NFL Week 1 Betting Odds Preview

The new NFL season kicks off Thursday night with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams playing host to the current Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills.

At Bovada Sportsbook, it’s the Bills who are 2.5-point road favorites in the season opener. The Bills were 12-7 straight up and 10-7-2 against the spread last season. That included a strong finish with a 5-1 SU record and 4-1-1 ATS mark in their last six games. The Bills are 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS in their last eight games as a road favorite. They’ve been strong against the NFC West with a 6-2 SU and 7-0-1 ATS record in their last eight.

The Rams were 16-5 SU and 10-11 ATS during their Super Bowl season. At home last year, Los Angeles was 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS. As a home underdog, the Rams have won their last two SU, but they’re 2-7 SU and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine.

Buffalo has dominated this matchup in the past, going 7-2 SU and ATS in the last nine vs the Rams. In the last nine matchups between the two teams, the OVER is 8-1.

Bengals have covered the spread in last eight games

The Rams’ Super Bowl opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, begin the season with a divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At Bovada, the Bengals are 6.5-point home favorites.

Cincinnati was a smart bet last season at 13-8 SU and 14-7 ATS. That includes winning its last eight games ATS. At home, the Bengals were only 6-5 SU and ATS last season.

The Steelers were 9-8-1 SU and 8-10 ATS last season. Pittsburgh was 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS in its last six road games, and as an underdog the Steelers are 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS in their last seven.

Last season, Cincinnati was 2-0 SU and ATS against the Steelers. Previously, the Steelers had dominated this matchup, going 11-1 SU and 7-3-2 ATS in the head-to-head series.

Vikes have been solid OVER wager for totals bettors

In the NFC North on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers begin the season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. At Bovada, the Packers are slim 1.5-point road favorites.

Green Bay was 13-5 SU and 12-6 ATS last season. In their last seven games, the Packers were only 3-4 ATS. As a road favorite, the Packs were 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS in their last six.

Minnesota was 8-9 SU and 9-8 ATS last season. The Vikings finished the season as a strong OVER bet for totals bettors at 7-1 OVER in their last eight. As a home underdog, the Vikings are 4-6 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10, and 18-11-1 in their last 30.

The Packers and Vikings split the season series a year ago with each team winning at home. When hosting the Packers, the Vikings are 4-2 SU and ATS in their last six, with three of those wins coming as the underdog.