Bucs in this case. Monitor the money and go opposite to the public and you’ll cash more than you trash. ATLANTA (-2.5) over Tampa Bay (BEST BET)
UNDERDOG: There are a lot of new parts on the Houston Texans offense. It usually takes time for the continuity to take hold, regardless of OTA’s, minicamp and the preseason. The mechanics of game plans, blocking schemes and overall offensive philosophy have to be hashed out during real games against real defenses. Houston has new and very-wet-behind-the-ears QB Brock Osweiler. After signing a lucrative free agent contract, there will be great pressure on him to deliver at home in Week 1 – in a game the team should win. Do you feel comfortable trusting the former Bronco to cover the hefty spread in a non-conference game? Not me. This is a King of the Hill spoiler alert as well. Gimme Jay Cutler and John Fox to keep this a nail biter. Chicago (+6) over HOUSTON
OVER: Cleveland will score on defense in Philthy’s second overall pick Carson Wentz’s baptism-by-fire, while Robert Griffin III and his SpongeBob Squarepants physique prove to the NFL that he can still air it out. Cleveland/PHILADELPHIA OVER 41
UNDER: I am picking against my fellow MTM writer’s team. Why? Because I say so. And besides, the Bills getting shut down will have DJ Eberle foaming at the mouth tomorrow. Buffalo/BALTIMORE UNDER 44.5
That’s it. Please comment below and come back tomorrow for a tearful DJ Eberle, a man whose Bills will eventually drown him. And please follow us on Twitter – @CheesyBruin & @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
