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Complete NFL Week 1 Betting Guide for 2017 Season

Written by on June 27, 2017

As of this writing, there are only 72 days until the 2017 NFL season kicks off! Teams will start reporting to training camps in just a few weeks. No reason to wait, however, as you can bet on NFL Week 1 games right now at MyBookie – although lines will certainly change should there be a major injury. Here are some notes for Week 1.

Complete NFL Week 1 Betting Guide for 2017 Season

Biggest Spread & Total

First of all, NFL Week 1 kicks off  on Thursday, Sept. 7 with New England at -7.5 vs. Kansas City. The Patriots last hosted the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs after the 2015 regular season. New England posted a 27-20 victory in that game, with tight end Rob Gronkowski’s two touchdown receptions helping the Patriots open a 21-6 lead in the third quarter in a game in which they weren’t really threatened. Another storyline will be commissioner Roger Goodell’s presence at the game. He hasn’t been to a New England home game since Deflategate. The biggest opening line favorites for Week 1 are the Pittsburgh Steelers who opened as 9-point chalk on the road against the Cleveland Browns. The highest total on the early betting board is between the Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans, which opened at 52.5.

What Happened the Last Time Oakland and Tennessee Met?

Oakland played at Tennessee in Week 3 last year and won 17-10. Derek Carr threw for 249 yards and a touchdown. Oakland took control in the second quarter, scoring 10 points and outgaining the Titans 129-40 to take a 17-3 lead into halftime. Carr recently became the NFL’s highest-paid player, signing a five-year, $125 million extension. Despite missing the 2017 regular-season finale, Carr finished tied for third in NFL MVP voting. He passed for 3,937 yards with 28 TD passes, six interceptions and set an NFL record with five winning touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime last season.

Debuting On New Teams

Some big-name free agents changed teams this offseason. Perhaps the biggest is the greatest running back in Vikings history, Adrian Peterson. He signed with the New Orleans Saints… who opens 2017 at Minnesota. Minnesota are 3.5-point NFL betting favorites. Peterson is 32 and coming off a meniscus injury that sidelined him for three months last season — and limited him to just 37 carries, a 1.9 yards-per-carry average and zero touchdowns. During offseason workouts, Peterson’s new teammates were amazed at him. “He’s a stud, man. He looks the part,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees. “There’s something about handing the ball off to that guy and watching him run through the hole and take on anybody who tries to tackle him.” Peterson, though, isn’t even expected to be the featured back. That would be Mark Ingram. The Saints aren't favorites to win in Week 1.

Was Adrian Peterson Used Much in Minnesota?

The Vikings didn’t use Peterson much out of the backfield in recent years but says he can be a weapon in that regard. Peterson — who has 11,747 career rushing yards and 97 rushing touchdowns vs. 1,945 receiving yards and five receiving TDs – said that he just wasn’t used in that role much with the Minnesota Vikings. But he pointed out that he had his two best receiving seasons in the two years that he played with quarterback Brett Favre (436 yards in 2009 and 341 in 2010). “So it's all about having a guy that’s gonna get the ball to you. And without a doubt, I know Brees will be doing that,” Peterson said. Other big names moving were Marshawn Lynch from retirement/Seahawks to Oakland, the Saints trading Brandin Cooks to New England, the Eagles signing Alshon Jeffrey and LeGarrett Blount, and the Redskins signing Terrelle Pryor.

Who Will Be Browns QB?

Since the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL in 1999, they have started an amazing 26 quarterbacks. Who will it be in Week 1 against Pittsburgh? That’s to be determined There are three guys, none of whom would seem to have a huge advantage. Second-year Cody Kessler knows the system and seems intent on improving. Trade addition Brock Osweiler is a mystery and was awful last year in Houston. DeShone Kizer is the draft pick who has a lot of work to do. Kizer took a lot of his reps with the starters during OTAs and minicamp, so he must be a real threat to be the starter for the Browns when they open up the season. Taken in the 2nd round of this year’s draft, Kizer was the 52nd overall pick. Looking at all four quarterbacks on the roster, that makes Kizer the highest pick on the team, since Osweiler was taken 57th overall back in 2012 by the Denver Broncos. Kessler was a third-round pick last year.

Will Cody Kessler Be the Starting QB?

“What I see in him is a big, strong, guy which is defined in this division by Ben [Roethlisberger] and by Joe Flacco, and this kid’s in that mold,” said QBs coach David Lee. “He’s 6-4 3/4, he’s got a 10-inch hand, he’s smart, he can run, he move.” Last season, Coach Hue Jackson was quick to name Robert Griffin III the starter, but he might take a little more time to name the starter this year. I believe it will be Kessler in Week 1

Upcoming NFL Week 1 Schedule

Thursday, September 7th

  • Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots. 8:30pm ET. NFL Odds: Patriots at -7½

Sunday, September 10th

  • NY Jets at Buffalo Bills. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Bills at -6½
  • Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Texans at -4
  • Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Steelers at -9
  • Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Lions at -2
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Dolphins at -1
  • Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Dolphins at -7
  • Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Raiders at -1
  • Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Bengals at -2½
  • Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins. 1:00pm ET. NFL Odds: Redskins at -2½
  • Indianapolis Colts at LA Rams. 4:05pm ET. NFL Odds: Colts at -3½
  • Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers. 4:25pm ET. NFL Odds: Panthers at -5½
  • Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers. 4:25pm ET. NFL Odds: Packers at -3
  • NY Giants at Dallas Cowboys. 8:25pm ET. NFL Odds: Cowboys at -5

Monday, September 11th

  • New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings. 7:10pm ET. NFL Odds: Vikings at -3½
  • LA Chargers at Denver Broncos. 10:10pm ET. NFL Odds: Broncos at -3½

Final NFL Week 1 Betting Predictions

With the time frame that’s left for the season to start, much can change and the odds can vary as well. The preseason will give us an idea where the teams are focusing on this year. But until then, be sure to check out upcoming NFL Week 1 game previews and predictions within the following weeks leading to the 2017 season. Lastly, start getting ready for a great season.