NFL odds: Three enticing Week 1 underdogs to pick against the spread
Week 1 is considered one of the toughest weeks of the NFL season to find strong plays, but there are still opportunities to build your bankroll early in the season. Below are three picks that should get your season off on the right foot.
The Seahawks have been a model of consistency over the past three seasons, amassing 36 regular season victories over that span. Subsequently, their lines are often inflated by oddsmakers, as there’s rarely a shortage of public money willing to bet on the Seahawks.
The Rams have given Seattle some trouble over the past three seasons, winning two out of three matchups at the Edward Jones Dome and narrowly losing on Monday Night Football in 2013 when the Seahawks made a goal-line stand in the final minute to preserve a 14–9 victory.
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Seattle’s offensive line figures to be a glaring weakness this season, especially after they traded center Max Unger to the Saints in the off-season, and that simply does not bode well for them against a Rams defense that registered 40 sacks last season. The Rams at +4.5 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com is too difficult to resist.
A similar scenario presents itself in Chicago, where the Packers find themselves as a touchdown favorite on the road against the Bears.
Yes, the Packers are solid from top to bottom and boast an elite quarterback, but in this day and age, it’s difficult to beat anyone by more than a touchdown on the road, let alone a divisional rival.
It’s looking more and more like Alshon Jeffery will play this week, which gives Jay Cutler a legitimate down-the-field threat to accompany a solid running back in Matt Forte. The Bears could easily hang around here, and in the worst case scenario, they have enough offensive firepower to pull off a backdoor cover if it were to come down to that. Bears +7 is a gift.
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The first of two Monday Night Football games in Week 1 pits the Falcons against the high-flying Eagles. Philadelphia’s exceptional offensive performances in the preseason have stoked the Super Bowl contender buzz, but let’s not forget that the preseason is not the regular season.
Opposing defenses don’t really gameplan for their opponents in preseason, so it’s hard to learn much from Philadelphia’s performances. What we do know is that Atlanta has a strong home-field advantage and an offense that can exploit the Eagles' defense. The wrong team is favored here, so grab Atlanta +3 at the sportsbooks while you can.
