The start of the 2017 NFL regular season may still be months away, but if you’re just can’t wait any longer for some NFL betting action, then you should know that you can get started betting on the upcoming campaign right now! Better yet, I’m going to identify the most attractive betting lines and point spreads for Week 1 in an effort to help you get your 2017 NFL betting campaign off to a positive start.
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill
TV: FOX
NFL Odds: Atlanta -6.5 / Total: 50.5
Sure, Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons pulled one of the biggest choke jobs in Super Bowl history, but the Falcons are still light years better than the now, perpetually rebuilding Chicago Bears.
I’m fully expecting the Falcons to remain one of the most explosive teams in the league despite losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan while Chicago struggles on both sides of the ball in what I believe will be John Fox’s last season in the Windy City. Atlanta wins this opener by double digits to easily cover the spread.
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
TV: FOX
NFL Odds: Carolina -4.5 / Total: 48
The Panthers (6-10) took a big step backwards last season after reaching Super Bowl 50, but I like Carolina to get back to being very solid in 2017 after making some nice off-season additions, most notably, the drafting of rookie running back Christian McCaffery.
San Francisco (2-14) may have fleeced the Chicago Bears for a bunch of draft picks just to get quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, but the Niners still have a major question mark at quarterback and that just isn’t going to cut it in today’s NFL. In essence, the Panthers are offering a ton of value as a slight 4.5-point road favorite and should easily cover the NFL betting line with room to spare.
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
NFL Odds: Pittsburgh -9.5 / Total: 47.5
The Pittsburgh Steelers are legitimate Super Bowl 52 title contenders while the Cleveland Browns are simply looking to get back to being respectable after winning just one game in 2016. If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about this matchup, it should. Both teams had solid drafts, but again, the Browns have a long way to go just to reach respectability in 2017, particularly seeing as how the Browns still don’t even know who their starting quarterback will be this coming season. Pittsburgh wins going away to cover the spread.
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
TV: CBS
NFL Odds: Indianapolis -3 / Total: 47
The Indianapolis Colts (8-8) were completely mediocre last season but they still have a franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck while the Los Angeles Rams will be going with 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. The bad news for the Rams is that Goff looked nothing like a No. 1 overall pick or hell, even a first rounder, after sitting out the vast majority of the season a year ago.
The Colts have plenty of motivation heading into 2017 and made some nice offseason additions to give Luck the help he so clearly needs on the offensive side of the ball. No matter how you look at it, the Colts are the easy pick to beat a rebuilding Rams team that has a new head coach and more than its fair share of question marks.
Analyzing The 2017 NFL Top Betting Lines & Point Spreads For Week 1
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears
When: Sunday, September 10 at 1:00 PM ETWhere: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill
TV: FOX
NFL Odds: Atlanta -6.5 / Total: 50.5
Sure, Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons pulled one of the biggest choke jobs in Super Bowl history, but the Falcons are still light years better than the now, perpetually rebuilding Chicago Bears.
I’m fully expecting the Falcons to remain one of the most explosive teams in the league despite losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan while Chicago struggles on both sides of the ball in what I believe will be John Fox’s last season in the Windy City. Atlanta wins this opener by double digits to easily cover the spread.
Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers
When: Sunday, September 10 at 4:00 PM ETWhere: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
TV: FOX
NFL Odds: Carolina -4.5 / Total: 48
The Panthers (6-10) took a big step backwards last season after reaching Super Bowl 50, but I like Carolina to get back to being very solid in 2017 after making some nice off-season additions, most notably, the drafting of rookie running back Christian McCaffery.
San Francisco (2-14) may have fleeced the Chicago Bears for a bunch of draft picks just to get quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, but the Niners still have a major question mark at quarterback and that just isn’t going to cut it in today’s NFL. In essence, the Panthers are offering a ton of value as a slight 4.5-point road favorite and should easily cover the NFL betting line with room to spare.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
When: Sunday, September 10 at 1:00 PM ETWhere: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
NFL Odds: Pittsburgh -9.5 / Total: 47.5
The Pittsburgh Steelers are legitimate Super Bowl 52 title contenders while the Cleveland Browns are simply looking to get back to being respectable after winning just one game in 2016. If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about this matchup, it should. Both teams had solid drafts, but again, the Browns have a long way to go just to reach respectability in 2017, particularly seeing as how the Browns still don’t even know who their starting quarterback will be this coming season. Pittsburgh wins going away to cover the spread.
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams
When: Sunday, September 10 at 4:00 PM ETWhere: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
TV: CBS
NFL Odds: Indianapolis -3 / Total: 47
The Indianapolis Colts (8-8) were completely mediocre last season but they still have a franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck while the Los Angeles Rams will be going with 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. The bad news for the Rams is that Goff looked nothing like a No. 1 overall pick or hell, even a first rounder, after sitting out the vast majority of the season a year ago.
The Colts have plenty of motivation heading into 2017 and made some nice offseason additions to give Luck the help he so clearly needs on the offensive side of the ball. No matter how you look at it, the Colts are the easy pick to beat a rebuilding Rams team that has a new head coach and more than its fair share of question marks.
