NFL Week 1 Betting – Picks For The First Week Of The NFL Season
Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints (-4): Thursday, Sept.9, 8:30 PM ET
In this rematch of the NFC championship game, look for the Vikings to come out sharp to exact their revenge on the Saints. Definitely consider the over for the posted total in this clash of high-powered offenses.
NFL Week 1 Betting Pick: Minnesota +4
Miami Dolphins (-3) at Buffalo Bills: Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Fish have dropped five of their last six in Buffalo, but this year’s edition of the Bills is lacking in talent, particularly on offense/
NFL Week 1 Pick: Miami -3
Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears (-7): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Lions have dropped seven of their last 10 in the Windy City, and we think they’ll lose this week as well, but we like them to cover the 7-point spread on the road. The gulf in talent between the two teams isn’t as big as you think.
NFL Week 1 Betting Pick: Detroit +7
Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans (-7): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Raiders have won just one of their last eight trips to Houston/Tennessee, and if the Titans have a happy Chris Johnson on the team, they’ll win running away from the sad-sack Raiders.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Tennessee -7
Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots (-6): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
This has the potential to be the game of the week for NFL betting players to watch, and the Bengals are 1-6 in their seven all-time trips to New England. That win came back in 1986. Despite being a great underdog in 2009, Cincy will fall short here.
NFL Week 1 Pick: New England -6
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants (-7): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Giants have a lot of motivation after last year’s embarrassing finish to the year, and they luck out at home (in a fancy new stadium, at that), getting a team with a quarterback making the first start of his first full season as an NFL quarterback.
NFL Week 1 Pick: New York Giants -7
Atlanta Falcons (-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers: Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Steelers’ defense may have to pitch shutouts until the offense either gets used to either Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. Matt Ryan is out to prove that injuries caused his sophomore season to go downhill in 2009.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Atlanta -1
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Browns lost their lone trip to Tampa Bay, back in 2002, and there isn’t much to make us believe they’ll even it up at one. The Bucs’ defense will be eager to show that they’re not as awful as they showed last season/
NFL Week 1 Pick: Tampa Bay -1.5
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1): Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
The Broncos drafted Jacksonville boy Tim Tebow, and don’t be surprised if he makes it out for a Wildcat play or two at some point. That could be the only entertaining portion of this game.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Denver +1
Indianapolis Colts (-3) at Houston Texans: Sunday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM ET
This is the tough game of the week to handicap for NFL betting players: Houston is 1-7 SU at home against the Colts, but a respectable 5-3 ATS. This line is giving the Texans a lot of credit, but we’re not betting against the Colts in Week 1.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Indy -3
San Francisco 49ers (-1.5) at Seattle Seahawks: Sunday, Sept. 12, 4:15 PM ET
The Seahawks aren’t going anywhere with Matt Hasselbeck as their quarterback, and the San Francisco defense will get to him early and often.
NFL Week 1 Pick: San Francisco -1.5
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (pk): Sunday, Sept. 12, 4:15 PM ET
How will the first game of the Kevin Kolb era go? Not well. We think nerves will get to him, and the Green Bay defense is now used to their 3-4 scheme. If the Eagles can’t get to Aaron Rodgers, this could be a rout.
NFL Week 1 Betting Pick: Green Bay (pk)
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) at St. Louis Rams: Sunday, Sept. 12, 4:15 PM ET
It’s a good think that the Cardinals are playing the Rams in their debut: that will ease Matt Leinart into the rigors of being a No.1 starter in the league.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Arizona -3.5
Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Washington Redskins: Sunday, Sept. 12, 8:20 PM ET
The Cowboys flex their muscles as the best team in the NFC East against the Redskins, who made a lot of changes to their offense in the offseason, and you can’t turn around a team in one week.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Dallas -3.5
Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets (-3): Monday, Sept. 13, 7:00 PM ET
The Ravens’ defense wasn’t as feared without Rex Ryan calling the shots, and Ryan has turned the Jets into the Big Apple version of the Ravens. However, look for a healthy Ed Reed and company to feast on Mark Sanchez.
NFL Week 1 Pick: Ravens +3
San Diego Chargers (-6) at Kansas City Chiefs: Monday, Sept. 13, 10:15 PM ET
The Chargers have won their last three in Kansas City, but there was a lot of turmoil in the offseason, particularly on offense. This is also the first chance to see Kansas City’s Eric Berry, a sports betting contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
