Week 1 NFL Picks against the spread

Free NFL Picks for Week 1

I am so glad that the 2014 season is finally upon us. There are so many great matchups to kick off the new season. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers will kick off the season on Thursday night and we get two Monday Night games as well, one of which I picked below.

Here are my favorite NFL picks for week 1.

Game 1 - Washington ------  +2.5 @ Houston Texans

RG III is back and healthy again. The Redskins picked up DeSean Jackson in the offseason and new coach Jay Gruden should bring the Redskins (oops did I say that) back into contention.

Game 2 - New England Patriots -4.5 @ Miami Dolphins

Tom Brady and the Patriots offense look like they are in midseason form already. Remember Brady had lost his entire receiving core last season. Now he has chemistry with Amendola, Thompkins and Dobson. Edleman has been a solid replacement for Wes Welker. Vareen will be a handful out of the backfield for the Dolphins.

Game 3 - Detroit Lions -4.5 vs New York Giants

Can the Lions be disciplined this year? The Giants looked awful in preseason. The Giants usually start off slow and I expect them to do so here as well.

Game 4 - Indianapolis Colts +7.5 at Denver Broncos

This game has shootout written all over it. Peyton Manning looks for revenge against his former team after losing in Indianapolis last season. Luck and the Colts should be able to match the Broncos offense blow by blow. Reggie Wayne returns after missing most of the 2013 season . I like for the Colts to cover this big spread.

Game 5 - San Diego Chargers +3.5 at Arizona Cardinals

The Chargers led by Philip Rivers are coming off of a decent 2013 season. The Cardinals with new head coach Bruce Arians surprised most football fans in 2013 with a 10-6 record. Carson Palmer turned back the clock and played as well as his days in Cincinnati. I'm predicting that this game will be decided by a field goal. take the t3.5 points.

Game 6 - New Orleans Saints -2.5 at Atlanta Falcons

This is probably the most popular pick of the week which scares me. Generally, when the public favors one team, that is almost the kiss of death. I like how the Saints improved their defense in the offseason picking up Bryd. He will fit in nicely in Rob Ryan's defense. The spread seems a little bit low for a Falcons team that did so poorly in 2013.