By Charles Jay
As we come out of the chute for the first week of NFL betting action, there are many questions that have to be answered. But then again, aren’t there always? We know that the Seattle Seahawks are a favorite to win the Super Bowl, but they will have been in action on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. Here are five matchups taking place on Sunday that will have a definite bearing on the division championship races when all is said and done:
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
- One of the big marquee games, as you can imagine, will take place at Sports Authority field in Denver, as the Broncos play host to the Indianapolis Colts, with an 8:30 PM ET start time on NBC. Last year’s meeting carried with it a lot of drama, as Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis in another team’s uniform. The game was thrilling, as Andrew Luck and the Colts won a 39-33 decision. But Indianapolis is handicapped by the loss of Robert Mathis, whose 19.5 sacks led the league last year, and who would have normally been expected to put some pressure on Manning. The Broncos are hoping that the addition of people like Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware on the defense will help them get back to the Super Bowl, and if anyone was looking for a “statement” game, maybe this is the one.
- In NFL betting odds that are posted at BetAnySports, Denver is a 7.5-point favorite.
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
- The Atlanta Falcons were this year’s subject for the HBO documentary “Hard Knocks,” and that is exactly what they took last year en route to a 4-12 straight-up record. Their problem at the start of this season is about the same as it was last season, as they seek to establish a running game. Stephen Jackson has been dealing with a hamstring injury and may be past his “sell-by” date, but this club should be more potent through the air, as they have us healthy set of receivers, including a new acquisition, Devin Hester. The New Orleans Saints have about as efficient an offense as one can imagine, but they have only covered two of their last 12 road games. This is one of the most intense rivalries in the NFL, and Atlanta buckled down on defense last season, holding the Saints to just 40 points over two meetings. The problem is, they only scored 30 in the process of losing both encounters.
- New Orleans is a three-point favorite on the road in the NFL betting odds at BetAnySports.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
- The Baltimore Ravens went through a Super Bowl hangover as some teams do, but they are back with what they hope are some improvements on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Steve Smith is now on board, and he will help to make the passing game more dynamic. However, Ray Rice is, of course, under suspension, and the jury may be out once again on Joe Flacco, who threw 22 interceptions last season. The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North last year, and quarterback Andy Dalton got rewarded with a new contract extension. This team deals with the loss of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who took the head-coaching job in Minnesota, but they are happy that Geno Atkins, who missed half of last season with an injury, is back and ready to go on the defensive line.
- Baltimore, playing at home, is a two-point favorite in NFL betting at BetAnySports.
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys
- The Dallas Cowboys are one team that is probably going to have to win shootouts this season against their opponents. Their defense was the worst in the NFL last season, and there is little indication that they have made great strides in that area. But Dallas has Tony Romo at the controls, and he still has weapons. The San Francisco 49ers come into AT&T Stadium with an opportunity to exploit that defense, but with some problems of their own in the stop unit. For one thing, they don’t have the services of Navarro Bowman and Aldon Smith, who are serving suspensions, and Ray McDonald, as football bettors may have read, was arrested this week for domestic violence.
- San Francisco lays 4.5 points on the road in the latest NFL betting lines established at BetAnySports.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
- As we write this, the New England Patriots certainly hope to have tight end Rob Gronkowski in the lineup as they visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. But they recently made a trade to get tight end Tim Wright from Tampa Bay, so they are certainly worried about Gronk’s durability at the position. Football bettors still have some confidence in Tom Brady’s ability to improvise, as he usually does with his receivers. But the Pats really made a living with that double-tight end set up they had, and you would have to wonder about their long-term prospects if it doesn’t work out the way they’d like. The Dolphins believe they have their offensive line problems behind them, although this unit has to prove it can protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill better than last season. If anyone can emerge as a serious challenger to New England in the AFC East, maybe it is Miami. They have a chance to prove that here, as the Patriots come in as a five-point favorite at Sun Life Stadium.
- Patriots are favored by 5 points on the road over Miami.
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Summary
Article Name
NFL Betting - Fabulous Five Matchups For Week One
Description
Here are five Week One NFL Betting match-ups that will have a definite bearing on the division championship races when all is said and done.
Author
Charles Jay
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