Last week, we released the NFL underdogs to bet in Week 1. This week, it’s all about NFL Week 1 betting favorites. After much handicapping, we’ve settled on the chalk in five Week 1 games: Tampa Bay versus Dallas, Tennessee versus Arizona, Denver on the road agianst the Giants, San Francisco against the Lions, and the Falcons hosting the Eagles. Check out analysis for each game and why we believe these five NFL Betting favorites get it done in NFL Week 1.
NFL Betting Favorites To Wager On in Week 1
- When: Thursday, Sep. 9 – Monday, Sep. 13
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -8
- When: Thursday, Sep. 9
A lot has been written about the Dallas Cowboys and how they have a bounce back season after a terrible 2020. Sure, the Cowboys defense should be better this year. But, let’s be honest, there’s no way to go except up.
Teams shredded the Cowboys D. So if Dallas fans are hanging their hopes on the Boys’ defense to improve, they may be disappointed. There’s also been a ton of discussion about quarterback Dak Prescott returning from an injury.
As of NFL Preseason Week 3, though, Dallas coach Mike McCarthy hasn’t confirmed if Prescott will be ready for the Cowboys’ first game. We hear a lot of “he should be” and “we hope he is” statements coming from McCarthy.
Tampa is ready to roll. Tom Brady hasn’t let his team slide back to mediocrity. If anything, the Buccaneers should send a better team to the gridiron this season than the one we saw in 2020. The doesn’t mean Tampa repeats the Super Bowl victory. It does mean that on Sep. 9 they squash the Cowboys.
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans -3
- When: Sunday, Sep. 12
Arizona is another team with a lot of buzz. But the Titans are better. That’s all there is to it. Tennessee averages over 30 points per last season and that was before Julio Jones bought a house in Nashville.
Jones plays opposite one of the fastest rising superstar wide receivers in the league, A.J. Brown. Running back Derrick Henry is the best in the league. The defense should be much better than it was last season.
The Cardinals will be a good team. This is a bad matchup. Arizona faces a squad with a better offense. The Cards must outscore teams this season and they won’t outscore the Titans.
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons -3
- When: Sunday, Sep. 12
If the Eagles were happy with Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco at quarterback, why did they ship a sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Gardner Minshew II? Philadelphia won’t be a good football team this season.
Atlanta will be much improved from last season. New head coach Arthur Smith brings an offensive system that will make the Falcons one of the higher scoring teams in the league. New defensive coordinator Dean Pees has had multiple success with various teams, including coaching the Baltimore Ravens’ defense in the 2012 Super Bowl, a game the Ravens won.
San Francisco 49ers -7 ½ at Detroit Lions
- When: Sunday, Sep. 12
Detroit is a mess of a football team. San Francisco may not be as good as advertised, but the 49ers should have no trouble beating Detroit by at least 10 points.
Jimmy Garoppolo will get the start at quarterback. Trey Lance will be there to back him up. Raheem Mostert, Greg Kittle, tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey are healthy. Nick Bosa should play. Javon Kinlaw will. It won’t surprise us if the Niners win by 17 or more points.
Denver Broncos -1 ½ at New York Giants
- When: Sunday, Sep. 12
The Denver Broncos have fallen to +2200 to win the Super Bowl. If you play in the same division as the Kansas City Chiefs, and you’re less than a +3000 choice to win the Super Bowl, don’t you think you should dominate a team like the New York Giants?
The Giants won’t be the worst team in the NFL. But they should have no shot against the Denver Broncos.
First, Denver will likely start Teddy Bridgewater, a legit QB1 who knows how to win. Second, the Broncos might field the best defense in the league. In Week 1, the Ponies stampede the G-Men.
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