| "I have a notion that gamblers are as happy as most | | | | upgrade. New England is a heavy favorite (-8) but will |
| people, being always excited; women, wine, fame, | | | | be fielding a different team than the one that hoisted |
| the table, even ambition, sate now and then, but | | | | the Lombardi Trophy last February. However, with |
| every turn of the card and cast of the dice keeps | | | | Belichick, Brady, and Dillon still in the fold it should |
| the gambler alive."- Lord ByronThe starting lineups | | | | hardly matter, right? Oh, and the over/under on |
| have been set. The fantasy football teams have | | | | "Tuck Rule" mentions is 2.5.New York Jets at Kansas |
| been drafted. The money has found its way back | | | | City (-3), Sunday at 1 p.m.The Jets are a sheik pick |
| into the offshore gaming accounts, and the Week 1 | | | | to unseat the aforementioned Patriots this season. |
| lines are posted and ripe for the picking. The sporting | | | | However, questions still abound in New Jersey - like |
| public has been going through rehab and withdrawal | | | | how will Chad Pennington's shoulder hold up? Also, the |
| for seven months since the Super Bowl, but it is | | | | Jets defense is still unsettled. John Abraham has just |
| about to again submerge itself in a wonderful orgy of | | | | recently rejoined the team, and his conditioning will be |
| drinking, violence, and gambling that will last the next | | | | a concern. Ty Law will start this weekend but is still |
| 21 weeks.The season kicks off Thursday night when | | | | gimpy, and Dwayne Robertson is playing with an |
| the Oakland Raiders travel to New England to take | | | | injured hand. The Chiefs defense, on the other hand, |
| on the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. That | | | | will be a reason to watch this game. I'm curious as to |
| evening will feature the type of showmanship, | | | | how the new additions - Kendrell Bell, Derrick |
| self-importance, and spectacle that we've come to | | | | Johnson, Patrick Surtain and Sammy Knight - will |
| expect from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his | | | | perform.Seattle at Jacksonville (-3), Sunday at 1 |
| massive public relations machine.But don't be | | | | p.m.By Week 10 of last season the best bet in the |
| distracted. We have work to do this season - making | | | | NFL was a middle-of-the-road AFC team against any |
| all of us some money by finding and exploiting the | | | | NFC team. By that rationale this game would be an |
| weaknesses in the bookmaking industry. No matter | | | | easy cleanup for the Jaguars. I know it's only one |
| who you go through - an online sports book, that | | | | week, but this game will at least be an early indicator |
| fifth-year sophomore in the dorm next to yours or | | | | of whether that corollary still holds true (Dallas at San |
| even that office picks pool that gets up to one or | | | | Diego is another such game in Week 1). Seattle was |
| two hundred dollars - Doc's Sports is the place for | | | | a dreamy pick for the Super Bowl last season and still |
| you to find the exclusive information that can be the | | | | has talent. They've been a bad road team the past |
| difference between picking up that new surround | | | | two seasons, and I think that "experts" are severely |
| sound system for your living room or having to pawn | | | | underestimating how good this Jacksonville team is. |
| that watch that Mom bought you last | | | | This will also be the first time anyone sees how |
| Christmas.Looking at the lines for opening weekend, | | | | healthy Fred Taylor is. He is the key to the Jags |
| it's apparent that the books are just as skittish as | | | | season.Indianapolis (-3) at Baltimore, Sunday at 8:30 |
| the rest of us when it comes to predicting the | | | | p.m.Oh, this one has it all. This game is a rematch of |
| performance of most NFL teams. Most of the lines | | | | a key game from last season's stretch run. |
| are chalk, with the favorites from the end of last | | | | Indianapolis dominated that contest (20-10) and |
| season listed as the favorites now. There are no real | | | | Baltimore ended up missing the playoffs by one |
| big numbers (minus 8 in the New England game was | | | | game. This season, both the Colts (5/1) and the |
| the largest). I'm going to take it slow this weekend, | | | | Ravens (14/1) are two of the top six favorites to |
| sitting back and enjoying the blissful beginning to | | | | win Super Bowl XL. I know that the preseason |
| another fall football season. If you decide to throw | | | | means less than the drunken promises I make to |
| around a few bills, here are a few things to | | | | college girls, but the Colts were 0-5 and didn't really |
| remember for Week 1:1) Forget about last year. | | | | look good at any point. This will also be fans' first |
| That's worth repeating. FORGET ABOUT LAST | | | | opportunity to see new Colts defensive lineman |
| YEAR! All of the preseason hype, predictions and the | | | | Corey Simon in his new uniform. Deion Sanders |
| opening week lines are based around how teams | | | | (hamstring) and Samari Rolle (knee) are both |
| performed last year. That's the point of origin and | | | | questionable. Jamal Lewis came out and voiced |
| any adjustments to that are based on limited | | | | serious displeasure with Baltimore management |
| conjecture. Remember, part of the formula for | | | | because he hasn't been given a contract extension. |
| determining a line is the public's perception about | | | | He contests that the Ravens played a part in his |
| teams. People will form their opinions based on their | | | | decision to accept jail time.Philadelphia (-2) at Atlanta, |
| most recent recollection of these clubs (last year's | | | | Monday at 9 p.m.A juicy beginning to the Monday |
| playoffs). The same 12 teams that made the | | | | Night Football lineup. This game may be a rematch of |
| postseason last year aren't going to make it this | | | | the 2004 NFC Championship Game, but it may as well |
| season. Conversely, at least one team that had 4,5, | | | | be the Super Bowl for the Falcons. Somehow, the |
| or 6 wins last year is going to be playing in the | | | | feeling in Atlanta is that a win here could somehow |
| second week of January. It happens every year, so | | | | avenge the savage beating they took in Philly last |
| don't try to fight it.2) Bet conservatively in Week 1. I | | | | January. The Eagles, on the other hand, are just |
| know you're excited. We all are. But you don't want | | | | trying to prove that the Owens vs. Everybody feud |
| to put yourself in a hole early because you'll be | | | | has run its course and that the bad blood really won't |
| playing from behind the whole season. Be patient. | | | | spill over into the regular season. I was surprised to |
| Make a few small bets - maybe half the size of what | | | | see Atlanta as the home dog, especially given the |
| you would wager during the season - and keep a list | | | | troubles that Philly has endured in the last month. |
| of bets that you would have made. After the | | | | However, the books are wise enough to know that |
| weekend, check your list of bets against what | | | | despite the off-field distractions this is still a |
| actually happens. If you would have done well, then | | | | dangerous Eagles team that can erupt at any |
| you have a good read on the teams and are set for | | | | time.Some final, quick thoughts:1) Eli Manning's elbow |
| Week 2. If not, keep the same conservative | | | | is reportedly fine, and he will be ready to go when |
| approach.3)Pay attention to the injury report. This is | | | | the Giants host the Cardinals on Sunday. He better |
| always important, but you'd be amazed how many | | | | be. He might not face a weaker secondary again this |
| people assume that in Week 1 all the players are | | | | year.2) Tampa Bay will be starting Dan Buenning and |
| healthy and ready to go. That couldn't be less true. | | | | Anthony Davis at left guard and left tackle, |
| Pulled hamstrings, lingering soreness and other | | | | respectively, when they take on Minnesota. Neither |
| ailments to key players will have just as big an | | | | of these guys has ever started an NFL game. I |
| impact in the opening games as they would later in | | | | expect them to be totally dominated by the Vikings |
| the year. A perfect example is the Tennessee at | | | | defensive line, which happens to be one of the best |
| Pittsburgh (minus 7) game this weekend. Pittsburgh is | | | | in the league.3) Don't underestimate the serious |
| the better team, but they're without Duce Staley, | | | | emotional factor for the New York Giants, |
| Jerome Bettis, and Joey Porter. On the flip side, the | | | | Washington Redskins, and New Orleans Saints. The |
| Titans roster is littered with talented but injury-prone | | | | New Orleans situation is tragic and well documented, |
| guys (Kris Brown, Steve McNair, and Tyrone Calico) | | | | and no one can predict how they're going to come |
| who are 100 percent at the moment, but probably | | | | out and play against Carolina. Also, there will most |
| won't be for the whole year. The result is a slightly | | | | assuredly be some type of poignant September 11 |
| different competition level this weekend than it would | | | | commemoration in D.C. and NYC. Expect two lively |
| be if the game were played in November.4)Special | | | | crowds, and don't be surprised if those teams jump |
| teams can win games early. For whatever reason, it | | | | out early on their opponent.4) This is going to be the |
| takes a few weeks for most organizations to get | | | | first opening week without Jerry Rice in over 20 |
| their special teams in order. Don't be surprised to see | | | | years. Au revoir. And no matter what Terrell Owens |
| more big plays than usual in the first few weeks. This | | | | and Randy moss think about themselves, neither are |
| also yields an extra advantage to squads with good | | | | half the man or half the player that Rice was.5) This |
| special teams. Some clubs with the best: Buffalo, | | | | Sunday, whether you're at a bar surrounded by |
| Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and Denver. Some with the | | | | scantily clad waitresses or on a couch somewhere |
| worst: St. Louis, Oakland, Tampa Bay and | | | | enjoying your team on the high-def big screen, make |
| Seattle.Now that we have some of the basics | | | | sure you take some time to think about how |
| covered, let's take a look at the most compelling | | | | fortunate your are. Especially compared to those lost |
| games in this weekend's slate:Oakland at New | | | | souls down in the Bayou.Doc's Sports Handy |
| England (-8), Thursday at 8 p.m.Now it's time to see | | | | Links:Football PicksJeremy Martin archive2005 NFL |
| just what Rasta Randy Moss brings to the Raiders. | | | | Preview pageDoc's Sports Handicapping Service |
| Despite the addition of the controversial wideout, | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| oddsmakers don't expect too much out of Oakland | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| this season. Besides Randy, the Raiders will also trot | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |
| out their new 4-3 defense, which should be a huge | | | | |