NFL Week 1: The Refs!

We're back for our weekly installment of predictions for the NFL games. This year's themes: introducing you to the NFL Head Referees in place for 2008! There are 17 head referees in the league -and 17 weeks to the season. How about that!

Week 1 brings us Al Riveron. Never heard of him? Neither have I! He is one of two that have been newly promoted to the head ref position this year. So he's a completely unknown quantity - just like the Week 1 games. We have no idea who is good, who is bad, overrated, underrated, or what. Everyone is presumed average until proven otherwise - and every ref is presumed innocent until guilty of a game-changing call.

(My guess is that he will be doing the Det-Atl barnburner....but watch him show up in Cleveland tomorrow.)

On to the picks:

Det 27, Atl 13. This is similar to Thursday night's game....I'm not sure what Detroit is going to do this year, but Atlanta should be in the bottom 3 of the league.

Sea 17, Buf 16. I don't get all the Buffalo love. "this is their year! 10-6!" a lot of people say. Why? Trent Edwards?

NYJ 24, Mia 16. Some agonizing here. Yes, Chad Pennington knows the Jets playbook - but on offense, can he execute? No. And do you think the NFL/CBS will let Favre lose game 1?

(By the way - Jets were 4-12 last year. The Dolphins were 1-15. So yes- CBS puts their "A" broadcasting team on the opener between the two this year! And for all those groaning that the Browns got 5 prime time games, imagine how many Jets games you will be forced to see this year....)

NE 31, KC 10. Is there something to Brady's foot injury that we don't know about?

Tampa 27, NO 24. Should be a great game, down to the wire. I think New Orleans needs a couple weeks and then they should be firing on all cylinders.

Philly 27, St Louis 20. I have no idea. Really.

Pit 27, Hou 17. Is Houston really that good enough to hang with Pittsburgh on the road? I would love to say yes....but I can't.

Ten 20, Jax 17, OT: A match of two playoff teams from the past year. This is the game that Nantz/Simms should be doing.

Bal 16, Cin 13. I can't believe I am taking Joe Flacco on his opening game rookie year.....but have you seen the Bengals at all? No O-line, no defense....this will be one ugly game.

SD 27, Car 24. A wild hunch here... and I think the Panthers will stay in it until the end.

SF 23, Az 20. Maybe the 49ers that we all expected last year will finally show up one year later.

Ind 27, Chi 10. I think the Bears will be just as bad on offense as they were last year. And why again are many people dissing the Colts?

GB 24, Min 17. I'm supposed to believe in Tavaris Jackson? People doubt the Browns because of Derek Anderson - which I can understand - but they think Tavaris will lead the Vikes to the playoffs? Hello?

Oak 23, Den 20. I am certainly not on any Jay Cutler baandwagon.

Cle 27, Dal 25. In real life, Romeo calls timeout and Dawson nails the 27 yard FG with no time left.....

Best bets: currently 1-0:

Det -3

NYJ -3

NE -15.5

TB +3

TB/NO over 42.5

Pit -6.5

Ten +3

Bal +1.5

Bal/Cin under 37.5

Car +9.5

Car/SD Over 41.5

SF +2.5

Ind -9.5

Ind/Chi Under 44

GB -2

Oak +3