After being mostly terrible at the gambling for the entirety of the time we’ve run this segment, we both made a mythical profit in 2019. The 2020 season, with the likelihood of COVID-related interruptions and benchings, will present significant challenges. Have we turned a corner and figured this game out? Or will we revert to our bankrupt ways of the past?

Bankroll
Andy $10,000
Tony $10,000

Andy – Week one is always hard, but this year it’s going to be even harder. COVID altered training camps and canceled the preseason. So, the first few weeks will be about figuring this season out. Here goes:

$800 – Carolina (+3, +100) vs Las Vegas Raiders – I get that the Raiders are improving, but I’m not sure I understand this line. They’re traveling west-to-east and they certainly haven’t proven themselves a great team. The Panthers have a solid-but-unspectacular Teddy Bridgewater seizing the reins at QB. He’s a master of the short-passing game and will be helped by having the league’s best skill player in Christian McCaffery. I think they win this one outright.

$800 – LA Chargers at Cincinnati: Over 43 – Cincinnati hasn’t had a very good defense in recent years. The Chargers have a solid pass defense, but they’re minus Derwin James, so they’ll be less predictable. I think both teams can get into the high 20s here and I wouldn’t be surprised if the winner reaches 30.

$800 – Green Bay (+2.5, -105) at Minnesota – As much as this pains me, Green Bay seems to have the Vikings’ number a bit right now. Minnesota went through a number of changes in the offseason, particularly in the secondary, which plays into the hands of Aaron Rodgers. And offseason signing Michael Pierce decided to sit the season out, leaving them a bit soft at DT. Add in the absence of Danielle Hunter early on and the script isn’t playing out well. Meanwhile, continuity will play well this season and most of the Packers’ skill players returning in tact.

$500 – Miami (+240 money line) at New England – The Dolphins have risen up a couple times in the Brady/Belichick era to surprise the Patriots. And Miami is certainly on the rise. Meanwhile, Tom Brady is in Tampa and the Patriots seem to be in at least a bit of a rebuild for the first time in what seems like two decades. I wouldn’t say this is a sure thing, but the money line is double what all my other favorite upsets are worth and I’ll give this one a puncher’s chance.

Tony:

$1,000 – Houston (+9.5, -109) at Kansas City – I get it, Thursday night game usually goes to the home team, defending Super Bowl champion, best player on the planet…but 9.5 points?  It’s not like DeShaun Watson is terrible. And I would still argue that Bill O’brien will likely try to show just how smart he was for acquiring David Johnson–25 touches for him would hopefully slow the game down some.

$1,000 – Cincinnati (+3, +100) vs Los Angeles Chargers – I’m not sure if I believe in the Bengals yet…but I’m definitely not on the Chargers bandwagon. They already lost probably their best defensive player (at least, he would be their best if he was ever healthy), and they’ve got a backup quarterback holding the reins until their rookie is ready to take over (if ever).  Add in a running game that features a change of pace back in the RB1 spot, and you’ve got a potential disaster. But hey, at least they’re the one team in the NFL that doesn’t have to get used to playing in stadiums devoid of any fans (although…I guess the opposition usually filled their tiny stadium).

$500 – Houston at Kansas City: Under 53 (-111) – The highest point total of the week, in the first game of the year…I think the lack of off season workouts & preseason is going to make it a bit rusty tonight, and defenses may have the slight edge.

$500 – Jacksonville (+320 money line) vs Indianapolis – Go big or go home…everyone thinks that the Jags are tanking, but they cut an oft-injured RB that was not well liked, and traded a disgruntled DE that was not going to ever play for them anyway. Maybe, just maybe, they really do believe in the Magic of Minshew…and maybe the Colts are going to find out that there’s a reason Philip Rivers never took the Chargers to the promised land.