Week 1

Week 1

Ah isn’t it refreshing to have a new beginning? A blank slate? A new first impression? Week 1 of the NFL season will give that. Week 1 is also the start of Fantasy Football season! I really want to fill you all in with the League of Lakers. The League of Lakers is my home league. I pretty much have to organize things like this with my friends so I get to be the commissioner of the league. Well technically the “co-commissioner” because the other “co-commissioner” handles the draft and the fun stuff. I’m strictly business.

We are heading in to year 4 of our league. It could have been approaching year 10 but when we were in like middle school, some of my “friends” logged in to my account, dropped my players and picked them up when I was eliminated. Who does that? At least my password to stuff isn’t “1234567890” anymore. But still! Thanks Bird and JT (I think).

Anyways, year 4! I actually have yet to win it. I even missed the playoffs year 1 and 3, with a 2^nd place finish in year 2. Year 1 I had the injury bug and year 3 I got trade happy. Either way, I stink. Before we draft, we go through a uhhhhh Olympics you can say. Our Olympics consists of four drinking games, and this is how we determine our draft order. We tally up some points, get our draft order, and uhhhh not in the right state of mind, we start right away! Let me tell you, I took Jaguars defense last season in the FIFTH round after their amazing 2017 season. Things similar-ish to that aren’t too uncommon, and some people wish they can redraft after they wake up!

Either way, I love it, and I love my team this year. We drafted EARLY, on August 18. One of our league mates is starting a journey in Paris France, so we did it early before he flew out. Good luck Markie! Below is the draft board. The write-ins are for Team #3 Devin Singletary and Darren Waller, Team #4 Matt Gay, Team #6 Josh Gordon, Team #10 David Montgomery, and team #11 Will Grier.

I am team #10 “James White Claw” where I will roll out an opening day starting lineup of Lamar Jackson, Dalvin Cook, David Montgomery, Deandre Hopkins, Chris Godwin, George Kittle, James White, Jaguars Defense, and Harrison Butker, with a bench of Vance McDonald, Dede Westbrook, Kyler Murray, Keke Coutee, Josh Allen, Justin Jackson and Ito Smith. This right here is a squad!!

Recap of Week 0

BYU +6.5 vs Utah – Miss. Utah 30 BYU 12

USF +13.5 vs Wisconsin – Miss. Wisconsin 49 USF 0. Yay.

EMich -6 at Coastal – HIT! EMich 30 Coastal 23

That’s a yummy 1-2 right there. Which makes this a BIG week! We got six games, three college and three pro! Let me hear it.

Michigan -23 vs Army – I was told all offseason that this right here is Michigan’s year. And while they just need to win every game by 1, they only beat Mid Tenn by 19 when the spread was 36.5. Shout out to my guy the Antenna (cause he’s T.V!) for nailing this one in Atlantic City this weekend! Drinks on him at the Watering Hole on Sunday. Some can argue that’s disappointing. But rumors are Michigan QB Shea Patterson was a little banged up, and should be 100% on Saturday. Michigan needs a statement win and last year’s surprise team Army has to be it. Nobody plays with more heart than Army or Navy, but Michigan has some dogs on both sides of the ball. Giving up 21 to Mid Tenn might have been a wakeup call, and I expect their defense to stop the ground game of Army. Michigan 38 Army 10

Texas A&M +18 at Clemson – Look Clemson is the best team in college football. Trevor Lawrence, ETN, Higgins and Ross are borderline unstoppable. But 18 points? That’s a lot! Kellen Mond is electric he can do it with his arm and his legs. There is also the Jimbo Fisher affect, as he previously coached at FSU. FSU always played Clemson tough (Clemson was never this talented) but he knows Coach Swinney’s ways and somewhat what to expect. I just think a late A&M touchdown seals the spread. Clemson 38 A&M 24

Eastern Michigan +15.5 at Kentucky – First repeat team of the year! I’m riding with EMich again and I am nervous, because some of my reasons are from week 1, and they always say, never react to week 1! That senior QB from Emich I mentioned, he had a 90.9 completion percentage! Emich also forced 4 interceptions, and while they won’t repeat that Saturday, they could get a key one. I also see Emich being the eventual MAC champions, and think they will hang in a little closer then Toledo last week vs Kentucky. Lets ride the hot hand! Kentucky 31 Eastern Michigan 21

Colts +6.5 at Chargers – Everyone knows Andrew Luck retired. But I am not writing off the Colts. Brissett is more then capable to get them to 8-8 and the team is just loaded. His first stint was up and down but he didn’t even have a full offseason for that campaign. There has been stability, this will be his third season, his weapons and line improved, and the defense improved. All that being said, they take a west coast trip to a good Chargers team. Despite no Melvin Gordon, no Derwin James, and no LT Russell Okung, I still think they can pull it out. The chargers win in a nail bitter, but the Colts safely cover. Chargers 24 Colts 21

Cardinals +2.5 vs Lions – Kyler Murray. 5foot10 “too small” Kyler Murray. Kliff Kingsbury. Not experienced enough, too young, losing college record, Kliff Kingsbury. I CANNOT WAIT to see these two in action. I’m a Haskins fan, I didn’t really like Kyler at OU, but I flipped the script and I am all in now. Look, they might struggle, but none of it will be because their poor preseason, because their preseason was a joke. It was a joke because they have so much up their sleeve that will be unleashed Sunday against the Lions. They will shock people and they will win game 1. Cardinals 27 Lions 24

49ers pk at Bucs – I got a feeling I am going on a lonely road here. The Bucs won another offseason securing a new coach, and a darn good one. Bruce Arians should help Winston out a lot. I like Winston this year a lot, and like the trio of Evans Godwin and Howard, but reallllly don’t like that defense, OLine, or running game. I just think outside of QB and pass catchers it’s a little ugly. Now, Jimmy G, he’s the opposite of ugly despite that bad preseason game. The once second coming of the Golden Boy looks to rebound and start 2019 off on a dub. At the end of the day, Vegas does have the 49ers over/under win total at 8, with the Bucs at 6.5. In a close one, I’ll take the perceived more talented team. 49ers 28 Bucs 27

Who are y’all taking? Tell me at the Local Watering Hole Sunday at 12, I’ll be there early to get a good seat!

Thank you,

Goose