Thanks Goodfella, yeah I was shocked that the Browns completely laid an egg, especially since Mangini said that he wanted his team to play hard in this game.
Chicago at Buffalo 7:00pm EST
Selection: BUFFALO -3 (W)
Profile: Chicago may be leading early in this game based on the playing time that Jay Cutler will receive, but I expect Buffalo to be leading this game in the second half. They have two huge advantages in this game. First, they already have one preseason game under their belt, which is huge to the 2nd and 3rd string players. This second game is even more significant because they are installing a new offense, so the extra playing time is critical. In addition, Buffalo has a huge advantage in back-up quarterbacks. The Bears will be sending out Caleb Hanie and Bret Basanez after Cutler leaves. Even if Cutler gets extended playing time, it won't matter too much because he's still learning a new offense, and he doesn't have playmakers around him. Buffalo's quarterbacks looked fairly effective throughout the Hall of Fame Game, and the Bills would have won that game if not for a few turnovers and the fake punt touchdown by the Titans. I look for the Bills to really pull away in the second half behind better quarterback play.
3 UNIT SELECTION
Cleveland at Green Bay 8:00pm EST
Selection: CLEVELAND +3 (L)
Profile: Eric Mangini has really hammered his players in practice so far this training camp. I expect him to really put an emphasis on this game, as he has won outright and covered against the spread in the first preseason game he's coached the last two years. In addition, Cleveland has a huge advantage with their starting quarterback rotation, as Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are competing for the starting job. The Packers don't have much after Aaron Rodgers, as Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm are the back-ups. Packers coach Mike McCarthy has said that his starters won't get more than a few series as well. McCarthy hasn't put an emphasis on the preseason in his short tenure, and I don't expect his team to match the intensity that Mangini will want his team to play with.
3 UNIT SELECTION
Houston at Kansas City 8:00pm EST
Selection: KANSAS CITY -2 (L)
Profile: The strengths of Kansas City's football team are their youth and depth at quarterback. The Chiefs have three NFL starting quarterbacks in Matt Cassel, Tyler Thigpen, and Brodie Croyle. Thigpen played better and better last season as the Chiefs starter and should have got a chance to start this season in my opinion. However, the key to this play is this quote from Todd Haley, "Every part of Saturday night is going to be a steppingstone for us and for me.". That is all I need to read in order to know to back the Chiefs tonight. This will be Haley's first game as a head coach in Arrowhead, so he will desperately want to get a win tonight. Luckily for him he has a great quarterback rotation that should put plenty of points on the board. In addition the sharpest book has them listed at -3, while everyone else has them at -2. There is a significant reason for this, as other sharp bettors are pounding the Chiefs.
3 UNIT SELECTION
Seattle at San Diego 10:00pm EST
Selection: SEATTLE +3.5 (W)
Profile: Norv Turner has not taken the preseason very seriously, and he has to go up against new Seahawks head coach Jim Mora Jr., who will be coaching his first game for Seattle. Mora has stated publicly that he is very excited for this game and wants his team to come out and play well. His enthusiastic comments were much different from Turner's quotes. Turner has said that he just wants each player to come out and accomplish their individual goals, and he will focus on younger players getting extended playing time. Seattle is focusing on more a power running attack for this season as well, so the Seahawks should put plenty of points up from the 2nd quarter on. Seneca Wallace as the back-up quarterback is also a huge advantage when facing a team that has to lay over 3 points. I look for this game to be within the number or Seattle will win outright.
3 UNIT SELECTION