NFL Week 1 Predictions & Against the Spread Picks
The brand new NFL season is rapidly approaching, which means our NFL tipsters are back to pick every single game each week, both straight up and against the spread.
Check out our comments and picks on each game. In addition, we’ll update the weekly column with our records so you can see which tipsters are hot and which are not…
*All Prices correct as of 12:30 on Wednesday, September 4. Prices subject to change.
*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Super Bowl LIX page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this competition.
Friday - 01:20:
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Chiefs
- Alan: Chiefs
- Jonny: Chiefs
- Neil: Chiefs
Moneyline: Chiefs - 4/6 Ravens - 5/4
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Chiefs
- Alan: Chiefs
- Jonny: Chiefs
- Neil: Chiefs
Comments: Well, welcome back Football fans and what a game we have to start us off! The repeat of last season's AFC Championship game between the back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs and the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year, the Baltimore Ravens. Arrowhead will be full and pumping for this opener and I frankly can't wait to see how this new season pans out.
The Chiefs have lost several key players in cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (Tennessee), safety Mike Edwards (Bills), tackle Donovan Smith (free agency) and guard Nick Allegretti (Washington) this season, but have strengthened in one of their weakest areas last year, by picking up wide receivers Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. They are, of course, led by the dynamic duo of 'Big-Red' Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, and are seeking an unprecedented three-peat.
Standing in their way are a Ravens side looking for revenge after they were unceremoniously dumped out of the playoffs 17-10 by Kansas City last season, in a result that gave credence to Lamar Jackson's post-season struggles. They have lost a large number of starting personnel from last year but have brought in Derrick Henry to replace Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins in the running back position.
I'm going for a similar scoreline to the AFC Championship game and the Chiefs to get their title defence off to a flying start, courtesy of a close-won game - Adam
Saturday - 01:15
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Eagles
- Alan: Eagles
- Jonny: Packers
- Neil: Eagles
Moneyline: Eagles - 8/11 Packers - 23/20
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Eagles
- Alan: Eagles
- Jonny: Eagles
- Neil: Eagles
Comments: An intriguing match-up this one, for a multitude of reasons. For the first time ever, the NFL is playing a game in Brazil as this clash comes from the Corinthians Arena.
Another reason I find this match fascinating is that for the second-straight season Jalen Hurts didn't feature in pre-season for Philly, and he'll now start the campaign with a new offense and new offensive coordinator. So, it could take him some time to get up to speed, which is why I've opted for the Packers to cover the spread.
Jordan Love looks to have fully grabbed his chance with both hands after a successful first season as the starting QB at Lambeau Field. He caught fire over the final 10 games of last season, and now he'll be facing an Eagles defense that gave up the the second-most passing yards in the NFL last term.
However, let's not forget that Philly added Saquon Barkley to the roster in the offseason, who could have a big impact on this game - Jonny
Sunday - 18:00
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Falcons
- Alan: Falcons
- Jonny: Falcons
- Neil: Falcons
Moneyline: Falcons - 8/15 Steelers - 6/4
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Falcons
- Alan: Falcons
- Jonny: Falcons
- Neil: Falcons
Comments: It's good to be back in the NFL saddle, but the early weeks can be a notoriously bumpy ride. No heroic stakes then from yours truly, and I always like to tread softly until we've garnered a little more evidence.
However - always good to have a view, and this is a tough one. Not a yawning chasm between them in terms of Super Bowl betting, but a win in the big one for either would be a sensation and then some.
Atlanta are odds-on to take the NFC South, and have home field today. The Steelers are almost any price to take the admittedly stronger AFC North, and could struggle - Alan
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Cardinals
- Alan: Bills
- Jonny: Bills
- Neil: Bills
Moneyline: Bills - 1/3 Cardinals - 23/10
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Bills
- Alan: Bills
- Jonny: Bills
- Neil: Bills
Comments: Lots of positive chat early doors about Cards' QB Kyler Murray, who should strip much fitter after serious injury woes in the recent past. Tough ask though to go to Buffalo and do anything other than lose.
The Bills are looking to a new batch of receivers to put their hands up, and have a difficult run of fixtures in store. Might not quite then be the force of recent years, but hard to oppose here - Alan
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Titans
- Alan: Bears
- Jonny: Titans
- Neil: Titans
Moneyline: Bears - 1/2 Titans - 13/8
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Bears
- Alan: Bears
- Jonny: Bears
- Neil: Titans
Comments: I'm going for the small upset here straight-up. I saw a lot of Caleb Williams in College and he has all the makings of being a star in this league. Sunday though will be his first start and history tells us that rookie QBs tend to take a bit of time to settle at this level.
Will Levis might not be a bonafide top-tier QB but he has some mighty fine players to get the ball to on the outside. DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley are about as good of a one-two punch as there is around. I'm taking the under on the points but think Tennessee eke this one out - Neil
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Bengals
- Alan: Bengals
- Jonny: Bengals
- Neil: Bengals
Moneyline: Bengals - 1/4 Patriots - 3/1
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Bengals
- Alan: Bengals
- Jonny: Bengals
- Neil: Bengals
Comments: Joe Burrow is back, fit and healthy, which immediately makes the Bengals a contender again, after a disappointing season where they finished bottom of the ultra-competitive AFC North.
Meanwhile, the Patriots truly enter a brand-new era, with their first game without legendary coach Bill Belichick in charge since 1999. In comes new head-coach and former player Jerod Mayo, who will have this side playing for the shirt but who is also in charge of one of the worst-looking squads in the NFL.
I think this will be a heavy victory for Cincinnati, with Burrow pulling the strings and Jacoby Brissett struggling - Adam
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Texans
- Alan: Texans
- Jonny: Colts
- Neil: Colts
Moneyline: Colts - 5/4 Texans - 4/6
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Texans
- Alan: Texans
- Jonny: Colts
- Neil: Colts
Comments: The AFC South fires into action in a big way, with a super-looking matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium between the Colts and the Texans.
Houston bested Indy in Week 18 last year to clinch an unlikely play-off berth but that was against an Anthony Richardson-less Colts. With Richardson fit again the Colts should be a lot more competitive this season.
However, I really like the work the Texans have done in the off-season to support 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud, in bringing in star receiver Stefon Diggs from the Bills and standout running back talent Joe Mixon from the Bengals.
This trio of attacking talent should be enough to get Houston an opening win on the road.
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Jaguars
- Alan: Dolphins
- Jonny: Dolphins
- Neil: Dolphins
Moneyline: Dolphins 8/15 Jaguars - 6/4
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Dolphins
- Alan: Dolphins
- Jonny: Dolphins
- Neil: Dolphins
Comments: Miami were 6-2 ATS as the home favourite a year ago and with their outstanding offense I'm not willing to go against that stat just yet.
I have serious question marks as to whether Trevor Lawrence will ever become the player that most talking heads expected. He's been good but nothing more in his time in Jacksonville. This is a big year for him and I'm willing to wait too as to whether he'll show us anything special - Neil
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Saints
- Alan: Saints
- Jonny: Panthers
- Neil: Saints
Moneyline: Saints - 4/9 Panthers - 9/5
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Saints
- Alan: Saints
- Jonny: Saints
- Neil: Saints
Comments: Two fine outfits, but a glance at the SB betting reflects their current status. The Brees/Newton years seem a very distant memory.
NFC South bragging rights are up for grabs and home field should suit the Saints, with Carolina struggling to get out of their own way last term. Let's hope better days lie ahead for both - Alan
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Giants
- Alan: Giants
- Jonny: Vikings
- Neil: Vikings
Moneyline: Giants - 21/20 Vikings - 4/5
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Giants
- Alan: Giants
- Jonny: Vikings
- Neil: Vikings
Comments: This is a really tough pick for what looks like one of the closest games of the week on paper in New York.
Two sides who aren't really happy with their QB take each on, as Sam Darnold gets another chance in Minnesota, after not working out at the Jets and the Panthers, following a pre-season injury to Michigan rookie J.J. McCarthy.
Meanwhile, in New York, Daniel Jones aims to recreate his 2022 magic that saw a run to the play-offs and earned him a bumper contract. That was followed with a shocking start to the 2023 season, before a torn ACL saw his year cut short. This will be his last-chance saloon at the MetLife.
I've no real confidence in either side but the Vikings are 0-6-2 ATS in their last eight games against the NFC East, whilst the Giants are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six home games. With stats like that, I can only do one thing and root for NY - Adam
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Chargers
- Alan: Chargers
- Jonny: Raiders
- Neil: Chargers
Moneyline: Chargers - 8/13 Raiders - 13/10
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Chargers
- Alan: Chargers
- Jonny: Raiders
- Neil: Chargers
Comments: Gardner Minshew is a wonderful backup QB who can keep a team going for a few games whilst the starter is out. He is however not good enough to lead an NFL franchise and that is exactly what the Raiders are asking him to do. This alone concerns me and going on the road to face a Chargers team who should be pretty decent once again, give me Justin Herbert et al all day long - Neil
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Seahawks
- Alan: Seahawks
- Jonny: Seahawks
- Neil: Seahawks
Moneyline: Seahawks - 2/5 Broncos - 21/10
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Seahawks
- Alan: Seahawks
- Jonny: Seahawks
- Neil: Seahawks
Comments: Since Peyton Manning hung up his cleats pretty much nothing has gone right for Denver. Bo Nix is getting the start on Sunday and like my pick in the Bears game earlier, I want no part of a rookie QB in their first start.
Seattle on the road is a tough place to go and I think it could be a nightmare start for the 24-year-old - Neil
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Cowboys
- Alan: Cowboys
- Jonny: Cowboys
- Neil: Cowboys
Moneyline: Browns - 20/29 Cowboys - 6/5
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Cowboys
- Alan: Cowboys
- Jonny: Cowboys
- Neil: Cowboys
Comments: Despite the stick the Cowboys get for every new season being 'their year', only the Chiefs have won more regular-season games over the last three campaigns than Dallas, suggesting that this is actually a very good football team.
The Cowboys have locked up CeeDee Lamb for a further four years, which is a huge plus for them, and he should be ready to shine in week 1.
Deshaun Watson will be expected to lead the Browns offense, and despite going 5-1 in six starts last season he failed to impress, in my opinion. Cleveland's defense was fantastic last term - more so at home - and it'll keep them in a lot of games this season. However, I think Dallas will have too much quality and will edge this opener - Jonny
Commanders (+3.5) @ Buccaneers
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Commanders
- Alan: Buccaneers
- Jonny: Commanders
- Neil: Buccaneers
Moneyline: Buccaneers - 4/7 Commanders - 7/5
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Buccaneers
- Alan: Buccaneers
- Jonny: Buccaneers
- Neil: Buccaneers
Comments: Two more for whom SB success would be a seismic shock. On last term's stats, and with this taking place in Tampa, the Commanders would need snookers already.
New season, new hope though, so you just never know. The Commanders now boast a Heisman winner in their ranks at QB, and this one should be tight. First daft prediction of the season - I don't see too many points (cue a 55/52 thriller ...) - Alan
Monday - 01:20
Picks ATS:
- Adam: Lions
- Alan: Rams
- Jonny: Lions
- Neil: Rams
Moneyline: Lions - 8/15 Rams - 6/4
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: Lions
- Alan: Rams
- Jonny: Lions
- Neil: Rams
Comments: This is a rematch of last year's play-off tussle which was won by the Lions.
Matthew Stafford returns to Detroit for the second time in eight months and unfortunately for him, I think it'll be a similar outcome to the first meeting.
Aaron Donald called it a day at the end of last season, which is a huge loss for the Rams' defense, and given how physical Detriot can be, I think LA will struggle to cope without their former defensive tackle.
Stafford will have a point to prove, but I've got the Lions edging this one - Jonny
Tuesday - 01:15
Picks ATS:
- Adam: 49ers
- Alan: Jets
- Jonny: 49ers
- Neil: 49ers
Moneyline: 49ers - 1/2 Jets - 17/10
Picks Straight Up:
- Adam: 49ers
- Alan: Jets
- Jonny: 49ers
- Neil: 49ers
Comments: Not a bad match-up to round off the opening week of the 2024/25 NFL season as the Jets travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
The Niners were one step away from claiming their first Super Bowl triumph since 1994 last year, and the big question surrounding them heading into the new campaign is whether they can go on better this time around.
Of course, this match marks the return of Aaron Rodgers, who tore his Achilles in last season's opener against the Bills. He's traditionally struggled against the 49ers in his career but also won 10-straight Monday starts, which makes me think that the Jets could keep this one close.
However, it's easy to forget the firepower that the 49ers have in the likes of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Samuel Deebo, so I'll take SF on the spread and money line to start the season - Jonny
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