NFL
Bengals -3.5 over Bucs (win)
Rotation #458 / 1:00 PM EST

The Bengals enter the season looking to shake off the rust after finishing 6-13 last year. Joe Burrow got hurt, and their season went downhill from there. Burrow is back, looking to hook up with familiar targets Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Cincinnati has a height advantage against the Bucs’ secondary. Tampa enters the year off a disappointing end to 2025, when they gave up the NFC South. Todd Bowles will be on the hot seat, especially if the defense lets them down. Zac Robinson is Tampa’s offensive coordinator, so it might take a few weeks for the offense to get into sync. It won’t get any easier with Jalen McMillan doubtful to suit up. Cincinnati’s coaching staff is intact and ready to put last year’s injury-riddled season behind them. Take the Bengals.

NFL
Texans +1.5 over Bills (loss)
Texans/Bills Over 44.5 (win)
Rotation #464 / 1:00 PM EST

Buffalo enters the season with a lot of turnover, with a new head coach in Joe Brady and new coordinators. It helps that Brady was the offensive coordinator last year, but everyone needs time to adjust to new roles, especially on defense, where the Bills return just five of their top eleven tacklers from last year. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will be tasked with getting this unit on the same page. Easier said than done. Josh Allen returns at quarterback along with James Cook at running back. The Bills have a massive size advantage on the offensive line. The Texans’ coaching staff remains the same, which is why I give them the edge to win this game at home. C.J. Stroud is back at quarterback along with running backs David Montgomery and Woody Marks. The Texans also have a size advantage on the offensive line. Both receiving groups have a size advantage, and both offenses should get out to a faster start. Take the Texans. Take the Over. No parlays.

NFL
Vikings -1.5 over Packers (win)
Rotation #478 / 4:25 PM EST

We are treated to an important NFC North battle right out of the gates. Minnesota enters the year with its staff intact, led by head coach Kevin O’Connell. The biggest offseason change was acquiring QB Kyler Murray from Arizona. The Vikings will look to attack the Packers’ new defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, and try to create confusion for his new-look defense. I don’t like the Packers’ running game with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list. It’s a hard ask to have Marshawn Lloyd as the main back, especially on the road. QB Jordan Love is a special talent, but again, to better your odds of winning on the road, you must be able to run the football. I am not so sure anyone is confident in the Packers’ ability to do that. The Vikings have an outstanding defense that can make a team’s life miserable if it gets one-dimensional. It doesn’t get easier with the Packers’ offensive line, with Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele’s (Tom) status in question. Green Bay has a new field goal kicker in Florida rookie Trey Smack, so that could be something interesting to watch if the game is tight in the fourth quarter. I trust Vikings kicker Will Reichard a lot more. Take the Vikings.

NFL
Raiders -3 over Dolphins (win)
Raiders/Dolphins Over 40.5 (loss)
Rotation #774 / 4:25 PM EST

No team in the NFL had as much offseason turnover on defense as the Dolphins did. Miami returns just three of its top eleven tacklers from a season ago. Raiders’ new head coach Klint Kubiak is an offensive-minded coach who comes over after serving as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator and will look to attack a Miami unit that isn’t close to NFL-average standards. The Dolphins’ secondary is made up of non-starters with little NFL experience. Kirk Cousins is a veteran quarterback and must attack with Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, and tight end Michael Mayer. It’s hard to trust Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis, especially on the road, but the Raiders are also breaking in a brand-new staff. Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik must attack. One area where the Dolphins have a big advantage is on special teams, with return man Malik Washington and placekicker Riley Patterson. Both teams should use their big offensive lines to create running lanes and give their quarterbacks time to throw. The game still has to be played, but only a foolish coach would not attack. Take the Raiders. Take the Over. No parlays.