Now that the 2021 NFL Schedule is released, here’s a look at 3 NFL Week 1 Bets to hammer right now. See the full Early NFL Week 1 Odds & Lines.
3 NFL Week 1 Bets To Hammer Right Now: Bet Tips For Early Schedule Odds
Early NFL Week 1 Bet Tips come from NFL Week 1 Early Odds available at BetMGM. BetMGM is offering new players a Risk-Free Bet of up to $600. Sign up to claim this welcome promo and drop your best bets on NFL Week 1 and more 2021 NFL futures.
1. Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Dallas Cowboys visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, September 9, at 8:20 p.m ET. Odds and Lines for Cowboys-Buccaneers Bet Tips can be wagered at BetMGM .
Odds & Betting Lines for Cowboys-Buccaneers Picks
- Against The Spread (ATS): Buccaneers -6.5 (-110)/Cowboys +6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Buccaneers (-275)/Cowboys (+225)
- Total: 51.5 — Over 51.5 (-110)/Under 51.5 (-110)
- Implied Team Totals: Buccaneers 29, Cowboys 22.5
Cowboys vs Buccaneers Best Bet: Over 51.5 (-110)
If you are looking for a points extravaganza and want to bet the Over in the 2021 NFL season opener, this is the game. While the Cowboys defense is expected to improve, It won’t happen in Week 1. It’ll be a work in progress that likely begins to trend upwards in early October if it happens at all.
And although the Buccaneers’ defense locked down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55, Kansas City’s offensive line was in shambles, allowing Tampa’s front seven to go to work. Sure, the Cowboys’ offensive line was horrible last year, but they were missing four key starters throughout the campaign.
Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, and Zack Martin all missed chunks of time while Travis Frederick retired prior to the start of the season. Barring injury or any more sudden retirements, the Dallas front five will be at full strength for the season opener, limiting what Tampa can bring upfront.
Both the Buccaneers and Cowboys offenses will come out swinging. And since both teams are theoretically returning most starters and offensive coordinators (including all 22 in total for Tampa Bay), neither side will skip a beat, which bodes well if you like the Over on this Thursday night matchup’s 51.5 point total.
- The Over is 8-2 in the Buccaneers’ last 10 games as a home favorite and 4-1 in their last six games in Week 1.
- The Over is also 4-1 in the Cowboys’ last five games versus NFC foes.
Trevor Lawrence’s first game with the Jacksonville Jaguars is one of 3 NFL Week 1 Bets To Hammer Right Now for Early NFL Week 1 lines. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
The Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday, September 12, at 1 p.m ET. Odds and Lines for Jaguars-Texans Bet Tips can be wagered at BetMGM.
Odds & Betting Lines for Jaguars-Texans Picks
- Against The Spread (ATS): Jaguars -2.5 (-110)/Texans +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Jaguars (-140)/Texans (+115)
- Over/Under Total: 46 — Over 46 (-110)/Under 46 (-110)
- Implied Team Totals: Jaguars 24.5, Texans 21.5
Jaguars vs Texans Best Bet: Jaguars -2.5 (-110)
If you don’t trust that the jaguars will cover the 2.5 points but still think they will win, you can wager the Moneyline (-140) without sacrificing a ton on the return. Either way, my confidence in Jacksonville opening the Urban Meyer-Trevor Lawrence era with a victory is in the high 90s out of 100.
Now the disclaimer is Deshaun Watson. If in some way, Watson does not open the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt list and he is active and ready to play in Houston’s Week 1 opener, then my conference level is a lot more balanced. But from what we know now, prepare as if Watson will not play in Week 1, if at all in 2021.
While the Jaguars were a 1-15 football team last season, their only win was in the season opener in a shocker over the Colts. Meanwhile, the Texans, even with Watson, only managed 4 wins in their own right. What’s more, these two clubs are going in opposite directions.
The Jags are building for the future and have vastly improved their roster while the Texans seemingly already view 2021 as a lost campaign. Considering (probably) no Watson, no early draft picks thanks to Bill O’Brien, and the fact that they signed 20+ free agents to one-year deals, the Texans are just trying to field a team this season. Wins, well, they will be hard to come by. In fact, the Texans could be the league’s first 0-17 team come year’s end.
BetMGM set Jacksonville’s 2021 win total at 6.5 games. They get the first one in the season opener while covering the spread.
The Jaguars are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 meetings with the Texans, 2-2 in their last four while covering in their last matchup in November of 2020.
Jacksonville is also 5-1 ATS in their last six games in September.
3. Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs
The Cleveland Browns visit Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, September 12, at 4:25 p.m ET. Odds and Lines for Browns-Chiefs Bet Tips can be wagered at BetMGM.
Odds & Betting Lines for Browns-Chiefs Picks
- Against The Spread (ATS): Chiefs -6 (-110)/Browns +6 (-110)
- Moneyline: Chiefs (-275)/Browns (+210)
- Total: 53.5 — Over 53.5 (-110)/Under 53.5 (-110)
- Implied Team Totals: Chiefs 30, Browns 23.5
Browns vs Chiefs Best Bet: Under 51.5 (-110)
The Week 1 Browns-Chiefs matchup is another one that screams Bet the Over. However, 53.5 points is a high total. And we also must consider the fact that in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Chiefs beat the Browns 22-17, a total of 39 points. In that postseason contest, the Total was set at 55.5 points and went Under by -16.5.
The Browns aren’t going to do anything different on offense. They will control the tempo of the game while keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field by running the ball down Kansas City’s throat. And while the Browns focused on improving their defense this offseason, it could take some time for their new studs to gel. What’s more, in that postseason matchup, Mahomes missed about a quarter and ha half with a concussion.
The total won’t go Under by 16.5 points this time around, but I do believe the Under is your Best Bet. In the last eight meetings between the Browns and Chiefs, the Under is 4-4, but 4-2 in the last six meetings.
