Free Expert Picks and Predictions

There are a lot of new pieces on both offenses and things could take a while to gel in Tennessee. Brian Callahan will be making his first HC gig but also trying to pull off play-calling duties which is never an easy task. It will be a big change in offense for Will Levis as well. The Bears also have a huge curve to overcome with a new QB and new OC. In this game alone, there is a rookie QB with a new OC, QB coach, and passing game coordinator, and the Titans have a 2nd year QB with all new offensive pieces, a new HC, and OC. This could be a messy offensive performance from both sides. 

Anthony Richardson is back at QB for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, but how much will that help one of the league's worst defenses in 2023... which bolstered the front seven but is running it back with a young (and volatile) secondary. A Week 1 matchup vs. Houston — with  C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs — will not do them any favors, plus the Texans also beefed up the defense with veteran defenders Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry.

Kyle Shanahan, at home, vs his former defensive coordinator with a spread inside six points? Sign me up! The 49ers don't mess around on their home field where they have 15 double-digit wins in their last 21 regular season games. San Fran came out flying in their season opener last season when they obliterated the Steelers, in Pittsburgh, by 23 points and I wouldn't be shocked to see a similar result against the Jets. Aaron Rodgers is now 40 years old and a few seasons removed from MVP-caliber play. Many are once again buying the hype on the Jets, but I'm not one of them. 

The summer buzz will focus on how much Florida State lost from last year’s team robbed of a Playoff spot, and understandably so, given the Seminoles return only 58% of last year’s production. But do not overlook how deep of a roster Mike Norvell has built in his five years in Tallahassee. Brent Key will never enjoy such talent at Georgia Tech, and he certainly does not after just one year. Norvell is one of the best game callers in the country, so anytime he has more than a week to prep, he should be given some further credit. Until this spread crosses two touchdowns, trust in Norvell and trust in Florida State’s talent make this an easy choice.

SMU transitions to the ACC this season and while the move to a Power Five (now Four) conference hasn't gone smoothly for some other programs in recent years, not many teams are the Mustangs. They leave the AAC as the reigning champs and return almost every key player from that roster, including quarterback Preston Stone. But these Ponies are powered by defense. This unit ranked sixth in defensive success rate and seventh in EPA last season and their front seven led by Elijah Roberts will be a problem for a Nevada offensive line that ranked 121st in sacks allowed per game. Once we get closer to kickoff I'll probably look at SMU on the first half spread or Nevada to go Under its team total, but for now I'm laying the points with the Ponies on a number that will almost certainly go up.

With the Blue Bombers' WR corps decimated by injuries, they haven't been able to consistently attack downfield. While Winnipeg had a shootout win against the Stamps two weeks ago, that was the only contest this season it scored more than 25 points. The Bombers have now gone 6-1 to the Under in their last seven games, and they face a Toronto side whose offense has been floundering without Chad Kelly under center. Cameron Dukes has been exposed at QB, averaging just 6.6 YPA in his last four games and getting benched for Nick Arbuckle in the fourth quarter last week.