The first week of the 2020 NFL season is just around the corner, and sports betting fans are getting ready to place their bets. If you’re looking for insights to help you bet on NFL games, our article provides you with all the NFL betting lines, odds, and our predicted NFL betting picks.
Week 1 - NFL 2020
Take advantage of this information to help you choose the best NFL bets for each game. Here’s our take on each matchup in NFL week 1:
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Odds
Spread: Texans +9.5 vs Chiefs -9.5
Total: Texans O 54.5 vs Chiefs U 54.5
Moneyline: Texans +350 vs Chiefs -455
Predicted Winner - Chiefs
The last time these two teams met was in the AFC Divisional round, when The Texans ran out to an early 24-0 lead, before Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense kicked into gear, eventually blowing out Houston 51-31. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will be out for revenge, and he is one of the few signal callers talented enough to hang with Mahomes over 60 minutes.
However, the Texans’ defense will have a tough time slowing down KC and will have to get pressure on Mahomes constantly to stand a chance. Getting The Chiefs in Week 1 may be a blessing for Houston as they may not yet be in top gear; however, we think KC is a lock to win and a decent bet at -9.5.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Odds
Spread: Jets +6 vs Bills -6
Total: Jets O 40 vs Bills U 40
Moneyline: Jets +215 vs Bills -263
Predicted Winner - Bills
The Bills have the edge in their years-long rivalry with New York, sporting an all-time record of 63-56, but the two teams split the series last season in two low-scoring, hard fought games. The Bills have one of the stingiest defenses in the league, even if they aren’t yet elite at forcing turnovers, which could be the difference between two teams that struggle to put up points on offense.
The Jets have made changes to their O-line with the addition of OT Mekhi Becton and center Connor McGovern, and they’re undoubtedly a stronger team as a result. But that’s not hard to do considering they had some of the worst stats on both offense and defense in 2019. Last year they were the second worst team in terms of points per game, and ranked fourth highest for sacks allowed with 52.
Even with the positive changes to the team, we still think the Bills have the edge in the betting at -6.
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Football Team
Odds
Spread: Eagles -6.5 vs Washington +6.5
Total: Eagles O 45 vs Washington U 45
Moneyline: Eagles -250 vs Washington +200
Predicted Winner - Eagles
Expectations are low for The Washington Football team after a terrible 3-13 record in 2019. QB Dwayne Haskins was moved into the starting position after Alex Smith’s leg injury that almost took his life, but his performance so far can only be described as inconsistent. There’s some hope with Alex Smith back on the field after one of the feel-good stories of 2020, but it’s unlikely he will return to his pre-injury form having undergone 17 surgeries in the past year.
Washington took steps in the right direction with coaching staff changes earlier this year, but it’s going to take time for new Head Coach Ron Rivera to get the team in shape after Jay Gruden was fired last year.
When you take into consideration that Washington will be going up against an Eagles team with a healthy QB Carson Wentz and his new weapons DeSean Jackson who looks to be 100% healthy and first round pick Jalen Reagor, alongside new defensive additions like cornerbacks Darius Slay and Nickell Robey-Coleman, the Eagles are a good bet at -6.5.
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons
Odds
Spread: Seahawks -1 vs Falcons +1
Total: Seahawks O 49 vs Falcons U 49
Moneyline: Seahawks -125 vs Falcons +108
Predicted Winner - Seahawks
This is expected to be a close matchup, but the Seahawks have managed to improve their defensive line with young superstar safety Jamal Adams. There are questions around his signing being worth three picks and safety Bradley McDougald and whether this trade will make them contenders for the Super Bowl, but at the very least Adams will boost their chances of winning in Week 1.
On offense, the addition of WR Phillip Dorsett and TE Greg Olsen means the Falcons will struggle to deal with QB Russell Wilson even more.
When looking at the Falcons, they did finish last season on a high note with a 6-2 run, and reports are coming in that their defense is looking solid after not giving up any points in their first scrim. But they did lose Austin Hooper and Mohamed Sanu on offense, so there are questions around their offensive power, which was already weaker than the Seahawks.
As tight a match as this may be, we’re picking the Seahawks to clinch the victory in Week 1.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
Odds
Spread: Dolphins +6.5 vs Patriots -6.5
Total: Dolphins O 43.5 vs Patriots U 43.5
Moneyline: Dolphins +235 vs Patriots -286
Predicted Winner - Dolphins
There are several reasons why we’re going with the underdogs in this Week 1 matchup.
Firstly, the Patriots may have taken the AFC East Division title last year, but The Dolphins still lead the all-time series between these teams 56-53.
Then there’s also the gaping hole left in the Patriots after GOAT QB Tom Brady ended his 20-season long career with the team, which QBs Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, or recovering Cam Newton won’t be able to fill. At least not at this point.
The Patriots are also down key players Dont'a Hightower, Patrick Chung, and Marcus Cannon who’ve opted out of this season.
In comparison, the Dolphins had a disastrous start to the 2019 season, but managed to recover after Week 9 with a 5-4 record. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick played a key role in helping his team get back on their feet, and ended the season with a 62% completed passing rate for 3,529 yards, and 20 TDs.
Even though the Patriots are the favorites, they’re not the same team they were last year. We believe the loss of Tom Brady will give the Dolphins the edge they need to make this a 57-54 all-time record and win outright on the moneyline.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Odds
Spread: Packers +3.5 vs Vikings -3.5
Total: Packers O 46.5 vs Vikings U 46.5
Moneyline: Packers +150 vs Vikings -182
Predicted Winner - Vikings
The Packers lead the overall series between these teams 62-54-3, but offseason changes have impacted both these teams leading into Week 1.
The Packers said goodbye to OT Bryan Bulaga, replacing him with Rick Wagner in a move that could only be described as a step backwards. The team also failed to hold onto cornerback Tramon WIlliams, bring in any additional talent to their defense, or meet the team’s desperate need in the wide receiver position, leaving them vulnerable in several key positions.
The Vikings’ roster also took a hit when they failed to re-sign Everson Griffen, didn’t draft a guard with one of their early picks, and lost cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander.
On the plus side, they gave Anthony Harris the franchise tag, traded out unhappy star player Stefon Diggs, and got some veteran players with DE Anthony Zettel, and WR Tajae Sharpe.
When you factor in that the Vikings have the home ground advantage and a home record 6-2-0 last year, the conditions are favorable for the Vikings at -3.5.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Odds
Spread: Colts -7 vs Jaguars +7
Total: Colts O 46 vs Jaguars U 46
Moneyline: Colts -333 vs Jaguars +260
Predicted Winner - Colts
The Colts will sink or swim depending on the performance of new QB Philip Rivers, who wracked up an impressive 4,615 yards gained last season with the Chargers, but also tossed up 20 interceptions. This leaves a lot of questions around whether he’ll bring any additional strength to the team as a replacement for Jacoby Brissett who played well in spurts last season.
The team also picked up defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and cornerback Xavier Rhodes, which will undoubtedly improve their defensive performance.
The Jaguars had one of the weakest offensive lineups of any NFL team and this hasn’t really changed after the offseason. If there are any changes worth noting from the offseason, it’s the loss of Calais Campell and Marcell Dareus, which just increases their vulnerability on defense.
The Colts might need time to adapt to Rivers, but the Jaguars are still the weaker team overall, which is why the Colts are looking good to win at -7.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Odds
Spread: Browns +9 vs Ravens -9
Total: Browns O 48.5 vs Ravens U 48.5
Moneyline: Browns +280 vs Ravens -357
Predicted Winner - Ravens
Yes, the Ravens lost to the Browns last year, but there is almost no chance of this happening again in the upcoming Week 1 game. While Kevin Stefanski moving into the role of head coach is undoubtedly going to shake things up for the Browns, they’re going to need more time before they have a chance against the Ravens as they are now.
The Ravens on the other hand have NFL MVP of 2019, Lamar Jackson, who will bring home the win with the rest of the Ravens roster. This team had the strongest offensive stats last season, with rushing yards of 3,296, and a total of 33.2 points per game, while the Browns didn’t even make it into the top 10.
This version of the Ravens faces little threat from the Browns as they are now, so we’re going with the Ravens to win at -9.
Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers
Odds
Spread: Raiders -1.5 vs Panthers +1.5
Total: Raiders O 47 vs Panthers U 47
Moneyline: Raiders -125 vs Panthers +105
Predicted Winner - Raiders
Both of these teams have undergone major changes that will impact their success in the future.
The Panthers see changes to their coaching staff with Matt Rhule as head coach and Joe Brady as the new offensive coordinator. Teddy Bridgewater joins the team as starting QB and is expected to help stabilize the position. Additional changes on defense make Carolina almost unrecognizable from last year.
The Raiders have also undergone changes, but they’re surprisingly less shocking for a team that moved cities and officially claimed a new identity. Derek Carr should continue to lead a solid offense as starting quarterback, and that offense is looking to get a bit of a boost with the addition of WRs Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs III, as well as RB Lynn Bowden Jr.
Considering an all-time record series of 3-3, there’s no doubt that this game will be close, but we believe that the Raiders have experienced less disruptive changes and will beat the Panthers.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals
Odds
Spread: Chargers -3 vs Bengals +3
Total: Chargers O 44.5 vs Bengals U 44.5
Moneyline: Chargers -169 vs Bengals +140
Predicted Winner - Chargers
While the Bengals have great potential in talented rookie Joe Burrow, there are questions around the difference he could make to the Bengals, especially in his first week. The Bengals posted some of the worst offensive stats last season, coming in close to last with only 17.4 points scored per game. The team will need more time to adjust to Burrows and take advantage of the skills he brings to the table.
The Chargers may have lost Philip Rivers, but Tyrod Taylor is expected to fill his space on the starting roster. Veteran additions to the team, including RT Bryan Bulaga, CB Chris Harris Jr., DT Linval Joseph, and OG Trai Turner, are expected to make up for the loss of some talent on the team.
Even with a new QB to lead the team, the Chargers’ defense still remains one of the best in the league, so we’ll go with the Chargers at -3.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Odds
Spread: Buccaneers +4 vs Saints -4
Total: Buccaneers O 49.5 vs Saints U 49.5
Moneyline: Buccaneers +165 vs Saints -200
Predicted Winner - Buccaneers
The Saints and Buccaneers are a match that everyone is looking forward to for two reasons: Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Everyone is excited to see what these veterans can do together on the Buccaneers. Many believe Brady will give the Buccs the boost they need to make the postseason, so he’ll undoubtedly have an impact on this game. Factor in the other members like WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and you have one of the most stacked offenses in the league.
Even though the Saints are favored to win, there’s a common argument that’s being made against the team and that’s their horrible Week 1 and Week 2 performances. In the last 17 Week 1 and 2 games, the Saints are 2-15 ATS.
This is why we’re going to recommend you check out the Buccaneers at +4.
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Odds
Spread: Cardinals +7.5 vs 49ers -7.5
Total: Cardinals O 46.5 vs 49ers U 46.5
Moneyline: Cardinals +240 vs 49ers -303
Predicted Winner - 49ers
The odds are not in favor of the Cardinals, since they’re going up against the team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. But fans shouldn’t forget that the Cardinals had two very narrow losses against the 49ers in 2019. The addition of elite wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the team is expected to help them close that gap. On defense, LBs De’Vondre Campbell and Devon Kennard, as well as D-lineman Jordan Phillips should also help the Cardinals improve their rushing defense.
Meanwhile, the 49ers lost a key part of their defense with DT DeForest Buckner, as well as WR Emmanuel Sanders and RB Matt Breida on the offense, which is likely to hurt the 49ers. However, they are still a strong team and the home ground advantage.
There could be a major upset from the Cardinals, but we think it’s more likely that it’ll be a close win in favor of the 49ers.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
Odds
Spread: Cowboys -2.5 vs Rams +2.5
Total: Cowboys O 50.5 vs Rams U 50.5
Moneyline: Cowboys -145 vs Rams +120
Predicted Winner - Cowboys
When it comes to last seasons’ performance, the Cowboys may have outperformed the Rams both on both sides of the ball, but when it comes to wins, the two teams sit at a 1-1 record for the 2019 season.
Looking ahead, how is this likely to affect their upcoming game? With Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach, we’ll have to wait and see whether his approach will shrink or grow the gap between these two teams. On the field however, things are looking good for the Cowboys with the addition of center Tyler Biadasz, WR CeeDee Lamb, and CB Trevon Diggs.
The Rams on the other hand are more likely to feel the loss of some of their key players on the offense and defense, including RB Todd Gurley, DL Dante Fowler Jr., and LBs Clay Matthews and Cory Littleton.
After a 3rd place finish in the NFC West last season, we doubt Coach McVay has any surprises up his sleeves for the reams, so we expect the Cowboys to take advantage of their new weapons and secure a decisive win.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Odds
Spread: Steelers -3.5 vs Giants +3.5
Total: Steelers O 47.5 vs Giants U 47.5
Moneyline: Steelers -192 vs Giants +160
Predicted Winner - Steelers
Despite the Giants leading 44-30-3 in their all-time record, the last time these two teams faced off was in 2016. Without a recent match to compare against, what are our thoughts on this upcoming Week 1 game?
The Giants are coming into this game with Joe Judge as the new head coach and Jason Garrett as the new offensive coordinator, but like with many other teams, it’s likely to have little impact this early on. The Giants will go into this game with the poor defense and reasonable offense they’ve always had.
Their opposition is not the same as it was last year however. Ben Roethlisberger is back for the Steelers, after being out of action since September 2019 with an elbow injury. With claims that he’s as healthy as ever, and that his throws are looking good, the Steelers are likely to see an overall improvement in their offensive capabilities.
With one of the strongest defenses last year at 5th overall, the Steelers are also our favorites to win this game.
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
Odds
Spread: Titans +2 vs Broncos -2
Total: Titans O 42 vs Broncos U 42
Moneyline: Titans +105 vs Broncos -1250
Predicted Winner - Tennessee
The match between the Titans and Broncos is expected to be close, as both teams are packed with talent.
The Broncos are favored to win and that may be due to the fact that they traditionally have an at-home advantage. For example, last season they went 5-3-0 at home, while they only had a record of 2-6-0 while on the road.
These odds may also be due to the addition of talent like RB Melvin Gordon, as well as rookie WRs Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, to the team that has QB Drew Lock, the young star that the Broncos are building their team around.
Looking at the Titans, last year Ryan Tannehill took over from Marcus Mariota, and helped the team make it all the way to the AFC Championship game after they unexpectedly beat the Ravens 28-12. Tannehill is back, and even with the loss of key OT Jack Conklin, the Titans are still in a good spot.
No matter who you support, this game is going to be a close one. We love a good Cinderella story, and would love to see a repeat of last year, so we’re going to put the Titans down as winners of this game.
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