NFL Week 1 Picks Against The Spread 2018: Predictions ATS, Updated Odds For Every Game

With sports gambling now legal in several states across the country, more attention than ever is being paid to the NFL betting lines. Four road teams are favored in Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season. Three teams are favored by at least seven points, though no point spreads have reached double-digits.

Below are picks against the spread for every game in Week 1, as well as updated betting odds at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks. Betting lines and trends are courtesy of OddsShark.

Atlanta Falcons (+2) at Philadelphia Eagles

The betting line has dropped dramatically since it was announced that Carson Wentz wouldn’t start, so much so that Philadelphia would be an underdog on a neutral field. Has everyone already forgotten what Nick Foles did in the postseason? The quarterback probably won’t look like the Super Bowl MVP Thursday night, but he also won’t be as bad as he was in the preseason. The Eagles still have one of the NFL’s best defenses, and they can easily win a low-scoring affair like they did against the Falcons in the divisional playoffs.

Prediction ATS: Philadelphia

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+9.5) at New Orleans Saints

The Saints beat the Bucs 30-10 in their one matchup in New Orleans last season. Sunday’s contest could produce a similar result. Tampa Bay is 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games in New Orleans. They have a 3-10 record in their last 13 games against the Saints. Drew Brees is still an MVP candidate at 39 years old, and Ryan Fitzpatrick will have trouble against one of the league’s best secondaries.

Prediction ATS: New Orleans

San Francisco 49ers (+6) at Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco gets a chance right away to prove that all the hype is warranted. Winning five straight games to end last season has put the 49ers among the NFC Super Bowl favorites at some sportsbooks. It’s going to be difficult for San Francisco to pull off the upset in Minnesota, but there’s no denying how well Jimmy Garoppolo and the rest of the team played down the stretch. The key could be the 49ers’ talented young pass rushers taking advantage of a questionable offensive line.

Prediction ATS: San Francisco

Buffalo Bills (+7) at Baltimore Ravens

It’s hard to justify going against Baltimore when they are only favored by a touchdown. The Bills lost a ton of talent from last year’s playoff team, including three offensive line starters and their starting quarterback. Tyrod Taylor will be replaced by a signal caller that threw five interceptions in his only career start. LeSean McCoy is dealing with a groin injury. Leading tackler Preston Brown is gone. How many more reasons do you need to avoid picking Buffalo?

Prediction ATS: Baltimore

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) at New York Giants

This isn't the game for the Giants to discover their offense’s potential with Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in the fold. Look for the AFC’s best defense to take advantage of a below-average offensive line and a quarterback that’s one of the NFL’s worst starters when he doesn’t have much time in the pocket. Blake Bortles won’t have to do much more than manage the game and hand the ball off to Leonard Fournette 25 times. Don’t expect Eli Manning to put up good numbers when facing the returning sack leader and the NFL’s best secondary.

Prediction ATS: Jacksonville

Houston Texans (+6) at New England Patriots

Deshaun Watson and Houston almost pulled off an upset at Gillette Stadium last season, falling just short when Tom Brady engineered a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minute. The Texans had an explosive offense during the short-time that Watson was the starting quarterback in 2017, and they could come out of the gate hot this year. New England, on the other hand, could be vulnerable to an early-season loss as they play without the suspended Julian Edelman and Brady learns which weapons he can rely on.

Prediction ATS: Houston

Tennessee Titans (-1) at Miami Dolphins

This is probably going to be one of the ugliest games on the Week 1 schedule. Miami beat Tennessee 16-10 last year, though Marcus Mariota didn’t play in that game. The quarterback could have a bounce-back year now that he’s got a new coaching staff, starting with an impressive performance against an underwhelming Dolphins’ defense. With No.1 receiver DeVante Parker sitting out and Ryan Tannehill making his first start since 2016, Miami’s offense likely isn’t headed for a big day, either.

Prediction ATS: Tennessee

Cincinnati Bengals (+3) at Indianapolis Colts

What evidence is there that the Colts are as good as the Bengals on a neutral field? We still haven’t seen Andrew Luck showcase a strong arm since 2016, and Indianapolis might have a bottom-five defense. A strong pass rush, an improved offensive line and a talented group of playmakers could very well put Andy Dalton and Cincinnati back in the playoff hunt this season.

Prediction ATS: Cincinnati

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) at Cleveland Browns

The team that won 24 games over the last two seasons is somehow barely favored by more than a touchdown over the team that has just one victory during that time. The Browns are certainly better with Tyrod Taylor replacing DeShone Kizer, though he’ll be facing a defense that ranked fifth in 2017. Even without Le’Veon Bell, a Pittsburgh offense led by Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown should be enough to give the Steelers their 15th win in Cleveland in their last 18 tries.

Prediction ATS: Pittsburgh

Kansas City Chiefs (+3) at Los Angeles Chargers

When the Chiefs lost Alex Smith and Marcus Peters in the offseason, the Chargers became the betting favorites in the AFC West. That seems to ignore the simple fact that Andy Reid and Kansas City know how to win games and Los Angeles seems to find new ways to lose them. The Chiefs are a perfect 5-0 against the spread on the road against the Chargers under Reid, and L.A. might have the league’s worst home-field advantage at StubHub Center. Reid will put first-year starter Pat Mahomes in a position to succeed against a team that’s already suffered a few key injuries.

Prediction ATS: Kansas City

Washington Redskins (+1) at Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are slight favorites with the game just a few days away, though some sportsbooks still list the contest as a pick’em. It might be best to stay away from this one with both teams having so many question marks. Maybe Arizona has the slight edge at home, given that Sam Bradford is healthy at the moment and he has some dynamic playmakers in Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson to go up against a mediocre defense.

Prediction ATS: Arizona

Seattle Seahawks (+3) at Denver Broncos

Seattle’s defense might barely be recognizable Sunday in Denver. Two of the three Legion of Boom mainstays (Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor) are gone and one (Earl Thomas) might not play after holding out for the entire preseason. Russell Wilson can only do so much behind a bad offensive line and with a banged up No.1 receiver. The quarterback will have his work cut out for him against Von Miller and Co. After being led by Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler last year, the Broncos might think Peyton Manning is back when Case Keenum starts under center in Week 1.

Prediction ATS: Denver

Dallas Cowboys (+3) at Carolina Panthers

Dallas enters the season as one of the league’s most underrated teams. They barely missed last year’s playoffs with a 9-7 record, despite losing Ezekiel Elliott for six games and dealing with a banged-up offensive line. With Elliott and four regular offensive line starters likely playing Sunday, the Cowboys could upset a Panthers team that is a prime candidate to regress in 2018.

Prediction ATS: Dallas

Chicago Bears (+7.5) at Green Bay Packers

When the point spread is in single digits, it’s pretty much always a safe bet to take Aaron Rodgers at home against the Bears. The quarterback owns Chicago with a 15-4 career record, and he’s nearly gone undefeated against Green Bay’s chief rival since 2011. It’s unknown what kind of impact Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith will have for the Bears after missing time this preseason. Chicago is 3-12 against the spread in their last 15 games against Green Bay.

Prediction ATS: Green Bay

New York Jets (+6.5) at Detroit Lions

Who knows what to expect from Sam Darnold when he becomes the youngest quarterback to make a Week 1 start? But there are reasons to be positive about the No.3 overall pick and grab the 6.5 points. New York ranked ahead of Detroit last season in yards allowed per play. The defense, which is led by a few young players that were high draft picks not too long ago, could be improved in 2018. The Lions could take a step back under first-year head coach Matt Patricia.

Prediction ATS: New York

Los Angeles Rams (-4.5) at Oakland Raiders

What was once a pick’em has shifted completely in favor of the Rams. Los Angeles is viewed by many as the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC, and Oakland is quickly becoming seen as one of the AFC’s worst teams. Maybe that means this is the week to take a shot on the Raiders, who still have talent on offense that can keep the team in Monday night’s game. It usually isn’t easy for road teams to win in Oakland. The Raiders never lost by more than a field goal at home when Derek Carr started in 2017.

Prediction ATS: Oakland