The NFL released their 2020 schedule on Thursday, May 7th, and online sportsbooks have released odds for every Week 1 game. Now we’re going to take a look at a few betting lines to watch.
Jumping on a good line now is a smart move, as there will likely be quite a bit of movement on some of these Week 1 NFL matchups prior to September when the regular season is scheduled to begin.
Top Bets For NFL Week 1
Texans vs. Chiefs Week 1 Betting Lines and Prediction
Best Bet: Chiefs –9.5 (-110) at BetOnline
The Chiefs open the season on Thursday night at home where they’ll raise their Super Bowl banner prior to taking on the Texans. This game opened up with the Chiefs favored by 10 points.
Several bookies are still at KC –10, but you can grab the Chiefs –9 at BOL.
Once the public starts hammering this line closer to kick-off, the Chiefs will jump to –10 or higher, so I would jump on this line now. While the Texans will want revenge after blowing a 21-point 1st quarter lead in the AFC Divisional Game against KC (Final Score: 51-31), the Chiefs are loaded.
It’s a common misconception that Super Bowl winners struggle in their Week 1 game the following year. In fact, Super Bowl winners are 13-6-1 ATS in week 1 the following year since 2000.
Houston made some head-scratching moves this off-season and I imagine it’s only a matter of time before Bill O’Brien is replaced. A slow start will definitely put him in the hot seat.
Cardinals vs. 49ers Week 1 Betting Lines and Pick
Best Bet: Cardinals +8 (-110) at America’s Bookie
This game opened up at SF –7.5 and most bookies are still pushing this line, but America’s Bookie has the line at SF –8, which means we can get the Cardinals at +8 right now and I’m jumping on that.
I could see this line moving down to SF –7 by September. I think the smart money will be on Arizona despite being on the road. That’s mostly because of how bad Super Bowl losers perform in Week 1.
The 49ers lost to the Chiefs in the 2019 Super Bowl and that doesn’t bode well for them in Week 1. Some experts have them as a top 5 Super Bowl contender, but I just don’t see it.
Teams that lost the Super Bowl have gone 3-16-1 ATS since 2000!
DeAndre Hopkins’ Top Plays from 2019
Getting the Cardinals at over a TD sounds great, especially with DeAndre Hopkins. Kyler Murray is expected to have a big year in his second season and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals upset the 49ers to kick-off 2020.
Arizona lost both head-to-head games against their division rival last season. They lost 28-25 at home in Week 9, and 36-26 on the road in week 11. The game in SF was close until the 49ers scored 19 points in the 4th quarter.
After going 13-3 in 2019, I expect the Niners to regress this year.
Titans vs. Broncos Week 1 Betting Lines and Pick
Best Bet: Broncos –2 (-105) at America’s Bookie
Denver opened up at –1.5 and have been bet up to –2.5 already at a lot of bookies, but you can still get the Broncos –2 at America’s Bookie. I predict this line will move to DEN –3 or worse by kick-off.
The Broncos are getting a lot of preseason hype. This match-up against the Titans is at home where Denver went 5-3 last season (2-6 on the road) and I’m not sold on Tennessee.
Ryan Tannehill went 7-3 in the regular season for the Titans and 2-1 in the playoffs. Tennessee was able to eliminate the Patriots and Ravens in the NFL playoffs thanks to a strong run game.
Derrick Henry is back at running back, but I expect teams to stack the box.
Tannehill was paid this off-season and now the pressure is on him to perform. I expect teams to make adjustments to stop the Titans run game as well. Don’t forget, the Broncos beat the Titans 16-0 at home last season.
Henry rushed for 28 yards on 15 carries and Tannehill finished with 0 TDs / 1 INT.
Denver started 2019 with a four-game losing streak, but they finished the season on a 4-1 run.
Drew Lock started those last five games of the season. He threw for 1020 yards, 7 TDs and 3 INTs. I expect big things out of him this season and he’ll have some extra help. The Broncos used the #15 pick in this year’s draft on WR Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama to bolster the wide receiver unit.
Watch for a strong finish to NFL Week 1 with the Broncos covering ATS on Monday Night Football.
Complete 2020 NFL Week 1 Odds Against the Spread
Here are the odds for every week 1 NFL match-up from America’s Bookie:
Houston Texans +10 (-105) vs. Kansas City Chiefs -10 (-115)
Miami Dolphins +6.5 (-110) vs. New England Patriots -6.5 (-110)
Cleveland Browns +8.5 (-110) vs. Baltimore Ravens -8.5 (-110)
New York Jets +6 (-110) vs. Buffalo Bills -6 (-110)
Las Vegas Raiders -1 (-110) vs. Carolina Panthers +1 (-110)
Seattle Seahawks -1 (-110) vs. Atlanta Falcons +1 (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles -6.5 (-110) vs. Washington Redskins +6.5 (-110)
Chicago Bears +1.5 (-110) vs. Detroit Lions -1.5 (-110)
Indianapolis Colts -7 (-110) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars +7 (-110)
Green Bay Packers +3.5 (-110) vs. Minnesota Vikings -3.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Chargers -3 (-110) vs. Cincinnati Bengals +3 (-110)
Arizona Cardinals +8 (-110) vs. San Francisco 49ers -8 (-110)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4 (-110) vs. New Orleans Saints -4 (-110)
Dallas Cowboys -2.5 (-110) vs. Los Angeles Rams +2.5 (-110)
Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 (-110) vs. New York Giants +3.5 (-110)
Tennessee Titans +2 (-115) vs. Denver Broncos -2 (-105)
