In the Huddle: NFL Picks and Predictionsby Anthony OxleyGet into the huddle with football experts: Anthony Oxley, Blake Butterfield and Marc Reichertz as they go head-to-head every week with their NFL picks and predictions. Follow them through the NFL 2006 season right up to the Superbowl as they each try to pick winners on the spread! People, I've been waiting seven long painful months for this moment, and now it is finally here. What am I talking about? I'm talking about NFL Opening Weekend, baby! To me, this is better than a holiday, because holidays last what... when we talking about Christmas, it lasts pretty much until New Year's... so about a week. Opening Weekend tells me that I will be in good spirits for at least the next 5 months! It don't get no better than this. The NFL season starts this weekend! Let's rock and roll! ATLANTA +6 AT CAROLINA -6 All I can say is that I hope I get to watch this game on the tele; talk about a barnburner to kick things off on a sunny Sunday. The Falcons boast one of the league's most dynamic players in QB Michael Vick and one of the brashest in CB DeAngelo Hall. The Panthers have their best offensive player, WR Steve Smith, listed as questionable with hammy problems, but their defense is bad, bad and triple-bad to the bone with 6'7", 285-pound DE Julius Peppers leading the ferocity. Atlanta has a good team, but this is the definition of a hostile environment. Opening day in Carolina! Strap 'em up! PREDICTION: PANTHERS to cover SAN FRANCISCO +7.5 AT ARIZONA -7.5 I'll come right out and say it. Why waste time, eh? Time is precious to many of us... a precious commodity. So here it is. The 49ers have no chance in this game; no chance whatsoever. They are going into Cardinal land to face an Arizona team that has pressure slammed against their face, due to new player acquisitions and the reality of underachievement last season. The Niners are going to face what many consider the NFL's best tandem of wideouts, a revitalized former All-Pro at quarterback and a Cardinal team that finally has a running game due to an All-Pro runner. If I was San Fran, I'd be running in the other direction. PREDICITON: CARDINALS to cover BALTIMORE +3 AT TAMPA BAY -3 To say that QB Steve McNair is an upgrade from Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright (who quarterbacked the Ravens last season) would be an understatement. McNair shared the NFL MVP in 2003 with Peyton Manning, took the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl three years prior and has been to three Pro Bowls. As long as the 33-year old can stay healthy, the Ravens will be alright there. RB Jamal Lewis is questionable for this game after being out the last couple of weeks with a hip flexor, but he has been rested, so it is likely he will appear. If he is in any shape to play, the Bucs are in trouble with their starting MLB Shelton Quarles likely out due to injury. PREDICTION: RAVENS to cover CHICAGO -4.5 AT GREEN BAY +4.5 Here is yet another game that I do not want to miss on the tube at all. When these two teams play against each other, it is all about the history of football. NFL rivalry does not get any better than this. Just line it right up, blow the damn whistle and smack each other in the mouth. This is the definition of pro football, and I cannot wait for it. Talking about smacking each other in the mouth, it looks like the Bears have been doing that to each other during training camp as their present injury list cannot have more players. Head Coach Lovie Smith has previously stated that any season the Bears have is dictated by whether or not they beat the Packers. After the season QB Brett Favre of the Pack had last year, if you combine that with Lovie's comments, can Favre have any more motivation for such a season opener?? PREDICTION: PACKERS to cover Anthony Oxley is a freelance columnist for BetUS. To email Anthony Oxley, send your comments to faceoff@betus.com. Check out the 2009 Pro Football Playoff Odds and free NFL Playoff Predictions! --- by BetUSradio at 1800-sports.com on September 08, 2006
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