Vikings at Giants (+1½)

The 2024 season begins with a matchup of two most unimpressive quarterbacks: While the Vikings’ Sam Darnold used to be the biggest clown show in the Big Apple, New York’s Daniel Jones still is.
Pick: Vikings by 3

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Loren Elliott)

Patriots at Bengals (-8½)

New England coach Jerod Mayo picked veteran QB Jacoby Brissett to start the opener. He was impressed in training camp by rookie Drake Maye but was concerned that he was almost as young as Bill Belichick’s girlfriend.
Pick: Bengals by 21

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots passes against pressure from Nakobe Dean #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 15, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

Titans at Bears (-4½)

Tennessee QB Will Levis famously revealed he has put mayonnaise in his coffee and parlayed that into a Hellmann’s commercial deal. We’re guessing that may not wind up being the most nauseating part of the Titans’ season.
Pick: Bears by 7

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Jets at 49ers (-6½)

Niners rookie Ricky Pearsall is out after being shot in a botched robbery, but he avoided critical injury. It turned out the bullet passed through his chest almost as easily as the 49ers’ pass rushers will go through the Jets’ O-line.
Pick: 49ers by 7

FILE – San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick Ricky Pearsall speaks at an NFL football news conference, April 26, 2024, at the team’s facility in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Cardinals at Bills (-6½)

Former Ohio State standout Marvin Harrison Jr. makes his NFL debut Sunday in Buffalo. And it comes against a Stefon Diggs-less Bills team that his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., could probably start for this season.
Pick: Bills by 3

Arizona Cardinals first round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr, right, stands with his dad, Marvin Harrison Sr. at an NFL football press conference, Friday, April 26, 2024, at the teams’ facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jaguars at Dolphins (-3½)

Florida’s most disappointing teams (not counting Florida State and Florida) return for the first time since their ‘23 meltdowns. The bright side for the Dolphins is that it could be 100 degrees warmer than their last playoff game in Kansas City.
Pick: Dolphins by 7

Fans cheer during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Cowboys at Browns (+1½)

Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson is set to play despite not setting foot on the field since last fall. There’s no good way to massage the fact the Browns were much better off with 80-year old Joe Flacco.
Pick: Cowboys by 3

Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat (90) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Rams at Lions (-3½)

Detroit will be on fire for this rematch of last year’s NFC wild card game against former favorite Matthew Stanford. Lions fans will remember that contest as one of the postseason games that coach Dan Campbell did not single-handedly blow.
Pick: Lions by 7

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell reacts while speaking at a news conference after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Steelers at Falcons (-2½)

Pittsburgh is going to start Russell Wilson to start the season, and it’s fitting that he’ll be wearing his familiar No. 3. That’s because the Steelers are just weeks away from being the third team to kick DangerRuss to the curb.
Pick: Falcons by 7

Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws an incomplete pass as he is taken to the ground by Greg Rousseau #50 of the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the preseason game at Acrisure Stadium on Aug. 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Raiders at Chargers (-3½)

Gardner Minshew beat out Aidan O’Connell for Las Vegas’ quarterbacking job. While coach Antonio Pierce struggled to pick a winner between two tremendously feeble candidates, that experience prepared him to make his presidential choice in November.
Pick: Chargers by 4

Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images)

Other games

Texans at Colts (+1½)
Pick: Texans by 3

Panthers at Saints (-4½)
Pick: Saints by 11

Broncos at Seahawks (-4½)
Pick: Seahawks by 3

Commanders at Buccaneers (-4½)
Pick: Commanders by 3

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders warms up prior to the preseason game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 10, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Record

2023-24 season
175-110 straight up (.614)
142-143 vs. spread (.498)

All-time (2003-24)
3631-2020-14 straight up (.642)
2760-2761-144 vs spread (.500)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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