Hello and welcome to another exciting week of football.  Let’s take a look at the first matchup of the NFL Season, a Super Bowl 50 rematch between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos.

Thu 5:30 PM PT	NBC	CAR -3.0
Panthers
Broncos

How Carolina Wins:  They need to do what they did last year, trust in 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton.  He almost singlehandedly led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and if it wasn’t for a bad day at the office in February he’d have won his first Super Bowl.  Newton needs to put last year behind him, and put less pressure on a defense that lost an amazing cornerback in Josh Norman to the Redskins in free agency.

How Denver Wins:  Defense, Defense, Defense!  That’s what got them to the big game in the first place and won it.  Von Miller got a massive contract during the offseason and he needs to earn every penny now on the field.  With a defense that some are projecting to be better in 2016, look for them to make some big plays early and make it easier on rookie quarterback Trevor Siemian.

The Bottom Line:  Carolina wins by at least 10 points.  There is no way that a rookie quarterback goes in there and wins his first start against a Super Bowl caliber team.  There have been surprises before, but don’t look for any tonight.

Here is a short list of the other games:

Seahawks over Dolphins

Packers over Jaguars

Vikings over Titans

Texans over Bears

Colts over Lions

Falcons over Buccaneers

Raiders over Saints

Chiefs over Chargers

Eagles over Browns

Bills over Ravens

Bengals over Jets

Cowboys over Giants

I will preview the Sunday Night game and the two Monday Night ones later this week.  I went 4-0 in the inaugural weekend of college football, but am a little upset my Cougars lost to the Eastern Washington Eagles.  I’m still trying to figure that one out.  Have a nice weekend everyone and stay safe.