NFL Winning Picks

Predicted Winner w/Points Underlined

Line: New York (-3.5) BaltimorePick with Points: BaltimorePick Straight-up: BaltimoreThough not quite against the grain enough to warrant an Upset Special, the Ravens will take the field at the New Meadowlands Stadium as slight underdogs when they square off against Rex Ryan’s Ravens, and this year’s darlings of HBO’s off-season show Hard Knocks. The head coach of Gang Green maintains the vaunted Jets D from a season ago will be just as fearsome with CB Darrelle Revis on the sideline, but excuse us if we aren’t quite so sold. With “Revis Island” suddenly open of air travel, look for Baltimore’s much improved passing attack to take advantage of both sides of the field. While the Jets contracted (emphasis on the ‘contract’) their defensive backfield, the Ravens spent the summer adding weapons. With WR Anquan Boldin moving from the desert to Charm City, Derrick Mason can finally play a more age-appropriate second fiddle in the receiving corps. The Ravens also brought in speedy wide-out Donte Stallworth; however, he will miss the early season with a fractured foot. QB Joe Flacco avoided a sophomore slump, actually improving on an already impressive rookie campaign in 2009 and should be positioned for a breakout year his junior year in the NFL. His numbers were no doubt aided by the dangerous RB Ray Rice coming out of the backfield, catching more passes than any other RB in the league, while providing a home run threat in the running game as well. (more…)