99th season was big for Pro Picks. What about No. 100?

Posted September 04, 2019 7:00 am

By BARRY WILNER

FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against Chicago Bears in Chicago. In their long rivalry, the Packers and the Bears have played 198 times. Only two meetings came in the playoffs. In Jan. 2011, they faced off for the NFC title and a trip to the Super Bowl. Rodgers and a staunch defense silenced Soldier Field, building a 14-0 lead and 21-7 lead and won their third successive road game in the postseason. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) The Associated Press

Coming off the best year of Pro Picks - yep, plus-22 against the spread if you're counting - the challenge is to repeat such wizardry in the NFL's 100th season.

It all gets started Thursday night at Soldier Field with pro football's oldest rivalry.

In emphasizing its centennial celebrations, the league chose to go with Packers at Bears rather than having the traditional matchup hosted by the Super Bowl champs. New England gets the spotlight on Sunday night instead, with Pittsburgh visiting.

AP Pro32 voters were optimistic about Chicago's chances this season, ranking the Bears No. 6 in the preseason poll released Tuesday. Green Bay, with a new coaching staff and tons of question marks, is at No. 16.

But the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who tends to work magic against the Bears. Remember the fourth-quarter rally in their first meeting a year ago?

Pro Picks, which wound up 136-114-9 against the spread in 2018 and 176-89-2 straight up, envisions the current Monsters of the Midway to be, well, monstrous enough in the opener to cover the 3-point spread.

BEARS, 23-16

KNOCKOUT POOL: Two games figure to be the focus here, Baltimore at Miami and Cincinnati at Seattle. We'll go with the SEAHAWKS.

No. 12 Baltimore (minus 6 1-2) at No. 32 Miami

Let the tanking begin on South Beach.

BEST BET: RAVENS, 17-3

No. 24 San Francisco (plus 2) at No. 29 Tampa Bay

Jimmy Garoppolo and Jameis Winston have plenty to prove. Going with Jimmy G here.

UPSET SPECIAL: 49ERS, 21-20

No. 15 Houston (plus 7) at No. 3 New Orleans, Monday night

Saints might be the most talented team in NFL and have super motivation.

SAINTS, 30-20

No. 2 Kansas City (minus 4) at No. 17 Jacksonville

Or maybe Chiefs are the most talented team. Jags' D could provide a slight test.

CHIEFS, 27-17

No. 25 Detroit (minus 1) at No. 31 Arizona

Neither of these is close to most talented.

CARDINALS, 20-17

No. 8 Pittsburgh (plus 5 1-2) at No. 1 New England

Two contenders with new looks - except at quarterback, which never seems to change.

PATRIOTS, 30-23

No. 19 Tennessee (plus 5 1-2) at No. 14 Cleveland

The start to the Browns' explosion. Or implosion.

BROWNS, 20-16

No. 21 Buffalo (plus 3) at No. 23 New York Jets

A battle for AFC East runner-up supremacy.

JETS, 24-23

No. 30 Cincinnati (plus 7) at No. 7 Seattle

Seahawks' aggressive offseason and recent moves put them in spotlight.

SEAHAWKS, 30-19

No. 13 Atlanta (plus 3 1-2) at No. 11 Minnesota

Two coaches who need playoff performances for their job security.

FALCONS, 31-26

No. 26 New York Giants (plus 7) at No. 9 (tie) Dallas

Ditto. And something within reach for the ...

COWBOYS, 26-10

No. 27 Washington (plus 9) at No. 5 Philadelphia

Eagles are one of NFL's best if they can stay healthy. That means you, Carson Wentz.

EAGLES, 28-20

No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (minus 3) at No. 18 Carolina

Rams are loaded, but Super Bowl losers often struggle in next year. Not here.

RAMS, 20-10

No. 20 Indianapolis (plus 6 1-2) at No. 9 (tie) Los Angeles Chargers

Luck-less Colts will be better than many think. But this is tough matchup.

CHARGERS, 24-20

No. 22 Denver (pick-em) at No. 28 Oakland, Monday night

Not sure what to make of either team.

RAIDERS, 23-19

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack works out at the NFL team's football training facility in Lake Forest, Ill. The Bears play the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) The Associated Press

FILE - At left, in a May 22, 2019, file photo, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy smiles during NFL football practice in Lake Forest, Ill. At right, in an Aug. 8, 2019, file photo, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur walks onto the field before an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, in Green Bay, Wis. The NFL's most ancient rivals open the league's 100th season with a flipped script: A year after the Bears went to Green Bay to open the season with a new look under coach Matt Nagy, the Packers are trying to do the same at Chicago under coach Matt LaFleur, a drastic change for quarterback Aaron Rodgers going against Khalil Mack and the Bears' defense. (AP Photo/File) The Associated Press

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