No one knows exactly what’s causing Percy Harvin’s migraine headaches. But he recently passed migraine tests and looked great in his return against the Seahawks in Week 3 of the preseason. Good for him. He’s a great football talent and a pleasure to watch on the field.

Unlike the headache riddle that Percy’s been unable to solve, I know exactly what caused my head to throb like a base drum most of the summer. It was the news coverage of the greybeard who’s tossing him the football. I couldn’t escape from Brett Favre the entire off season. His storyline was everywhere. It was as if it were the only football story. Will Favre retire? Will he play a 20th season? Could the ankle injury he suffered last season keep him out for a few weeks of the regular season? Did Brad Childress know anything? According to reports directly from Favre, apparently not – at least about offensive game plans. There were plenty of days and nights the incessant buzz of Brett Favre kept my head spinning.

So it’s only fitting that Brett Favre will now be faced with the same type of headaches Percy and I have been suffering from. Sidney Rice is out and Brett’s offensive line looks average at best. Good luck Brett, but I have a strange feeling you bit off a little bit more than you could chew with season number 20. Only time will tell.

Let’s get right to the action of picking winners before I start giving you a big pain in the neck.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9

Vikings + 4 at Saints: It’s tough to pick the Vikes if their QB is the source of my migraines. I’m literally forced into backing the favorite here. I give a big edge to Brees over Favre with several more targets and a much younger body and more reliable gun to play with. I don’t believe Favre had enough training camp. I don’t think his ankle is fully recovered and I wouldn’t bet big money he’s going to make it through this game, much less the season. SAINTS.

Panthers +7 at Giants: Why would you want to lay 7 points week one on a team that went 3-8 coming down the stretch last year. Matt Moore is still a big question mark for the Panthers but the offensive line should be good enough to open some sizable holes for the running backs. They’ll also keep Moore’s jersey clean and the dirty dog will cover. PANTHERS.

Dolphins -3 at Bills: I have to give the home dog some respect in this spot. Miami was whacked when they traveled up north to Buffalo last season in late November. I like the way C.J. Spiller has been carrying the rock and Trent Edwards could catch the Fish sleeping away from home. BILLS.

Falcons -2½ at Steelers: Good luck betting against the Steelers at home. Oh, they won’t have Big Ben for at least the first 4 games? I almost forgot the second most publicized and sickening story of the off season. Pittsburgh’s offensive line can barely keep the bigger QBs upright, now they will have bigger worries with Dennis Dixon after the knee injury to Leftwich. Matt Ryan over either of the Pittsburgh QBs and Michael Turner should be the X factor in this cover. FALCONS.

 Lions +7 at Bears: I think Matthew Stafford will give Jay Cutler all he can handle, even on the road in Chicago. Jahvid Best should provide an even running game battle with Matt Forte who is a great breakaway threat for Da Bears. LIONS.

 Bengals + 5 ½ at Patriots: Too many points to lay against the NFL’s fourth ranked defense last season. The Bengals are also improved on offense with TO adding another target to take pressure off Ochocinco. Leigh Bodden’s season ending injury did not help the Pats chances of covering their home opener. BENGALS.

Browns +3 at Bucs: All the coroner wannabes who have pronounced Jake Delhomme dead during the off-season may be having second thoughts now, especially after an impressive training camp. Josh Freeman’s injury that kept him out most of the preseason will not help the Bucs’ hopes here. Another strike against Tampa Bay is the suspension of starting CB Aqib Talib. BROWNS.

Broncos +2½ at Jaguars: Jags are still young but they no longer have two rookies at offensive tackle. It’s time for the Jags to grow up and David Garrard will help with that task since he knows his days are numbered unless he produces right now. Broncos have issues in the trenches where most of these games are won and lost. JAGS.

Colts -3 at Texans: Could this be the year the Texans finally get over the hump and dump the Colts – at least at home. Tough to bet against Manning but I think there have been enough changes in the Colts during the off season to allow for an upset here. Houston lost their starting offensive guards early last year, so they might not have been as bad as their record indicated. I think there’s some value in the home puppy here. TEXANS.

Raiders +6½ at Titans: Raiders are automatically improved with the addition of Campbell and exit of JaMarcus Russell. Opponents never looked forward to playing Oakland last season because of their speed and size. Now they can actually take advantage of some of their weapons because of steadier play at QB. Vince Young will probably figure out a way to win ugly once again, but Oakland will get the money. RAIDERS.

Packers -2½ at Eagles: One of the most anticipated home openers of the weekend. What were the Eagles thinking when they traded away McNabb. I happen to think it was a great move for their future. But the future is not this Sunday. That will be the present and I’m caught up in the same Aaron Rogers and Packers’ hoopla as everyone else. I think they’ll be terrific and Jermichael Finley might be in the Pro Bowl as his coach predicted last week. PACKERS.

49ers -2½ at Seahawks: I’m not a big Pete Carroll fan. The experts say he talks fast, his teams practice fast and he wants his defense to play fast. I happen to think his club will be out of the divisional race at that same pace. I’m a huge Singletary fan and I think the Niners are ready to knock the playoff door down. NINERS.

Cards -4 at Rams: Cards backers like the fact that Sam Bradford is going to start the season under center. The early money has favored the Cards. Either that or they like Derek Anderson, who has surprisingly unseated Matt Leinart as the starter. I wouldn’t take the Rams on the money line here but I think they’re the play at plus 4 or more. RAMS.

Cowboys -3½ at Skins: I think the play in this game hinges on the health of McNabb. If he’s healthy I think the Skins can keep it close. If by chance McNabb isn’t able to go the play is definitely on the chalk. Romo hasn’t been able to light up any scoreboards this preseason because of a gimpy offensive line. SKINS.

Ravens +3 at Jets: I love Rex Ryan’s bravado. But he’s been a little too loud and I don’t think Hard Knocks will help him one bit in his quest for a Super Bowl ring. The Revis hold-out is another strike against them in this home opener. Flacco has been impressive and keeps getting better, along with Ray Rice. Love the dawg in this spot. RAVENS.

Chargers -6 at Chiefs: Let’s make it a dog day parlay for Monday Night Football. Ryan Matthews should be great, but he’s still a rookie. Vincent Jackson’s hold out will also cost the Bolts. Cassel was not great last season but he survived a beating. He was like an old Timex watch, took a licking and kept on ticking. I think Jamal Charles and psyched up young team in front of the home town folk will keep this game from being a blowout. CHIEFS.

BEST BETS: Browns, Niners, Ravens.