Every year, I go through the same routine. It all leads me to this point.
When I am typing the words that will carry me into the next season.
In this case, the tenth season.
At least, the tenth season of Sporfolio.
Like so many other endeavors started by so many other people, I had no idea how long I wanted or expected this one to last. All I knew is that I wanted to write and I had people who wanted to read.
What I didn’t know is how long it would take for either of those two factors to change.
I am always grateful for the latter, because that’s the side of this equation that I cannot control. I can write, and I can continue to find joy in it, but I wouldn’t know where to share it if not for the people who have read and continue to read it.
As always, thank you.
With that, we turn our attention to another season. This, on the heels of one of our best. I didn’t realize that at first, and that’s one of the nicest parts about doing this year-after-year. We win some, we lose some, and we just keep moving forward anyway.
So let’s moving into another wonderful year of football. Together.
Below are predictions for each game against the spread. Spreads have been taken from various websites and are subject to change. The spread in parenthesis denotes the selected team. Spread is listed as advertised number and odds at either DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, or Fanatics Sportsbook (formerly PointsBet). All efforts were made to provide picks at -110 or better, with some stretching to a -125 if no reasonable advertised spread was found.
*Confidence Picks – 2026 Season: — (Last Week: —)
(2024 Season: 65-57) (2023 Season: 63-61-4) (2022 Season: 54-54-5) (2021 Season: 55-50) (2020 Season: 53-42-3) (2019 Season: 57-43-3) (2018 Season: 63-48-4) (2017 Season: 53-48-4) (2016 Season: 53-67-3) (2015 Season: 69-45-2) (2014 Season: 61-46-2) (2025 Season: 63-53-1) (12-Year Total: 709-614-31)
All Picks Against Spread – 2026 Season: — (Last Week: —)
(2024 Season: 148-136-1) (2023 Season: 142-135-8) (2022 Season: 143-132-9) (2021 Season: 158-126-2) (2020 Season: 132-128-7) (2019 Season: 142-118-7) (2018 Season: 137-118-12) (2017 Season: 137-119-11) (2016 Season: 123-136-8) (2015 Season: 143-117-7) (2014 Season: 149-114-4) (2025 Season: 151-133-1) (12-Year Total: 1705-1512-77)
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
As far as non-conference games go, a direct rematch of the Super Bowl — also known as the game we most recently watched — is probably the best example of familiarity. Because, if we have nothing else to use to support an argument for either the New England Patriots or Seattle Seahawks, we know what the football-watching world — and, in this case, basically the entire world — saw the last time these teams took the field.
A one-sided, methodical, relentless march toward a victory by the Seahawks. And a Super Bowl title.
This gives the game an immediate comparison where we simply have to ask, “What changed?” Or, specifically, “What changed enough that it would impact the spread?”
In terms of skill position players that are well-known enough to cause a reaction, the Seahawks lost their running back, Kenneth Walker III — who was not only critical to Seattle’s success, but was the Super Bowl MVP. But that’s really it. There’s no other reason why we should have paid attention to either squad prior to Opening Night.
Unless, of course, there were any news stories that were worth mentioning.
That’s where this takes a turn in an unexpected direction.