FRIDAY FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN: Week 1

Presented by the Golden Nugget sports book and Las Vegas Review-Journal

Each Friday throughout the football season, two handicappers go head to head in a bracket contest. Sixteen contestants were invited to enter for $1,500 each. The Golden Nugget added $1,000 to the prize pool for a total of $25,000.

Each handicapper makes seven selections against the spread, from all college and NFL sides and totals posted on the Golden Nugget board at noon Friday. The seventh selection is designated as the Best Bet for tiebreaking purposes.

Week 1 picks, Sept 6.

Chuck Edel/Ken Thomson (Pregame.com)

1) Texans -4.5

2) Rams -4.5

3) New Mexico State +16.5

4) Packers +5

5) Falcons-Saints over 54.5

6) Toledo-Missouri over 66

Best Bet) New Mexico +6.5

Erin Rynning/Ted Sevransky (Sportsmemo.com)

1) Bengals +3

2) Western Kentucky +13.5

3) Raiders-Colts under 47

4) Oregon State -27.5

5) Giants +3.5

6) San Diego State +28.5

Best Bet) Patriots-Bills over 51