Are You Ready For Some Football?!!!

It is that time of the year again, time for the start of college football.  And this time, WE START A WEEK EARLY!  Yes, a week 0 matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators live from the football mecca that is - Camping World Stadium?  Well, I should be there with tons of my peeps, but not going to be able to make it this year.  Still will not put a damper on the start of my season.  What would the start of college football be without a preseason All-American list? Once again, I am here to give you my preseason All-Americans. As usual, there will be more than 11 on each side, to account for the different types of formations (spread, three receiver set, 4-3, 3-4, etc). I explain some of my picks, while others I do not. Why? Because I can.  (Starters in capitals).

Offense

QB - TREVOR LAWRENCE, Clemson; Tua Tagavailoa, Alabama; Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma - This is mostly easy when the two of the three best quarterbacks from last year return to college.  Hurts makes it as the last two Heisman Trophy winners have been Oklahoma quarterbacks that transferred from elsewhere, plus, he has won a title already.  The highest rated pro-quarterback, Justin Herbert, doesn't make the cut.

RB - JONATHAN TAYLOR, Wisconsin; D'ANDRE SWIFT, Georgia; Travis Etienne, Clemson; A.J. Dillon, Boston College; Zack Moss, Utah - Taylor - with Lawrence - might be the Heisman favorite heading into the season.  It is Swift's turn to run behind the behemoths at Georgia.  Most pundits have Etienne as first team.  If you have not seen Dillon or Moss run - DO IT.

WR - JERRY JEUDY, Alabama; LAVISKA SHENAULT, JR., Colorado; Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State, Alabama; Justyn Ross, Clemson; CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma - Jeudy is the reigning Biletnikoff award winner, and Shenault is right there with him in terms of talent.  So much speed at this position.  So much speed.

TE - ALBERT OGWUEGBUNAM, Missouri; Jared Pickney, Vanderbilt - These two will prove invaluable to their respective quarterbacks in the defensive-speed-laden SEC. 

OL - ANDREW THOMSAS, Georgia (T); WALKER LITTLE, Stanford (T); SHANE LEMIUEX, Oregon (G);  SOLOMON KINDLEY, Georgia (G); TYLER BIADASZ, Wisconson; Mekhi Becton, Louisville (T); Ben Bredesen, Michigan (G): Nick Harris, Washington (C) - Two Georgia stalwarts start for this line which is sure to open huge holes for the running backs as well as keep the QBs protected.  Thomas might be the best player in college football.

Defense

DE - A.J. EPENESA, Iowa; CHASE YOUNG, Ohio State; Raekwon Davis, Alabama; Jonathan Garvin, Miami - Both starters had 10 1/2 sacks last year. The Chef returns after recording 24 solo tackles from the defensive line last year, and Garvin is poised for a monster breakout season - I predict double digit sacks.

DT - DERRICK BROWN, Auburn; KENNY WILLEKES, Michigan State; Leki Fotu, Utah - Brown can be as dominant as his position as anyone can be at theirs in college.  Fotu is 6'5 335 lbs, and is immovable.

LB - DYLAN MOSES, Alabama; PADDY FISHER, Northwestern; ISAIAH SIMMONS, Clemson; K'Lavon Chiasson, LSU; Shaquille Quarterman, Miami - This quintet will likely total about 14,000 tackles this year.

CB - C.J. Henderson, Florida; BRYCE HALL, Virginia; Andre Cisco, Syracuse - With the injuries at the other corner in Florida, Henderson may not even be tested all year.  Cisco finished last season with 10 interceptions, including 3 in the last 4 games.  Hall can cover AND tackle.

S - GRANT DELPIT, Louisiana State; XAVIER MCKINNEY, Alabama; Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame - Delpit continues LSU's run DBU (despite UF's protestations)  McKinney steps into a long-list of talented Alabama safeties.

Special Teams

K - ANDRE SZMYT, Syracuse; Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia - Szmyt, despite needing to buy a vowel, is the reigning Groza award winner, and could become only the second two time winner behind Sebastian Janikowski.  Blankenship is added because he is good, and looks funny kicking in the glasses.

P - BRADEN MANN, Texas A & M - The returning Ray Guy award winner is the best punter in the country.

RETURNER - ISAIAH WRIGHT, Temple; Rondale Moore, Purdue - Wright returned 5 kicks for touchdowns in his career.  Moore can do everything, as highlighted by his 252 total yards in Purdue's upset of Ohio State last year.

Picks of the Week

It is back.  The NFL is back.  I know, it started Thursday, but I lost that pick so nobody can accuse me of cheating.

My long time readers know how this works, but for everybody else,  a reminder.  Each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will "pretend" that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig to make the math that much simpler.

Carolina Panthers -3 at Denver Brocncos

The Panthers want to prove themselves I said.  Trevor Siemian is untested, I told myself.  What I should have said was, "Don't take road favorites".

Chicago Bears +6 at Houston Texans
No, this is not a homer pick.  I just don't think that Brock Osweiler is ready to lead a team to a 7 point victory when J.J. Watt is hampered by injuries and likely not 100%.  The Bears signing of Josh Sitton from the Packers was huge.

Tampa Bay +2 1/2 at Atlanta Falcons
This is the year of the Winston, as Jameis starts strong, opening up a punishing fourth quarter rushing game by Doug Martin.  Atlanta - once again - is all flash an no substance.

Buffalo Bills +3 at Baltimore Ravens
Tyrod Taylor is bette than most people think, and I think the Ravens will be battling for the number 1 pick this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars + 4 1/2 v. Green Bay Packers
Perhaps I learned my lesson about selecting road favorites.  I think the Jaguars look like they are going to good this year, in essence getting two first round picks with Dante Fowler returning to action.  Chris Ivory will provide some punishing runs.

Kansas City Chiefs -5 1/2 v. San Diego Chargers

Honestly, I have no idea what we have in the Chargers.  With the Chiefs, we have an incredible defense and a steady Alex Smith.

Oakland Raiders +1 1/2 at New Orleans Saints

Since New Orleans is in the central time zone, I don't have to worry about the west coast team playing the early game in the east coast theory, so I can take points and bet on the up-and-coming Raiders offense.  I think Amari Cooper has a big game torching the Saints secondary.

New York Jets +2 1/2 v. Cincinnati Bengals

Ryan Fitzpatrick proves he should have been the glimmer in the Jets' management eyes the entire time.  Plus, home team getting points.  The Bengals are down to only A.J. Green as returning receivers, so it may take a few games for the offense to start gelling.

Philadelphia Eagles -3 1/2 v. Cleveland Browns

I almost went the other way with this one, but it may be a few weeks too early to start picking them to cover, as they kept all 14 of their draft picks on the roster.  Not sold on Philadelphia either, but they may just be happy that Chip Kelly is gone.

Tennessee Titans +2 1/2 v. Minnesota Vikings

Ladies and gentlemen, Shaun Hill is getting 2 1/2 points.  SHAUN HILL?!

Miami Dolphins +10 at Seattle Seahawks

Way too early in the season to start giving double digit spreads.  If Arian Foster can still run, this should be a close loss for the Dolphins.

New York Giants pick 'em at Dallas Cowboys

Dallas was -22 in turnover margin last year (last in the NFL) and now they are starting a rookie quarterback.  Although Prescott is talented, he will make mistakes.  Eli is a solid veteran, but even with an unsteady running game, he has ODB!

Detroit Lions +3 at Indianapolis Colts

I feel the Colts are a bit overrated, and may not make the playoffs this year.  Detroit's offense was one of the league's best the last quarter of the season last year, and look to continue that production.

Arizona Cardinals -7 v. New England Patriots

Arizona has both one of the league's most explosive offenses, and one of the most staunchest defenses.  New England has Jimmy Garropolo and only 4 receivers on the entire roster.

Washington Redskins +3 v. Pittsburgh Steelers

I will take points at home, and the Redskins have the making of a really nice offense with Kirk Cousins, Matt Jones - if he can hold onto the ball - and a revitalized DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon out wide, and Jordan Reed up the middle.  If their defense can finish middle of the road or better, this team can win their division.

San Francisco 49ers +2 1/2 v. Los Angeles Rams

Even though Blaine Gabbert is starting, this team is coalescing around Colin Kaepernick.  Expect a healthy dose of Carlos Hyde.  The Rams need an identity, and you would think it would revolve around Todd Gurley - and it ultimately may - but we need to see it.

Big Bet Game of the Week

Tennessee Titans +2 1/2 v. Minnesota Vikings

Ladies and gentlemen, Shaun Hill is getting 2 1/2 points.  SHAUN HILL?!

I really was not sure which game to pick here, but I did find a home team getting points, and going against Shaun Hill.  I expect Mariota to have an excellent season this year, especially with a more potent running game than last year.

Last Week's Record:  0-0
Last Week's Big Bet: 0-0
Year-to-Date Record: 0-0
Big Bet Year-to-Date: 0-0
Last Week's Winnings (Losses): $0
Winnings (Losses) Year-to-Date: $0