Sunday, September 10, 2023 Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons (NFL) - 1:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -175 Atlanta Falcons Rating: 10* Mike's NFL Strongest Play On The Board (WIN) NFL's back & we're ready to grab the early GUSTO! Hey, Tom Brady retires from Tampa Bay & suddenly this NFC South is up for grabs. What bugs me about this Carolina side. I feel the players wanted interim HC Steve Wilks retained. Instead, the front brass brings in the experienced Frank Reich who was let go by the Colts in-season. Reich & Co. commits to an undersized rookie QB in Bryce Young (a pocket passer-they tend to struggle early ala Drew Brees) who will be receiving intense pressure throughout here. It appears that his offensive line has too many holes to fill to allow Young to achieve his full potential. This is especially bad since the Falcons' defense was beefed up considerably under GM Terry Fontenot (his 17 draft picks are all currently on the roster) & are legitimately re-vamped with DE Calais Campbell (coming over from the Ravens), S Jessie Bates (via the Bengals), NT David Onyemata (from New Orleans), OLB Bud Dupree (from Tennessee) CB Jeff Okudah (status-hurt from Detroit) & ILB Kaden Elliss (from New Orleans). Each will play integral parts for DC Ryan Nielsen's 3-4 defensive scheme. On the flip side of the football, I don't see how the front 7 of the Panthers is going to stop the runs in heavy doses by Atlanta featuring generational talent & premiere RB Bijan Robinson (Tuscon native & rookie out of Texas). He should blend in nicely whether he's with starting QB Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke in relief. With the Falcons playing the easiest SOS, look for them to make some noise as teams in this role have compiled a 65-28 record SU the past 6 seasons. In the numbers reveals a simple yet consistent analytical system that states: Play against Carolina before hosting a divisional game (playing New Orleans @ Bank of America Stadium next week). The past 5 instances have resulted in a 5-0 ATS record. The last system looks @ the Panthers again when in the role of a divisional road game in back-to-back divisional contests. In the past 10 games with this system, Carolina has posted a dismal 3-7 record spreadwise. Let's trek to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to play the ATLANTA FALCONS for 10 BIG STARS as my NFL STRONGEST PLAY ON THE BOARD! Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (NFL) - 4:25 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +1/-110 Green Bay Packers Rating: 9* Mike's Later Game Opening Day Gem (WIN) Does ANYONE trust QB Justin Fields behind an iffy offensive line & a running game that's taken a big step BACK compared to last season? What many DON'T realize is Green bay starting QB Jordan Love spent 3 years behind Aaron Rodgers learning the craft from an all-time great. Is this picture just a little familiar to you? Yes, it was Aaron Rodgers fresh out of Cal who ALSO spent 3 seasons behind ANOTHER all-time great in Brett Favre. So how did that one pan out? Not only does Love have the tools but it's with great scrambling ability. This team has a high ceiling & should be the favorites over the Lions by a slight edge for the NFC North crown. My bottom lin says to expect more mistakes on the Fields side as he'll be forcing the issue & he'll be trying to over-stretch the field. We're going to legendary Soldier Field to grab the GREEN BAY PACKERS (buying to a key + 4 1/2) as my 9 Star Later Game Opening Day Gem! Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts (NFL) - 1:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Moneyline: -240 Jacksonville Jaguars Rating 8* Mike's 1st Leg of His Late Steam (WIN) It's going to hurt to be a Colts' fan this Sunday because I feel rookie QB Anthony Richardson will be experiencing growing pains. He's a far cry from a Trevor Lawrence on the other sideline. Now we have to take into the account the coaching mismatch. We'll see Jacksonville's Doug Pederson go up against Indianapolis rookie HC Shane Steichen. Pederson know how to get to rookie QB's. Even though Steichen worked wonders with Jalen Hurts, it's going to take some time to evolve Richardson into a winning QB whose consistent. For now, expect the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS to make the necessary adjustments to squeak out the "W". Let's go to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana to play the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS on the ML as the 1st Leg of His Late Steam Play! Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns (NFL) - 1:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: +2 1/2 Cleveland Browns Rating 9* Mike's 2nd Leg of His Late Steam (WIN) There's really not much to this play except 2 KEY factors that'll be hard getting around. The first deals with an injured Bengals' QB Joe Burrow making the start in a place where he's already 0-3 SU in his career. The 2nd BIG factor is 27-year vet & DC Jim Schwartz. He has many weapons @ his disposal this season. This includes the talented S Juan Thornhill who already has 2 Super Bowl rings with Kansas City. Flexible edge rusher/DE Ogbo Okoronkwo is perfect for the Schwartz 4-3 pressure system coming over from the Texans. Burrow has the weapons but won't have the luxury of time to throw to them. The Dawg Pound is just a tough place to play. Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson should now be settled in & ready to perform up to his capabilities this season & show why they spent $230 million. If he can UP his efficiency a few notches, look for the Browns to challenge Baltimore in the end. In this game, the points will be premium. Let's go to Cleveland Browns Stadium in Ohio to play the CLEVELAND BROWNS (buying to a key + 4 1/2 @ -180) with a little pasta on the ML as the 2nd Leg of His Late Steam! Mike Handzelek's 2023-24 NFL Overall Record: 4-0 for 100%
 

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