The NFL is about to celebrate their 100th regular season – stretching all the way back to their birth as the American Professional Football Association in 1920. This is something of a watershed season for the NFL; they’re running a one-year trial where pass interference calls (and non-calls) are subject to review. What effect will this have on the NFL betting odds?
We’ll start finding out on Thursday, September 5, when two of the league’s oldest teams meet at Solider Field. It’ll be the Chicago Bears (est. 1920) taking on the Green Bay Packers (est. 1919 as an independent) in an NFC North matchup that could have a profound effect on the playoff chances for both clubs. The home side won each meeting in 2018, but Chicago beat the NFL betting spread both times, and wound up winning the division, while the Packers missed the postseason. This year’s series should be just as exciting, if not more so.
2019 NFL Week 1 Best Odds and Matchups
1. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Thursday, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
The Bears are 3-point favorites on the NFL odds board at press time with a total of 46, although they still haven’t figured out who their place-kicker will be. Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Fry are battling over that job.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Sunday Night Football kicks off with the Patriots as 6-point home favorites over Pittsburgh and the total at 51.5. The Steelers are trying to prove there’s life after Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, even if WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and RB James Conner made the Pro Bowl last year.
3. Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (Monday, 7:10 PM ET, ESPN)
The largest Week 1 total on the NFL lines is 53.5, when the Saints host the Texans as 7-point favorites. New Orleans WR Rishard Matthews retired from the NFL on Monday, two days after leaving camp.
4. Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 PM ET, CBS)
Two Super Bowl LIV sleepers meet in Carson, with the Chargers favored by three and the total set at 47.5. At press time, there’s no movement in LA regarding RB Melvin Gordon’s holdout and contract dispute.
5. Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 PM ET, FOX)
The Rams begin their Super Bowl quest in Charlotte as 3-point favorites over the Panthers, with the total at 51. This could be another bounce-back year for Carolina, especially with rookie LB Brian Burns looking so good during the preseason.
6. Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
In a potential AFC playoff battle, the Chiefs head into their Week 1 visit to Jacksonville at –3.5 with a chunky 52.5-point total. This is an intriguing QB matchup between reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes for Kansas City and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles in his Jacksonville debut.
7. New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
This intense NFC East rivalry had the Cowboys laying eight points with a total of 46, but their odds on NFL Sunday are off the board at press time. That might have something to do with concerns over Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott’s holdout.
8. Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 PM ET, FOX)
Kirk Cousins and the Vikings are 4-point home favorites over Matt Ryan and the Falcons; the total is pegged at 47.5 points. On Sunday, Minnesota sent a fifth-round draft pick in 2020 to the Baltimore Ravens for PK Kaare Vedvik, who could act as both kicker and punter for the Vikings this year.
9. Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
With Odell Beckham Jr. at wideout, the Browns are this year’s buzz team, and they’re giving Tennessee 5.5 points with a total of 45.5. People who bet on the NFL are looking at the Titans and their defense as a potential source of profit.
10. Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Sunday, 1 PM ET, CBS)
This Empire State battle features two of the NFL’s rising young quarterbacks in Buffalo’s Josh Allen and New York’s Sam Darnold. The Jets are 3-point favorites at MetLife Stadium with a low total of 38.5 in what should be a decent defensive matchup.
For more NFL Insights on the 2019-2020 NFL Betting Season check out our NFL Betting Guide.
*Odds as of August 26