THE NFL SEASON IS FINALLY HERE & HEDGIE HAS AN OPENING PLAY

The Packers have typically come into Soldier field and had success. Last year the Bears got that monkey off their back with a 24-17 win in week 15 which clinched a playoff berth.  Both teams have similar  rosters but with a new season each team has a couple noteworthy adjustments  as well.  The Packers have a new HC in offensive minded Matt LaFluer.  This no-doubt makes Aaron Rodgers happy but will there be some growing pains and adjustments to start the season?  The Hedgie takes note that Rodgers DID NOT TAKE ONE PRESEASON SNAP.  He's an incredible QB and one of the best.  But facing the strong Bears defense on the road to open is not a good recipe.  

On the other hand Da Bears return most starters.  They did lose Defensive Coordinator   Vic Fangio and replace him with the much revered Chuck Pagano.  Many wonder how the defense will look but Khalil Mack is determined to start where he left off. Unlike Rodgers ,Mack has played preseason and did not miss ne day n the offseason.  He's their rock on defense and Hedgie expects some big early plays from Mack. 

Typically the Defenses are a bit faster week 1  and the offenses need a lil time to adjust.  This will play out in favor of the Bears at home tonight.  The Bears TE  Trey Burton is highly questionable but HC Matt Nagy should have a few wrinkles in his coveted draft pick, starting RB David Montgomery. Montgomery was a 3rd round draft pick out of Iowa St .  Coach Nagy wanted him , got his player,  and has deliberately not shown him much n the preseason.    Hedgie would be amiss if the Bears kicking situation wasn't mentioned.  There will be a lot of pressure on the new kicker but the offseason was designed for pressure for the kicking tryouts and Hedgie thinks the kicker will be just fine.  QB Trubisky is in his 2nd full year as starter and has looked great in camp and preseason.  Tonight at Soldier Field it's 

 DA BEARS -3 .  2 stars

and some insurance just in case Rodgers gets heroic n the 2nd half and the kicker does miss one  !

TEASER . 6.5 pts:    Bears +3.5 & OVER 40  1 star

The Hedgie has a 4 star play today

The Season opener between Boise St and Florida St was supposed to take place in Jacksonville, Fl  at 7pm.  But due to pending Hurricane Dorian the game has been switched to Florida State's home field in Tallahassee at NOON.  The line all summer has been Fla State -4.5 and the Seminoles should be favored here in their 2nd year under Coach Taggert looking to bounceback from a terrible season last year.   
Boise State is starting a freshman QB against one of the best defenses in the nation. To switch to a 'neutral ' field in Jacksonville at night to a noon game at Florida State becomes a big disadvantage.  The heat of August favors the Noles. The Noon start at home also favors the Noles.  Boise St is coming from the Pacific Time zone and this will feel like a 9am start for them.  After a long offseason the Noles will be amped up for this one. It will be tough for Boise St to match the emotion here.  
   The Vegas line has been -4.5 all summer.  The line jumped to -6 with the switch to Tallahassee and the Hedgie thinks this move was much too low.  With the lean already on the Noles at -4.5 and the move to a home noon game the hedgie thinks Fla St should be AT LEAST a TD.   The Noles have a swarming defense and plenty of weapons  on Offense with Cam Akers RB and James Blackman QB. 
  Noles are 11-0 alltime in August and will win this one by double digits in the Tallahassee humidity !  

Florida State -6  4 stars 

The HEDGIE is opening the season today with 1 play in College

Miami / Florida OVER 45.5 2 stars

No commentary , traveling ... looking forward to another big year !

NFL TRAINING CAMPS HAVE STARTED AND THE SPOTLIGHTS ARE BACK ON THE HEDGIE AFTER WINNING +53 UNITS LAST SEASON

Just as always , A LOT has changed in the NFL offseason.  The Hedgie is well rested and ready to handicap the NFL and NCAA once again . 

Some of the many NFL  news and notes that the Hedgie is paying  attention to as we get ready for kickoff Sept 5th :

1)  Antonio Brown is now a Raider . With his usual flare he arrived to training camp in a hot air balloon in Napa Valley proclaiming  'It's time to get to work .  "Fly like a butterfly and Sting like AB'
The Raiders also signed Tyrell Williams from the Chargers and most expect a much improved offense this yr.

2)  Cam Newton had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.  If that is healthy then his 2nd season under Norv Turner should be a good one

3) Redskins  LT and best lineman Trent Williams is holding out.  New QB's and a strong defense could spell U-N-D-E-R

4) Andrew Luck has a calf strain - will monitor closely

5) NY Giants -  Wide Receiving corp is in disarray with injuries and a 4 game suspension to Golden Tate for PEDs

6)   Texans O Line-  the Texans used top 2 draft picks to bolster the line.   Keeping an eye on QB Watson as training camps unfold.   Bounceback team?

7) Jags -  will Nick Foles and his reunion to OC John Defilippo pay sneaky dividends at the betting window?

8) Cincinnati finally switched head coach to Zac Taylor who was the rams QB coach.  He's supposed to help generate more offense BUT AJ Green just went down with torn ligaments in his ankle and can Tyler Eifert really stay healthy ?     feeling like an early FADE

9) Pats - much has been written about the departures of the Pats  staff and players (especially Gronk). Early on this could be a team to bet ON vs the spread. They still have Tom & Bill , and Josh McDaniels and Line coach Dante Scarnecchia

10) Browns -  the public is all over this team as they made some huge offseason splashes amongst them  bringing in OBJ.   Vegas knows this and will price them accordingly.  Baker Mayfield is the key. Will his bracelet which reads 'Humble vs Hype'  apply ?

                                                        'humble over hype'

MADNESS IS OVER....

Tarik Owens  the  6-10  Shotblocker for Texas Tech  has been in a walking boot since the game Saturday.  He landed akwardly  and it remains to be seen how effective he'll be tonight  if at all.  In what most expect to be a defensive dog fight  Owens will be missed not playing at 100%.     

UVA  -1.5    3 stars 

FINAL FOUR

UVA  -6  3 stars 

UVA/Texas Tech  UNDER 132  2 stars

Michigan State  MONEYLINE  -145    1 star