The long-awaited NFL season is upon us and what a sensational week of action with a replay of last season’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, Australia hosting an NFC West clash between the Rams and 49ers, a Sunday Night Football rivalry matchup between the Giants and Cowboys and capped off by a compelling Monday Night Football affair between AFC West rivals Kansas City and Denver.
Super Bowl losers have had a rough time of it in Week 1, covering just six of 26, while those off a loss of 14 or more are 2-10 against the number.
Week 1 road single digit underdogs who won between four and six games the year prior are an outstanding 67-29-5 against the spread dating back to 1990, putting the Saints in an outstanding position to cover against the Lions.
Jim Harbaugh has covered all six Week 1 matches but Week 1 underdogs of 8 or more are 25-9 against the spread since 2003 and Justin Hebert has covered just one of four as a double digit underdog.
Week 1 division home underdogs are 20-5 against the spread since 2012 while the Giants have covered three of the last four against the Cowboys.
The underdog is an incredible 30-13-1 against the spread in Week 1 Monday Night Football matches. The underdog has also covered seven of the last nine in Broncos-Chiefs matchups.
The under hits at 69.1% in Weeks 1-3 when a home underdog is in play since 2021 while the under is 10-3 in Week 1 indoor games when the total is 45 or less.
The under hits at 69.1% in Weeks 1-3 when a home underdog is in play since 2021 with the under hitting at 62% in Week 1 when the home underdog if four points or fewer.
The under hits at 69.1% in Weeks 1-3 when a home underdog is in play since 2021 with the under hitting at 62% in Week 1 when the home underdog if four points or fewer.
Super Bowl losers have had a rough time of it in Week 1, covering just six of 26, while those off a loss of 14 or more are 2-10 against the number.
The over has hit in six of the last seven matchups between the Niners and Rams while the Rams finished last season on an 8-2 over run.
Week 1 division home underdogs are 20-5 against the spread since 2012 while the Giants have covered three of the last four against the Cowboys.
The underdog is an incredible 30-13-1 against the spread in Week 1 Monday Night Football matches. The underdog has also covered seven of the last nine in Broncos-Chiefs matchups.
New Orleans +7/Under 44.5 Buf-Hou/Under 47.5 Bal-Ind/Under 47.5 Chi-Car
All four plays rate among the best bets and best totals for Week 1.
The Cardinals are listed as one of the best bets of the week. Road division underdogs of 7 or less are 34-18-1 against the spread since 2014 in Week 1, making the Commanders and Packers plays.
Despite finishing just 9-8 last year, the Lions scored the opening touchdown in 11 of 17 games to rank 2nd in the NFL. Gibbs scored five of those, leading the NFL last year in first scores. With David Montgomery gone, Gibbs has the running game all to himself.
Bijan Robinson has 32.5% of the Falcons touchdowns the last two seasons, second for any player on any team over that period. Chase Brown finished last season with eight touchdowns in his last five games. Derrick Henry finished tied for fourth on the TD leaderboard last year with 16 and sits behind only Jahmyr Gibbs over the last three seasons with 46.
Puka Nacua has scored a touchdown in three of his last four games against the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey has touchdown counts of 17 and 21 in his last two full seasons and he had 29-plus receiving yards in 17 of 19 games last season. Colby Parkinson has 20 yards receiving in 10 straight games.
