MONDAY NIGHT @ COWBOYS CATHEDRAL

I've got two first-half only plays...

Panthers  +6  Cowboys (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Panthers

I'm betting the Panthers will keep it close thru the first half with their strong running game. 

1st HALF O/U @ 24

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

See above. 

WEEK 3

Dolphins +6  Chargers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Dolphins

Fins running game will prove too much for the Bolts.

Steelers/Bengals  O/U @ 37

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

This should be an aerial bonanza. I see this game as a battle of the wide receivers. 

Titans  +2.5  Jets (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Titans

How do the Jets not have a letdown after last week's big win over the Patriots? 

TEASER: 49ers  +.5  Vikes (H)  -- O/U @ 46

DeVoodoo's pick: Vikings & UNDER

I teased these lines down points just because A) I wanted the extra security, and B) I'm stupid. 

This is the week Favre will be forced to air it out. Shaun Hill just can't compare. 

Saints/Bills 1st HALF O/U @ 27

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Expect a slow start to this game as the Bills play clock-control football.

Packers  -6.5  Rams (H)  

DeVoodoo's pick: Rams

The Packers have shown deep vulnerabilities thru two weeks of play. And the Rams can't keep playing this bad all season, can they? I'm betting on a week three rally from the St. Louis squad.

Bears  -2  Seahawks (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Bears

The Hawks are just plain beat up. And it's only week two. The Bears should improve every week as QB Jay Cutler and his WRs get into rhythm. 

Jags/Texans 1st HALF O/U @ 23.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Both teams want to win this game by running the ball. The first half should fly by. 

Colts/Cards 1st HALF O/U @ 24.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Colts QB Peyton Manning is missing some key weapons. And the Cardinals are not the offensive juggernaut of last year; I doubt they ever will be again. 

WEEK 2

Bengals  +9  Packers (H) 

DeVoodoo's pick: Bengals

I just don't think the Bengals are as bad as their effort reflected last week against the Broncos. This 9-point spread is too juicy to pass up. 

Jets/Patriots  O/U @ 46.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

The Jets should play inspired defense. And the home crowd will help keep the Patriots offense in check. But the most important factor that will keep this total low is Bill Belichik game-planning against a rookie QB making his only second career start. 

Raiders  +3  Chiefs (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs will have few opportunities to win this season. Playing the Raiders at home is definitely one of those rare chances. So I look for the Chiefs to capitalize, and, quite frankly, out-coach the Tom Cable-led Raiders. 

Texans/Titans  O/U  @ 40.5

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

The Texans offense is determined to bounce back from their week 1 clunker, and the Titans will look to expose a shaky Texans D. 

Ravens/Chargers  O/U  @ 40

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

Like the Texans/Titans line mentioned above, I think these totals are skewed too heavily in response to the rusty offensive executions these teams displayed in week 1. Forty points is too low of a total for two teams I believe will have decent offenses this year. 

Giants  +3  Cowboys (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Cowboys

The 'Boys of September' should roll their their division rival in this critical early season match-up. I don't mind laying three points. 

Colts  -3  Dolphins (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Dolphins

It's always hard to pass on a Monday night home dog. But even more compelling than that is Miami's running game versus a lightweight Colts defense. 

MONDAY NIGHT DOUBLE-HEADER

Pats/Bills 1st HALF O/U @ 24

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

The Bills offense will offer little in the way of sizzle during their Foxboro debut. I fully expect their new no-huddle offense to look more like a no-point offense. On the other side of the ball, I'm betting that Brady will spend the first half of the game knocking off rust and jitters after spending a full year away from the game. All of this equals a low point total for the first half. 

Chargers/Raiders O/U @ 42.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

The Raiders won't have any offense to speak of, so all of their focus and energy will be put into shutting down the Chargers offense. Home field advantage will help. The Raiders D could surprise here. So a low total is order. 

2009 WEEK ONE DOUBLE-GUARANTEE LOCKS OF THE CENTURY!!!

Let me start by apologizing for last season's results. My 53-49 record was unacceptable. As with every season, I shoot for at least a 60% winning margin. You, my beloved internet, deserve nothing less. 

Here are my picks for week 1 of the 2009 season...

Titans  +6.5  Steelers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Titans

Can't exactly put my finger on it, but the Steelers just feel... flat? And few coaches get their teams better prepared out of the gates than Titans coach Jeff Fisher. I'll take the points, thank you very much. 

49ers/Cardinals O/U @ 46.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

I love betting 'unders' early in the season, but especially so in week 1. Rationale: Offense is all about order — defense is chaos. Offensive rhythms generally take time to gel. This is much too high of an O/U spread at this juncture.

Jets/Texans O/U @ 43.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Jets QB Mark Sanchez gets his first ever start and I expect the Texans' defense to bring the heat and dirty up the back of Sanchez's jersey. Dirty Sanchez. 

Vikings/Browns O/U @ 40

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

Favre is rusty and broken. Quinn looks like the type of guy who shaves his own chest. They will lead their respective offenses to absolute mediocrity. 

Broncos  +4  Bengals (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Bengals

0-0 might be the rosiest record Josh McDaniels ever boasts as head coach of the Denver Broncos. I like the Bengals as a bounce-back team this year. 

Dolphins  +4  Falcons (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Dolphins

Like a lot of people, I think the Falcons offense will be good this season. Just not in week 1. And I think the Miami D will be a lot better than anyone expects. I also think the Dolphins will win this game outright. 

Eagles  -2  Panthers (H)

DeVoodoo's pick: Eagles

I ain't buyin' all the pre-season Panthers hype. This is a do or die season for a lot of folks in Philly. I expect an added sense of urgency will propel the Eagles to a big week 1 win on the road. 

Rams TEAM O/U @ 17  vs.  Seahawks

DeVoodoo's pick: OVER

My book offers team-specific O/U bets. The Rams offense, which should be greatly improved this year, will eclipse 17 points against the Seahawks, no problem. 

Bears/Packers 1st HALF O/U @ 23.5

DeVoodoo's pick: UNDER

My book also offers O/U totals for 1st and 2nd half play. I like this variety of action quite a bit, so you'll see me bet it frequently throughout the year. My thoughts on this Sunday night's game — the Bears and Pack will just jab at each other with conservative offensive plays throughout the first half, then open things up in the second half.