NFL Preseason Week 1

Bol on Saturday's games, Andy

nice start!

Thanks fellas, nice start.


One for Saturday:


Green Bay +2.5

I get that Green Bay may not give a crap but that it more-so with the starters. This line seems off to me. These early preseason games are largely won based on depth and familiarity. The Packers are the deepest team in the NFL, they won the Super Bowl last season with 14 guys on IR and a bunch more banged up throughout the year. Lots of guys played for this team last year and played well. Ted Thompson has done an all-world job bringing in talent the last few years which has made the Packers extraordinarily deep. 4 guys who started in the Super Bowl for Green Bay are going to lose their jobs this year. Cleveland on the other hand is not deep at all (just look at how many rookies might start for this team) and lacks playmakers.

The Browns have changed their entire offense and defense shifting to West Coast on O and 4-3 on D to go along with a new coaching staff. With just two weeks practice I can't see them getting much done. Seneca Wallace is the backup for Cleveland and while he's serviceable I will take Matt Flynn over him. Flynn was great in his regular season start last year and has a lot to play for this preseason and he's a FA next year and will look to play for a starter's job somewhere else. 3rd string for the Pack is Graham Harrell who has had a good camp and says he's is much more comfortable in the system. Cleveland doesn't even have the RB depth you'd like to see in the preseason, after Hillis it's Brandon Jackson, an undrafted rookie and a 2nd year player that was cut from two practice squads last year. The Packers have James Starks, Nance, and 3rd round pick Alex Green who they love. Line is off.


GL.

Nice write up. GL. I am on the over in this one.

One more:


Buffalo/Chicago UNDER 36

This game represents the highest total of the week and I'm not sure why. I know Buffalo has experimented with a lot of 5 receiver sets but the starters are only expected to play the 1st quarter and half the time will be against the Bears starting defense which is no slouch. After Fitzpatrick goes out for Buffalo it will be Tyler Thigpen who joined the team just before camp, Brad Smith for a series, and Levi Brown to finish the game in the 4th. I'm not expecting much from those guys.

Chicago's offense will play 2 series at most. Hanie may have potential as the backup for Chicago but the 2nd and 3rd unit receivers he will be playing with don't. Neither team has any intriguing running backs that will be playing in the 2nd half either.

An important note here is the conditions. It is raining in Chicago and it's expected to continue through the first half. The field will be wet and slippery and that is not good because the field is awful. The Bears had to cancel practice there last week because the field was deemed "dangerous" and many Bears players called it an embarrassment. Footing will be tough and if the field is dangerous you can bet the coaches will just run the ball and get out of there without any injuries.

BOL

im on both your pick as well as chi -2.5 and the over for the GB

Last one for the first week:


Houston -2.5

I expect the Texans to take this game for more serious than the Jets. NY is coming off two good seasons and have nothing to prove in this one. Texans are a team on the rise and I believe will take this game seriously as it is a good chance to show the league something on MNF at home.

They are switching to a new D which is a concern but they've had a few extra practices and the reports are the D has looked good and played with new energy which is the most important part. I like Leinart as a solid backup as well, this should be a good role for him and he decided to stay in Houston because the offense fits his game. Reports are the 2nd string practices have looked as good as the first.

Bottom line is the Texans are probably better suited for this game and most importantly will want it a whole lot more.

NFL is back!

Nice job so far Andy...hopefully your hot hand continues into the Reg Season (I'm sure it will)

Like that play on Houston tmr as well

It's that simple sometimes.  I hope the entire forum will not be on them tomorrow.  I'm hoping for a 50/50 split. GL .

TB is a great play week 2. 

You are keen on the motivation factors, that is what matters in preseason.

Like the Texans write-up. - Even as a Jets fan.

Rex only really cares about the D, 1st, 2nd, 3rd string it won't matter.  Any defensive player on the Jets who doesn't play 1st string will be playing his ass off to either be #1 back-up or to try to look impressive to Ryan..which is why I would lean Under the 34.5, which is definitely inflated as a MNF game.

Schuab and the starters will not get more than a series or 2 as we all know how good their offense is.  Haven't read about or heard reports in Houston, but Leinart does not scare me at all to have a good game.  I think Jets buckle down on D, won't play too much offensive ball, should be a slow, boring game and I imagine a 17-7 texans victory at most. 

bol to you

houston

GL andy.

Great week!
Nice finish for the week!