8 September 2023
Buccaneers at Vikings (-6½)
Former Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield is ready for his first game as the Buccaneers’ quarterback. Tampa Bay’s dropoff from Tom Brady to Mayfield would be comparable to the dropoff from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Twitter’s Elon Musk.
Pick: Vikings by 11
FILE – Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition, March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musk said Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, that his social network X, formerly known as Twitter, will give users the ability to make voice and video calls on the platform. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Bills at Jets (+1½)
New York’s “immunized” QB Aaron Rodgers offered very public praise for unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic, even showing up at the U.S. Open to cheer him on. When asked to comment, the 23-time Grand Slam champion asked “Who is Aaron Rodgers?”
Pick: Jets by 1
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers watches Coco Gauff, of the United States, face Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Packers at Bears (-1½)
Chicago quarterback Justin Fields says he wants to make life “hell” for the Packers on Sunday. Green Bay and its fans have already been through hell the past few years listening to their departed quarterback’s constant soliloquies about himself.
Pick: Bears by 3
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields rolls out during an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Panthers at Falcons (-2½)
Former Texas standout Bijan Robinson is facing great expectations as he makes his NFL debut. Many fans were surprised to learn of Robinson’s college career as they had no idea the Longhorns were still producing any professional football players.
Pick: Falcons by 4
FILE – Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) carries against Kansas State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Nov. 5, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. Robinson represents his grandfather Cleo, a former college linebacker and longtime Pac-12 official who grew up in extreme poverty and had no running water. Cleo Robinson’s brother, Paul, made two Pro Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
Cardinals at Commanders (-5½)
Joshua Dobbs will stand over center Sunday as Arizona begins its inexorable march to 0-17. The new starting quarterback is so wildly under qualified and inexperienced that he’s already being called the NFL’s Vivek Ramaswamy.
Pick: Commanders by 7
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joshua Dobbs plays against the Washington Commanders during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Raiders at Broncos (-3½)
Denver coach Sean Payton told his QB, Russell Wilson, that he needs to focus more on football and “stop kissing all the babies.” And by “babies,” Payton obviously means “buttocks.”
Pick: Raiders by 3
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Eagles at Patriots (+4½)
Philly’s defending NFC champions begin the season with a roster full of prominent Georgia Bulldogs alums. But despite the Eagles’ status, it turns out their players are still getting paid less than Georgia’s.
Pick: Eagles by 7
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 12: Quarterback Josh Johnson #17 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled by defensive tackle Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Titans at Saints (-3½)
New Orleans standout running back Alvin Kamara will miss Week 1 as he has been suspended for the first three games of the season. But he’s on his best behavior and is committed to going at least the next few weeks without busting anybody’s jaw in a casino.
Pick: Titans by 3
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Bengals at Browns (+2½)
It’s Ohio’s big battle of the star quarterbacks. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow has earned about $25 million over the past two years, and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson has paid about $25 million over the past two years in harassment settlements and legal fees.
Pick: Bengals by 3
FILE – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cincinnati, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. Burrow edged Josh Allen for the No. 2 spot by one point despite being left off two ballots due to his calf injury. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Dolphins at Chargers (-1½)
The Chargers are back for their first game since blowing a 27-0 lead in their playoff loss to Jacksonville. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, it will have to wait three more years for its next 27-point lead, because it won’t face the Arizona Cardinals until 2026.
Pick: Dolphins by 3
FILE – Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) during the second of an NFL wild-card football game Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. Walker is hellbent on proving he was worthy of the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He is so confident that he will end up being the best of the class that he is openly talking about a gold jacket — the one reserved for Pro Football Hall of Famers. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Jaguars at Colts (+4½)
Indianapolis’ all-pro running back Jonathan Taylor is starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. But by the end of this game, the entire Colts roster will likely join him.
Pick: Jaguars by 21
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor watches practice at the NFL team’s football training camp in Westfield, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
OTHER GAMES
49ers at Steelers (+3½)
Pick: Steelers by 3
Texans at Ravens (-9½)
Pick: Ravens by 7
Rams at Seahawks (-4½)
Pick: Seahawks by 7
Cowboys at Giants (+2½)
Pick: Giants by 3
FILE – New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. Barkley has topped 1,300 yards on the ground in both seasons when he didn’t miss time for injuries. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
RECORD
All-time (2003-23)
3456-1910-14 straight up (.645)
2618-2618-144 vs. spread (.500)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at [email protected].
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