Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Chase for the Nerf: Celebrity/Media NFL Picks Week 2

Jason Feinberg of Fox 5 is 3-0 — and wants MORE

Olivia Newton-John

PR Plus

Monica Jackson, Rachel Smith, Jason Feinberg, Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling with a batch of cupcakes.

The season couldn’t have started much better for KVVU Fox 5 MORE show morning host Jason Feinberg.

First, Feinberg’s favorite player – Peyton Manning – became the first player in 44 years to throw seven touchdown passes in a game in Denver’s season-opening win against the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens.

Manning had those seven TDs with no picks.

Feinberg, however, did have some picks last weekend – three, to be precise, and he was the only contestant in the Chase for the Golden Nerf to get all of his opening-week selections correct against the point spread.

“I’m a Broncos fan now, but it’s via Peyton. I was a Colts fan and I jumped ship when he left, and took a lot of flak for that on the air,” Feinberg said. “I interviewed Peyton a couple of times at the ESPY Awards and have been a fan ever since. In your lifetime, you don’t get to meet a lot of NFL quarterbacks and he was great.”

Feinberg wasn’t too shabby himself, correctly picking Buffalo and Philadelphia to cover the spread and the Chiefs-Jaguars point total under 41 to start 3-0 in the competition involving 16 local celebs and media personalities. The perfect mark is good for a one-game lead over Terry Fator, Marc Savard and the guy who Feinberg really wants to outduel, the Sun’s John Katsilometes, a regular on Feinberg’s Fox 5 program.

“I think it’s important that I beat Kats because there’s only room in the MORE studios for one big football ego – it’s a small studio. So I think he’s the guy I have to beat. (Golden Nerf reigning champ) Donny Osmond also stops by the studios a lot, so that could get uncomfortable, too,” he said.

Feinberg says he doesn’t let his early morning schedule – “I’m up at 4 a.m.” – slow him down.

“I sacrifice a lot of sleep, but I watch all the games. I’m also in five fantasy leagues, and I go to a lot of games. I’m going to Seattle in the third week of the year and I’ll see the Colts play the Broncos for Peyton’s return to Indianapolis, and I’m going to Patriots-Saints game in Foxboro,” he said.

Despite the fast start, Feinberg isn’t ready to give up the day job just to pick football winners.

“I really like the creative license that management gives me and (MORE co-host) Monica (Jackson) and the whole morning show in general. It’s open and loose and perfect for my style. We do news for a couple of hours and entertainment for an hour and it’s perfect for me. I came from an entertainment background and still had that itch when I moved to Vegas and I’m able to fulfill that here,” Feinberg said.

It’s especially fun this time of year, he added.

“I love the fall. It means better weather, football and my birthday is in October. It’s my favorite time of year. I also look forward to the Santa Run in December. I help host the event and I run in it, too. I literally hand the microphone to Monica and run for 20 minutes during the broadcast.”

There’s no running involved in the Chase for the Golden Nerf, but Feinberg still knows he has a long race ahead.

“I’m gonna relish my 3-0 start. I’m excited because who knows how long I’ll be on top, and I like that the field has to worry about a new guy,” he said.

On we go with this week’s celeb selections:

Sal’s picks (2-1):

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Lions-Cardinals over 47

Steelers +7 at Bengals

•••

The media/celebrity picks:

Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (1-2)

Ravens -6.5 vs. Browns

Colts -3 vs. Dolphins

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

•••

Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (2-1)

Eagles-Chargers over 53½

Broncos -5 at Giants

Bengals -7 vs. Steelers

•••

Jason Feinberg, KVVU-TV morning personality (3-0)

Chiefs -2.5 vs. Cowboys

Seahawks -3 vs. 49ers

Cardinals +1 vs. Lions

•••

Andrew Freeman, "Raiding the Rock Vault" performer at LVH (1-2)

Bills +3 vs. Panthers

Giants +5 vs. Broncos

Bengals -7 vs. Steelers

•••

Carolyn Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas (1-2)

Eagles -7.5 vs. Chargers

49ers +3 at Seahawks

Packers -7 vs. Redskins

•••

Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas ambassador (1-2)

Colts -3 vs. Dolphins

Chiefs -2.5 vs. Cowboys

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

•••

Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (0-3)

Eagles -7.5 vs. Chargers

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Lions-Cardinals over 47.5

•••

John Katsilometes, The Kats Report (2-1)

Seahawks -3 vs. 49ers

Giants +5 vs. Broncos

Cowboys +2.5 at Chiefs

•••

Mark & Mercedes in the Morning, Mix 94.1 (1-2)

Colts -3 vs. Dolphins

Packers -7 vs. Redskins

Falcons -7 vs. Rams

•••

Frankie Moreno, Stratosphere headliner (0-2-1)

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Cowboys +2.5 at Chiefs

Seahawks-49ers under 44.5

•••

Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (1-2)

Redskins +7 at Packers

Cardinals +1 at Lions

Chiefs +2.5 vs. Cowboys

•••

Donny Osmond, Flamingo Las Vegas headliner (1-2)

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Colts -3 vs. Dolphins

Ravens -6.5 vs. Browns

•••

Carla Pellegrino, celebrity chef and owner of Bratalian restaurant (0-3)

Eagles -7.5 vs. Chargers

Texans -8.5 vs. Titans

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

•••

Marc Savard, comedy hypnotist at V Theater (2-1)

Chiefs -2.5 vs. Cowboys

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Broncos -5 at Giants

•••

Claire Sinclair, star of “Pin Up” at the Stratosphere (0-3)

Bengals -7 vs. Steelers

Saints -2 at Buccaneers

Cardinals +1 vs. Lions

•••

Dana White, UFC president (1-2)

Eagles -7.5 vs. Chargers

Cowboys +2.5 at Chiefs

Lions -1 vs. Cardinals

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