Jim Vallet and Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
Week #1 NFL impressions from my easy chair:
If you are wondering, I did not hurt myself when I jumped off my soapbox. Here are my picks against the spread for Week #2. Lines are from vegasinsider.com as of Tuesday, Sept. 14, and watch the numbers, because they did change a lot last week.
Washington Football Team (I’ll be happy when they change that mascot) -3 vs. New York Giants.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-5 ½) vs. Las Vegas Raiders. After the Raiders’ effort on Monday night, I hate to do this, but, come on, NFL scheduler! A Monday night game vs. a very physical Ravens team followed by a short week, a long flight including a three hour time change, and then a game against a just-as-tough Steelers squad. This is one complaint I believe is justified.
Buffalo Bills (-2 ½) at Miami Dolphins. Think the Bills will go 0-2?
Indianapolis Colts (+3 ½) vs LA Rams. Another one I hate to do, but the Colts need a win.
New England Patriots (-5 ½) at New York Jets. I think Zach Wilson is the real deal, and Robert Saleh may be a great coach, but I KNOW the Jets’ offensive line was terrible last week, allowing Wilson to get hit 16 times!! No matter how much talent Wilson has, he won’t make Week #8 at this pace.
Kansas City (-3 ½) at Baltimore Ravens. While their schedule is not as bad as the Raiders’, the Ravens still face a tough team after a short week. Worse still, once Sammy Watkins sustains his annual slew of injuries, who is going to run the ball and whom is Jackson going to throw it to?
Last week: 6-3
Minnesota (+3) at Colorado: Colorado almost beat Texas A&M last week, but ended up losing 10-7. They may be a little heartbroken over losing the game in the final minutes, but even if not, their offense hasn’t showed a lot of punch. Minnesota lost running back Mo Ibrahim to a knee injury a couple weeks ago, but his replacement has 178 yards on 34 carries last week. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan is experienced and I expect him to lead his team to a road win.
East Carolina (+9 ½) over Marshall: I’m not one to give up on an idea easily. I expected East Carolina to be one of the most improved teams in the country. But I lost my bet on them against Appalachian St. because the replay official overturned a touchdown on a Hail Mary pass and called it an interception. Then they lost on a last second field goal to South Carolina last week. Quarterback Holton Ahlers has played poorly enough that the fans in Greenville are calling for the team to switch to last year’s highly rated recruit, Mason Garcia. I expect Ahlers to bounce back with a good game this week, but if he doesn’t I also think coach Mike Houston will switch to Garcia, who played well last year when Ahlers missed a game because of Covid. At 0-2, despite playing fairly well for much of both games, I think the Pirates play with abandon and desperation this week.
Boise St. (-3) over Oklahoma St.: One of the most impressive things about how many major upsets Boise St. has pulled off through the years is that they almost always come either on the road, or at neutral sites, because they rarely get a power conference team to come to Boise. They do here, and it’s one with a big name that will get them roused up, but one that has had trouble getting its offense moving s far this year.
Panthers (+3 ½) over Saints: Jameis Winston is on the road, coming off a huge game last week. I’ve seen this movie before and I know how it ends, and I’m going to have to see a different ending a few times before I’ll believe it’s any different.
Steelers (-6) over Raiders: I’m not sure I’d be taking this in a different situation, but the Raiders are off an overtime win Monday night, traveling to the East Coast. West Coast teams that play on Monday night then go to the East Coast the next week have not done well.
49ers (-3) at Eagles: The injury to Dre Greenlaw worries me a little bit, but that is one position the 49ers have some depth. The 49ers let down with a big lead against the Lions last week, but they have done well the past few years in these back-to-back Eastern games, where they stay in West Virginia to prepare.
Last week
College 1-2
NFL 0-1
Season
College 1-5
NFL 0-1
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