We are still months away from the NFL's opening day and even months away from camp opening up, but the NFL released their schedule and shortly after the Week 1 NFL lines followed suit. For sports bettors that meant taking a look at those early numbers and seeing if there was an edge.
Here are the full Week 1 odds:
Eagles -7 vs Cowboys
Chiefs -2 1/2 vs Chargers
Steelers -2 1/2 @ Jets
Colts -1 vs Dolphins
Jaguars -3 1/2 vs Panthers
Commanders -7 1/2 vs Giants
Bengals -4 1/2 @ Browns
Patriots -3 vs Raiders
Cardinals -4 @ Saints
Bucs -2 @ Falcons
Broncos -7 vs Titans
49ers -1 1/2 @ Seahawks
Packers -1 vs Lions
Rams -3 1/2 vs Texans
Bills -1 vs Ravens
Bears -1 1/2 vs Vikings
What sticks out here is a league that has stressed parity for so long seems to have found some. There is not one team with an opening number of more than a touchdown and a remarkable nine games are a field goal or less spread. The NFL's opening weekend is a football fan's dream, but for a sports bettor there are some landmines to navigate here. Division games are always tricky and there are already eight division games on the opening week.
We can expect some of these to rise, and quickly. There has already been some steam on the Chiefs, who are a public team anyway. As we hear about the health of Rice and company that number might cross over a field goal, so if you are leaning the Chargers, it's best to wait and see. The Bengals and Cardinals have already gotten some early money themselves, and it wouldn't shock anyone to see each of them steamed up to near a TD as the QB situation for both the Saints and Browns is questionable at best.
The Steelers are still waiting on the Aaron Rodgers news and if he does indeed sign with them the line will rise fast and set up a revenge QB vs. revenge QB spot with Fields against Rodgers. The same QB watch is on for the Colts where they have not decided between Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson, the ultimate decision will shift the line slightly.
It's never a great decision to bank on a team before rosters are set and injuries are out of the way, but some of these early lines are tempting and we are looking for a great opening day weekend.