Time to get your action in for Week 2 if you haven’t already.  I hope that you have been paying attention all week, and not just this morning as you nurse a hangover.  Today I am not playing nothing but Straight bets.  Every game I picked on Friday will be played as a 1-star, while the following games are being played at a higher star-level.

Carolina Panthers -3 (4-stars)
I have been on this game since the line was released.  There is a perception that the Bears are back to their form of two years ago when the defense and special teams did all the heavy-lifting and took the Bears to the Super Bowl.  I can not buy into that after only one game, I don’t care who the opponent was.  The Panthers are a solid team that has been in the mix for the past few years, except for when they have been decimated by injury.  They are now healthy and hungry.  Only reason this isn’t a 5-star game is that it is Week 2.

Seattle Seahawks -7 (4-stars)
Seattle’s loss to the Bills last week was not as bad as it appeared.  There were special teams issues, and the Seahawks just aren’t that good on the road.  This line opened at Seattle -9 and dropped with the injuries to the Seahawks WR corps.  Its not going to matter today against the 49ers.  The line came down, so the stars went up.  I am taking the Seahawks in this NFC West game.

Cincinnati Bengals pk (2-stars)
This is the pick that is the most out there, on the surface.  I do not believe in the Titans, and this past week makes me like them even less.  The Bengals are a mess, no doubt.  But this is a game they should win and with it being a Pick, I will take the Bengals.

Washington Redskins +2 (2-stars)
This line jumped back and forth many times throughout the week, making the Redskins a favorite at times, and the Saints the favorite at other times.  The Redskins defense is good, and their offense is only going to get better every week.  The Saints are without some of their linebackers today, and I like NFC East teams in these games.

Minnesota Vikings +3 (2-stars)
The Colts didn’t have Peyton Manning for the entire preseason and it showed last week against the Bears.  Today the Colts are without their outstanding Center, Jeff Saturday.  Losing a center is a big deal.  Combined with the Colts defensive issues, I like the Vikings today.