Two Betting Tips for the NFL's Opening Weekend

Two Betting Tips for the NFL's Opening Weekend

The arrival of the NFL's opening weekend is like Christmas for football fans and sports bettors alike. With months of analysis, speculation, and anticipation culminating in this moment, it's the perfect time to select some way too early week-one picks. The Chiefs will contest the kickoff game as they come the Ravens to Arrowhead, and across the opening weekend, there are plenty of blockbuster encounters.

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On the first Monday Night Football of the new campaign, The San Francisco 49ers will welcome the New York Jets to Levi's Stadium with the visitors hoping that their opening game goes better than it did last year. Back then, new addition Aaron Rodgers was downed six minutes into his debut with an Achilles injury that would end his season. This year he is back and expected to be fully fit, how much does he have left in the tank at 40 years of age?

With that being said then, where is there value to be found? Here are two tips we have picked out that could yield fruitful returns. 

Ravens +2.5 @ Chiefs

The Baltimore Ravens facing the Kansas City Chiefs is arguably one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening weekend and it's the one that officially gets the 2024 season underway. The matchup is a repeat of last season's AFC Championship game, a game that saw Patrick Mahomes and Co. walk out victorious despite being the underdogs. This year, the latest Super Bowl odds make them the +450 favorites to complete an unprecedented threepeat, however, we can see still Lamar Jackson gaining revenge for last season's loss in week one. 

Last year, the Chiefs also raised the curtain when they welcomed the Detroit Lons to Arrowhead, ultimately losing by just one point. This time around, the visitors are highly motivated and on the hunt for revenge, and that - coupled with the brilliance of their dual-threat two-time MVP winner - might be enough to get them over the line. With a +2.5 handicap to boot, the Ravens could get your 2024 season off to the perfect start. 

Why Take the Ravens?

The MVP: Lamar Jackson continues to grow as a passer, continually providing those wrong hat still refer to him as a running back. Last season, he returned to his very best, leading his side to top-seed status in the conference and winning the MVP Award for the second time, albeit not unanimously. He will be doing his utmost to get the best of his opposite number Mahomes. showed 

Head-to-Head Performance: Although the Chiefs have had the upper hand in recent meetings, the games have been closely contested. The pressure of hosting the conference championships as favourites got to them however, this time around that burden has been removed and they can head to Arrowhead and revel in their role as the underdog and villains. 

Patriots +9.5 vs Bengals

The New England Patriots are in the midst of a revolution. Gone are the days of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, with the former leaving Gillette Stadium in the close season after a disastrous 2024 campaign that saw his side pick up just four wins all year, the worst record in the entire AFC. He has been replaced with newcomer Jerod Mayo, while they also brought in the highly rated Drake Maye with the third overall pick of the 2024 draft. They will be aiming to hit the ground running. 

The problem with that however is that their first game of the new campaign comes against a talented Cincinnati Bengals side that's looking to get back on track after missing out on the playoffs last season. Without an injured Joe Burrow, Cincy slipped to a respectable 9-8 record as they missed out on the postseason. However, the former Heisman winner led the team to the AFC championship game in 2024 and the Super Bowl the year before that. He is expected to do the same again next term. 

However, if there's one thing the Bengals are known for it is starting the season slowly. Last season, even with Jackpot Joey in their starting lineup, they slipped to humbling defeats against the Browns and the Ravens. The year before, they dropped defeats to the Patriots and the Cowboys. This year we're not saying that they will beat them again, but a +9.5 handicap certainly looks generous, especially on home turf. 

Why Take the Patriots?

Quarterback Potential: With new man Maye settling in as the starter, the Pats offense is expected to be more consistent. He displayed poise and precision during his stint as a North Carolina Tar Heel, suggesting he might avoid the rookie mistakes that plagued most newcomers to the league. 

Historical Trends: Historically, as we have mentioned, the Bengals have struggled in the opening week of the campaign. They have lost their first two games of the season in each of the last two years and you have to go back to September 2024 for their last opening day victory. We're not saying they're going to lose here, but we can't see them winning by more than ten.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!
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