NFL Week 1 Betting Previews

Week 1 of the NFL season is set to kick off on Thursday, September 9, and it's starting off with a bang. A pair of Super Bowl contenders will set the stage for what should be a terrific weekend of football.

The Vegas odds and betting lines have been out for weeks, but now come the Dunkel picks that you have all been waiting for. Here is a brief look at all 16 Week 1 matchups. 

Buffalo Bills -2.5 at Los Angeles Rams

Time: 8:20 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 138.140; LA Rams 140.771
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Rams by 3; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Buffalo by 2 ½; 52
Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+2 ½); Over

The Bills go to Los Angeles as favorites over the defending Super Bowl champions. Buffalo wants to win with offense while the Rams are comfortable beating teams with that defense. 

There is a good chance each team makes a deep run in the playoff later this year, and this game will be tight. Ultimately it is the Rams (+2.5) that pick up a massive win in Week 1. 

New Orleans Saints -5.5 at Atlanta Falcons

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 124.439; Atlanta 132.385
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 8; 45
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 5 ½; 42
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+5 ½); Over

NFC South rivals begin the season by meeting up in Atlanta as the Falcons host the New Orleans Saints. This rivalry always seems to produce some surprising results, and that could be the case in Week 1 as well.

The Saints feel that they have a playoff-contending team with quarterback Jameis Winston, but it won't matter in this one. Take the Falcons' moneyline as they pick up a big upset in the season opener. 

San Francisco 49ers -7.0 at Chicago Bears

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 139.819; Chicago 126.296
Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 13 ½; 35
Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 7; 42
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-7); Under

Trey Lance and the 49ers are in Chicago on Sunday to face Justin Fields and the Bears. This game feels like it could be a mismatch on paper, and that's how it will play out as well.

Take the 49ers -7.0 as they are able to pick up a double-digit win over the Bears. 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 116.559; Cincinnati 129.248
Dunkel Line & Total: Cincinnati by 12 ½; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Cincinnati by 6 ½; 44
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-6 ½); Under

AFC North rivals meet up in Cincinnati on Sunday as the Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cincinnati is expected to be a Super Bowl contender again, while Pittsburgh is expected to struggle.

This game will play out as expected, and it will be the Bengals that roll to a double-digit win. 

Philadelphia Eagles -4.0 at Detroit Lions

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 133.034; Detroit 125.670
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 7 ½; 57
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 4; 48
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-4); Over

The Detroit Lions are expected to turn things around a bit in 2022, and they host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. This game will be tight, but the end result will ultimately be what is expected.

Take the Eagles -4.0 as they win this game by more than a touchdown on Sunday afternoon. 

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (-3.0)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New England 128.562; Miami 140.430
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 12; 52
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 3; 46
Dunkel Pick: Miami (-3); Over

AFC East rivals meet up in Miami as the Dolphins host the Patriots. Both teams are going to battle it out for a second place in the division this season, and this should be a tight matchup.

Take the Miami Dolphins -3.0 as they use the home-field advantage to roll to a big win over the Patriots. 

Baltimore Ravens -7.0 at New York Jets

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 124.353; NY Jets 128.268
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Jets by 4; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 7; 44
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (+7); Under

The New York Jets host the Baltimore Ravens in an interesting matchup in Week 1. Baltimore is hoping to bounce back in 2022, but playing on the road in New York won't be an easy challenge. 

This game will be one of the most stunning results in Week 1. Take the Jets' moneyline as they upset the Baltimore Ravens behind Joe Flacco.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders (-3.0)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 125.517; Washington 121.116
Dunkel Line & Total: Jacksonville by 4 ½; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 3; 44
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+3); Under

A pair of teams on the rise meet up in Game 1 as the Commanders host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington should be great on defense, while the Jaguars can win this game on offense. 

It will be the Jaguars that go into Washington D.C. and pull off the upset in Week 1. 

Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (-2.5)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 130.207; Carolina 118.130
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 12; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Carolina by 2 ½; 42
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+2 ½); Over

The Carolina Panthers are favored over the Cleveland Browns as quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to start. Cleveland will have a backup QB under center, but that defense is going to be dominant.

Cleveland will shut down Mayfield and roll to a blowout win on the road at Carolina. 

Indianapolis Colts -8.0 at Houston Texans

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Indianapolis 125.181; Houston 131.986
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 7; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Indianapolis by 8; 46
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+8); Over

The NFC South is not expected to be competitive in 2022, as the Colts are the betting favorites. Indianapolis is in Houston in Week 1 for a matchup against a struggling Texans team.

Don't be shocked to see an upset in this game, though, as Houston will beat the Colts. 

New York Giants at Tennessee Titans (-5.5)

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Giants 119.008; Tennessee 134.817
Dunkel Line & Total: Tennessee by 16; 36
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee by 5 ½; 44
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (-5 ½); Under

The Giants head to Tennessee to face the Titans in what could be an interesting matchup. New York is a team in a rebuild, while the Titans have some questions to answer as well. 

The Giants will have no answer for Derrick Henry as the Titans beat the Giants by double-digits. 

Green Bay Packers -1.5 at Minnesota Vikings

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 136.789; Minnesota 130.818
Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 6; 44
Vegas Line & Total: Green Bay by 1 ½; 48
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (-1 ½); Under

NFC North rivals meet in Minnesota as the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers. Minnesota desperately needs to pick up a statement win while the Packers are used to winning games such as this. 

Aaron Rodgers just continues to dominate the NFC North as the Packers win comfortably in Minnesota. 

Kansas City Chiefs -4.0 at Arizona Cardinals

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 146.782; Arizona 145.844
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 1; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 4; 54
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+4); Under

Two of the highest scoring teams in the NFL meetup in Arizona as the Cardinals host the Kansas City Chiefs. The team that has the ball last might win this one, and Kansas City has a history of winning such games. 

Arizona is going to cover the four-point spread, but it will be the Chiefs that win the game. 

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 133.655; LA Chargers 132.175
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 1 ½; 47
Vegas Line & Total: LA Chargers by 3 ½; 52
Dunkel Pick: Las Vegas (+3 ½); Under

AFC West rivals meet up to begin the year as the Los Angeles Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders. Both teams should be a playoff contender this year, and this will be a battle.

In a shootout, look for the Raiders to pull off the upset over the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1.5 at Dallas Cowboys

Time: 8:20 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay 143.237; Dallas 132.337
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 11; 55
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 1 ½; 50
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-1 ½); Over

For the second straight season, it will be the Buccaneers and Cowboys meeting up in Week 1. This time the game will be played in Dallas, but the overall result won't matter. 

Take the Buccaneers -1.5, as they are able to pick up a win in Dallas.

Denver Broncos -6.0 at Seattle Seahawks

Time: 8:15 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 136.908; Seattle 128.066
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 9; 53
Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 6; 42
Dunkel Pick: Denver (-6); Over

Russell Wilson makes his return to Seattle as the new starting quarterback for the Broncos. Denver is trying to make a statement in this one, while revenge will be on the mind of the Seahawks. 

This game will be tight, but take the Broncos -6.0 as they win and cover the spread.

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All Media on this page by Associated Press.