Broncos are opening weekend’s best NFL bet
The St. Louis Rams, with new coach Scott Linehan replacing Mike Martz, host Mike Shanahan’s Denver Broncos on this Kickoff Sunday.
The Broncos are a veteran team with a well-balanced offense primed to take advantage of St. Louis’ new-look defense. The Rams figure to improve defensively as the season progresses, but they could be overmatched in the opener.
The Broncos are favored by 3 1/2 points and this week’s “Best Bet”: Denver 27, ST. LOUIS 14.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
(Home team in CAPS)
CAROLINA 28, Atlanta 13 - No modern NFL team is flawless but the 5-point favored Panthers come close. They swept the series last season, 24-6 at home and 44-11 in Atlanta.
CLEVELAND 24, New Orleans 17 - The 3-point favored Browns picked up several quality free agents in the offseason and they should be major contributors in a season-opening home win over new coach Sean Payton’s Saints.
Seattle 27, DETROIT 17 - The Lions figure to improve significantly under new coach Rod Marinelli but they aren’t ready to upset the 6-point defending NFC champion Seahawks.
Cincinnati 30, KANSAS CITY 24 - As long as QB Carson Palmer is healthy, few opponents will outscore the Bengals. They’re getting 2 points from a Chiefs team that could have a tough time adjusting to conservative and defensive-minded new head coach Herm Edwards.
NEW ENGLAND 23, Buffalo 17 - The 9-point favored Patriots have won the last five meetings by a combined 147-46, but the Bills lost by only 21-16 at Gillette Stadium last season and could hang tough again.
Baltimore 27, TAMPA BAY 24 - The 3-point underdog Ravens will try to snap an 11-game road losing streak and new QB Steve McNair could be the difference.
TENNESSEE 20, New York Jets 10 - Jeff Fisher’s 2 1/2-point favored Titans aren’t close to being a playoff team but they could be significantly better than new head coach Eric Mangini’s Jets.
Philadelphia 28, HOUSTON 14 - “Best Bets” thinks the Eagles are the NFL’s most underrated team entering this season and expects them to start proving it here as 5-point favorites.
ARIZONA 33, San Francisco 17 - The NFL schedule was kind to the Cardinals, who get to unleash their high-powered offense and unveil their new stadium against the 7 1/2-point underdog 49ers. Arizona swept the series last year, 31-14 in Mexico City and 17-10 in San Francisco.
Chicago 23, GREEN BAY 10 - Brett Favre said he’d return this season only if he thought the Packers could make the playoffs. So why didn’t he retire? Green Bay and new coach Mike McCarthy are getting 3 1/2 points at home and need more.
Dallas 27, JACKSONVILLE 20 - The 2-point underdog Cowboys might be slightly overrated but the Jaguars could be very overrated. They were 12-4 last season but used up a lot of good luck and fortunate bounces.
Indianapolis 28, NEW YORK GIANTS 24 - The Giants are getting 3 points at home. They might be the better all-around team and they might be the better team later this season, but at this young stage of Giants’ QB Eli Manning’s career, he isn’t quite ready to beat older brother Peyton Manning in a shootout.
MONDAY’S GAMES
WASHINGTON 27, Minnesota 13 - Joe Gibbs’ 4 1/2-point favored Redskins were awful in the preseason (0-4 and outscored 104-27) but that probably means nothing. “Best Bets” isn’t sold on Washington QB Mark Brunell but is less sold on Vikings QB Brad Johnson and new coach Brad Childress.
San Diego 24, OAKLAND 17 - The Raiders lead the series 55-36-2 but the 3-point favored Chargers won the last five meetings by a combined 147-69 and that streak should continue. Oakland once ruled on Monday nights but is only 7-15 since 1991.
If the NFL’s 10 new head coaches have a good Week 1, “Best Bets” won’t. The first-year coaches are projected to go 0-10 outright and 1-9 against the spread (Buffalo’s Dick Jauron the only exception).
NFL SCHEDULE
Thursday’s Game
Miami at Pittsburgh, late
Sunday’s Games
Seattle at Detroit, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Denver at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Houston, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Chicago at Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.
Dallas at Jacksonville, 4:15 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.
Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, 8:15 p.m.
Monday’s Games
Minnesota at Washington, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Oakland, 10:15 p.m.
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