Yet another week.

That is all that stands between us and the beginning of the 2021 NFL season. Between from time to time, I plan to have a “Laborious Knocks” marathon so I can get a greater concept of what number of factors I will choose the Cowboys to lose by subsequent week. Simply kidding, Cowboys followers, I am not going to select you to lose. Really, I’m. You realize what, you may simply have to attend till subsequent week to seek out out. 

With the NFL season only one week away, we’ll be going over our favourite MVP bets in immediately’s publication. We’ll even be going over the explanation why the Saints determined to maneuver their opener to Jacksonville and why the Steelers — sure, THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS — is perhaps a dark-horse workforce to get to the Tremendous Bowl, however for now, I will cease teasing the stuff that is going to be within the publication so we will truly get to the publication. 

As all the time, this is your weekly reminder to inform all your mates to join the Decide Six publication. To get your mates to enroll, all it’s important to do is click on right here after which share this hyperlink with them. 

1. In the present day’s present: Finest groups to wager on to win the Tremendous Bowl

It is formally “Playing Week” on the Decide Six podcast, which implies if you wish to win cash betting on the NFL this yr, then you are going to wish to pay attention to each episode that we put out this week. 

For immediately’s present, Will Brinson was joined by Brandon Guptill of Gup’s Nook and the 2 of them broke down who it is best to wager on for all the foremost NFL awards this yr (MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Yr and Defensive Rookie of the Yr). Not solely did they speak concerning the apparent favorites, however additionally they went over a couple of worth picks and even some lengthy photographs that might make some sense.  

Since we’ll be taking a look at MVP candidates additional down within the publication immediately, we’ll skip over that half and have a look at who Brinson and Guptill wish to win the Offensive Rookie of the Yr award. 

Each guys like the thought of betting on Mac Jones now that he is been named the beginning quarterback for the Patriots. 

“I believe he is the perfect scenario now,” Guptill mentioned. “They have a extremely good protection — they’ve rather a lot coming again particularly with choose outs — and he is surrounded by much more weapons. We all know that offensive system can work. I believe he’ll be very profitable in that offense they usually’ll do effectively. In the event that they return to the playoffs this yr and he has an excellent yr, I believe it is a actually good wager.”

The 2 guys do not love Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson as a lot due to the expertise they’ve round them. As for the opposite two first-round quarterbacks, it is a massive danger to wager on both Trey Lance or Justin Fields, as a result of it isn’t clear how a lot they are going to play this yr. 

To hearken to immediately’s episode — and to subscribe to the perfect day by day NFL podcast on the market — remember to click on right here. 

2. Saints opener in opposition to Packers is being moved to Jacksonville and there are some superb explanation why 

With the town of New Orleans nonetheless recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the Saints have been pressured to maneuver their regular-season opener out of New Orleans. The NFL introduced on Wednesday that the Saints sport in opposition to the Packers will now be performed in Jacksonville. 

For those who’re questioning how the sport ended up in Jacksonville of all locations, there’s truly form of a joke behind it. The unique plan was to place the sport in Dallas, however there is a live performance there on Sept. 15, in order that choice was shortly dominated out. After that, the state of Florida grew to become the following choice with Miami, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville within the working. 

The Saints cherished the thought of taking part in in Florida as a result of Aaron Rodgers has traditionally struggled there. In seven profession video games, Rodgers is simply 3-4 with a QB score of 78.1. The Saints additionally really feel like they’ve a bonus in Florida because of the excessive humidity, which they’re used to because of the truth that they follow in New Orleans. 

The Saints cherished the thought of Jacksonville as a result of they thought it could maintain Packers followers from taking up the stadium. They did not need Miami as a result of it is a vacation spot spot, which most likely would have led to Packers followers taking up the stadium. As for Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers are a division rival, so the Saints thought Bucs followers may present up simply to cheer in opposition to the Saints, which left them with Jacksonville as their most suitable choice. In accordance to NOLA.com, one different upside to choosing Jacksonville is that the Saints truly did some analysis they usually discovered that Jacksonville could be the costliest and troublesome metropolis for Packers followers to get to.

The pettiness of that is so good that I am virtually rooting for the Saints to win. 

3. Who’s going win MVP this yr? Listed below are our employees picks

Between now and the beginning of the NFL season, we will be bombarding you with NFL picks and predictions right here, so please get mentally ready. For immediately’s prediction, we rounded up 10 or our writers right here at CBSSports.com and requested them to foretell who’s going to be voted NFL MVP this yr. 

After going via all of the votes, I observed that the one place we voted for was quarterback, which I suppose is smart because the MVP has been gained by a quarterback for eight straight years (Adrian Peterson in 2012 was the final non-QB to take dwelling the award). 

With that in thoughts, this is a have a look at our choose for MVP (Subsequent to every participant’s title, you possibly can see their odds for successful the award and what number of votes they obtained):

Patrick Mahomes (+500): 4 votes
Aaron Rodgers (+1000): Two votes
Josh Allen (+1200): Two votes
Tom Brady (+1200): One vote

Everybody on this checklist has a minimum of one MVP award underneath their belt apart from Josh Allen. My vote went to Allen and that is principally as a result of I believe he will be higher than he was final yr when he completed second within the MVP voting. I additionally like Allen’s odds, should you wager $100 on him, you may make a $1200 revenue if he finally ends up successful the award. 

If you wish to see everybody’s full clarification for his or her vote, you possibly can test that out by clicking right here. 

4. Three explanation why the Steelers will win the Tremendous Bowl

If there’s one division champion from final yr who’s being missed heading into the 2021 season, it is positively the Pittsburgh Steelers. After beginning 11-0 final yr, the Steelers fully collapsed and due to that, they’ve mainly been written off by rather a lot individuals (Oddsmakers in Vegas have the Browns and the Ravens as the 2 favorites to win the AFC North).

Our Bryan DeArdo hasn’t written the Steelers off and I do know that for a reality as a result of he wrote a narrative immediately giving us three explanation why the Steelers can win the Tremendous Bowl. 

This is why DeArdo assume the Steelers might be a dark-horse Tremendous Bowl workforce: 

• Ben Roethlisberger is now wholesome. Final yr, Huge Ben was coming off main elbow surgical procedure and he appeared to fade down the stretch. This yr, Roethlisberger is wholesome and his arm ought to be robust sufficient to maintain the Steelers offense working at a excessive degree all yr. 
• The offense ought to be extra balanced. For those who watched the Steelers final yr, it was virtually like they forgot the run existed. With first-round choose Najee Harris now on the workforce and new offensive coordinator Matt Canada anticipated to run a extra balanced assault, the offense ought to be rather more unpredictable this yr. 
• The protection ought to nonetheless dominate. The Steelers had top-of-the-line defenses within the NFL final yr and that seemingly will not change in 2021. 

If you would like a full clarification on DeArdo’s three causes, remember to click on right here. However, should you do not care concerning the Steelers and also you wish to know why the Payments may be capable to win the Tremendous Bowl as an alternative, then you definitely’re positively going to wish to click on right here to take a look at our story on three causes why Buffalo can win all of it. 

5. 49ers won’t ever formally announce a beginning QB

Even if the 49ers’ regular-season opener is simply 10 days away, the workforce nonetheless hasn’t formally named a beginning quarterback, and apparently, it’ll keep that means. Throughout an interview on Wednesday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan did not sound like somebody who deliberate on formally anointing a starter earlier than Week 1.

“I needn’t announce the quarterback, I do not assume I must announce the beginning punt returner, both, however I wager you guys might determine it out,” Shanahan mentioned, by way of NFL.com. 

Usually, I might say that is dumb and that Shanahan is being loopy, however I truly just like the technique on this scenario. The 49ers opponent is now going to have to organize for Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, which is not going to be straightforward, as a result of the 2 quarterbacks have fully totally different ability units. That being mentioned, I believe we’ll see Jimmy get the beginning in Week 1 in opposition to the Lions. After that, I believe we’ll get a style of Lance sooner or later within the sport, however provided that he is absolutely recovered from his finger damage, which is not a given. 

Shanahan admitted that Lance’s damage might linger into subsequent week, which might doubtlessly knock the rookie out of the opener. 

“I imply, anytime you have received a small chip, it might linger,” Shanahan mentioned. “I hope it would not, I am hoping he is again there subsequent Monday. He appears constructive about it. However we gotta be good with it, too. Typically when it is an actual little factor like that, it is onerous to consider it is nonetheless harm. However we gotta ensure that he would not return on the market and have a setback immediately, too.”

Texans do not formally have a beginning QB both

The 49ers aren’t the one workforce that hasn’t named a starter, the Texans have not both! I assumed that Tyrod Taylor was going to be the starter, however apparently nobody has let him know but if that is the case. 

“I have never been informed that formally, however I’ve by no means essentially seemed for that affirmation,” Taylor mentioned this week, by way of USA In the present day. “My mindset would not change and it hasn’t modified since I have been drafted. Ever since I’ve began taking part in soccer, it is to organize as a starter, lead like a starter and let the coaches make the choices that they make.”

The Texans not telling their starter that he is the starter just about sums up the 2021 Texans in a nutshell. 

6. Speedy-fire roundup

It has been a busy 24 hours within the NFL and because it’s practically not possible to maintain observe of every thing that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you. 

• Carson Wentz has been taken off the COVID checklist. With 10 days to go till the beginning of their season, Wentz can lastly get again to follow. The quarterback missed a number of weeks on account of foot surgical procedure after which missed 5 extra days after being positioned on the COVID checklist. The Colts will certainly be hoping that he would not miss any extra follow between now and the opener. 
• T.Y. Hilton to overlook a minimum of three video games. The Colts receiver was positioned on injured reserve after present process surgical procedure on his neck. The IR transfer signifies that Hilton must sit out a minimum of three video games on the minimal. 
• Tyrann Mathieu assessments constructive for COVID. The Honey Badger might miss as much as 10 days, which might put him in jeopardy for taking part in within the opener. Nonetheless, that might be the worst-case situation. Since Mathieu is vaccinated, he can return to the workforce if he registers two detrimental assessments 24 hours aside. 
• Vikings tight finish out for the season. Irv Smith was presupposed to be an enormous a part of the Vikings offense this season, however that will not be the case anymore. The tight finish had surgical procedure on his meniscus this week and is now anticipated to overlook your complete yr. To make up for the loss, the Vikings traded for Jets tight finish Chris Herndon this week. 
• Giants to retire Michael Strahan’s quantity. Nobody within the Giants group will ever be capable to put on No. 92 once more and that is as a result of the Giants are retiring Michael Strahan’s previous quantity. The ceremony goes to happen on Nov. 28 when the Giants host the Eagles.  
• N’Keal Harry to overlook a number of weeks. The Patriots are going to be down a receiver to start out the season and that is as a result of Harry has been positioned on injured reserve on account of a shoulder damage that he suffered throughout the preseason. Harry is anticipated to be again in a “few weeks,” however will certainly miss a minimum of three video games. 
• Lions lastly have a kicker. The Lions had been left with ZERO kickers on their roster after lower day, but it surely seems like they’ve lastly discovered somebody to deal with the job. The workforce has signed Austin Seibert, who was lower by the Bengals after dropping a coaching camp competitors to rookie Evan McPherson. 
• 5-time Professional Bowler Jurrell Casey retires. After 10 years within the NFL, Casey has determined to name it quits. The 31-year-old’s profession began in 2011 when the Titans chosen him within the third spherical of the NFL Draft. Casey went on to play 9 years in Tennessee and one yr in Denver. Casey racked up 5 or extra sacks in seven of the previous eight seasons.