NFL Week 1: Kota Kinabalu

Welcome to another annual edition of Eric’s themed NFL picks! This year’s theme is Asia vacation spots. After being here for 3+ years, we’ve racked up a few vacations around Asia – both very good and so-so. You know the deal – we will relate this week’s NFL theme to one of our vacations over here on this side of the world; then give one-sentence predictions on each game – and then ending with the world-famous best bets.

For the first week, I bring you Kota Kinabalu. This is a city in Malaysia – the  largest city on the east island of the country (Borneo). This was our first vacation outside of China when we landed here. We moved here August, 2010, and one week later our friends asked us “So – where are you going for the October vacation? You need to book now!” That was a shock – we haven’t even moved into our real apartment yet, and we were forced to make plans for a trip 6 weeks from now?

Our friends told us to go to the Shangri La at Kota Kinabalu – it’s easy and a good first trip. We had no idea what to expect for this trip. We picked a room on line – 31 sq m sounded big. There was a bus to take us from the airport to the hotel; and from there, it was a beach and a pool. What would the language barriers be? Safety? Food?

The trip was a good introduction to life and trips in Asia. Immigration was a bit rough – we quickly found out that we should fill out all paperwork ahead of time, instead of doing it on line. The “bus” to the hotel was a 50-passenger bus that was half full and had a bunch of Europeans that were not friendly at all; the “city” of Kota Kinabalu is stretching it. Saying that’s the largest Malaysian cityin Borneo is like saying ND St. is the best college football team - in MT, WY, ND and SD combined. And hotel rooms in Asia are not built for 5 people – 31 sq m is waaaaaayyyyy too small for 3 kids. Lesson learned.

But we quickly learned many things as well. It’s ok to take a vacation where you go off the property for only 1/2 day. Floating villages do exist. People in Southeast Asia are very friendly, generally. All sorts of food options were available. Their idea of a “beach” was not exactly the beaches I had in mind from Ocean City, Rehoboth or Fort Walton Beach. Asians don’t necessarily use their beach for swimming. And the boys got to feed orangutangs.

In all, it was a great introduction to Asia vacations – it wasn’t the most cultural (in fact, it was certainly the least cultural, with the exception of Warren being a prince in the nightly parade). But It gave us a clue on what to expect when planning trips for the future.

And that’s what week 1 is here for the NFL. We’re not sure what to expect – we have an idea on how these teams look from past years – but of course, 2013 will be different, as every year is. This week, like Kota Kinabalu, will give us a sneak peak at the changes for 2013 in each team. For instance, I would relate Norv Turner to the GM of a Shangri La- and Pat Shurmur is the night janitor at the Macau Grand Waldo.

Can we please change it up this year? Can we actaully win in week 1? The line is moving - the Browns are a popular pick! They are one of the top 5 picks in the supercontest, and the line has moved 2 points in 3 days. I think that scares me even more about this game.

(And – can we expect the Ravens’ D to give up 7 TD passes every week? I’ll take 6 TD’s next week….)

On to the games:

NE 24, Buf 9. I know EJ Manuel is the starter in place of Tuel. I just have to believe Belichick will design something for the rookie QB with only one good receiver.

Car 20, Sea 17. Carolina has the LB’s to neutralize Marshawn – and I’m not sure I trust Wilson yet on the road, outdoors, in a 1 pm Eastern game with no Percy Harvin.

Cin 23, Chi 19. Are we sure we know how good Chicago is? It takes a while to learn Trestman’s offense.

Det 31, Min 24. Should be a lot of points, as Detroit can’t stop the run (Peterson) and Minnesota’s Pass D is very shaky (for Megatron)

Ind 28, Oak 17. Oak may be able to move the ball here against the weak Ind run D.

KC 19, Jax 17. I’d be very scared of this game if I were a Chiefs fan. What exactly do you have in Alex Smith and Andy Reid?

Atl 34, NO 31. From personal experience, you don’t get that much of a defensive upgrade when you hire Rob Ryan.

TB 19, NYJ 10. If the Jets go down 7 in this game, how do they move the ball?

Pit 23, Ten 20. I’m sorry, I may be biased(um – you are. Period. –ed) but I think the Steelers are ready for a decline. Can the revamped Ten O open up holes for Chirs Johnson? I say yes.

StL 19, Az 10. Regardless of what my idol Bernie Kosar says, I like Jeff Fisher and the foundation is in place in St Louis. I think that means a easy win vs. Carson Palmer.

GB 24, SF 23. The Packers had all off season to solve Kaepernick – and I believe they will design the D to force Kapernick to throw the ball – and who will he throw it to? This is a statement game, just like week 1 last year when the Niners went into Lambeau and won.

Dal 31, NYG 27. Is every NFC East game going to be within 3-7 points?

Was 24, Phi 20. This is a game I will just watch to see how Chip Kelly’s offense will perform in the NFL – and if Vick can actually run it.

Hou 27, SD 17. I know this is a trap , but I just can’t see how the SD Offensvie line stops Houston’s pass rush.

Best bets: 17 of them.

NE -9 1/2

NE/Buf under 51

Car +3

Sea/Car under 45

Cin +3

Min/Det over 46 1/2

Atl +3

Atl/NO over 55 1/2

TB -3 1/2

TB/NYJ under 39 1/2

Ten +6 1/2

StL -4 1/2

Az/Stl under 41 1/2

GB +4 1/2

NYG/Dal over 50
Phi/Was under 52

Hou -4

Supercontest picks:

Cin +3

Ten +7

GB +4 1/2

StL -4 1/2

Hou -4