Early Look at NFL Week 1 Betting Lines
With the 2022 NFL schedule being set, it didn’t take long for sportsbooks to start putting out the Week 1 betting lines. These betting lines are likely to change before the games actually kick-off, but betting is currently open.
Week 1 is obviously only a small part of the 2022 NFL schedule, but it’s the first chance for every team to make a statement. There are some games that are more interesting than the others, and this is a look at some of the early Week 1 betting lines.
Three Week 1 Prime Time Games
The prime-time games are always the most important games each week, and there are three interesting matchups in Week 1. The 2022 NFL season will kick off by having the defending Super Bowl champions hosting the early betting favorites.
The Los Angeles Rams are slim one-point betting favorites against the Buffalo Bills. There is a great chance that this could end up being the Super Bowl matchup later in the year.
Sunday night will feature a rematch of the 2021 season opener as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will visit the Dallas Cowboys. Tampa is a 2.5-point road favorite, and this should be a terrific matchup.
The most intriguing matchup in Week 1 might take place on Monday night as the Denver Broncos are 3.5-point favorites on the road in Seattle against the Seahawks. Russell Wilson will start his first game with the Broncos against the team he used to lead.
Several Divisional Battles
Even though it’s only Week 1, there are some key divisional battles that could have a huge impact on which teams win their division. Divisional games are usually reserved for later on in the year, but that’s not always the case.
There are some big betting favorites to win some division this year, but there are also always some surprises around the league. If an underdog team is able to pick up a win in Week 1, then it could set them on a path to success.
The New Orleans Saints are four-point favorites on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, and both teams are going to look much different this season. This will be year two without Drew Brees, and the Falcons will no longer have Matt Ryan under center.
Neither the Saints nor the Falcons are expected to compete for the NFC South Division title, but a win in Week 1 will get either team off to a great start.
One of the most important games in Week 1 will take place in Cincinnati as the Bengals are six-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cincinnati won the AFC North a season ago, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have to make a statement.
The AFC North also has two other strong teams in the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, and racking up wins is important for every team in that division.
Another interesting divisional battle in Week 1 is a meeting between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Miami is a slim three-point betting favorite in the season opener, and both teams will be looking to challenge the New England Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will begin their season in Minnesota in a huge NFC North battle against the Vikings. Green Bay is a slim 1.5- point favorite as the lines have opened, but Minnesota should be a team that is much improved this season.
The final big divisional battle set to take place in Week 1 is a game in the AFC West Division. The Los Angeles Chargers are four-point betting favorites over the Las Vegas Raiders, and both teams could be good enough to win the division next season.
Other Games to Watch
Divisional games always add just a bit more juice, but there are some other matchups that should have your attention as well in Week 1. New coaches and new rosters are set to debut throughout the league, and every team will enter the new season with plenty of optimism.
The Chicago Bears begin the Matt Eberflus era, and this will also be Year number two for quarterback Justin Fields. Most NFL experts aren’t giving the Bears much chance of being competitive in 2022, and they are six-point underdogs in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Kansas City Chiefs begin the 2022 season as three-point-favorites on the road in Arizona against the Cardinals. There are some questions surrounding the Chiefs heading into the year, and the same could be said for the Cardinals as well.
Both the Chiefs and the Cardinals appear good enough to reach the Super Bowl in 2022, and that could make for a pretty good battle in Week 1.
Derek Hudson
Derek is a long time sports bettor who grew up in Providence, RI. Derek is data driven and believes the key to betting the sportsbooks is finding an edge in analytics. Derek is happily married and has two young boys. Derek will bet on anything if you let him.
