First and 10

[lostinamerica]

Minnesota(-4) over Dallas (1.5*)
I can't recall an NFL team ever possessing a better opportunity to demonstrate what comes from having a knot stuck in their collective craw through a long off season. That's the angle I'm playing.

Seattle(-2)(-108) over New Orleans (1.5*)
Before the first snap of exhibition season, I had Seattle at PK circled as my second choice for opening day, with my eyes open for developments coming from either team to hesitate or abandon when the moment arrived. Maybe the premise is for shit, or maybe I've missed something, but Seattle(-2) is a go. That's the angle I'm playing.

I'm also down for the Monday night game, and fairly committed to a couple of other games. I'll add those later.

GL
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NOTES:

Dallas HC Bill Parcells right after the final exhibition game: "I'm going to be looking at the waiver wire, that's for sure. I'm going to be looking pretty close. We've got to try to improve our talent level a little bit. Anybody can tell from looking at us." Probably more hard truth than smokescreen when it comes to Dallas, I don't think that's the burning issue with Minnesota on Sunday.

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2004NFLX: 1-0 (+1.00)

2003 NFL Regular Season: 49-51 (-4.94*)
2003 NFL Post Season: 7-4 (+3.09*)
2003 NFLX: 0-0

 

[lostinamerica]

THE OTHER PLAYS:

Carolina(-3) over Green Bay (1*)
Detroit(+3)(-118) over Chicago (1*)
Washington(-1') over Tampa Bay (1*)

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

NFL YTD: 4-0 (+5.00*)


Carolina(-3) over Green Bay (1 Biscuit)

Carolina starts the season vs. Green Bay (Monday), @ Kansas City, and Bye. I think Carolina has put a lot of focus in the opener tonight. FWIW, Green Bay hosts Chicago next week.

As stated in my first Madjack's post in 2001, I bleed Green and Gold, with lots of opinions but only a handful of wagers in the last 20+ years, as Packer games are far too important to me to have money color the picture. Biscuits only, no bucks.

On the road against elite teams on Monday night, Green Bay has usually been wonderful or woeful during the Favre era. During that same time, the exhibition season has generally given a fair indication of where the team is at to start the season . . . From day one Favre has looked less rusty and in as full of command of his abilities as during any exhibition season, while the offense as a whole has sputtered in continuity despite showing signs of its potential . . . I was from Missouri (The Show Me State) when it came to the Packer's acknowledged transition to building a defense with more speed to start the 2003 season and get away from the Decemder tundra look of their design and personnel in the prior decade. This is now the second year, and the upgrade in speed is obvious, and the shift to a more attacking style is getting ratcheted up and has some chance of succeeding, plus the tackling looks better rather than worse, but I see a work in progress.

Maybe it comes down to special teams, but I think Carolina is the better team this night.

GL