I’m happy.
I touched upon it in my “Welcome Back” article a few weeks ago, but I truly enjoy the process of digging through football teams and finding hidden gems.
In putting the finishing touches on this year’s first picks article, I smiled. I really did feel a sense of excitement, but it wasn’t the nervous energy that pulses through me right before the moment-of-truth — that will happen Sunday morning while I await the bulk of games. This joy came from a different source.
You.
I realized why I was so excited to finalize my article, and it’s because this is the one that my readers want. I put my heart into everything that I produce, but I know that the football picks — these weekly columns — are the ones that get other people excited.
It is my joy to share in your joy.
Of course, we all know that winning is going to drive our joy. When we lose, I get nasty emails. When we win, I get some positive ones. It’s the nature of this game. But I have also recognized that, over the years, there are many many many of you who truly enjoy reading what I have to write. Those of you who understand that we can’t win all the time but the rate at which we do win is still so solid that it keeps me writing and you reading.
That is what makes me happy.
So as I push the publish button in a few minutes and tweet that my article has finally been released, I want to, once again, thank you for keeping the fun in this game. Last year was easily one of our best on record, and it brought smiles to so many people. But still, it is heartwarming to know that we are continually forming a community where we want to make predictions, win where we can, and experience some happiness along the way.
That community does not exist without you.
Thank you.
Below are predictions for each game against the spread. Spreads have been taken from various websites and are subject to change. The spread in parenthesis denotes the selected team. Spread is listed as advertised number and odds at either DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, or PointsBet. All efforts were made to provide picks at -110 or better, with some stretching to a -125 if no reasonable advertised spread was found.
*Confidence Picks – 2022 Season: —– (Last Week: —)
(2021 Season: 55-50) (2020 Season: 53-42-3) (2019 Season: 57-43-3) (2018 Season: 63-48-4) (2017 Season: 53-48-4) (2016 Season: 53-67-3) (2015 Season: 69-45-2) (2014 Season: 61-46-2) (8-Year Total: 464-389-21)
All Picks Against Spread – 2022 Season: —– (Last Week: —)
(2021 Season: 158-126-2) (2020 Season: 132-128-7) (2019 Season: 142-118-7) (2018 Season: 137-118-12) (2017 Season: 137-119-11) (2016 Season: 123-136-8) (2015 Season: 143-117-7) (2014 Season: 149-114-4) (8-Year Total: 1121-976-58)
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Football is back and, with it, we have a boatload of outstanding matchups in Week 1. Opening Night’s game between the defending Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills is one of them.
It is also one of the trickiest matchups to navigate.
We will be tested immediately. But so will these two teams.
How fitting.
The reality is that absolutely any outcome is possible for Thursday night’s kickoff. If either team won by multiple touchdowns, no one would be surprised. The same would be said for an overtime tie. There are stars everywhere, solid head coaches, experience in Primetime, and every other trend we could imagine.
Except for one.
It is customary for the Super Bowl Champion of one year to open the following season at home on Thursday Night Football — it doesn’t always happen, but it has been the case for nearly each of the last half-dozen years. Almost every time, the defending champion is favored in the game — and why wouldn’t it be, considering our last image of said team involved a celebration in its honor?
Not this time.
The Bills are favored. We need to determine how to handle that, and the only path we can take involves walking backward through the past few years.
Each of the