After months of waiting, Week 1 of the NFL betting season is finally upon us. This will be the first of an 18-week regular season and features tons of great football matchups. Bovada Sportsbook has betting NFL odds available on every game, giving you the chance to cash in on the opening weekend.
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The start of football betting season can be difficult to handicap as there are still lots of questions that need to be answered coming out of training camp – whether it’s the development of a rookie, the rehab progress of an injured player or the cohesiveness of a new roster, Week 1 in the NFL tends to be full of surprises.
Before you start betting on all the Week 1 NFL football action at Bovada Sportsbook, it’s best to start with a bit of handicapping homework to prepare for the opening games. This article will walk you through some of the top betting tips and insights surrounding Week 1 in the NFL and help you get ready for the new football season.
Baker Mayfield
Cleveland Browns (+2.5) at Carolina Panthers (-2.5)
This may be an inter-conference matchup, but both sides should be very familiar with one another after the Browns traded their former starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, to the Panthers during the offseason. The Browns defense knows all about Mayfield’s strength and weaknesses on the football field, however this fact works both ways as Mayfield has tons of experience going up against Cleveland’s defense in practice. The new Panthers quarterback even commented “I’m gonna f— them up” when asked about the Week 1 matchup. For those expecting new Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to carry the team, remember that he’ll be serving an 11-game suspension and will not be eligible to play until Week 12 of the NFL regular season. Be on the lookout for a motivated Panthers team as they look to win their opening game for their new quarterback.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell
Green Bay Packers (-1.5) at Minnesota Vikings (+1.5)
The Packers have dominated the NFC North over the past few seasons and are looking to claim their fourth division title in as many years. All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still under center for the cheese heads, but Green Bay lost their most dangerous weapon this offseason when WR Davante Adams left in free agency. The impact of Adams’ departure remains to be seen but most NFL betting experts anticipate a drop in the team’s offensive production. The Vikings will also have a new look in Week 1 as the team’s long-time head coach Mike Zimmer is out and first-time head coach Kevin O’Connell is in. O’Connell was the offensive coordinator for last year’s Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams and has brought his high-flying passing offense to Minnesota. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings air it out and pull off the Week 1 betting upset over the Packers.
Chilly Weather
San Francisco 49ers (-7) at Chicago Bears (+7)
Currently seven-point betting favorites at Bovada Sportsbook, it looks like odds makers are expecting an easy win for the 49ers over the Bears in Week 1. While San Francisco is coming off a strong season that saw them reach the NFC Championship Game, you may be nervous to bet on a warm-weather team playing under chilly conditions in Chicago. In fact, the betting odds would have likely been even higher if not for the frigid forecast. However in reality, the 49ers often excel in these cold-weather game and even won a playoff matchup last year against Green Bay in one of the coldest games in NFL history. With a powerful running game and strong defense, San Francisco is well-equipped to play in the cold and should have no trouble against the lowly Chicago Bears in their Week 1 matchup on Sunday.
Super Bowl Superstition
Pittsburgh Steelers (+6.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)
Fresh off an impressive run to last year’s Super Bowl, the Cincinnati Bengals are a popular betting option heading into the new season. The team still has star playmakers like QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase and RB Joe Mixon, but you may want to hold off on betting the Bengals during Week 1 of the NFL season. The reason for this is that betting on the losing team from the previous year’s Super Bowl has been a recipe for disaster for NFL gamblers. Looking at this trend since 2000, the Super Bowl loser has gone a dreadful 4-18 against the spread (ATS) over the past 22 seasons. With that being the case, you may want to consider taking the points and riding with the underdog Steelers in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.
*Odds subject to change
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You can find hundreds of NFL betting markets across all of the week 1 matchups at Bovada Sportsbook. So that you can indulge in some online sports betting on all the football action, be sure to sign up to Bovada today. When making your first deposit make sure to use crypto to claim your crypto sports welcome bonus to get more out of your money!
