studied....4-0 Saturday ! on to Sunday....

 Navy -7 . 1 star .   WIN

West Va  +7  2 stars .  WIN

Arizona +3 3 stars .  WIN

Iowa St +1.5 . 3 stars .  WIN

_______________________________________

Vikings +3   2 stars

Titans -3 3 stars

Chiefs -6.5 (-120) 3 stars

NFL WEEK 1

Dolphins +7   3 stars - Ryan Fitzmagic led the Bucs to a win last year in week 1 vs the Saints as a heavy underdog.  Hedgie thinks he could do it again as he clearly beat out Josh Rosen for the job in Miami. Dangerous underdog here at home in the heat with noone giving them a chance. 

Rams -1.5  3 stars . -  Sean McVay's Rams have been a covering machine on the road.  Some are playing the home dog angle with a West Coast team heading East to play early. But the Rams have had all summer to prep for this game. Rams are healthy again and will be ready .  Curious how Cam Newton's surgically repaired shoulder will play out as well. 




late addition:  Vikings  -3 (-120)      1 star


late addition:  GIANTS +7  1 star

Hedgie's First Full slate of Saturday Games....

Like Harbaugh, The Hedgie is also scratching his head about this week's card and will remain disciplined .  Three 1 star plays today: 


Tulsa -6.5    1 star -  Tulsa played Michigan State tough last week and got the cover.  This week . they play San Jose St who was 1-11 last yr.  Baylor QB transer Zach Smith should have a field day 

Miami U  -5  1 star -   letdown for UNC after as great come from behind win last week ?   Miami has had more time to rest and prepare . Good spot for them.  Plus they are the better team

Michigan -21.5  1 star -  Army did not look good last week while Harbaugh is not happy with his team's performance last week.  Good spot to dominate and get on track .  Army Coach Monken when asked about this matchup said :

 “If they play their best football, there’s almost no way we can beat them,” he said. “They’re bigger than we are, faster — just more talented. They have guys who are going to play in the NFL. We don’t have one guy on our roster who was recruited by EasternMichigan, much less Michigan.”

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 !