2018 nfl football sneak peek at teams/predictions/news/notes/picks etc. !

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Defensive ROY Odds
July 31, 2018
By Bookmaker


While the quarterbacks received most of the attention in April’s draft, there were plenty of defensive players taken early that are expected to make a big impact as rookies. Leading the way is defensive end Bradley Chubb, who was chosen at No. 5 overall by the Denver Broncos, the second defensive player off the board.

He is the favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Chubb heads into an advantageous situation, joining a Denver defense that has talented pieces. With Von Miller on the other side harassing quarterbacks, opposing defenses will be gearing their protection packages to stop Miller. That could allow for Chubb to put up a nice sack total in his first season and win the Rookie of the Year.

There is one other player who has solid odds to win the award, but he has yet to report to training camp. Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is trying to hammer out the contract details to his rookie contract but is not there yet. He is expected to make an immediate impact but every missed day of training camp could stall his development. Keep a close eye on the situation because Smith’s odds could tumble if he doesn’t report and the relationship with the Chicago coaching staff sours.

Beyond those two the oddsmakers have placed longer odds on the rest of the candidates, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some worthy players. The first defensive player chosen in the draft was cornerback Denzel Ward who surprisingly went to the Browns at No. 4 overall. He is in the next tier of candidates and if he can live up to what Cleveland sees in him, Ward could be in the mix.

Fellow early picks Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety for the Dolphins, and Derwin James, safety for the Chargers, have the same odds as Ward. There is no consensus on who will be the Defensive Rookie of the Year so it might make sense to grab an underdog in NFL odds.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds - per BookMaker.eu

Bradley Chubb +401
Roquan Smith +451
Denzel Ward +1213
Minkah Fitzpatrick +1213
Derwin James +1213
Marcus Davenport +1558
Rashaan Evans +1620
Jaire Alexander +1911
Josh Jackson +2033
Harold Landry +2033
Vita Vea +2550
Terrell Edmunds +2550
Carlton Davis +3071
Da’Ron Payne +3071
Donte Jackson +3071
Uchenna Nwosu +3071
Kemoko Turay +3596
Isaiah Oliver +3596
Jessie Bates +3596
M.J. Stewart +3596
Taven Bryan +3596
Mike Hughes +4000
Maurice Hurst +6600
Field +2000

Odds Analysis

Chubb isn’t a bad choice because pass-rushers are often able to make an early impact. If he can register seven or eight sacks on the season it would not be a surprise for Chubb to come away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

However, it seems to be too much of a crapshoot to take the player with the highest odds. Davenport at +1558 odds is an intriguing choice. The Saints gave up a pretty penny to move up in the draft and secure his services, and will no doubt want him to succeed, so he should have plenty of chances.

New Orleans has an elite pass-rusher in Cameron Jordan, so like Chubb, Davenport should benefit from less attention on him. The Saints often play in high-scoring games, which means plenty of passes and a lot of opportunities to rack up sacks.

Among the favorites, James is a nice pick because he is joining a strong Chargers defense and could make impact plays at his position. But Davenport has better odds and he plays a position where it is easy to get noticed, so he is the choice to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 in NFL gambling.

Defensive Rookie of the Year ATS Pick: Marcus Davenport, Saints

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Defensive POY Odds
July 30, 2018
By Bookmaker

J.J. Watt has picked up three Defensive Player of the Year awards in his sterling career, and he is the favorite to do so once again in 2018. However, he doesn’t have super great odds as he is coming off a serious injury and needs to prove he is still among the game’s superstars on that side of the ball.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who is a absolute game-wrecker at the defensive tackle position. Donald is young and in the middle of a talented Los Angeles defense which just got better this offseason. However, he is currently holding out, unhappy with his contract terms. If Donald misses any games because of the dispute or is rusty early on, it would hurt his chances. Then again, Donald held out during training camp a year ago and hit the ground running, so it likely won’t slow him.

Donald is tied with another former DPOY winner in Khalil Mack. He is another player who is unhappy with his contract but these types of players are usually on the field for the regular season opener. Mack is a dominant talent, but the Raiders aren’t as good the Rams. If Oakland doesn’t force opponents to pass the ball a ton it could make it tougher for Mack to put up huge sack numbers.

Joey Bosa rounds out the quartet of players who are at the top of the pecking order as favorites. He is young and talented, starring for a Chargers team that is projected to win the AFC West. Bosa might not be considered an elite talent like those others but he has the same ability and could be poised for a huge year.

Broncos star pass-rusher Von Miller, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly are on the next tier of candidates. Kuechly has won the award while Miller has been a longtime pass-rushing menace and Ramsey is making a name for himself as one of the game’s elite cornerbacks.

Defensive Player of the Year Odds - per BookMaker.eu
J.J. Watt +600
Aaron Donald +650
Joey Bosa +650
Khalil Mack +650
Von Miller +1000
Jalen Ramsey +1800
Luke Kuechly +1800
Cameron Jordan +2300
DeMarcus Lawrence +2500
Chandler Jones +3000
Calais Campbell +3000
Myles Garrett +3000
Landon Collins +3300
Bobby Wagner +3300
Fletcher Cox +3500
Harrison Smith +4000
Myles Jack +4000
Earl Thomas +4500
Tyrann Mathieu +4500
Xavier Rhodes +5000
Brandon Graham +5000
Bradley Chubb +5800
Jadeveon Clowney +6500
Deion Jones +6500
C.J. Mosley +6500
Field +1800

Odds Analysis

Watt is the favorite but he is not a good bet at +600. He is 29 years old and has only played eight combined games the past two seasons. There are too many questions to choose the favorite, who is certainly a great player but has to stay healthy.

Donald is a solid choice as he has a ridiculous amount of talent and may be at a discount currently because of his contract situation. The best choice among the second tier is Ramsey. He is playing on a great defense. Teams will still throw at him because A.J. Bouye is a star cornerback on the opposite side, while the pass-rush should make quarterbacks force ill-advised throws.

The best value on the board is Texans pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The team should be better on offense this year, which will give him chances to pick up sacks late in gamew the Texans are winning. The presence of Watt on the other side will give Clowney plenty of single teams, and he is talented enough to dominate. Clowney had a career-high 9.5 sacks a season ago and could explode this year and win Defensive Player of the Year. If it happens, he will pay off very handsomely in NFL betting lines.

Defensive Player of the Year ATS Pick: Jadeveon Clowney, Texans

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HOF Notes - Bears vs. Ravens
August 1, 2018

Chicago Bears

Head Coach: Matt Nagy

Quarterback Rotation: Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray

The Matt Nagy era begins in the Windy City following a 5-11 finish in 2017. Trubisky is poised for a strong sophomore season after starting the final 12 games at quarterback in 2017 and leading the Bears to a 4-8 record.

Chicago has been an average preseason team over the years by compiling a 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS record the last two seasons, while dropping each of its past two preseason openers.

For updated injury reports on the Bears for this contest, we suggest following Patrick Finley and Dan Wiederer via Twitter.

Baltimore Ravens

Head Coach: John Harbaugh

Quarterback Rotation: Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson (Rookie - Louisville), Robert Griffin III, Josh Woodrum

The Ravens enter the preseason with questions at the quarterback position between the incumbent Flacco and first-round pick Jackson. Baltimore has been a great team to back in the preseason under Harbaugh by winning all eight exhibition games since 2016, while posting a perfect 8-0 ATS mark.

Baltimore has stepped up defensively in the preseason by limiting each of its last eight opponents to 19 points or fewer, while winning three exhibition games last season by double-digits.

For updated injury reports on the Ravens, we suggest following Jeff Zrebiec and Jamison Hensley via Twitter.

Preseason Coaching Stats

Matt Nagy, Chicago – First preseason game
John Harbaugh, Baltimore – 28-12 SU, 27-13 ATS, 18-18 O/U

Preseason Results - Last Two Years

Chicago

2017 (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS, 2-2 O/U)

Chicago (-1, 36.5) 17 vs. Denver 24
Chicago (+1, 40.5) 24 at Arizona 23
Chicago (+3, 43.5) 19 at Tennessee 7
Chicago (-4.5, 35.5) 0 vs. Cleveland 25

2016 (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS, 1-3 O/U)

Chicago (PK, 35.5) 0 at Denver 22
Chicago (+3, 41) 22 at New England 23
Chicago (+2.5, 41) 7 vs. Kansas City 23
Chicago (+5.5, 37) 21 at Cleveland 7

Baltimore

2017 (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS, 1-3 O/U)

Baltimore (+2, 36) 23 vs. Washington 3
Baltimore (+2.5, 37.5) 31 at Miami 7
Baltimore (-3.5, 39) 34 vs. Buffalo 9
Baltimore (+3, 37.5) 14 at New Orleans 13

2016 (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS, 1-3 O/U)

Baltimore (+1, 36.5) 22 vs. Carolina 19
Baltimore (+3, 39) 19 at Indianapolis 18
Baltimore (-2.5, 42) 30 vs. Detroit 9
Baltimore (+4.5, 38) 23 at New Orleans 14

Hall of Fame Game History & Trends

Recent Trends:

-- Baltimore is making its first-ever appearance in the HOF game.

-- Chicago owns a perfect 4-0 record in the HOF game with its last appearance coming in 2005 with a 27-24 victory over Miami.

-- The NFC has won the last five HOF games when facing a team from the AFC.

-- The 'over' cashed in last year's HOF contest between the Cardinals and Cowboys in spite of one touchdown scored between the teams in the final three quarters.

-- Three of the last four HOF games have been decided by four points or less.

HALL OF FAME GAME HISTORY (1962-2017)
Year Result
2017 Dallas 20 Arizona 18
2016 PPD
2015 Minnesota 14 Pittsburgh 3
2014 N.Y. Giants 17 Buffalo 13
2013 Dallas 24 Miami 20
2012 New Orleans 17 Arizona 10
2011 PPD
2010 Dallas 16 Cincinnati 7
2009 Tennessee 21 Buffalo 18
2008 Washington 30 Indianapolis 16
2007 Pittsburgh 20 New Orleans 7
2006 Oakland 16 Philadelphia 10
2005 Chicago 27 Miami 24
2004 Washington 20 Denver 17
2003 Kansas City 9 Green Bay 0
2002 N.Y. Giants 34 Houston 17
2001 St. Louis 17 Miami 10
2000 New England 20 San Francisco 0
1999 Cleveland 20 Dallas 17
1998 Tampa Bay 30 Pittsburgh 6
1997 Minnesota 28 Seattle 26
1996 Indianapolis 10 New Orleans 3
1995 Carolina 20 Jacksonville 14
1994 Atlanta 21 San Diego 17
1993 L.A. Raiders 19 Green Bay 3
1992 N.Y. Jets 41 Philadelphia 14
1991 Detroit 14 Denver 3
1990 Chicago 13 Cleveland 0
1989 Washington 31 Buffalo 6
1988 Cincinnati 14 L.A. Rams 7
1987 San Francisco 20 Kansas City 7
1986 New England 21 St. Louis 16
1985 N.Y. Giants 21 Houston 20
1984 Seattle 38 Tampa Bay 0
1983 Pittsburgh 27 New Orleans 14
1982 Minnesota 30 Baltimore 14
1981 Cleveland 24 Atlanta 10
1980 San Diego 0 Green Bay 0
1979 Oakland 20 Dallas 13
1978 Philadelphia 17 Miami 3
1977 Chicago 20 N.Y. Jets 6
1976 Denver 10 Detroit 7
1975 Washington 17 Cincinnati 9
1974 St. Louis 21 Buffalo 13
1973 San Francisco 20 New England 7
1972 Kansas City 23 N.Y. Giants 17
1971 L.A. Rams 17 Houston 6
1970 New Orleans 14 Minnesota 13
1969 Green Bay 38 Atlanta 24
1968 Chicago 30 Dallas 24
1967 Philadelphia 28 Cleveland 13
1965 Washington 20 Detroit 3
1964 Baltimore 48 Pittsburgh 17
1963 Pittsburgh 16 Cleveland 7
1962 St. Louis 17 N.Y. Giants 17

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHI at BAL 08:00 PM
CHI +2.5
O 33.5

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Ravens edge Bears 17-16 in HOF Game
August 2, 2018

CANTON, Ohio (AP) The goals were to let the backups play and learn, and to be inspired.

Missions accomplished.

The Ravens and Bears honored their great linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher with some defense to make them proud in the Hall of Fame game that opened the NFL's preseason Thursday night. Baltimore held on 17-16.

''Ray is the greatest linebacker of our time,'' said 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, who quarterbacked the second half for the Ravens. ''That was a big thrill and exciting stuff.''

Oh, there was a little spark of offense, some provided by Baltimore's first-round draft pick. Jackson's 7-yard touchdown pass to fellow first-rounder Hayden Hurst came after the Ravens' defense recovered a fumble.

Chicago put together its best drive in the final minutes and journeyman Tyler Bray connected with Tanner Gentry for a 10-yard score to cap a 92-yard march. But the 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

Otherwise, D was the letter of the day: there were six turnovers in all, and 12 sacks, eight by the Bears.

''To represent Ray in this game to our guys meant even more,'' Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

''It was a special moment for our organization,'' noted new Bears coach Matt Nagy.

The teams exchanged tipped interceptions on the first two possessions of the preseason.

Chicago moved swiftly downfield only to have Chase Daniel's pass to Josh Bellamy deflected to safety Chuck Clark at the Baltimore 6. He returned it 15 yards, then the Ravens replicated the turnover.

Robert Griffin III, attempting a comeback after sitting out 2017, had his pinpoint throw go off the hands of receiver Breshad Perriman, then off rookie cornerback Michael Joseph. DeAndre Houston-Carson dived to make the pick at the Ravens 34.

The Bears soon converted when Michael Burton caught a 4-yard scoring pass from Daniel.

Baltimore tied it, sparked by two big gainers by undrafted rookie running back Gus Edwards. Griffin found Maxx Williams for a 4-yard score.

''It felt great,'' Griffin said. ''I can't tell you how grateful I am to play the game again.''

Then Lewis' old unit gave him a thrill. On the next play from scrimmage, linebacker Kamalei Correa sped 19 yards with an interception to the Chicago 9. But Urlacher's former defense made him smile, sacking Griffin on third down to hold Baltimore to a 31-yard field goal by Kaare Vedvik.

Generally, it was a sloppy affair among backups marred by a slew of dropped passes, poor protection for the quarterbacks, and misthrows by those QBs.

But something Lewis and Urlacher would approve, the defenses hit hard and tackled well.

NEW COACH, OFFENSE

Nagy, of late the offensive coordinator in Kansas City, made his head coaching debut with the Bears. He has said his new offense is in the early steps of development, and it looked that way all night.

Of course, with backups playing it's nearly impossible to gauge progress. But he was optimistic.

''The arrow is pointing up for us,'' he said. ''We definitely took steps in the right direction.''

INTROS

Each of the seven inductees to the hall who were on hand - Terrell Owens is a well-publicized no-show - received a rousing ovation when they were introduced before the game. Lewis replicated his patented warmup dance for a few seconds, and Urlacher slapped hand with every Bears player lined up on the 45-yard line.

''Ray was on the field getting all fired up, doing his thing,'' Harbaugh said. ''With both teams at the 45, I thought that was awesome, and then to see Ray come out, that was spectacular.''

Urlacher gave a pregame pep talk to the Bears in the locker room.

''It's so funny to see,'' veteran defensive lineman Akiem Hicks said. ''Growing up, you've watched these guys, and you're one of the guys now who people come up and ask for pictures and autographs. Then you see Urlacher come into the locker room and you get to see all these NFL football players turn into kids ...

''It's a phenomenal feeling.''

Also walking along midfield between the lines of Ravens and Bears were Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile and Bobby Beathard.

Owens did make it onto the cover of the Hall of Fame enshrinement magazine, however.

At halftime, Hall of Famers Ozzie Newsome, the general manager of the Ravens, and Dan Fouts received their ''Rings of Excellence'' from David Baker, the hall's president.

HELMET RULE

The first application of the NFL's enhanced enforcement of penalties for players lowering their helmet to make a tackle occurred early. Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor was flagged for his hit on Benny Cunningham, earning a 15-yard penalty that helped set up Chicago's first touchdown.

Correa got nailed for the same violation in the third quarter, but he also had a sack that forced a fumble in that period, and three sacks overall.

''It was great to see him break out,'' Harbaugh said of Correa's overall performance. ''His work ethic and attention to detail, to see it pay off like that, a coach loves to see it.''

NEXT UP

Bears: At Cincinnati next Thursday night.

Ravens: Host Los Angeles Rams next Thursday night.

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WEEK 1

Thursday, August 9, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home
7:00 PM Carolina Panthers Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals
7:00 PM New Orleans Saints Jacksonville Jaguars
7:00 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miami Dolphins
7:00 PM Cleveland Browns New York Giants
7:00 PM Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles
7:30 PM Los Angeles Rams Baltimore Ravens
7:30 PM Washington Redskins New England Patriots
8:00 PM Tennessee Titans Green Bay Packers
8:30 PM Houston Texans Kansas City Chiefs
10:00 PM Dallas Cowboys San Francisco 49ers
10:00 PM Indianapolis Colts Seattle Seahawks

Friday, August 10, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home
7:30 PM Atlanta Falcons New York Jets
10:30 PM Detroit Lions Oakland Raiders

Saturday, August 11, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home
9:00 PM Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos
10:00 PM Los Angeles Chargers Arizona Cardinals


*************************


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

08/02/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50

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Handicapping Jaguars (8)
August 2, 2018

The Jacksonville Jaguars were a major surprise last season, as they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Despite all of their success, the Jaguars are not getting much respect from the oddsmakers heading into the 2018 season, as the win total for Jacksonville was set at just eight games. Let’s look at the schedule for the Jaguars this season to see if they will go over or under that number.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2018 Regular Season Win Total
Over 8 (-125)
Under 8 (-105)

Jacksonville Jaguars 2018 Schedule Analysis

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at New York Giants

If there is one game that Jacksonville executive VP of football operations Tom Coughlin wants to win this season more than any other it is this one. He was fired in 2015 from the Giants and this will be the first time he has faced them since. Jacksonville is listed as a 3.5-point favorite at BetDSI.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, vs. New England Patriots

The Jaguars get an AFC Championship Game rematch, as they host the Patriots in Week 2. The Jaguars have had a lot of trouble against the Patriots, going 1-11 all-time, but this is a game that Jacksonville can win.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars had a very good season in 2017, but they had no success at all against the Titans, losing both games. Look for Jacksonville to get revenge this season.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. New York Jets

The Jaguars actually haven’t beaten the Jets since 2009 and they lost in overtime last season. The Jaguars should end their losing streak against the Jets this season.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a new starting quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and he will get a big test in this one against a very good Jacksonville defense.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Dallas Cowboys

The Jaguars will face a good running team in the Cowboys who feature Ezekiel Elliott. This has all the looks of a low scoring game that could go either way.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. Houston Texans

The Jaguars dominated the Texans last season, winning both games by a combined 74-14. This year should be different, as the Texans have Deshaun Watson and J. J. Watt healthy.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Philadelphia Eagles (London)

The Jaguars have won their last three games at Wembley Stadium, but this will be a huge test against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Indianapolis Colts

The Jaguars swept the Colts last season, winning by a combined 53-10. It could be more difficult this season, as the Colts have a healthy Andrew Luck.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This will be prime time game on NBC and the first time the Jaguars have played on Sunday night since 2008. The Steelers were beaten twice last season by the Jaguars, so this is a big revenge game for Pittsburgh.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Buffalo Bills

The Bills have no quarterback who can threaten the Jaguars defense, so this should be a road win for the Jaguars in Doug Marone’s first trip back to Buffalo as Jacksonville head coach.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Jaguars will be home favorites in this one and they should be able to beat the Colts, even with Luck under center.

Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 6, at Tennessee Titans

The Titans chance to make a mark in the AFC South will be in this Thursday night contest. To win the division the Titans have to prove they can beat Jacksonville and Houston.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. Washington Redskins

The Jaguars have had all kinds of trouble against the Redskins, losing five of their six all-time meetings. The teams have not met since 2014.

Week 16: Sunday Dec. 23, at Miami Dolphins

The Jaguars should be able to pressure Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill and get this road win.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Houston Texans

This game could end up deciding the division, as the Texans are considered the main challenger to the Jaguars this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2018 Regular Season Win Total Prediction

Are the Jaguars as good as they were a year ago when they won 10 games in the regular season? Oddsmakers sure don’t think so, as they set the win total for Jacksonville at eight games. The schedule for Jacksonville is really favorable, as the Jaguars should have a good chance to finish with a winning record again in 2018. We’ll go over the total with Jacksonville’s win total for this season.

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Rookie WR Pettis turns heads at 49ers camp
August 2, 2018

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) The 49ers appear to have found a promising piece for second-year coach Kyle Shanahan's offense if the first week of training camp is any indication.

Rookie Dante Pettis, a receiver drafted in the second round out of Washington, has been a quick study in Shanahan's complex scheme. He's also been a tough cover for opposing defensive backs, evident by his string of catches against the starting defense in full-team drills.

In fact, Pettis closed Wednesday's practice by catching a 45-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo, speeding by promising second-year player Ahkello Witherspoon, after earlier beating All-Pro Richard Sherman for a catch on a crossing route.

Pettis' ability to get open against physical NFL cornerbacks was a question mark after he was drafted. But Shanahan made a sizable bet that Pettis could do it given his work as a punt returner. Pettis set the NCAA record with nine punt return touchdowns during his four college seasons. He has been difficult to jam at the line of scrimmage in the early going.

''If you can make guys miss with your feet when you have the ball in your hand, you should be able to do it in routes, too,'' Shanahan said. ''To combine that with his speed and his hands and his intelligence, which he is very smart, you feel pretty confident that he's going to continue to get better.''

The 49ers traded up 15 spots in the second round to draft Pettis to add to a receiving corps headlined by dependable veteran Pierre Garcon and speedster Marquise Goodwin, who has also looked good during recent practices.

Shanahan is hoping the offense can continue to progress after ranking third in yardage (410) and fifth in points per game (28.8) during the five-game winning streak with Garoppolo as a starter to end 2017.

While Goodwin, a former Olympic long jumper, has textbook sprinting form, Pettis has anything but. He has long limbs and an awkward running style. But he still finds ways to move efficiently and get separation from defenders. He first figured out he had unique movement skills in the seventh grade.

''I would watch film of me running and I was like, `Why do I run so different than everybody else?' I didn't really get it and then I was just like `All right, that's just how I run' and kind of accepted it,'' said Pettis.

Recent 49ers first-round draft picks have been bitten by the injury bug. Guard Joshua Garnett hasn't practiced since banging knees with a teammate Saturday and is listed as day to day.

Jimmie Ward has been sidelined since midway through Tuesday's practice with a hamstring injury, though he could return as soon as Friday. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead is also dealing with a hamstring issue and has been listed as week-to-week.

Ward and Armstead are expected to have significant roles for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who indicated he's not overly concerned about their absences from camp. But given NFL teams are allowed just 14 padded practices during the regular season, they are missing opportunities to hone their crafts.

''Anyone who's missing reps right now is missing valuable time,'' said Saleh. ''If you're not getting your practice reps, someone's going to pass you up. But, at the same time, those guys are doing a great job in walk through and meetings and making sure they're getting all of their mental reps so that when they do come back, they won't skip a beat.''

NOTES: TE Cole Wick suffered a knee injury during team drills Thursday and was scheduled for further testing, the team said. ... LB Brock Coyle (hip) is expected to work back into practice next week, as will offensive lineman JP Flynn (knee) . LT Joe Staley, WR Pierre Garcon, CB Richard Sherman, RB Jerick McKinnon, DT Earl Mitchell, DT DeForest Buckner and LB Malcolm Smith were given Thursday off.

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Handicapping Chiefs (8)
August 3, 2018

The Kansas City Chiefs have won at least 10 games in each of the last three seasons and made the playoffs, but oddsmakers are not as high on Kansas City for this season, as they set the win total for the Chiefs at just eight games. Kansas City will have a new starting quarterback this season in Patrick Mahomes, and the early season for Mahomes and the Chiefs is brutal.

Let’s look at Kansas City’s schedule for 2018 to see if they will go over or under their win total of eight games.

Kansas City Chiefs 2018 Regular Season Win Total
Over 8 (-105)
Under 8 (-125)

Kansas City Chiefs 2018 Schedule Analysis

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Los Angeles Chargers

The Chiefs have owned the Chargers of late, winning the last eight meetings, but this could be where the streak ends. Los Angeles is considered the better team and they are 3-point favorites at BetDSI.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Pittsburgh Steelers

Kansas City has not won a game in Pittsburgh since 1986 and it is hard to see Mahomes going into Pittsburgh and coming out with a win. There is a good chance the Chiefs start the season 0-2.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. San Francisco 49ers

The home opener for Kansas City is no bargain, as the 49ers are considered contenders in the NFC this season.

Week 4: Monday, Oct. 1, at Denver Broncos

The Chiefs have won their last three in Denver, but the Broncos are improved this season with Case Keenum at quarterback and this game is on Monday night.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars nearly beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead two years ago and Jacksonville is better now. The Jacksonville defense should give Mahomes fits in this one.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at New England Patriots

The Chiefs were able to pull off a great win at New England last season, but it is hard to see it happening again.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Chiefs finally get a game in which they figure to win, although Kansas City could come into this game with a very poor record based on their early season schedule.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Denver Broncos

These teams normally play at night at Arrowhead, as the last five meetings in Kansas City have been in prime time. That won’t be the case this season.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Cleveland Browns

The Browns have former Kansas City GM John Dorsey running the show. This may not be an easy game for Kansas City on the road in Cleveland.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have a new quarterback in Sam Bradford and a healthy David Johnson. This is no sure win for Kansas City.

Week 11: Monday, Nov. 19, vs. Los Angeles Rams (Mexico City)

The Rams are simply the better team than Kansas City and you know that Marcus Peters will be highly motivated to beat his former team.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have a new head coach in Jon Gruden and going into Oakland and winning is never easy.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have done well of late against the Chiefs, as they are 3-0 with Joe Flacco at quarterback against Kansas City and two of those wins were at Arrowhead.

Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13, vs. Los Angeles Chargers

This will be a prime time game that the Chargers may actually be favored to win on the road.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Seattle Seahawks

There is a good chance that both of these teams will be out of playoff contention and that this game is moved out of the Sunday night NBC time slot.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Oakland Raiders

The Chiefs will probably be in the role of spoiler for their home finale.

Kansas City Chiefs 2018 Regular Season Win Total Prediction

Do you see any sure wins on the schedule for the Chiefs in 2018? There are obviously some games they can win, but when you look at a team’s schedule you start by circling sure wins and sure losses. There look to be a lot more games that Kansas City figures to lose than they figure to win and it doesn’t help that they have an unproven quarterback in Mahomes. We’ll go under the total of eight wins for Kansas City in 2018.

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Preseason Week 1 Parlays
August 6, 2018

Winning Parlay Picks for NFL Preseason Week 1

The Hall of Fame Game ended up being what we expected, which was a low scoring game with a lot of errors. We can probably expect more of the same in Week 1 of the preseason, as we are unlikely to see any of the starters suit up for these match-ups.

While that tends to make handicapping a little more difficult, I am still going to give it a shot. Odds for all Week 1 Games are up at YouWager.eu, so I have put together some parlay tickets that we can all hopefully cash out while we get things ready for the regular season.

NFL Preseason Week 1 SU Parlay

I’m going to try and put together a ticket here that will pay out rather nicely if it hits, which means picking out some road underdogs. Let’s start with the Atlanta Falcons (+125) heading to the Big Apple to face the New York Jets. In a full squad match-up, this would be a straightforward pick, with the Falcons getting the nod. I think we can stick with them, even though we are looking at second and third stringers here.

The Carolina Panthers (+120) had 11 wins last season and look like a team that could deliver more of the same this year. They will start their preseason with a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills, a team that look to be in trouble this coming season. Let’s add the Panthers to our ticket.

We have a couple of longshots in there, so let’s cap it of with a favorite. I like the Miami Dolphins (-125) to get the win at home against a Tampa Bay team that looks set to be in disarray in 2018.

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NFL Preseason Week 1 ATS Parlay

There is a feeling that the New York Giants are going to be a whole lot better this season, and they will get their preseason rolling as a 2 ½ point favorite over the Cleveland Browns at home. That looks like a pretty solid bet to me and anyone that has seen Cleveland’s dismal 1-31 record.

We have what looks to be a good one with the New Orleans Saints heading into Jacksonville to face the Jaguars as a 2 ½ point underdog. I think we get a close one here, and I have the feeling that the Saints might even sneak the win, so let’s take New Orleans to cover.

The final play on this ticket sees the Tennessee Titans step onto the holy ground that is Lambeau Field, where they will, of course, face the Packers. The bookies have this one as a PK play, so I am taking the Packers and that home field advantage.

NFL Preseason Week 1 O/U Parlay

With the O/U ticket, I think the obvious first pick comes in the Pittsburgh Steelers trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The 35-point total looks to be in serious trouble to me in this one, so let’s take the OVER in this game.

The Chicago Bears did not deliver much in the way of offense in the HOF game last week, and I expect it will be more of the same against the Cincinnati Bengals, another team that may have a tough time generating offense. Let’s take the UNDER 36.

Our last pick for this parlay ticket will take us to Foxboro, where the New England Patriots will be hosting the Washington Redskins. The point total for this one is set at 37, a number that I think these two can combine to surpass, so let’s go with the OVER.

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NFC Coaching Changes
August 6, 2018

Seven teams made head coaching changes after last season and the vast majority of teams around the league have made offensive or defensive coordinator changes. Here is a quick look at some of those staff moves in the NFC.

DALLAS COWBOYS: The Cowboys have one of the longest tenured coaching staffs with both coordinators back under Jason Garrett. Rod Marinelli has been DC since 2014 and Scott Linehan OC since 2014 while Garrett has been the HC since 2011 and with the team since 2007.

NEW YORK GIANTS: After going 11-5 in 2016, the wheels fell off last season and Ben McAdoo was fired. Pat Shurmur takes over after leading Minnesota’s offense last season and with two years with Cleveland as a HC under his belt. Long-time NFL assistant Mike Shula will be the OC serving in that role in Carolina the past five seasons. James Bettcher served as the DC with Arizona the past three years and will take over that role in New York.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Frank Reich took over as the head coach in Indianapolis and wide receivers coach Mike Groh is the new offensive coordinator for the Eagles, his first time in that role though Doug Pederson takes on a bigger role leading the offense than most head coaches.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Matt Cavanaugh (OC) and Greg Manusky (DC) are back for second seasons in those roles under Jay Gruden. A few other minor staff changes were made in Washington for a potentially critical season for Gruden’s fifth year while the offense replaces Kirk Cousins at QB.

CHICAGO BEARS: The Bears hired former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to take over as head coach. Former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich is Nagy’s OC with no NFL experience on his resume. Vic Fangio will stay on as DC through the coaching change, with the team in that role since 2015 and serving as DC with four other NFL teams in his career.

DETROIT LIONS: The Lions fired Jim Caldwell despite back-to-back 9-7 seasons and a 36-28 record in four seasons while responsible for three of the team’s four winning seasons in the past 17 years. Matt Patricia is the new head coach after 14 years as an assistant at New England the past six as DC. Jim Bob Cooter was retained as the OC while Paul Pasqualoni was hired as DC after a well traveled run in the college and NFL ranks with Patricia an assistant when Pasqualoni was the head coach as Syracuse.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Mike Pettine is returning to the NFL as the new Green Bay defensive coordinator following a long and mixed run under Dom Capers. Pettine was a successful DC for the Jets and Bills before a failed HC stop in Cleveland in 2014-15. Former Packers OC Joe Philbin is back with the team after being HC in Miami and more recently an assistant in Indianapolis. Edgar Bennett (OC) and Alex Van Pelt (QBs) were fired after last season.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Pat Shurmur leaves as OC to take over in New York while John DeFilippo takes over as OC after being QB coach in Philadelphia. He has an entirely new QB staff to work with.

ATLANTA FALCONS: After the Super Bowl season in 2016, the Falcons had a big staff shake-up with mew coordinators on both sides of the ball. The key staff remains for 2018 for far more stability than most with Steve Sarkisian in the OC role and Marquand Manuel as the DC.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: The Panthers lost DC Steve Wilks to Arizona and Eric Washington will be the team’s third DC in as many years. A first-time DC he has been with the team since 2011 as the defensive line coach. Well traveled 66-year-old Norv Turner is the team’s new OC in that capacity with his sixth different team after firing Mike Shula.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: The Saints made several changes ahead of last season but got positive results sticking with Dennis Allen as DC now entering his fourth season in that role. Pete Carmichael is has been the OC in New Orleans since 2009.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Defensive line coach Jay Hayes was let go last winter for one of few changes for Tampa Bay despite a disappointing 2017 season. Brentson Buckner is his replacement while former Atlanta HC Mike Smith is still the DC. Todd Monken will be exclusively the OC in 2018 after a shared title last season as also the WR coach.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: Bruce Arians retired and Arizona hired Steve Wilks as the new head coach. Wilks has been an assistant with Carolina since 2012 and a defensive assistant in the NFL since 2006. Al Holcomb comes with Wilks as a Carolina assistant and is the new DC. Former Chargers HC Mike McCoy is the OC after being let go midseason in that role with Denver last season and there is an entirely new set of QBs in Arizona.

LOS ANGELES RAMS: After leading the NFL in points, the Rams have to replace OC Matt LaFleur who signed with Tennessee. With big shoes to fill, OL coach Aaron Kromer and TE coach Shane Waldron are sharing the OC duties in 2018. Wade Phillips is back as DC for a second season.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Keena Turner and DeMeco Ryans were given promotions on the staff, but DC Robert Saleh is back for a second season while head coach Kyle Shanahan did not hire an offensive coordinator at his hiring and will remain handling those duties in his second season.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Kris Richard was let go as DC for the Seahawks despite great numbers and former star linebacker Ken Norton, Jr. will be in that role in 2018 after stops in Oakland and San Francisco. Darrell Bevell was also let go after seven years as OC with Brian Schottenhiemer now with his seventh franchise in two decades though not as a NFL OC since 2014 with the Rams.

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AFC Coaching Changes
August 6, 2018

Seven teams made head coaching changes after last season and the vast majority of teams around the league have made offensive or defensive coordinator changes. Here is a quick look at some of those staff moves in the AFC.

BUFFALO BILLS: Sean McDermott had a successful first season in Buffalo with nine wins and a playoff berth. Expectations for year two are identical to last summer however. There are big changes on the roster and on the staff with the big move of Brain Daboll replacing Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator. Daboll was Alabama’s OC last season and has been an assistant with five NFL teams most notably with New England.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Dowell Loggains in the new offensive coordinator for the Dolphins replacing Clyde Christensen who will remain with the team in a player development role. Loggains has been the OC with the Bears the past two seasons.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Josh McDaniels was expected to leave the Patriots but will remain leading the offense. Matt Patricia is now the head coach in Detroit and Bill Belichick did not officially hire a new defensive coordinator. Linebackers coach Brian Flores who has been an assistant with the team since 2004 will get added responsibility with play calling duties but has not been given the DC label.

NEW YORK JETS: John Morton was fired after one season as the offensive coordinator. Last season’s QB coach Jeremy Bates was promoted to the OC role for 2018, the sixth person in that position over the past eight seasons for the Jets. Bates was the OC for the Seahawks in 2010. Heading into his fourth season only four of the original 18 assistants under Todd Bowles remain with the team.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: Dean Pees resigned as defensive coordinator and is taking over that role in Tennessee. Don Martindale who has been the linebackers coach with the team since 2010 was promoted to the DC role for 2018. Martindale was previously the DC for the Patriots from 2006-2009.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: Most of last season it was expected that Bengals would have a new head coach this season but a change of course has Marvin Lewis still leading the team. A change at defensive coordinator did occur with Paul Guenther out after four seasons (and now in that role with Oakland) while Teryl Austin takes over that role after serving as the DC for the Lions the past four seasons. Bill Lazor took over the OC position last September and was retained.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: Former Chiefs head coach and Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley jumps within the division to lead the Browns as the new OC for 2018 after six seasons in Pittsburgh. Head coach Hue Jackson has been the offensive play caller the past two seasons with no one on the staff with an OC title. Haley will now take over the play calling role with former Bengals OC Ken Zampese now the QB coach in Cleveland.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Randy Fichtner has been a Pittsburgh assistant since 2007 and he will maintain his QB coach role while being the new OC in 2018.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Mike Vrabel left to take over the Titans while Romeo Crennel slides back to the defensive coordinator role where he served with the Texans from 2014-16 before being assistant head coach last season, a role he still also holds.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: The Colts overhauled the staff with former Eagles OC Frank Reich the new head coach. Reich didn’t call plays in Philadelphia which he intends to do in Indianapolis but he has been an assistant in around the league starting in Indianapolis in 2008. Nick Sirianni is a first time OC after being an assistant with the Chiefs and Chargers the last decade. Matt Eberflus is the DC as a Dallas assistant in recent years.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Doug Marrone was able to keep his staff mostly in tact with neither coordinator departing despite a great rise for the team last season. As one of the few teams without a new coordinator the Jaguars should have optimism for 2018.

TENNESSEE TITANS: The Titans have won nine games the past two seasons including a playoff win last season but a new staff takes over with Mike Vrabel the new head coach after just one season as DC in Houston and only four seasons as a NFL assistant. Matt LaFleur led the Rams to the most point in the NFL last season in his only season as OC and he takes over that role with the Titans. Former Patriots and Ravens DC Dean Pees will lead the Tennessee defense after a very brief retirement. Pees will be 69 when the season starts.

DENVER BRONCOS: Six assistants were fired after the 2017 season but both coordinators remain for the Broncos with Joe Woods OC and Bill Musgrave DC under Vance Joseph. Woods took over for Mike McCoy last November.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Matt Nagy and Brad Childress depart the offensive staff and long-time assistant Eric Bieniemy will be the new OC for the Chiefs, last serving in that role at Colorado in 2011-12 and tasked with leading the offense under 2017 draft pick Patrick Mahomes III.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: The Chargers retain both former head coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley as the 2018 coordinators under head coach Anthony Lynn. This team has perhaps the least staff turnover in the league following last season’s 9-7 debut for Lynn and the move to the greater Los Angeles area.

OAKLAND RAIDERS: Jack Del Rio was fired after a disappointing second season with the Raiders with former Raiders and Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden taking over. Paul Guenther is the defensive coordinator after serving in that capacity for the Bengals the past four seasons. Well traveled assistant Greg Olson will be the OC, previously in role in Oakland in 2013-14 as well as in stops in Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville before working with the Rams as QB coach last season and bringing the arrival of Jared Goff. The Raiders are one of the few teams with the same projected QB rotation as last season.

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Handicapping Buccaneers (7.5)
August 7, 2018

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not made the playoffs in more than a decade and based on their season win total for 2018 that drought is not likely to end. Oddsmakers put the win total for the Bucs at 7.5 for the 2018 season.

Tampa will have to win early in the season without quarterback Jameis Winston, as he is suspended for the first three games. Let’s look at the Tampa Bay schedule for this season to see if they will go over or under their win total.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018 Regular Season Win Total
Over 7.5 (-130)
Under 7.5 (+100)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018 Schedule Analysis

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at New Orleans Saints

The Bucs have not played well at New Orleans through the years, as they are 11-18 all-time in New Orleans. It is hard to see them winning this one with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Bucs home opener is no bargain, as they face the defending Super Bowl champs. Tampa has been a disaster against reigning Super Bowl champs, as they are 4-17 all-time. The Eagles are 9-6 in September road games since 2016 and they should improve that record here.

Week 3: Monday, Sept. 24, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

There is a good chance that the Bucs will start the season 0-3, as they host the Steelers in Week 3. The Bucs don’t have the defense to slow down the Steelers in this one.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Chicago Bears

This game is the easiest of the first four, but the Bucs will still be underdogs, as the Bears are expected to be improved. It is hard to see the Bucs getting their first win of 2018 in Chicago, as Tampa is 6-21 all-time in Chicago.

Week 5: BYE

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Atlanta Falcons

When will the first win for the Bucs come in 2018? It probably won’t happen here, as the Falcons are the better team and at home.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. Cleveland Browns

If there is a game that the Bucs should win it is this one. They are 2-0 at home against the Browns since 2002.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are normally a tough home team, but the Bucs should have a chance to be competitive in this one and stretch their winning streak to two.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are 6-1 at home in the month of November since 2015. The Panthers defense has owned Winston and this looks like a road loss for Tampa.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Washington Redskins

The Redskins have a new quarterback in Alex Smith and Washington should be improved this season. This game looks like a toss-up.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at New York Giants

The Giants are expected to be much better this season with a vastly improved offense. The Bucs could be facing yet another road defeat.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Bucs know Kyle Shanahan’s offense well, as he was with the Falcons, but that doesn’t mean they can stop it. This could turn into a shootout between Jimmy Garoppolo and Jameis Winston.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Carolina Panthers

The Bucs should have a chance to win this one, as the Panthers are not nearly as good on the road late in the season. They are 6-5 in their last 11 road games in December compared to 10-1 at home.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. New Orleans Saints

The Bucs beat the Saints at home late last season, but this year it could be different. There is a good chance that Tampa may have a new head coach by this time, as Dirk Koetter’s days are numbered.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have been very good at home, going 47-17 since 2010. It is hard to see Tampa going into Baltimore and winning.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have not played well in the month of December, going 12-17 since 2001. This is a game that the Bucs could win.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Atlanta Falcons

The regular season finale will probably see the Bucs as home underdogs. The Bucs will try and play spoiler in their last game, but it is still hard to see them winning this one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018 Regular Season Win Total Prediction

Why is the win total for the Bucs at 7.5? There is no reason to think Tampa is going to be a .500 team this season. They won’t have Winston for the first three games, all of which look like losses. Koetter has somehow survived at Tampa, but he could be gone before this season is over. The Bucs have all the looks of a team that wins only four or five games, so we’ll go under the total of 7.5.

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Preseason Week 1 Best Bets
August 7, 2018

NFL Preseason Week 1 Betting Preview: Must Bet Spreads

While we have already had some football action to bet on at the annual Hall of Fame Game, this Thursday marks the real beginning of the NFL preseason, and since all odds are already up at YouWager.eu, it is time to review them and make some picks ahead of the action.

Week 1 delivers a full slate of games, as well as the opportunity to build your bankroll before the regular season gets started in a little over a month from now. For this piece, we are going to look at the point spreads for the opening week of preseason to see if we can find some winners.

Keep in mind that things are a little trickier here, as the starters on any given team are likely to see very little action, if any at all. With that in mind, let’s get to the picks.

Carolina Panthers (+2 ½) at Buffalo Bills

The Carolina Panthers went an impressive 11-5 last season but are coming into 2018 feeling that they have something to prove after being bounced in the opening round of the playoffs. This is a team that might well rally around their QB this season, too, after former player Kelvin Benjamin took some time out to rip Cam Newton's accuracy and intelligence.

I am looking to the Panthers to set the tone very early in this season, which means trying to come out and dominate from the off. I think that is something that they are certainly capable of doing against a mediocre Bills team.

Miami Dolphins (-1 ½) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last season was a bit of a nightmare for the Buccaneers, and this season has not started much better. They will be without QB Jameis Winston who is suspended for the early part of the season, and you just get a feeling that this is a team in disarray.

The Dolphins should be better this season with the return of Ryan Tannehill who missed all of last year due to an injury sustained in the preseason. Given the rust that Tannehill may need to shake off, there is a good chance that he will see some time on the field. Even if he does not, I still like the Dolphins to cover at home.

L.A. Rams (+3) at Baltimore Ravens

It might be a little tempting to take the Ravens in this one when you consider that they already have a game, not to mention a win, under their belts. Baltimore squeaked past the Chicago Bears in the HOF Game by a 17-16 score but did not look particularly impressive doing so.

This will be the first preseason test for a Rams team that is one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season, and they are a group that looks strong from top to bottom. I also think they have a great deal more depth than the Ravens, which is why I really like them to cover.

Green Bay Packers (PK) over Tennessee Titans

You get the definite sense that 2018 is going to be a season of redemption for the Green Bay Packers. After all, they have been one of the most talented teams in the league in the Aaron Rodgers era, but have found themselves derailed by injury in each of the last two seasons.

They will open up against a Tennessee Titans team that had a very good season last year, making the playoffs and picking up a win in the Wild Card Game. I think the bookies have this right in terms of the PK play, as I expect a close one, but I like the Packers to edge it at Lambeau.

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Thursday's Top Totals
August 8, 2018

NFL Preseason Week 1: Best looking Game Totals

Football is back, and while we still have about a month or so to wait until the meaningful action begins, there are still plenty of preseason games to whet our appetites. The opening week of NFL preseason football begins this Thursday night, with a full slate of games scheduled to be played over the next couple of days.

The odds for all of these games are live at YouWager.eu, and today we are going to look at the point totals to see if we can pick a few winners. Let’s get right to the action and get those picks out there.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles – OVER 33

We are not going to see Carson Wentz return to the field this week, as the Eagles have already announced that he will be sitting this one out as he continues to rehab. What we will see, though, is the beginning of a battle for the back-up QB spot in Pittsburgh. Big Ben will of course be the man again, but who will slot in behind him? Landry Jones has been the back-up for a couple of years, but the Steelers have drafted Joshua Dobbs and Mason Rudolph in back to back seasons. One of those three guys will not make the cut, so look for them all to try and put on an offensive show.

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Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals – UNDER 35

The Bears have already played a game, opening the season with a 17-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at the Hall of Fame Game. Mitch Trubisky should see some time in this one, although probably not enough to make any type of meaningful impact. The Cincinnati Bengals have been on the decline for a few years now, and this might well be the season when they hit bottom. I think both of these teams are going to struggle to score, which is why I am all about the UNDER in this game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins – UNDER 34 ½

Both of these teams are coming into the season feeling as thought they have something to prove. The Buccaneers underwhelmed last year after taking a step forward in 2016, and they will begin their 2018 season without QB Jameis Winston who will be serving a suspension. The Bucs offense is going to need to try and develop some rhythm in the preseason to combat that loss, and things could get sloppy. The Dolphins will be easing QB Ryan Tannehill back into the line-up after he missed all of last year through injury. Not sure he will see much time here, though, which should keep the score down and the point total UNDER.

Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks – OVER 34 ½

The Colts came out yesterday and announced that they expect Andrew Luck to start the entire first quarter in that game, which means things will go one of two ways. He will either come out and look great, putting some points on the board in the process, or he will carry some rust and make mistakes that put the Seahawks in a good position. Either way, I think we might see a lot of points scored in that opening quarter, which should help take the overall point total to the OVER.