Attention West Virginia NFL sports betting enthusiasts, the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Get ready for a comprehensive Week 1 NFL betting preview specifically tailored for you.
Thursday night marks the commencement of the exhilarating first set of 16 games, featuring captivating matchups and intriguing human-interest narratives.
On February 2nd, the Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, making it the last game witnessed.
Defending their title on Thursday night, the Chiefs will once again face the Houston Texans. Just like the past two weeks, they will be playing as favorites with odds set at -9 or -9.5.
The Chiefs are facing off once again against their rival, seeking redemption after an incredible postseason showdown. Despite trailing 24-0 in the second quarter, they managed to stage a remarkable comeback and emerged victorious with a resounding 51-31 win.
Sportsbooks in West Virginia are anticipating another high-scoring game, as the initial over-under point total has been set at 54 points, the highest among all teams in the league. The only other game that exceeded the 50-point mark was the Sunday night clash between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams, which had an over-under of 52 points.
We will now analyze the teams that are of interest to the WV sports betting customers, as well as the league as a whole. Additionally, we will discuss the offseason moves that have not been analyzed during the nonexistent preseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to play against the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football,” and they have gained strong support from bettors. The line for the Steelers has been pushed up from -4 to -5 due to the overwhelming bets placed in their favor over the weekend.
In an upcoming matchup, the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are set to face each other, with the Ravens being heavily favored. The Ravens had an impressive record of 14-2 last season, although their journey ended in the playoffs. The Browns hold the distinction of being the most recent team to defeat the Ravens in a regular season game, which occurred in Week 4 of the previous year.
Last year, the Ravens boasted the presence of their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who skillfully manipulated opposing defenses. His remarkable performance included a historic rush for 1,206 yards, and FanDuel Sportsbook rewarded those who placed MVP bets on Jackson long before the season’s conclusion. As anticipated, Jackson ultimately secured the MVP title.
Cleveland’s previous season was quite underwhelming. Despite high expectations of making the playoffs, the Browns fell short.
The Washington Football Team, previously known as the Redskins, is set to face the Philadelphia Eagles as a resilient underdog with a +6 point spread. Washington displayed impressive performances against the Eagles in two intense games last year, particularly during the second match. In that game, Washington held the lead until conceding the go-ahead score with only 32 seconds remaining.
Dwayne Haskins, the quarterback, played a pivotal role in Washington’s late-season transformation, bringing a fresh attitude to the team. Now, Washington is determined to turn around their disappointing 3-13 record from last year.
Leading into the opening week, there are several intriguing offseason storylines to consider.
Burrow debuts as a Bengal
In January, Joe Burrow, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, successfully led LSU to the national title. Now, eight months later, as the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick and hailing from Ohio, Burrow will be leading the Bengals in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Burrow is anticipated to perform well in the DraftKings Sportsbook WV circuit, with a season prop over-under of 3,700 yards. This would rank him as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Does he possess the necessary weapons? Is it possible for him to transform the culture of a team that finished with a 2-14 record last year?
Tom Brady left New England …
Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had a 7-9 record, acquired the talented player who is a four-time Super Bowl MVP and possesses six Super Bowl rings.
In just a few months, Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl odds skyrocketed from an improbable 50-1 in March to a much more favorable 14-1 at most books. One might question if such a significant leap is justified. Additionally, the Buccaneers managed to entice Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady’s trusted ally, out of retirement, further enhancing their chances of success.
Will Tampa Bay be able to overthrow the reigning NFC South champion New Orleans Saints? We may get a clue in Week 1, as Tampa Bay travels to New Orleans. Initially, Tampa Bay was considered the underdog with a 4.5-point spread, but after a surge in bets over the weekend, the line dropped to +3.5. If it continues to decrease to 2.5, Saints bettors will be prepared to take advantage.
… and Cam Newton replaced Brady
Having participated in a single Super Bowl, the ex-Carolina Panther unfortunately experienced defeat. Throughout the previous year, he remained on the sidelines due to a foot injury, resulting in the Panthers’ struggle. Now, the question arises as to whether he can inject vitality into the Patriots’ offense, which appeared stagnant in the previous season.
The collaboration between Newton and the Patriots is highly beneficial. With his powerful running abilities and determination to make up for a lost season, Newton brings a hunger that complements the Patriots’ quest for fresh energy. The upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins, who defeated them in their previous regular season encounter, will be hosted by the New England Patriots.
The AFC East is an intriguing division to watch. According to BetMGM Sportsbook WV, none of the teams – Patriots, Jets, Bills, or Dolphins – are expected to win more than eight games. This suggests that there is a significant balance among the teams. Keep an eye on the division’s competitiveness, starting with the Jets facing off against the Bills in the opening game.
In addition to the aforementioned storyline, it’s worth noting that Drew Lock, despite guiding the Denver Broncos to three victories in their final four games of the previous season, finds himself ranked lower than most of the league’s quarterbacks, including Burrow, in terms of expectations for this year. However, it is possible that the critics might be overlooking something important. The truth will be revealed on Monday night as the Broncos take on the Tennessee Titans in their home stadium.
Here are two excellent games
Atop the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers were predicted to be overtaken by the Minnesota Vikings. On Sunday, the two teams will go head-to-head, and initially, the Vikings were favored to win by a margin of less than a field goal.
The NFC East matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles has the Cowboys slightly favored. On Sunday night, the Cowboys will be visiting the Los Angeles Rams in what promises to be an exhilarating game. Keep an eye on the betting line as Rams bettors have heavily supported them at -2.5, causing it to rise to 3 towards the end of the weekend. If it reaches 3.5, expect Dallas bettors to quickly take advantage of it.
The model predicts that the Baltimore Ravens will cover the spread (-8) in their home game against the Cleveland Browns for Week 1 of the NFL. Despite being the top team in the AFC during the regular season last year, the Ravens were eliminated in the playoffs by the Titans. With reigning MVP Lamar Jackson entering his second full season as their quarterback, the Ravens are determined to progress further in 2020.
In addition to their already dominant rushing attack, Baltimore further strengthened their backfield by selecting J.K. Dobbins in the draft, who will join forces with Mark Ingram. The Ravens consistently outperform expectations in more than 50% of simulations, and the over bet (with a line set at 48.5) successfully hits nearly 60% of the time.
Week 1 NFL betting odds
Make sure to stay updated with the latest information on the constantly changing live betting odds in WV before placing your bet.
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