2010 NFL Week 1 Free Picks: Giants, 49ers, Lions

Panthers @ Giants, 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks, Lions @ Chicago Bears

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas for the big kids if you will! The long wait is over and fans can rejoice the NFL has returned. The last seven months have been excruciatingly long but the NFL party is back on!

The off-season was very eventful and we have been following every minute of it. Coach and player movement has been abundant and we have tracked it all.

Scanning the Week One “gifts” we see a ton of opportunity that we can take advantage of. We will however be slipping into the betting pool a little slowly with three small unit bets for Week One.

The following three games really caught our eye and there’s gold in them there hills. We will be betting $3 on the following wagering options:

New York Giants -7 at Bodog.com

San Francisco 49ers -150 M/L at BetUs.com

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears – Over 44 PTS at Sportsbook.com

New York Giants – 7 vs. Carolina Panthers

The first ever-regular season game in the magnificent New Meadowlands Stadium features the Panthers visiting Giants. The G-Men opened and have stayed as a -7 point favorite over the new look Panthers.

This will be the first game that Panthers QB Matt Moore will be the unchallenged starter under center for Carolina. He better be ready because the Giants have retooled on defense and we expect them to bring a huge pass rush all game.

The Panthers will look to protect Moore with a game plan that includes running the ball with their version of “Thunder & Lightening”. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will both see a lot of action in this one.

On offense the Giants will pound the ball with running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jackson to bring the Panthers defense close to the line. Once they have established the run, QB Eli Manning will take to the air with receivers Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and TE Kevin Boss.

With heavy dose of defense and a controlled offense the Giants will cover the -7 posted at Bodog.com.

San Francisco 49ers -150 M/L @ Seattle Seahawks

The NFL Week One action includes an NFC West battle between the 49ers and Seahawks from Quest Field in Seattle.

This game will feature the debut of Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll who comes back to NFL for a second time. The Seahawks have way more questions surrounding them than there are answers. Their backfield is crowded with Justin Forsett, Julius Jones and former Jet Leon Washington. None of these backs really stepped up in the preseason.

The wide receiver situation is also muddy as Mike Williams comes over from the Lions. The Seahawks also have an aging Deion Branch and rookie Golden Tate. They will be running routes for QB Matt Hasselbeck whose better days are behind him.

The 49ers are a mirror opposite to the Seahawks. They have been energized by Head Coach Mike Singletary and his no nonsense approach. Frank Gore is one of the NFL elite running backs and he will get a ton of handoffs from caretaker QB Alex Smith.

The receiving core has been rebuilt in San Francisco and features Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan and stud TE Vernon Davis. The 49ers have retooled their offensive line and, if they protect Smith, this will be an explosive offense.

The 49ers are the new class of the NFC West. We expect them to strike gold in and win the -150 M/L bet posted at BetUs.com.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears – Over 44 PTS

The Lions travel to the shores of Lake Michigan to face the Bears at Soldier Field with a 20 game losing streak on the road dating back to the 2007 season.

Second year QB Matthew Stafford looked super sharp in the preseason and he has a ton of weapons around him. Rookie RB Jahvid Best and third year back Kevin Smith will be running and passing threats for the Lions.

WR Calvin “Megatron” Johnson is poised to challenge to be the NFL receiving leader in 2009. He has support from Nate Burleson as well as tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and newcomer Tony Scheffler.

The Bears haven’t been as bad as the Lions but their 2009 season ended with a dismal 7-9 record. Chicago brought in offensive guru Mike Martz to jump-start the Bears anemic offense.

Third year RB Matt Forte is looking to rebound from his sophomore slump and is hoping Martz will do for him what he did for Marshall Faulk is St. Louis. Chicago lured RB Chester Taylor away from the Vikings to spell Forte and as a pass catcher out of the backfield. With QB Jay Cutler under center, the Bears backfield is one of the best in NFL.

The Bears will trot out a trio of decent though unproven receivers in Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu. If any or all of those guys can get on the same page with Cutler, “The Greatest Show On Grass” could be born in Chicago.

Expect this game to be an old fashioned shootout as neither team has much in the way of defense. The total will get over the 44 PTS posted at Sportsbook.com.