Completely satisfied New 12 months, NFL bettors! Whereas we had some small appetizers to start the 2025 common season on Thursday and Friday, we now embark on the primary course: the primary full Sunday of the 12 months. As you anxiously await the motion to unfold, you will naturally spend Sunday morning placing collectively these last-minute bets. Who comes out on high? Which groups cowl? That is the place we are available.
Under, we have given out our predictions for attain sport on Sunday on high of the Monday Evening Soccer showdown. You can discover each choose (each moneyline and in opposition to the unfold), however we additionally dive a bit deeper on a handful of video games that we take into account to be finest bets.
Wager NFL Week 1 video games and NFL odds at DraftKings, the place new customers get $300 in bonus bets and over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket. Click here to get started:
There’s been loads of preseason hype surrounding the New England Patriots in 2025, and for good motive. They spent the offseason bolstering key pillars of the group, headlined by the hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel. I imagine his presence alone will elevate the ground effectively above the back-to-back 4-13 campaigns they’ve endured over the past two years. Additionally they made some key additions in free company and on the NFL Draft, which ought to assist Drake Maye take a leap in 12 months 2. Whereas I stay excessive on the Patriots this season, and imagine they will will out a win within the opener, it will be tight.
For as a lot consideration as New England has acquired, the Las Vegas Raiders have completed related issues this offseason and are flying beneath the radar. They too have higher teaching with Pete Carroll introduced in, and now have a extra secure quarterback state of affairs with Geno Smith beneath heart. The familiarity between Carroll and Smith from their days in Seattle ought to permit the Raiders offense to hit the bottom operating and spotlight key weapons like tight finish Brock Bowers and first-round rookie operating again Ashton Jeanty.
Furthermore, the central motive why I like taking the Raiders +3 on this spot is because of a key energy of the Patriots — the secondary — being banged up. Particularly, All-Professional nook Christian Gonzalez has been sidelined for the majority of camp because of a hamstring harm and won’t swimsuit up. That ought to permit Smith simpler passing lanes on this street matchup.
Projected rating: Patriots 23, Raiders 21
The choose: Raiders +2.5 | Odds through BetMGM
Do not look a traits when following this choose. Why? As a result of Pittsburgh is 4-0 SU and ATS in its final 4 street Week 1 video games. On high of that, the Jets have been abysmal to start seasons, proudly owning a 6-20 SU file and 7-19 ATS file in September since 2017 (each worst within the NFL). It is not a fairly image for Jets backers like myself, however I like them on this spot as a house canine.
I’ve main questions on how this newest Aaron Rodgers experiment will go along with the Steelers. On title worth, it is a slam dunk acquisition, however Rodgers is coming off his worst statistical season of his profession and is 41 years previous. When he bought scorching down the stretch, it was largely because of his rapport with previous buddy Davante Adams. Rodgers does not have that inbuilt chemistry with anybody within the Steelers move pass-catching group, and I anticipate the offense to look a bit clunky out of the gate. In any case, Rodgers signed simply earlier than minicamp and did not participate in any preseason motion, so he hasn’t had his ft held to the fireplace a lot with this group.
So as to add to that, his first check can be in opposition to a defensive personnel that is aware of him extraordinarily effectively after training in opposition to him over the previous few years. Justin Fields could also be restricted as a passer, however I feel New York’s protection will have the ability to give Pittsburgh’s offense sufficient matches to permit Fields to play at his tempo with a run-first, ball-dominant strategy en path to the upset house win/cowl.
Projected rating: Jets 23, Steelers 20
The choose: Jets +3 | Odds through BetMGM
NFL Week 1 survivor pool picks: 49ers a stay-away in opener, whereas NFC West rival named finest wager
Tyler Sullivan
- Sunday, 4:05 p.m. (Fox, Stream: Fubo, strive free of charge)
Like many others, I like the Broncos this season. What they had been in a position to do in 12 months 1 with Bo Nix flew a bit beneath the radar due to Jayden Daniels main the Commanders to the NFC Championship a 12 months in the past, nevertheless it was spectacular nonetheless. Standard pondering would assume that Nix improves coming into his sophomore season, and the Broncos roster has solely gotten higher for the reason that final time we noticed them. Offensively, they added tight finish Evan Engram and completely revamped the backfield with rookie RJ Harvey and J.Ok. Dobbins. In the meantime, Dre Greenlaw and talanoa Hufanga are two underrated additions on a protection that was already top-three within the NFL a season in the past.
Denver may very effectively end with one of the best protection within the NFL by the point we put a bow on 2025, and that is dangerous information for Cam Ward out of the gate. I imagine the Miami product will make the Titans are way more respectable outfit this season and level them in the suitable route going ahead, however it is a lopsided matchup.
Final season, Tennessee went 2-15 ATS, which was the worst ATS file since not less than 1970. In the meantime, Denver was 8-0 ATS as a favourite in 2024. These traits will carry over not less than into Week 1.
Projected rating: Broncos 27, Titans 17 | Odds through FanDuel Sportsbook
The choose: Broncos -8.5
That is possibly the squarest play on the Week 1 board, however I am not going to get too cute right here. The New Orleans Saints simply went by the least inspiring quarterback battle that I can keep in mind, with Spencer Rattler beating out rookie Tyler Shough for the job. This got here after a so-so summer season for Rattler, who completed with an 86.9 passer score. That is actually an enchancment from the 70.4 score he posted in seven appearances final 12 months, however he made that “soar” in opposition to vanilla defenses within the preseason. What occurs when defenses begin to actually scheme in opposition to him? I anticipate we see a quarterback who seems to be extra just like the one we noticed in 2024, who went 0-6 because the starter.
As for Arizona, they’re a positive crew to again on the street, significantly with Kyler Murray beneath heart. In his profession, Murray is 25-12-2 ATS (.676) on the street, which is the second-best cowl charge by a beginning quarterback since 1970.
Projected rating: Cardinals 23, Saints 16
The choose: Cardinals -6.5 | Odds through Caesars Sportsbook
- Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC, Stream: Fubo, strive free of charge)
The NFC North has garnered a whole lot of consideration in current days, significantly with the blockbuster that landed the Inexperienced Bay Packers Micah Parsons. Has that transfer shifted the steadiness of energy within the division? Possibly. However I nonetheless assume it is anybody’s for the taking. I stay excessive on each of those groups, however Chicago has me intrigued. They already possessed an immensely proficient quarterback in Caleb Williams, and the state of affairs round him has vastly improved. He has higher teaching with Ben Johnson on the helm, and the Bears have fully rebuilt the inside of the offensive line to raised defend him. With these two additions, I feel we see extra of that expertise that made Williams the No. 1 total choose in 2024, starting with this matchup.
I have been on file saying that the Vikings are arguably the best-equipped crew to usher in a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy. Between a stout protection, elite offensive weapons, and a stellar head coach in Kevin O’Connell, it ought to drastically assist velocity his growth alongside. However making him a street favourite in opposition to a divisional opponent appears a bit wealthy at this stage. McCarthy’s final significant snap got here again throughout his days at Michigan within the College Football Playoff Nationwide Championship. And he is anticipated to now enter Soldier Discipline and pull out a street win? Once more, feels wealthy. Oh, and the Vikings are 0-6 of their final six street prime-time video games.
Projected rating: Bears 24, Vikings 23
The choose: Bears +1.5 | Odds through FanDuel Sportsbook, the place new customers get $300 in bonus bets with a winning $5 bet:
Remainder of the bunch
Panthers at Jaguars
Projected rating: Jaguars 27, Panthers 20
The choose: Jaguars -3.5
Bengals at Browns
Projected rating: Bengals 30, Browns 19
The choose: Bengals -5.5
Dolphins at Colts
Projected rating: Dolphins 26, Colts 23
The choose: Dolphins +1
Giants at Commanders
Projected rating: Commanders 30, Giants 20
The choose: Commanders -6
Buccaneers at Falcons
Projected rating: Buccaneers 27, Falcons 23
The choose: Buccaneers -1
49ers at Seahawks
Projected rating: Seahawks 24, 49ers 21
The choose: Seahawks +1.5
Lions at Packers
Projected rating: Lions 27, Packers 23
The choose: Lions +2.5
Texans at Rams
Projected rating: Rams 23, Texans 21
The choose: Texans +3
Ravens at Payments
Projected rating: Ravens 27, Payments 24
The choose: Ravens +1.5
