NFL Week 1 – Best Bets
After an interminable off-season, the NFL is finally back with us – and so is the chance for punters to make some early returns. To celebrate that fact, Gridiron picks out our five bets of the weekend.
While the season-opener between Denver and Carolina steals the headlines with last year’s Super Bowl combatants going head-to-head in a rematch in the Mile High City, there are a few other match-ups that catch the eye when it comes to laying down the virtual greenbacks…
San Diego (+6.5) @ Kansas City
Let’s start with two of the Broncos’ AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers – who face off at Arrowhead in one of Sunday’s early games. Last year’s form suggests the Chiefs are the likely winners, and the odds say the same, with KC a near-touchdown favourite on the spread. But we actually fancy San Diego for a sneaky upset win. The Chargers were beset by injuries last year and recorded nine wins in each of Mike McCoy’s first two seasons as head coach, while the KC defense is missing Justin Houston and Jamaal Charles is a fitness worry on offense. Play safe and take San Diego with the points or, if you’re feeling brave, have a flutter on the nose.
For odds on all Week 1 tilts in the NFL, head to William Hill’s dedicated NFL page at: http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/y/1/American+Football.html
Oakland @ New Orleans (Over 51.0 Points)
The fourth AFC West team, Oakland, could find itself in a high-scoring game down in the Bayou, with two potent offenses facing off against shaky Ds. Derek Carr to Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree versus Drew Brees – with a fat contract extension in his pocket – firing to a new-look wideout corps featuring Brandin Cooks, Brandon Coleman, Willie Snead and rookie Michael Thomas sounds like a shoot-out to us. Take the over on a total points line of 51.
Los Angeles @ San Francisco (Under 43.0 Points)
By contrast, we’re not expecting much from the NFC West match-up between San Francisco and the newly-relocated Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers were pretty dire for much of last season and look set to have Blaine Gabbert pulling the trigger at QB, while the Rams – despite moving up to select Jared Goff with the #1 pick in May’s draft – are likely to start Case Keenum under centre. A total points line of 43.5? Don’t make us laugh!
Tampa Bay (+3) @ Atlanta
Having kicked the new season off, the Panthers will be keeping one eye on the all-NFC South match-up between rivals Tampa Bay and Atlanta, in which the Falcons are supposedly narrow three-point favourites. However, that doesn’t seem to take into account Matt Ryan’s shaky 2015 form and a preseason knock for star wide-out Julio Jones. Mohamed Sanu might be in town, and Devonta Freeman returns at RB, but even they probably won’t be enough to cover the spread as the Buccaneers roll in with a slimmed down Jameis Winston, rejuvenated Doug Martin and determined Mike Evans looking to make a point. Bucs to win – and win big!
Chicago @ Houston (-6.0)
Finally, the enigmas that are Chicago and Houston face off in Texas, where the home side are already favourite to win – but only by six points? The Bears’ offense, already somewhat anaemic in 2015, lost Matt Forte in the offseason and has the mercurial Jay Cutler throwing to the hobbled WR pairing of Alshon Jeffrey and Kevin White, who missed his entire rookie season thanks to injury. By contrast, even with Brock Osweiler yet to convince at quarterback, Houston should have too much firepower with Lamar Miller in the backfield and ‘Nuke’ Hopkins leading a potent receiver corps. With JJ Watt set to return from surgery in time for week one, we don’t give Chicago much of a chance.