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2005
- 2006 NFL Season Free
NFL Handicapping Week 1
2004 - 2005 NFL Season
Stock the fridge with beer, and throw some bratwursts
on the grill, the NFL season is here! Before the games
begin, let Lucky Lester break down whose to loose
and whose in for a win. At the time of this article
being posted the spreads were accurate. If the spread
changes after the posting, I can't help that but my
picks will stay the same.
SUPER
PICKS
Ravens
(-3) @ Browns: Jamal Lewis ran for 500 yards in
two games against the Browns last year, not to mention
295 in one game. Watch Jamal run over a small defensive
line that has done nothing but underachieve. The already
great Raven Defense will be extra juiced with the
much awaited return of Prime Time. With Butch Davis
in danger of loosing his job and new QB Jeff Garcia
upset with the team's cohesiveness, I wouldn't be
surprised if the Browns didn't score a point. Game
Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Chiefs
(+3) @ Denver: The odds makers must have more
trust in Jake Plummer than I do. Dick Vermeil's super
offense should give a solid Denver defense more then
they can handle. Priest Holmes is always good in openers
and the Chiefs are perennial quick starters (10-0
last season). Denver will miss Clinton Portis when
they can't rush past the very average Kansas City
defense buoyed by Gunther Cunningham's new schemes.
At three point underdogs the Chiefs are a safe pick
in week one. Game Date: 09/12/04 20:40 ET
Chargers
@ Texans (-5): David Carr has the Texans running
on full throttle. His weapons are lethal with Andre
Johnson and Dominique Davis in their second seasons
as NFL players. Corey Bradford has always been a deep
threat, gaining 20 yards a catch last year. The Chargers
on the other hand have LaDainian Tomlinson, and that's
it. I can't name a wide receiver; they cut Kevin Dyson,
the only one I had ever heard of, and wide receiver
coach James Lofton said his receiving corps number
one job was blocking for LaDainian Tomlinson. Sounds
like a tough year. The Texans are good and San Diego
is bad. This is a no-brainer. Game Date: 09/12/04
13:05 ET
Falcons
(-3.5) @ 49ers: Bet against the Niners. They are
bad. The Miami Hurricane's have a more potent offense.
At 3.5 point favorites I suggest mortgaging your grandmother's
house on the game.
Game Date: 09/12/04 16:20 ET
Lucky
Lester's Picks For Week One
Colts
(+3) @ Patriots: Lucky's going to buck the trend
here and go with the Colts to break out of their funk
and take it to the Pat's in their own house. Manning
is out to show he's worth the bank he got paid this
off-season and I say he will. Look for a huge game
out of Indianapolis' offense and an end to New England's
daunting 14 game winning streak. Take the colts and
the three points. Game Date: 09/09/04 20:05 ET
Titans
(-3) @ Miami: Look for the Titans to exploit Miami's
nightmarish off-season and win impressively. Tennessee
replaced Eddie George with the much faster and more
explosive Chris Brown, giving the Titans a ground
attack they've lacked the last few years. Co-MVP Steve
McNair will find Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett for
big plays to seal the victory.
Game Date: 09/11/04 13:00 ET
Raiders
(+4) @ Steelers: I know the Raiders have lost
their last nine road games, and I know they were last
in the league in rushing defense one year ago, but
they've turned the corner. There's no way new additions
Warren Sapp and Ted Washington will let running backs
run with ease on their watch. Rich Gannon will be
back to his Pro Bowl status of 2002, and he'll find
Jerry Porter for big plays. Al Davis went into the
off-season making sure his Raiders wouldn't embarrass
him again this year. The Raiders will upset Pittsburg
in week one. Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Buccaneers
@ Redskins (-1.5): The Buc's are going to realize
how much they're going to miss the likes of Warren
Sapp and John Lynch when they meet Joe Gibbs' new
workhorse Clinton Portis in week 1. Tampa Bay's totally
revamped offensive line has yet to gel. Brad Johnson
will feel the effects and miss his favorite receiver,
camp holdout Keenan McCardell. Giving up only 1.5
points at home will is a bargain against the still-unsettled
Buccaneer squad.
Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Jaguars
(+3) @ Bills: Unfortunately for the Bills and
quarterback Drew Bledsoe the Buffalo offensive line
is still a work in progress. Not a good sign for a
quarterback who was sacked 49 times a year ago. Bledsoe
has never been quick on his feet, i.e. Fat Seventh
Grader, and should prove helpless to escape from the
athletic and young Jaguar defense. Points have been
hard to come by in Jaguar pre-season, but Fred Taylor's
return should benefit the team enormously, and look
for Byron Leftwhich to hook up with stud rookie Reggie
Williams early and often. Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05
ET
Bengals
@ Jets (-4.5): The usually generous Jets defense
(28th against the run last year) will get a much needed
lift when Carson Palmer shows up for his first start
in week one. The Jets will surprise Palmer with their
defensive team speed and rookie Jonathan Vilma will
show why he was a first round selection. The Jets
Chad Pennington will show why he's one of the best
young quarterbacks in the league by wiring it out
with superb accuracy to Santana Moss and new addition
Justin McCarrins. Curtis Martin will be a force again
this year, he's healthy and in as good a shape as
ever. Coach Herman Edwards finally has his teams attention,
they should surprise a lot of people his season.
Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Lions
(+3) @ Bears: The young Lions will give an overmatched
Bear defense too much to handle. Young stars are abundant
on this skilled team, starring rookies Roy Williams
and Kevin Jones and second year stud Charles Rogers
who showed an ability to reach the end-zone early
last season. Joey Harrington is primed for a breakout
year and will be encouraged to let the ball fly. Steve
Mariucci, in his second year, will have his young
lions roaring early this season. The Bears are bad.
Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Cardinals
@ Rams (-11): Ouch! Eleven points is a lot
to lay, but what else can you do? The hapless Cardinals
will showcase Emmitt Smith's Hall of Fame ability,
only five years too late. Dennis Green can't be excited
about the loss of budding superstar Anquan Boldin,
nor the nagging injuries to Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant
Johnson. Marcel Shipp will be one of the team's biggest
losses of the pre-season. All-Pro wide receivers Torry
Holt and Isaac Bruce should torch a sub par Cardinal
secondary. It's going to be easy to feel sorry for
Dennis Green in his first year with Arizona, but we
might as well win money of his woes. This years Draft
Bowl will take place early in the year as Phoenix
takes on San Diego in week 2. Game Date: 09/12/04
13:05 ET
Seahawks
(-2) @ New Orleans: It's put up or shut up for
a Seahawks team that is touted as an early Super Bowl
contender. It's a lot to say for a team that hasn't
won a play-off game since Holmgren began coaching
the Hawks. They were also a dismal 2-6 on the road
last year. But I'm taking the Hawks in this one. This
young team showed their skill in the pre-season and
will highlight hard-nosed running back Shaun Alexander
against a Saints D that is shaky at best. Brooks was
hurt often in the preseason and has yet to establish
any rhythm. This high scoring affair should be entertaining,
and the Seahawks will turn their road woes around.
Game Date: 09/12/04 13:05 ET
Giants
@ Eagles (-9.5): Like the Ram/Charger game,
this spread is a little too large for comfort. But
the Giants offensive line has been hard-pressed to
protect the ever-so-mobile Kurt Warner this pre-season,
and I don't see that changing against the blitz-happy
eagles and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The
play of new additions of Javon Kearse and Terrell
Owens should convince Tom Coughlin to go back to NASCAR.
Donovan McNabb's accuracy has improved, and his offense
is stronger. Take the Eagles in an old rivalry that's
turned into a new blow out. Game Date: 09/12/04
16:20 ET
Cowboys
@ Vikings (-4.5): The Vikings had the number
one ranked offense last season. The Cowboys had the
number one ranked defense. Daunte Culpepper has looked
phenomenal in the pre-season, completing nearly 80%
of his passes. The Cowboys on the other hand have
had trouble finding corner backs to start opposite
Terrence Newman. Pete Hunter has seen pre-season balls
fly over his head and into opposing receiver's hands.
Randy Moss is awesome and should be ready to fly bye
constant double teams. With the Cowboys paying too
much attention to Moss, Nate Burleson and Kelly Campbell
should find themselves connecting with Culpepper for
big plays. Vinny Testeverde will feel every bit his
age in the menacing confines of the Metro Dome. Game
Date: 09/12/04 16:20 ET
Packers
(+3) @ Panthers: Brett Favre has declared this
year a Super Bowl or bust for his Packers. Brett's
always been a Monday Night Hero. Carolina has stayed
intact throughout their skill positions but has gutted
their offensive line. Four starters are at new positions.
The run-happy Panthers will find them self needing
more time to gel, take the Pack and the points.
Game Date: 09/13/04 21:10 ET
Well
folks there you have it, my picks for week one. Make
sure you come back to check out Lucky Lester's picks
for week two of what should turn out to be an excellent
football season.
WAGERING
SMART MAKES WATCHING NFL GAMES MORE FUN
Good
Luck with your NFL Football Wagering!
Lucky Lester
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