The NFL is officially back and it is time to make some many. Similar to last year, we have three great bets for this Sunday’s action. All lines come via Draft Kings as of Friday afternoon. Also, be sure to catch me and my fellow ATB bettors’ locks and underdogs of the week on Around The Book. Let’s get started and dive into the best NFL bets for week 1!
Buccaneers at Vikings: Vikings -5.5 (-110)
The Bucs are going through it right now. After several years of being “all in” with Tom Brady, the cupboard is pretty much bare in the wake of his retirement. With Baker Mayfield at the helm, this team looks primed for a rebuild. On the other side, the Vikings look ready to make a run in a wide-open NFC title race. Kirk Cousins played great last year and he has two fantastic targets in Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson.
Expect Hockenson to be a major factor in this one. Tampa Bay really struggled to cover tight ends last year. The Vikings defense is suspect, but the Bucs lack the offensive firepower to take advantage. This game might stay tight for a while, but Minnesota should have no problem winning by at least seven or eight.
Bengals at Browns: Browns Money Line (+110)
I love the Browns as a home ‘dog, pun intended. They really started to find their groove towards the end of last season. Deviant quarterback Deshaun Watson should be much more comfortable after having a full off-season as the team’s official starter. The Bengals, on the other hand, could start a little slow, as their quarterback, Joe Burrow, did not have a full training camp due to injury.
Even with the slow start, the Bengals still have a lot of talent. That makes this divisional game more of a toss-up. In that case, go with the team getting plus odds at home. Take the money line here at a solid value.
Packers at Bears: Packers Money Line (+105)
This matchup will look far different from most of the recent meetings of this classic rivalry. The reason for that is the absence of Aaron Rodgers. His presence has helped Green Bay win the last eight meetings. With Jordan Love taking over, we have to wonder if Justin Fields and the Bears can turn the tide in this series. Vegas seems to agree as they are favoring Chicago, albeit slightly.
Don’t be fooled by the spread though. Chicago being a one point favorite at home is actually a bit damning. Typically, the rule of thumb for handicapping games is that the home team gets three points. This line signals that Vegas still feels like Green Bay is the better team, and they should. While Love may be an unknown commodity, we do know that the Packers have a lot more talent everywhere else on their roster than Chicago. This is especially true in the trenches.
Expect Green Bay to grind out a low scoring victory with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Take the generous plus odds.
Week 1 NFL Best Bets Recap
- Minnesota Vikings -5.5 (-110)
- Cleveland Browns ML (+110)
- Green Bay Packers ML (+105)
- Parlay odds: +721