Who would have thought that the NFL would gain such traction in Jamaica?

We’re not just watching and following the games, but we’re betting on them as well. With help from our friends at Supreme Ventures Sports Betting, through their JustBet brand, we’re learning about handicaps, under and over, and paying close attention to all the info we need to make the right NFL bet.

This NFL season, in addition to giving readers some weekly insight and analysis, a few colleagues and I will be picking the team we think will win each game, and by picking, I mean picking based on “handicaps”.

In sports betting, Handicaps are extra points given to the weaker team. When betting on the favourite, the favourite must win by more than the handicap, for it to be a winning bet. But when betting on the underdog (or weaker team), the underdog must either beat the favourite outright, or lose by less than the handicap, for it to be a winning bet.

In the NFL you can also bet on the Under/Over (U/O). This is where you try to guess whether the total points scored by two teams in a game will be “Under” or “Over” a certain figure.

So in the world of sports betting, an NFL team can win on the field, but NOT be a winner on a sports betting ticket. Similarly, a team can lose on the field, but still be a winner in sports betting.

The opening game on Thursday, September 8 will feature defending Super Bowl champs, Green Bay Packers against the previous season’s Super Bowl champs the New Orleans Saints. The game will be played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Incidentally, no team has repeated as Super Bowl champs since the New England Patriots in 2004, but I have a feeling that somehow Green Bay will be there again at the end of this season. I could be wrong, but you just remember I had the nerve to say at the outset.

The NFL lock-out of the players ended just recently when they finally came to a new labour agreement. In the NFL and indeed in the USA, money talks, and the US$8 billion NFL pie was just too much to put in jeopardy. I’m glad the dispute was settled, not just for the players, owners and fans, but for those working class folks who depend on the games for an income. I’m talking about the guys who sell beer and hot dogs, programmes, peanuts and stuff like that at the games. These are the folks that a lock-out would have impacted negatively.

Speaking of players, how about Michael Vick signing a six-year $100-million contract with the Eagles? You all know the story of his imprisonment, and this is redemption for Vick. I hope he succeeds and lives up to the expectations of the Eagles and their fans. Remember Plaxico Burress, the guy who shot himself in the foot literally and figuratively? Well he did his time and is back in business with the New York Jets. I saw footage of him working out with the Jets and he looks good. There’s no denying that he’s a good wider receiver and he does not look rusty even after doing time.

Finally, and I do this every year, I talk about my team from ever since I started watching the NFL, the Oakland Raiders. How are they going to do this year? Well folks I’ve got news for you, my Raiders are going to make the playoffs and you just remember I said that. Why do I keep doing this?

Well folks, enjoy the games this weekend, and remember — go out and place your bets, with JustBet!

NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

(Handicaps in bracket, Under/Over included)

Thur Sept 8

Green Bay Packers vs New Orleans Saints (3.5), U/O 46.5

Sun Sept 11

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers (2.5), U/O 36.5

Chicago Bears (2.5) vs Atlanta Falcons, U/O 41.5

Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals (6.5), U/O 36.5

Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts (5.5), U/O 44.5

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans (3.5), U/O 38.5

Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills (6.5), U/O 40.5

St Louis Rams (4.5) vs Philadelphia Eagles, U/O 43.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions (1.5), U/O 41.5

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers (6.5), U/O 36.5

San Diego Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings (8.5), U/O 41.5

San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks (5.5), U/O 38.5

Washington Redskins (3.5) vs New York Giants, U/O 37.5

New York Jets vs Dallas Cowboys (4.5), U/O 40.5

Mon Sept 12

Miami Dolphins (7.5) vs New England Patriots, U/O 45.5

Denver Broncos vs Oakland Raiders (3.5), U/O 40.5

EXPERTS’ PICKS

Tony Scott’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Packers vs Saints

Ravens vs Steelers

Bears vs Falcons

Browns vs Bengals

Texans vs Colts

Jaguars vs Titans

Chiefs vs Bills

Rams vs Eagles

Buccaneers vs Lions

Cardinals vs Panthers

Chargers vs Vikings

49ers vs Seahawks

Redskins vs Giants

Jets vs Cowboys

Dolphins vs Patriots

Broncos vs Raiders

Andre Hutchinson’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Packers vs Saints

Ravens vs Steelers

Bears vs Falcons

Browns vs Bengals

Texans vs Colts

Jaguars vs Titans

Chiefs vs Bills

Rams vs Eagles

Buccaneers vs Lions

Cardinals vs Panthers

Chargers vs Vikings

49ers vs Seahawks

Redskins vs Giants

Jets vs Cowboys

Dolphins vs Patriots

Broncos vs Raiders

Andrei Roper’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Packers vs Saints

Ravens vs Steelers

Bears vs Falcons

Browns vs Bengals

Texans vs Colts

Jaguars vs Titans

Chiefs vs Bills

Rams vs Eagles

Buccaneers vs Lions

Cardinals vs Panthers

Chargers vs Vikings

49ers vs Seahawks

Redskins vs Giants

Jets vs Cowboys

Dolphins vs Patriots

Broncos vs Raiders

Peter Lindo’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Packers vs Saints

Ravens vs Steelers

Bears vs Falcons

Browns vs Bengals

Texans vs Colts

Jaguars vs Titans

Chiefs vs Bills

Rams vs Eagles

Buccaneers vs Lions

Cardinals vs Panthers

Chargers vs Vikings

49ers vs Seahawks

Redskins vs Giants

Jets vs Cowboys

Dolphins vs Patriots

Broncos vs Raiders

Disclaimer:

The content on this page is merely commentary and Jamaica Observer does not claim in any way to represent NFL. Also, the views expressed by the author of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Jamaica Observer..