The NFL season kicks off this week, and with NFL Odds for Week 1 on the board, it’s the most exciting time of the year for sports gamblers and NFL fans alike. The NFL has taken over our national consciousness with its exciting matchups and non-stop action throughout the year. The NFL schedule makers know what they’re doing, and they have provided us with plenty of intriguing matchups to start the year.
Best NFL Odds for Week 1 Matchups
Let’s take a look at the marquee games between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills — along with the latest NFL betting odds for each matchup.
- Seahawks +2.5 (-110)
- Packers -2.5 (-110)
- Bills -1.5 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks +2.5
The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most talented yet one of the most injury prone teams in the league. Last year, the injury bug bit and the 49ers had a disappointing season. The 49ers are still struggling with some injuries but with the return of Christian McCaffrey to the lineup they hope to be the offensive juggernaut they were in their Super Bowl seasons.
Also, former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has returned to lead the defense back to its elite level. The 49ers have plenty of talent but let’s see if they can stay healthy and execute in close games.
Seahawks on the Rise
The Seattle Seahawks are not considered to be a Super Bowl contender but they are definitely a team on the right track under the leadership of second year head coach Mike Macdonald. Macdonald is a defensive genius and has made the most of the talent on Seattle’s defense.
However, Seattle has had an overhaul on offense this season, jettisoning former quarterback Geno Smith and bringing in Sam Darnold. Darnold has had a lackluster career but had his breakout last season on the Minnesota Vikings. Can Darnold continue this career resurgence, or was last year’s success an anomaly due to the excellent situation he was in? Darnold and the Seahawks have a lot to prove.
The Seattle Seahawks also have an excellent home field advantage. They have one of the loudest home field crowds in the league. I think the Seahawks are being overlooked here because the 49ers have so many more high-profile names on their roster. This is a Seattle team that is solid and well coached. Don’t believe the hype. Take the home dog here.
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers -2.5
The Detroit Lions have gone from laughing stock to powerhouse under head coach Dan Campbell. The Lions win the game with the line of scrimmage and have one of the best offensive lines in the league. The Lions lost Center Frank Ragnow to retirement last season, so their ability to replace him should be key to their offensive success.
The Lions also lost their two top coordinators, who became head coaches. How will the Lions fare with their newly promoted coordinators? That is a question that will be answered this season and in this opening game.
Packers Poised To Dominate NFC
The Green Bay Packers were already looking to be a team on the rise, but with their blockbuster addition of pass rusher Micah Parsons, the Packers are now clearly a contender to make the Super Bowl. The Packers will have plenty to prove in this matchup, but they have all the talent to be the best team in the NFC. The Packers defense was already formidable but now it could be a top unit in the NFL.
The key to the Packers’ season will be the development of quarterback Jordan Love. Love is an excellent player but he is prone to make too many mistakes, throwing interceptions at crucial times. If Love can cut out the turnovers, he will be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Lions are an excellent team at home but they struggle outdoors. The schedule makers did them a favor by allowing them to travel to Green Bay in September and not December when the field will likely be littered with snow.
However, I’ll still take the Packers at home here, because their home field advantage is so good and the Lions are just an average team outdoors. Take the team on the rise, take the Green Bay Packers.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills -1.5
This is the premier matchup of Week 1. This matchup pits the top two MVP candidates against each other. The Ravens will try to avenge their loss to Buffalo in last year’s NFL divisional round, where they fell 27-25. In that game, the Bills rushed out to a lead in the first half, yet the Ravens clawed their way back. A crucial drop by veteran tight end Mark Andrews was the end of the Ravens’ season.
Close Games, Big Advantages
However, the Ravens did have regular season success against the Buffalo Bills last year when they won 35-10 in week 4. These teams are very close and do not have much roster turnover in the offseason.
I like the Buffalo Bills to get things done here again. In a matchup between these two close teams, the home field edge could be the difference. While the Ravens do have the slightly better roster, the Bills are still solid, and both teams have continuity coming into this game.
I expect the Bills to ride the momentum they formed when they beat the Ravens in the divisional round last season. It’s going to be a wild night in Orchard Park but the Bills fans will leave happy. Take the Buffalo Bills.
Place These Bets Now
The NFL market is the sharpest sports betting market in the world. As more money and resources get funneled into handicapping these games, you can bet that the people betting into the NFL early in the week and shaping the lines are doing so with sharp prediction models and up-to-date information.
Therefore, it is key to place these bets early in the week before the fully matured market makes the line even tougher to beat. Most of the time in the NFL, the line movement is correct, so you’ll want to lock in the very best price at the top sportsbooks.
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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
