The 2021 NFL regular season is here! That means lots of opportunities for NFL betting enthusiasts to take advantage of room to leverage lines, point spreads and point totals — and other props. Don’t miss our predictions for each matchup in Week 1.
NFL News: Week 1 Overview — Odds, Updates & Predictions for Each Game
Thursday, September 9
Dallas Cowboys (+7.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (O/U 52) (8:20 pm ET, NBC)
The Buccaneers get their Super Bowl rings…and they have all 22 starters from that championship team. Their first opponents are a team that gave up historically bad numbers in terms of points and yards on defense last year and are retooling that side of the ball. Tampa Bay to win and cover…and take the over.
Sunday, September 12 (1:00 pm ET games)
Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) at Atlanta Falcons (48) (FOX)
Atlanta seems slightly further along the continuum of putting a coherent offense on the field than do the Eagles, but is it enough for them to win by more than a field goal? Falcons to win and cover…but take the under.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+6.5) at Buffalo Bills (48.5) (CBS)
Buffalo beat the Steelers by 11 points last year, and the Bills’ defense is even better this year. Pittsburgh has a terrific group of skill players on offense, but Big Ben may lack the agility to hang in the pocket long enough to find them far enough down the field to move the ball. Bills to win and cover.
Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (48) (FOX)
Did the Vikings really overhaul their defense in the off-season? We didn’t see much evidence of that in the preseason. Joe Burrow should have plenty of options down the field — as should Kirk Cousins. I see this turning into a shootout. Bengals to cover…and take the over.
San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) at Detroit Lions (45.5) (FOX)
Right now, Jimmy Garoppolo is the starting quarterback for the 49ers until Trey Lance is ready to take the reins of the offense. With either quarterback, the 49ers can pound the ball on the ground, and when they wear down the Lions’ defense, they have George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk running routes. The 49ers are a tough team on the road under Kyle Shanahan…and they already know Jared Goff’s weaknesses. 49ers to win and cover.
Arizona Cardinals (+3) at Tennessee Titans (52) (CBS)
Both of these teams struggled to stop the run last year, and both of these teams have elite runners on their teams, as Arizona brings quarterback Kyler Murray and the Titans have Derrick Henry. Tennessee’s secondary will give up some big plays against the Cardinals, and that should be enough to deliver at least the cover. Cards cover.
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) at Indianapolis Colts (48.5) (FOX)
Carson Wentz put up dreadful numbers in a number of passing scenarios that are normally promising….passing on first down, passing on play-action calls and the like. I expect the Seahawks’ front seven to focus on disrupting him, and I also like Russell Wilson to put up plenty of points on offense. Seahawks win and cover.
L.A. Chargers (-1) at Washington Football Team (44.5) (CBS)
With Joey Bosa back, the Chargers’ defense is comparable to Washington. Can Justin Herbert outduel Ryan Fitzpatrick? It’s early in the season, so I’m going with FitzMagic. Washington to cover.
N.Y. Jets (+5) at Carolina Panthers (45.5) (CBS)
The Panthers’ defense is the key here, as this unit is ahead of the Jets’ in a matchup of young and unproven quarterbacks. Carolina’s Sam Darnold has tailback Christian McCaffrey to balance the offense, while the Jets don’t have an established runner yet. Panthers to win and cover.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) at Houston Texans (44.5) (CBS)
Two coaches making their NFL debut as Urban Meyer brings his Jaguars to take on David Culley’s Texans. The Houston defense is dreadful, so Jacksonville should be able to run the ball, and Trevor Lawrence should be able to pick apart the secondary. The Texans will start Tyrod Taylor…enough said. Jaguars to win and cover.
Sunday, September 12 (4:00 pm / 4:25 pm ET Games)
Cleveland Browns (+6.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (52.5) (CBS)
This is the rematch of last year’s wild card playoff game, in which the Chiefs had a 19-3 lead at the half but had to cling with white knuckles after the intermission for that 22-19 win. The Browns’ offense is even more explosive, and the defense is even more disruptive. I think the Chiefs eke it out — but I don’t like this spread. Browns to cover.
Miami Dolphins (+3) at New England Patriots (43.5) (CBS)
Miami is going through an offensive reboot, and even though Tua Tagovailoa is going into his second season, Mac Jones feels further along the learning curve. Pats to win and cover.
Green Bay Packers (-4) at New Orleans Saints (50) (FOX)
Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Aaron Jones. Those are the skill players on offense for the Pack. The Saints have Jameis Winston and Alvin Kamara. The wide receivers for the Saints are too green as a group with Michael Thomas on the shelf. Packers to win and cover.
Denver Broncos (-2.5) at N.Y. Giants (41.5) (FOX)
Denver has Teddy Bridgewater to lead the offense, but they don’t really have a solid tailback. The Giants have the gifted (but turnover-prone) Daniel Jones — and they have Saquon Barkley. Giants to cover.
Sunday, September 12 (8:20 pm ET, NBC)
Chicago Bears (+7.5) at L.A. Rams (45)
Matthew Stafford knows the Bears’ defense, and now he has a better team around him than what he had in Detroit. The Bears will be starting the pedestrian Andy Dalton against a tough Ram defense. Rams to win and cover.
Monday, September 13 (8:15 pm ET, ESPN / ABC)
Baltimore Ravens (-4.5) at Las Vegas Raiders (51)
The Raiders don’t really have the defense to hang with Baltimore, even though the Ravens don’t have J.K. Dobbins. Ravens to win and cover.
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