NFL PIcks: 2014 Week Number One

By Alan Schechter | Sep 6, 2014

Aug 28, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback

Andy Dalton

(14) leaves the field after a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals won 35-7. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Week one is here, NFL fans. With that, it’s time to make our weekly NFL picks. We started this last season, and we are back to try again in 2014. For those who missed the column last year, we will pick three games per week, against the spread. This is strictly for recreation, we do not take responsibility for any financial losses based on these picks. The picks are just an educated opinion.

With that, here are my NFL picks for week one:

Game one, we will start in Baltimore with a good opener. The Bengals are taking on the Ravens and the line is the Ravens -1. Last season, the Bengals played well both times they faced the Ravens, losing by a field goal in Baltimore, and beating them 34-17 at Paul Brown Stadium. Andy Dalton, although not great in the two games against Baltimore, with a total of seven interceptions, but he did enough to either win, or keep them in the game.

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This preseason, Dalton has been showing that he is worth the contract he was awarded, completing 70% of his passes. In the end, although the Ravens will be tough, I think that the Bengals will do enough to win, probably with a late Mike Nugent field goal. Take the Bengals +1.

Next, let’s head to St. Louis where the Rams will host the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams are favored by 3.5. I will keep this one simple. I might have chosen the Rams if Sam Bradford were at quarterback. He is not, Shaun Hill is. Combine that with Adrian Peterson being on the other side, and the home team comes out on the losing end. Take the Vikings + the 3.5.

For the final game, we move to the first game of the Monday night double-header. To start the night, we have the Giants at the Lions. The Lions are favored by 6.5. The oddsmakers aren’t crazy for thinking this. The Giants offense has been putrid this preseason. They haven’t exactly taken to the new offense they have learned, at least not yet.

But, I just don’t trust the Lions’ offense. Stafford is good, and it’s difficult to count out any team that splits Megatron to the outside. However, nobody else on that team scares me, they just don’t. The Giants can do enough to stay in this one to keep it close. Take the Giants +6.5.

There you have it, the NFL picks for week one, and we have three underdogs to start the 2014 campaign. The Ravens +1, the Vikings +3.5, and the Giants +6.5. Enjoy the games.