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Look for the Giants to rebound in Week 2

I'd like to welcome Peyton Manning back to the NFL. I didn't pick for or against the Broncos in this space last week, but after two of the teams I did select (Buffalo and Carolina) left me reeling during the afternoon, I needed to be rescued during the night game to regain my balance and avoid a financial "donation."

I'm not sure if anyone at NBC will go for it, but I propose renaming "Sunday Night Football" to "Sunday Night Football: Bailout Special".

This week's picks (home team in caps):

NEW YORK GIANTS (-7½) over Tampa Bay: Greg Schiano, the new coach of Tampa Bay, is for real, because anyone who turns Rutgers football into a winner is for real. Still, I'm lining up to pick against him, even though I was burned doing it in Week 1. The Giants will have been off for 10 days by kickoff, and this will be their second straight home game. Once New York takes the lead, the Bucs won't have the firepower to keep up. Risking $110 to win $100.

Dallas (-3) over SEATTLE: If the Cowboys are for real (isn't that a question every year?), they need to win on the road against an inferior Seahawks team. The Seahawks did not look promising in a loss at Arizona, and it's a lot to ask of rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to engineer a win against a Dallas defense that just outmuscled the Super Bowl champions. Risking $110 to win $100.

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Oakland (-3) at MIAMI: After going winless in the preseason, and then getting throttled in their opener by Houston, is it too early to wonder whether the Dolphins believe they can win a game? Risking $83 to win $75.

ST. LOUIS (+3) over Washington: The Rams are a home underdog I can get behind; they're facing a rookie quarterback who is on the road. Risking $83 to win $75.

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ATLANTA (-3) over Denver: Manning may be accustomed to playing in a dome, but most of the other Broncos are not. Denver won against Pittsburgh — at home — despite badly losing the time-of-possession battle. Atlanta, after going into Arrowhead Stadium and dismantling a Chiefs team that many picked to win the AFC West, is balanced enough to keep Manning off the field and win the game. Risking $110 to win $100.

Last week: 1-3, minus $285.


Ed Ryan can be reached at ed_ryan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @EdzoRyan