First of all, i would like to say hi to all the GP fam. I have been gone since last season. I decided to hang it up from laying on games. those that have been here long enough, mostly in the chatroom, know the history.

Now, football is back. This is the time of yr where the retired have the greatest itch. This is what makes football so dangerous. Historically, it is one of the worst games to cap. All my bookie friends in SD and back home in Detroit tell me that this is the time of the year that they make what they lost from MLB.

The explanation is simple, there is way too much emotion involved in football just as a sport to view and follow. If you add the psychology involved in gambling, too many times we kept swept away with emotions.

We all know that this thing that we do is not hard, when we control our emotions. But, when we cant, we are through and well on our way to a downward spiral. We chase games that we lost because Chris Duhon decides to heave a meaningless shot from half-court when Duke was down 4. Or, some college student from Montana St. decides to make one of his free-throws, having us swallowed by the hook.

Also, I like a game...you like a game, so i double up. Or, its the Super Bowl, so we go 5 units instead of the 1 you wanted to put. On top of that, you play the favorite and the over, when vegas knows that-that is the common treand by the biggest game of the yr.

Anyways, here we go again...just for fun. Plus, i miss the boys. The chatroom is why i really quit. I never became addicted to playin the games, even though its in my family's blood. But, i did get addicted to the chatroom with my boys. This yr, I will fade in and out. There will never ever be another collection of wit and humor than that room. Most addicting though was the bond. A collection of strangers assisting eachother to the same destiny with a common adversary.

Many times we give love back to those that have had a helping hand in getting out the best info to increase the probability of a game going one way over the other. Well, too many names to even mention one. But, there is one individual that embodies what this thing is really about.

Ricky gets credit first and foremost. Without this site, there is no Takis,Jimmyz, Dollar...

Even though Texas is up for a big loss coming up next wk, Ricks ok in my book...

On to the 1st wk. I really dont like to play the 1st wk period. Especially in this parity league of today (hopefully my bears are this yrs chargers of 04). So, i will play it safe with only teasers.

Having said that, there are a few teasers that have caught my eye so far. Just wanted to throw them out there. I really wont be investing too much time and energy into the lines and movement this yr. Im going straight old school like when i was in high school.

Here they are...

10 am games...

Minny (p)

U 40 Chi/Wash

Minny has to win SU. Too much emotion here for this team to come out flat, their first after the Moss era. Daunte came out on fire last yrs season opener against dallas (5 tds 0 ints) and i dont see why he wont now.

Typically, he doesnt do well vs TB, but this team is getting fairly old in the D department. The last game was in '02.

The 2nd play i like better. this involves 2 potentially dominating defenses vs. 2 potentially disgusting offenses. both have issues at the QB position. last yrs result was a grand total of 23 points. it should be noted that the skins dont have Smoot and Pierce this yr, 2 very significant pieces to last yrs dominant defense. Chicago can easily have the top 3 defense in the league this yr if they dont get hit with the rash of injuries like last yr.

the only way that i dont see them going under this teaser spread is if there are Defensive or ST scores here (Chicago did have a total of 8 with less talent than this yrs crew)

1 pm games...

St.luis +1.5

Dallas +10.5

well, St Lunitics win SU without a question. i understand that Nolan and Singletary bring attitude and credibility to this franchise like Saban does in Miami. But there not going to start believing in the vision of the new organization within the 1st week of the season. Plus, st luis offense this yr is being compared to the one in 98-00 for a reason. they are going to score from all over the place this yr. I really like the "new" personality of the team with SJ bringing a "toughness" to that explosive offense. This gives them something to do on 3rd and 1 or 2 to maintain their drives.

the next game is just as simple. to begin with, 10.5 is just a beautiful number to land on. dogs dominate todays game. Dallas is going to have to show the world if they are the team from 03 or 04. i would be willing to bet that they are closer to the 03 team in 05.

SD had a magical yr with the Gates/ Kent St story. they also had a yr where they won the turnover battle almost every game and also didnt have 1 significant injury to evercome. instead of an injury in this game, they have a ridiculous suspension. Brees without Gates is more the 03 Bress, rather than the 04 Brees. Without him, the wide outs are average, at best. This leaves Brees as a vunerable decision maker. Parcells will Blitz him like crazy and force him to make quick reads from under center.

the Blitz and Ware will greatly effect the offensive line, who played surprisingly well due to there position coach more than anything. now that Hudson Houck is in Miami as the offensive line coach (getting paid more than many offensive coordinators), this team probably wont be as prepared as last year.

also, i just feel that Vegas will keep an eye on how they place the lines with Charger games since people might try to map over their ATS success from last yr to this yr.

5:30 pm Prime Time Game...

Baltimore +9

U 53

the under 53 is the easier of the 2 calls. Manning never looked comfy against baltimore last yr. I cashed in on the same teaser from last yr as Indy won 20-10. Lewis was able to control the clock( 130 yrds). Boller threw for 210 even though his leading receiver was Heap with 58 yrds. Even though Boller will always be a joke in my book, the additions of Mason and Clayton should balance out Indy trying to get more physical to prepare for NE ( Bob Sanders last yr, Marlin Jackson this yr, C Simon this wk).

the side is more of a gut feeling than anything. I just see Baltimores D getting up for big games this season. especially the way that they came out under prepared in the kick off game last yr vs. the Browns. we all lost our asses off there. thats where we should have known that last yr was going to be a parity 50/50 season (we were too hard at work trying to duplicate our magical winnings from 03).

well, there you have it. obviously, i had alot of my habit and passion bottled up from my retirement. hope this novel was worthwhile.

keep it under control this season and only play what you can afford to lose.

as far as these plays go, they are all going to lose. its the safest way to consider it.

GL THE NOOCH