NFL
1:00 PM EST
Rotation #455-446
Vikings -6 over 49ers
The 49ers come into 2018 with so much promise after finishing off last season 5-0 with Jimmy Garoppolo at Quarterback. This team will be better on offense, but today the defense concerns me. The 49ers are really thin at linebacker today due to suspension and injuries. The secondary should be an improvement, but today there are a few guys on this unit like Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmy Ward that all are coming off ACL injuries and have not played in a regular season game for a long time. The Vikings have a new offensive coordinator, QB and are missing their regular starting center today so covering 6 points seems like a lot, but I believe they do it all today on defense. This Vikings unit returns all of their starters from last year. Jimmy Garoppolo has a new center himself and an entire rebuilt right side. I am not really high on the 49ers running game at this point of the season either. San Francisco is the sexy pick based on last year’s hot finish. I believe those numbers are a little inflated due to the level of completion. This is a tough building to play. Look for Kirk Cousins to make an immediate impact. Take the Vikings.
NFL
1:00 PM EST
Rotation #461-462
Jaguars -3 over Giants
Sometimes football can be so simple. If the NY Giants can beat a Jags team that was 1 quarter away from going to the Super Bowl then so be it. This is a rookie staff for the Giants. The battle in the trenches should belong to the Jags who bring back most of the offensive and defensive line starters from last year. The Giants were injured last year and should compete in the NFC East this year, but this is their first game as a new unit. In sports wagering we tend to out thing ourselves sometimes. Hats off to the Giants if they pull this off, but at this price we have major value on our side today. Olivier Vernon will be out of today’s game on defense for the Giants as well. I am not sure if they can create enough pressure on Blake Bortles to slow down Jacksonville. Take the Jaguars.
NFL
1:00 PM EST
Rotation #475-476
Redskins +2.5 over Cardinals
Here is yet another team in Arizona with a first year staff, a new QB, a running back coming off major injury from last year, an offensive line with new pieces and guys coming off season ending injury from last year, key receivers coming back from major injury last year and a defensive line of guys nursing foot injuries. The Redskins have an excellent front seven on defense and should win the trenches on both sides of the ball. Washington has an offensive line of guys who have all played with each other and they return their top 3 rushers from last season. I think Alex Smith and his veteran leadership along with the more experienced coaching staff will win this game on the road today. Take the Redskins.