orioles

Opposing Aaron Rodgers is always a nervy bet, particularly with Jordy Nelson back, but this is a tough Vikings' D christening their shiny new stadium and Sam Bradford will be under center - hardly a thrilling prospect, but he can get it done, handing it off to AP and making the occasional play downfield.

Besides, the public are all over a Green Bay. That'll do for me.

Pick: Vikings +2 @ 1.91

Imagine being one of the most talented backs in football and operating behind an OL like the one on offer from the Rams?

Oddly, this is always a bruising encounter for Seattle, but with no pass attack to worry about, (Case Keenum is beyond awful and it's slightly odd that he's still starting) they can key on Todd Gurley and add to his woes.

On the other side, Russell Wilson is injured, immobile and has generally had a difficult time against the Rams, who will be keen to make up for their horribly embarrassing start.

This is not a game to get heavily involved in, but I'll take the visitors.

Pick: Seahawks -5.5 @ 2

Lots of bad blood and two QB/WR combos that make the offenses tick.

Last time of course, Cincinnati took care of it by levelling Antonio Brown and sidelining him.Vontaze Burfict aside, there's also a running battle with Dre Kirkpatrick, and the Bengals have done ok keeping Brown in check, but there are scores to settle. Kirkpatrick is prone to giving up the occasional big play, so look for a couple of deep shots from Ben.

Andy Dalton and AJ Green have put up scary numbers against Pittsburgh, and the Steelers corners haven't the talent to stay with Green, so expect the ball to cone his way all day, whether that's enough on the offensive side for the visitors, though, is another matter. Last week, the OL gave up a ton of sacks against the Jets and Dalton won't be offered much time, even with a Steelers pass rush that struggled to get home last week.

I suspect the key here will be Pittsburgh's ground game, just like the Divisional Wild Card game last season, and despite a tough front seven, the Bengals still look vulnerable against the run, a tough situation with DeAngelo Williams red hot. It just adds more dimension to the Steelers' attack and should be enough to edge a tight, bad tempered game.

Could be a cracker!

Pick: Steelers -3 @ 1.91

(3-4, -1)

A pick 'em on the markets (you can get the Jets plus a point) but frankly watching the two teams last week it strikes me the Jets look value here.

Trod Taylor was poor last time out and the Jets defensive front are aggressive and liable to give him a tough time. With Sammy Watkins questionable, the position looks even worse as they're hardly loaded with talent. That means Buffalo may have to lean on McCoy on the ground, but again, the Jets' front seven ...

On the other side of the ball, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker give Fitzpatrick options deep and Matt Forte had a monster game last week and can prosper tonight too. The Bills looked OK on defense, but I always add in the Flacco factor, so it may have been an illusion. My only real reservation is that Rex Ryan has the wood over Fitzpatrick.

The early season is risky (that Rams pick was embarrassing!) but I like New York.

Pick: Jets @ 2.05
Pick: 1st TD Matt Forte @ 7.5

You can't possibly stay up for this one.

Put a small bet on the Rams to beat the dysfunctional 49ers on the floor and sleep well.

Pick: Rams -3 @ 2.05

A few intriguing questions in this early matchup. Cousins is coming off a strong season and he has plenty of weapons to challenge a suspect Steelers secondary, but the Redskins didn't beat anyone with a winning record last year and benefited from a pretty ordinary division. Matt Jones is carrying a shoulder injury and may struggle.

Josh Norman is going to have to work hard against Antonio Brown and show he was worth the money. The home team will also need to generate pressure off the edge, because Roethlisberger looked sharp in an albeit brief preseason and DeAngelo Williams is a more than capable replacement against a Washington run defence that is suspect at best - that one two punch may be too much.

This has the makings of a classic shootout, but the total is sky high. While it's always tough capping the team you support, I have to like Pittsburgh here.

Pick: Steelers -2 @ 1.95

(1-3, -2)

Ordinarily if you gave me 9.5 points with Belichick coaching the Dagenham Girl Pipers, I'd snap your hand off, but Jimmy Garoppolo looked tentative in the preseason and Arizona have a quick, aggressive defence that might overwhelm the lad.

1.3 is available on the Cardinals SU, but I haven't backed a 1.3 shot since the Brexit vote and that did not go well.

If you must have a dabble, Palmer is such an aggressive QB he almost always chucks it the wrong way or tries to force the ball in where it just doesn't belong: couple that will Jimmy Garoppolo staring wide eyed at the Arizona D and something daft like 2.8 for 4-5 turnovers, or buying the number on the spread might cash.

Pick: No bet

Speaking of revamped defences, the Giants have moved to address their horrible last place in ypg last campaign by shelling out over $100m in guarantees in the free agency market.

The big story though, is the number 7 QB selected in the draft under centre for Dallas. Prescott had an amazing preseason, but that is a risky indicator of success in the regular season. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten can help, but look out particularly for another Cowboys' rookie, Ezekiel Elliott, who has the power and speed to take advantage of the fine Dallas O line and the Giants' still shaky LBs.

This could be close and with this many imponderables, not least the Dallas suspension problems, I'd keep stakes at whatever loose change you find down the back of the sofa. Enjoy a beer and the rookies for Dallas and Odell Beckham Jr for the Giants - it might be fun.

Dallas Cowboys @ 2.05

The Jags have tuned up their defence, but it's stuttered in preseason with a lot of new faces. Rodgers has got players back, fit and looking good, although there have been a couple of odds moves on the line. The Pack will be looking for some rhthym and a return to form on this side of the ball after a tough year.

I like Bortles, despite his pick problem, and the Jacksonville offence has undoubted chops out wide, but Green Bay have solid corners and it should be a challenge to get the O rolling - an interest in the points going Over might still be in order with the Jags likely to air it out to keep up.

It's early doors, and no one should be smashing in, but again at less than a score I'll side with the road favourite.

Green Bay Packers -4.5 @ 1.95
Over 47.5 @ 2

(0-1, -1)

Even on the road at Mile High the Panthers look the bet here with an upgraded receiving corps from last year and a talented, hungry D line getting after an inexperienced opposition QB who'll be operating behind a line that has lost some personnel.

Presumably Denver will lean heavily on the ground game and defence to get it done, but with Evens on offer on the Panthers giving up a field goal I'll take the favourite.

Pick: Panthers -3 @ 2.0