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After what seemed like forever since Super Bowl LIII back in February, the 2019 NFL season is finally upon us and some of the matchups that have been scheduled for Week 1 of the league’s 100th year are just a bit juicier than others.
Football gamblers prefer a sure thing, of course, but since there is no such thing, we have decided to sort through the upcoming sixteen Week 1 games and pick out the best ten picks that the experts believe will come through.
We will briefly analyze the odds and predictions of each of these top-ten best picks and do our best to tell you why the favored team will most likely win and how the underdog could possibly surprise the world.
If you are in New Jersey you can bet on the odds below, provided by 888Sport and Fox Bet NJ.
Good luck!
What: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
When: September 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
How (TV): FOX
Falcons +4, Vikings -4
| Sportsbook | Falcons | Vikings | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +163 | -200 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +160 | -188 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
Just like they have the last three times these two teams have played each other, the Minnesota Vikings will defeat the Atlanta Falcons by more than four points on Sunday.
The Vikings were 5-3 at home last year and their fourth-ranked defense has remained almost unchanged (however they will miss defensive end Sheldon Richardson, now in Cleveland), so they should be able to pick up right about where they left off last season.
Time for quarterback Kirk Cousins to prove his worth by taking this Vikings team back to the postseason and that journey begins against this Falcons’ defense, ranked in the league basement (28th) in 2018.
These Atlanta Falcons are actually good this season, just like they were last season before the injury bug took them down.
Quarterback Matt Ryan is a superstar waiting to happen, and with a healthy Julio Jones as his deep threat target and a talented Devonta Freeman populating his backfield, his Falcons (plus the four points they’ve been given) can totally win this bet.
For more predictions check out the Vikings biggest offseason moves and the Falcons biggest offseason moves.
What: Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
When: September 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida
How (TV): CBS
Chiefs -3.5, Jaguars +3.5
| Sportsbook | Chiefs | Jaguars | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | -167 | +138 | |
| FoxBet NJ | -162 | +135 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
This one should be a no-brainer, assuming quarterback Patrick Mahomes, receiver Tyreek Hill, and ball-catching tight end Travis Kelce are still on the team.
They had the number one offense last season and scored 35.3 points per game – they might not hit that high a number against the Jaguars’ tough defense, ranked 5th best last season, but their scoring machine will be running.
True, the Chiefs were 31st in defense last year, but Jacksonville has a new starting quarterback, Nick Foles, and chances are it will take him at least a few games to get used to being the Jag’s main man under center.
With the amount of surprises Super Bowl Champ Nick Foles produced as the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, it would shock nobody, really, if he figured out a way to beat the Chiefs in his first time as a starter.
Foles has talented receiver Dede Westbrook and newly acquired tight end Geoff Swaim to throw balls at, and if running back Leonard Fournette finds his legs this early in the season, watch out.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
When: September 8, 2019, at 8:20 p.m. ET
Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
How (TV): ESPN
Steelers +5, Patriots -5
| Sportsbook | Steelers | Pats | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +188 | -235 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +210 | -250 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
After the New England Patriots hang their Super Bowl LIII banner above the roaring home crowd at Gillette Stadium, where the team went undefeated last season, quarterback Tom Brady and crew will get down to serious business and handle the Pittsburgh Steelers by a touchdown or more.
Sure, the Steelers beat the Patriots by a touchdown last season, but that was in Heinz Field and they had Antonio Brown on the field, and let’s not forget that the Patriots have beaten the Steelers in 12 out of their last 16 encounters, with only one of those 4 losses being at Gillette back in 2008 the year Pittsburgh won in Super Bowl XLIII.
Bill Belichick and Brady have deep threat receiver Josh Gordon again, plus slot man Julian Edelman, running back phenom Sony Michel and a solid front line, so expect some hometown scores despite the Steelers’ strong defense, ranked 6th in the league last season.
The New England Patriots are not known for their defense (ranked 21st in the league last year), so if veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can ignore the hometown noise and get the ball to his big playmakers, they could surprise everybody.
The Steelers have a shutdown defense, so if they can countermove whatever game plan Belichick has in store for them and get within less than five points by the end, they could (at the very least) cover the spread.
Check out the Pittsburgh Steelers Postseason Moves.
What: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns
When: September 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
How (TV): CBS
Titans +5.5, Browns -5.5
| Sportsbook | Titans | Browns | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +190 | -240 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +190 | -225 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
It’s finally time for the Cleveland Browns’ incredible paper roster to put up or shut up and given their talent level how their upgraded defense looked in the preseason, this one is in the bank.
With Baker Mayfield now in his second season, any newbie faults he suffered last year have been corrected, and now the laser-armed quarterback has one of the NFL’s best one-two receiving punch, to target at will – Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
Add to that a Nick Chubb enhanced running game and a soft-handed tight end like David Njoku and this current version of the Browns looks highly unstoppable, certainly against the Tennessee Titans who are still figuring out who they prefer under center.
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is in the last year of his rookie contract and nothing would emphasize his value to the team like a defeat over the over-hyped Cleveland Browns.
This Titans franchise has gone 9-7 for the last three seasons, so they are no joke, and if fourth-year running back Derrick Henry puts on his usual display, the Cleveland hometown fans definitely won’t be laughing.
For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out their postseason odds.
What: Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers
When: September 8, 2019, at 4:05 p.m. ET
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California
How (TV): CBS
Colts +6.5, Chargers -6.5
| Sportsbook | Colts | Chargers | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +225 | -278 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +225 | -275 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Los Angeles Chargers are in the Super Bowl LIV conversation, and quarterback Philip Rivers and his playoff-bound team should make short work of this Luck-less team of Colts.
Even if Indianapolis’ starting quarterback Andrew Luck hadn’t retired, the Chargers would have likely still been favored, but the fact that he’s gone makes this matchup seem overly one-sided.
Playing at home on the West coast is another advantage, especially against a Colts team that was 4-4 on the road last season, so expect a Chargers win by a touchdown or more in this one.
Who knows, maybe Indianapolis’ new starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett is ready for his national debut and actually has the talent to lead this group of capable Colts to some victories.
Indianapolis has a decent defense (ranked 11th last season), and if they can slow Rivers down enough to get within a touchdown by the end of the game, this bet suddenly goes the Colts’ way.
What: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
When: September 8, 2019, at 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
How (TV): FOX
Giants +7, Cowboys -7
| Sportsbook | Giants | Cowboys | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +265 | -335 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +260 | -333 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Dallas Cowboys are definitely the better team here, and given that they were 7-1 at home last season, they could win this game by way more than a touchdown.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is excellent, as are his receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb, but then you add the un-retired and Hall-of-Fame bound tight end Jason Witten and you know you’ve got to put your money on them.
Okay, running back Ezekiel Elliott might not play (and if he does, he might be a bit rusty), but backup Tony Pollard can ‘mostly’ fill his shoes for now, and when you add to that a defense studded with stars like end Taco Charlton and linebackers Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch, this bet becomes easy.
The New York Giants are without star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but they do have arguably the best running back in the league, Saquon Barkley (last season’s NFL Rookie of the Year) and Super Bowl Champ quarterback Eli Manning, who is anxious to prove he still belongs as the starter.
These Giants got some upgrades on both sides of the ball this offseason, so if head coach Pat Shurmur worked a little mojo magic during training camp, this version of the Giants could surprise an Elliott-less Cowboys squad on Sunday.
Read more about the Giants postseason moves and the Dallas Cowboy’s postseason odds.
How to watch
What: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
When: September 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
How (TV): CBS
Ravens -7, Dolphins +7
| Sportsbook | Ravens | Dolphins | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | -315 | +245 | |
| FoxBet NJ | -300 | +245 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Baltimore Ravens and their new RPO offense led by second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson will roll over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday by more than a touchdown and easily cover the spread.
The Ravens are built to succeed, and the Dolphins are built to fail and qualify for the first overall draft pick next offseason, so you do the math.
Plus don’t forget, the Ravens upgraded their running game by signing running back Mark Ingram, they drafted a legitimate deep threat receiver in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and their defense, though less a few players from last season, is still one of the top squads in the league.
“Fitzmagic” could happen, which is the miracle effect that starting quarterback (and journeyman) Ryan Fitzpatrick has on whatever team he’s assigned to save.
He did it for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, and Fitz could do it again for these Dolphins, who, despite their best efforts, have decent talent at receiver and tight end.
For more on the Ravens and Dolphins, check out the Baltimore Ravens postseason odds and predictions for the Miami Dolphins’ postseason.
What: Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints
When: September 9, 2019, at 7:10 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
How (TV): ESPN
Texans +7, New Orleans Saints -7
| Sportsbook | Texans | Saints | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +250 | -315 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +230 | -275 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
The New Orleans Saints are on their way back to the Super Bowl because quarterback Drew Brees is getting older and needs one more notch in his Championship belt.
The NFC South champion Saints were 6-2 in the Superdome last season and have high-level talent at every playmaking position in their lineup, including receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn, newly acquired tight end Jared Cook and dual-threat running back Alvin Kamara.
The Texans are decent, the Saints are awesome – and New Orleans should win this hometown match by well over a touchdown.
Houston Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson is due for huge season, and his passing attack with receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Keke Coutee, and Will Fuller is designed to beat you deep.
Add to that dual-threat running back Duke Johnson, who finally gets to start in the backfield after being relegated to the shadows in running-back-deep Cleveland, and this Texans team could easily surprise.
What: Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks
When: September 8, 2019, at 4:05 p.m. ET
Where: CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington
How (TV): CBS
Bengals +8.5, Seahawks -8.5
| Sportsbook | Bengals | Seahawks | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +310 | -400 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +320 | -400 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Seattle Seahawks are due for a breakout season – and what better way to begin than against a struggling team like the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Seahawks are 6-2 at CenturyLink Field and the Bengals are 2-6 on the road, and now that quarterback Russell Wilson has been properly paid ($140 million over the next 4-years), expect him to prove his worth.
Now that the porous offensive line has been upgraded and the thinned out defense has been upgraded with younger talent, including their recently acquired score – quarterback-hunting end Jadeveon Clowney – expect these Seahawks to dominate.
The Cincinnati Bengals, when healthy, can compete, and they come into this 2019 season with a clean bill of health.
Energized by their first new head coach in 16 seasons, 36-year-old Zac Taylor, and led by quarterback Andy Dalton, who’s anxious to prove he can win more often than not, this uninjured Bengals team could shock the world.
What: Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
When: September 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
How (TV): FOX
Redskins +9.5, Eagles -9.5
| Sportsbook | Redskins | Eagles | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Sport NJ | +350 | -480 | |
| FoxBet NJ | +360 | -450 |
* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER
Once again, this Philadelphia Eagles team is predicted to make a Super Bowl run, and you know they want to start that string of wins out by crushing their divisional rivals, the Washington Redskins.
And they have just the roster to do it, starting with a healthy Carson Wentz, receivers Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, one of the best tight ends in the league, Zach Ertz, and newly acquired running sensation, Jordon Howard.
Their defense is a bit different this season – a few faces are gone and tackle Malik Jackson and safety Malcolm Jenkins hired – but they will still be effective enough to shut opponents down, especially the Redskins, who are still figuring out who’s best under center.
You never know – starting quarterback Case Keenum is good (he wasn’t so much last season) and he could be good again, especially with a healthy Derrius Guice joining him in the backfield.
Before the last two seasons, the Redskins beat the Eagles five times in a row, and now head coach Jay Gruden sure could use a win on Sunday (and many more) if he expects to stay in charge of his team in Washington.
Check out the Washington Redskins Postseason Moves and the Eagles Postseason.
AUTHOR
Mike Lukas
1204 Articles
Mike Lukas is a retired standup comedian turned freelance writer now living in Dallas, Texas, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. His love for the game of football and all things Cleveland Browns turned Mike into a pro blogger years ago. Now Mike enjoys writing about all thirty-two NFL teams, hoping to help football gamblers gain a slight edge in their pursuit of the perfect wager. Email: [email protected]
More info on Mike Lukas
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