yielded records of 185-100-1 SU (64.9%) and 159-123-2 ATS (56.4%), including his “Best Bets” going 13-7 SU\/ATS and “Upset Specials” a sparkling 15-3 SU\/ATS.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nKickoff weekend in the NFL is about as unpredictable as figuring out when Tom Brady will truly hang it up. This week\u2019s opening games are a prime example \u2013 including that 45-year-old quarterback\u2019s Buccaneers journeying to Dallas for the Sunday night showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those Bucs are favored on the road, as are the Ravens, Saints, 49ers, Eagles, Colts, Chiefs, Packers and Broncos as things get started for real (at last!). That\u2019s A LOT of home underdogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which usually makes for plenty of temptation to pick the hosts. Or not, because in many cases the visitors simply are far superior teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then again, anything can happen in Week 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Browns at Panthers (+1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian McCaffrey is healthy, Baker Mayfield is ticked off, and the Browns are a team in turmoil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(BEST BET) PANTHERS 22-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRaiders at Chargers (-3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe we\u2019re being foolish relying a bit too much on what we saw in the preseason. But Josh McDaniel could make a huge difference in Sin City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(UPSET SPECIAL) RAIDERS 30-26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBroncos at Seahawks (+6.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you think Mayfield is eager for vengeance, how about Russell Wilson?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BRONCOS, 31-10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSteelers at Bengals (-6.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seems like a bunch of folks are downplaying the Bengals and writing off the Steelers. Beware on both ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BENGALS, 23-15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBuccaneers at Cowboys (+2.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even with so many stars on the field in Big D, the O-lines could determine how this turns out. But we\u2019ll stick with the Old Man QB for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BUCCANEERS 28, COWBOYS 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPackers at Vikings (+1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another aging quarterback we\u2019ll put our faith in is Aaron Rodgers. And we\u2019re not sold on Minnesota as a contender, though a convincing win here would change our mind a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PACKERS, 22-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nChiefs at Cardinals (+6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both clubs appear less dangerous than a year ago, missing key pieces on offense and defense. The Chiefs are starting from a higher plane, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHIEFS, 30-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPatriots at Dolphins (-3.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dolphins have had the Patriots\u2019 number recently, which says a whole lot more about Brady not being in New England any longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DOLPHINS, 17-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n49ers at Bears (+6.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Untested Trey Lance against virtually untested Justin Fields. No matter, this one will be decided in the trenches, which means \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
49ERS, 22-6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRavens at Jets (+7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheduling oddity 2022: The Ravens play each of the AFC East teams in the opening four weeks, and the Jets take on each AFC North squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVENS, 24-10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSaints at Falcons (+5.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dennis Allen\u2019s debut as head coach for the Saints, who have a championship-quality defense. Nothing about the Falcons speaks title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SAINTS, 23-9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nEagles at Lions (+4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The positive vibes about the Eagles, far more talented than in 2021 when they squeezed into the playoffs, would fade with a flop here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EAGLES, 28-25<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nColts at Texans (+7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Chicago doesn\u2019t have the weakest roster in the league, then Houston does. Indy should be a solid AFC South pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COLTS, 29-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nJaguars at Commanders (-2.5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jacksonville spent big bucks to upgrade the roster, but it\u2019s bringing in Doug Pederson for Urban Meyer on the sideline that made for the biggest improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JAGUARS, 19-17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nGiants at Titans (-5 \u00bd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This line seems low and probably reflects the belief the Titans have regressed significantly. We\u2019ll go with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TITANS, 20-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWilner\u2019s 2021 RECORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Season – Straight up: 185-100-1. Against the spread: 159-123-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Bet – Straight up: 12-7-1. Against the spread: 13-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upset Special – Straight up: 15-3. Against the spread: 15-3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Barry Wilner (EDITOR’S NOTE: Barry Wilner was a sports writer for the Associated Press for 46 years, covering the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":23496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t