At around 7:30pm today (Jamaica time), a life-changing event for us hard core NFL fans will occur.

The NFL will return with the Dallas Cowboys facing the defending Super Bowl Champs, the New York Giants, and for the next little while, we who are fans can sing that old refrain “Happy days are here again!”

Now I know a lot of folks may be thinking that that fellow Scott is getting carried away and they may have a point. Be that as it may, Wednesday, September 5 is the day when the ‘drought’ ends and the withdrawal symptoms begin to subside as, once again, the gridiron grabs our undivided attention.

It’s good to be back folks and good to be reunited with the usual suspects who will be putting their reputation and hard cash on the line, as we attempt to pick winners of the games each week. Not only will we be picking the winners, but we will be picking them against the sometimes tricky spread. A reminder, picking against the spread means we will be picking winners based on the point spread or handicap given to the weaker team in each game. If we pick the favoured team to win, then they must win by more than the point spread. If we pick the weaker team to win, they don’t have to win the game outright, they just have to not get beaten by more than the point spread. Greetings to my fellows tipsters Andrei Roper, Andre Hutchinson, and Peter Lindo. For the record, they all picked the New York Giants to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, as did I. That marked the only time last season when we were all in agreement. The Giants won 21-17 as the curtains came down on what had been a pretty interesting season.

Hopefully this season will be just as interesting and will provide a platform for my colleagues and I to have spirited disagreements on a whole bunch of football issues. Speaking of issues, there were quite a few in the off-season, some of which may very well impact the current season.

It seems the NFL owners are always in contention with someone. This time it is with the referees who are holding out for new terms of agreement and compensation. In the meantime the NFL has hired what they call ‘replacement’ referees to officiate. If the performance of some of these guys in the pre-season is indicative of their level of competence, we are going to see some questionable calls and, even more crucial, some calls that may affect the outcome of games. This is not good. Hopefully the two factions will come to an early agreement and the regular guys will come back to do their duties. Refereeing in the NFL is no joke and using people who are not equipped to do this job is unacceptable.

Also in the off-season, the Denver Broncos traded Tim Tebow to the New York Jets who have had a terrible pre-season. I don’t think he will last there as back-up to Mark Sanchez and as the focal point of the hostile New York media. Michael Vick got hurt again in a pre-season game. Someone ought to tell that guy to stop running around and exposing himself to big hits. Look out for a whole slew of rookie quarterbacks to start the regular season. In the out-of-work-out-of-favour segment are three very talented wide receivers — Plaxico Burress, Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson. It seems there are no takers for their services throughout the league as teams are wary of the baggage these guys carry.

So who’s going to win the season opener? My guess is that the reigning champs are too much for the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will begin their long march towards repeating in February. Remember I said that.

In some of the Week One Sunday games that should be worth watching: the Green Bay Packers, led by last season’s League MVP and arguable the best quarterback in the game, Aaron Rodgers, host the San Francisco 49ers, who came agonizingly short of a trip to the Super Bowl last season. The Denver Broncos will get their first real taste of what Peyton Manning can do for them when they take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then in a Monday Night double-header, another team that came up a few inches short of making it to the big dance last season, the Baltimore Ravens, will take on the impressive young Cincinnati Bengals, while the Oakland Raiders battle the San Diego Chargers.

So here’s to another great season, and here’s to hoping that I will again get the better of my opponents and emerge as “Top Dog” in the battle of the tipsters.

Enjoy the games and remember to place your bets on the NFL, with JustBet!!!

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NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

(Handicaps in bracket, Under/Over included)

Wednesday, September 5

NY Giants v Dal Cowboys (+3.5), U/O 46.5

Sunday, September 9

Chi Bears v Ind Colts (+9.5), U/O 42.5

Cle Browns (+7.5) v Phi Eagles, U/O 41.5

Det Lions v STL Rams (+8.5), U/O 46.5

Hou Texans v Mia Dolphins (+10.5), U/O 43.5

KC Chiefs (+1.5) v Atl Falcons, U/O 41.5

Min Vikings v Jac Jaguars (+4.5), U/O 38.5

NO Saints v Was Redskins (+9.5), U/O 49.5

NY Jets v Buf Bills (+3.5), U/O 40.5

Ten Titans (+7.5) v NE Patriots, U/O 47.5

Ari Cardinals (+2.5) v Sea Seahawks, U/O 40.5

GB Packers v SF 49ers (+5.5), U/O 45.5

TB Buccaneers (+2.5) v Car Panthers, U/O 46.5

Den Broncos v Pit Steelers (+1.5), U/O 44.5

Monday, September 10

Bal Ravens v Cin Bengals (+5.5), U/O 40.5

Oak Raiders (+1.5) v SD Chargers, U/O 47.5

*Handicaps and Under/Over subject to change without notice, prior to kick-off

EXPERTS’ PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD

Tony Scott’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Giants v Cowboys

Bears v Colts

Browns v Eagles

Lions v Rams

Texans v Dolphins

Chiefs v Falcons

Vikings v Jaguars

Saints v Redskins

Jets v Bills

Titans v Patriots

Cardinals v Seahawks

Packers v 49ers

Buccaneers v Panthers

Broncos v Steelers

Ravens v Bengals

Raiders v Chargers

Andre Hutchinson’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Giants v Cowboys

Bears v Colts

Browns v Eagles

Lions v Rams

Texans v Dolphins

Chiefs v Falcons

Vikings v Jaguars

Saints v Redskins

Jets v Bills

Titans v Patriots

Cardinals v Seahawks

Packers v 49ers

Buccaneers v Panthers

Broncos v Steelers

Ravens v Bengals

Raiders v Chargers

Andrei Roper’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Giants v Cowboys

Bears v Colts

Browns v Eagles

Lions v Rams

Texans v Dolphins

Chiefs v Falcons

Vikings v Jaguars

Saints v Redskins

Jets v Bills

Titans v Patriots

Cardinals v Seahawks

Packers v 49ers

Buccaneers v Panthers

Broncos v Steelers

Ravens v Bengals

Raiders v Chargers

Peter Lindo’s

Week 1 Picks (in bold)

Giants v Cowboys

Bears v Colts

Browns v Eagles

Lions v Rams

Texans v Dolphins

Chiefs v Falcons

Vikings v Jaguars

Saints v Redskins

Jets v Bills

Titans v Patriots

Cardinals v Seahawks

Packers v 49ers

Buccaneers v Panthers

Broncos v Steelers

Ravens v Bengals

Raiders v Chargers