There’s nothing better in sports than an NFL Sunday, and fans are looking forward to all the action kicking off. Fans and bettors alike will be bouncing from game to game trying to keep up with all the action, excitement, and watching the drama unfold.
Week 1 is a time of hope; every team and its fan base can envision a deep playoff run and a Super Bowl in their future. Let’s take a look at some of the week’s most exciting Sunday morning and afternoon matchups to find winning NFL picks.
Sunday Morning Football Odds
Underdogs typically do well in Week 1, and you’ll sense a theme when reading this article.
Last year, we saw the New England Patriots defeat the Cincinnati Bengals outright as 7.5-point road underdogs.
The Dallas Cowboys went into Cleveland and beat the Browns as underdogs. The Minnesota Vikings were underdogs, and they got a dominant win over the New York Giants; and Caleb Williams took his team into Tennessee to get the fourth straight-up win by an underdog in Week 1. Last season, in Week 1, underdogs were 7-5-2 ATS.
Similarly, expect tight contests this year, especially in divisional matchups, where small line movements could make a big difference in your bets.
Sunday Morning Football Picks
Atlanta Falcons + 2.5
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South last season, and that is why they are favored in this game. However, the Atlanta Falcons improved more during the offseason. The Falcons finally addressed their defense, which was one of their biggest weaknesses last season. They also got a full training camp with second-year quarterback Michael Penix under center, and his talent and potential could lead him to be the best quarterback in the division.
The Buccaneers do have an awesome offense as well, but in these divisional home games, the home dog is usually the best pick. I expect the Falcons to exceed expectations and make a statement to start the season. The Falcons won both games against the Buccaneers last season. They know how to beat their rivals. Expect that trend to continue, take the Atlanta Falcons.
Expert Pick: Falcons +2.5 at Caesars
Carolina Panthers +3.5
The Jacksonville Jaguars start the season with a new head coach, Liam Coen, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After agreeing to return to the Buccaneers, Coen made a midnight dash over to Jacksonville and accepted their head coaching job.
Coen is now tasked with trying to turn around one of the best prospects the NFL has ever seen. However, being a top prospect is not necessarily translating to success for Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Coen will be the third head coach that Lawrence has had in his time with the Jaguars, and the Jaguars’ front office is hoping that the third time will be the charm in turning this talented player into a bona fide star.
Panthers Show Continuity
The Carolina Panthers will have more continuity coming into this game with second-year head coach Dave Canales implementing his system. After an absolutely terrible start, Canales benched quarterback Bryce Young. That benching worked wonders, and Young came back and looked like a capable quarterback after his short stint on the bench. Now the Panthers have high hopes that Young can become the franchise player they envisioned when they traded for him two seasons ago.
The Panthers are also putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to the development of Young. This was evident in drafting the top wide receiver in this year’s draft, Tet McMillan, an awesome receiver who can run all the routes necessary to be a true number one in this league. The Panthers hope that Young and McMillan can form a connection to become one of the great quarterback/wide receiver duos in this league.
Why the Panthers Are the Pick
It’s hard to believe in the Jaguars right off the bat. This franchise has continually been a laughing stock and is not necessarily the best-run organization.
While there are concerns about the Panthers’ front office, they seem to have things buttoned up under a great head coach and a quarterback headed in the right direction. This one’s going to be close; take the points with the Panthers.
Expert Pick: Panthers +3.5 (-110) at Caesars
New York Giants +6
Once again, this is a case where the underdog has a great chance to cover the spread. Yes, the Commanders were 2-0 against the Giants last season. However, the Commanders did not cover the point spread in either win; they won by five and by three points against their rival New York Giants. While both teams have improved, because the Giants were so poor last season, they had more room for improvement, and they did just that.
The Giants are establishing one of the best defensive lines in the league, with the addition of premier pass rusher Abdul Carter making a strong defensive line even more formidable. Just like the Eagles were able to use their defensive line to defeat the Commanders in last season’s NFC Championship game, the Giants will look to disrupt Jayden Daniels at the line of scrimmage, knowing that they cannot give Daniels time to throw if they want to compete in this game.
Offensive Improvements
As well as augmenting a strength that they already had, the Giants also addressed their biggest need: the QB position. While Russell Wilson is no longer a top-five QB in the league, he is still a serviceable player who will make the right read and feed the ball to his very best players. The Giants also made their rushing attack more potent by adding bruising running back Cam Skattebo. The Giants’ offense will be better this season, and that will allow them to keep this game close and cover the point spread.
The Commanders are a true Super Bowl contender, and the Giants are a team that is rebuilding, but the Giants will keep this game close like they always do against their division rivals. Take the Giants plus the points.
Expert Pick: Giants +6 (-110) at BetMGM
Place Your Sunday Morning Football Bets Now
The NFL lines move quickly as bettors rush to get down money on their favorite teams. There is no market as sharp as the NFL, and usually, these line moves are correct. Therefore, in order to maximize your profit all season-long, you need to get the best of the number. Do that by placing these bets now.
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