  |
| Broncos/Panthers UNDER 41 1/2 |
 |
| N/A Computer Projection |
We're ba-a-a-ck! Everybody knows the season doesn't start without GRIDLINE. Now if we can just get it to start right.
The oddsmakers haven't budged from thinking the Pants are 6-points better than Denver on a neutral field, despite the Super Bowl result. The NFC Champs do, however, return just about everybody with a couple of exceptions, particularly in the secondary. It's entirely possible that secondary won't be as formidable this year as they were in 2015. Denver has had a few more changes but we can't be sure if they are better or worse than what they had before. The big question mark, of course, is Trevor Siemian. Can he manage the games as well as Manning did last year? That single question makes a sides bet too iffy.
What we do know is that Denver is a patient team, waiting for an opponent's error so they can pounce. And we do know that Carolina isn't that ridiculous scoring machine if they can't run the ball, and we're pretty sure they won't be able to. So where does that leave us? Well, it leaves us where we don't like to be, betting an O/U in the season opener. If both teams come out trying to avoid that single turnover that can determine the winner of the game, we think they'll play it pretty close to the vest. There's also the real possibility that only one team will contribute to the scoring, especially if Siemian plays scared. Either way, as we said in our Super Bowl capsule, points should come sparingly.
That's it. an UNDER 41 1/2 bet on the first game of the year for GRIDLINE. Can you say disappointing? It's a low confidence play but at least it gets us started. We won't have the computer system fully in effect until WEEK 05, when statistics become more meaningful and they lend themselves to analysis. Until then, we're stuck with our intuition, which pretty much makes us like every other capper.
We won't be making a pick Sunday night because we'll be making a special pilgrimage to Vegas. We'll play some Futures bets and whatnots, probably at the largest sportsbook in the world. In other words, we'll be in our natural environment. Hopefully, we'll have something for MNF, but that might not happen if Vegas takes it's toll.
