The 2010 NFL regular season will get off to a dramatic start when the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints square off on Thursday, September 9th in the Superdome in a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. This is one of three intriguing matchups that are on tap for the opening week of the season.
(Check out 3 free picks below for Week 1)
1. Minnesota Vikings (50) at New Orleans Saints (-4)
Minnesota outgained New Orleans by more than 200 yards in the NFC title game but were doomed by five turnovers in a 31-28 overtime defeat. It appears that quarterback Brett Favre will return for another year for the Vikings. However, the odds for this game could shift a few points in the favor of the Saints, if Favre shuts it down. New Orleans will take the first steps towards defending its Super Bowl crown in the opener. After neither squad made any significant changes in the offseason, the offenses should shine again in the rematch. While Minnesota was 9-0 at home in 2009, the Vikings were just 4-5 on the road. The Saints prevail in another shootout.
Prediction: Saints 30, Vikings 27
2. Green Bay Packers (-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (44.5)
The two NFC Wild Card teams from 2009 will meet up to begin the 2010 campaign. Green Bay had to settle for its Wild Card spot after being swept by NFC North champion Minnesota last season. With strong units on both sides of the ball, the Packers could be ready to unseat the Vikings in this year’s division race. After the offseason trade of veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, a new era is set to begin in Philly. Fourth-year signal-caller Kevin Kolb will try to manage an offense that throws the ball as much as any attack in the league. At home, the Eagles pull this one out.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Packers 24
3. Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Washington Redskins (41.5)
McNabb and new Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan will get thrown into the fire in one of the league’s most intense rivalries for the opening Sunday night contest of the year. At 33, McNabb will try to help Shanahan get Washington back on track after a frustrating 4-12 campaign a year ago. The Cowboys were finally able to win a postseason game in 2009 for the first time in over a decade. However, the squad’s blowout exit at Minnesota in the Divisional Playoffs could still have head coach Wade Phillips under the gun again in 2010. While the Redskins will be improved this season, Dallas has too much firepower in the opener.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Redskins 21
Here are the rest of the odds for week 1:
Carolina Panthers (41) at NY Giants (-7)
Miami Dolphins (-3) at Buffalo Bills (37.5)
Atlanta Falcons (-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (38)
Detroit Lions (42.5) at Chicago Bears (-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (43) at New England Patriots (-5.5)
Cleveland Browns (36.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5)
Denver Broncos (39.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5)
Indianapolis Colts (-3) at Houston Texans (46.5)
Oakland Raiders (41) at Tennessee Titans (-7)
San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) at Seattle Seahawks (38)
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) at St. Louis Rams (40)
Baltimore Ravens (36.5) at NY Jets (-3)
San Diego Chargers (-5.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (44.5)
