Welcome to week one of the NFL 2024 season! No question, pro football was been too long off the national stage. However, it returns in spectacular fashion this weekend. Without a doubt, there are multitudes out there just chomping at the bit to make some wagers, even if just for fun. However, many may not know exactly where to begin. No worries, because this NFL Opening Best Bets edition is here to help!

Of course, it must be pointed out that anytime one plans to place bets on anything, to please do it responsibly. For informational purposes, all game start times mentioned are in Eastern time. With that in mind, let’s get down to it.

Arizona Cardinals (+5.5) at Buffalo Bills, Sunday 1 PM

This game has intrigue as it will be the debut of wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. Watching the chemistry develop between him and Kyler Murray will be something to check into. Even so, there could hardly be a more difficult assignment for the Cardinals than starting the season in Buffalo.

Last season, Arizona was just 2-7 S/U on the road, with both wins coming after Murray returned to the lineup. Meanwhile, Buffalo was 7-2 S/U at home. Simply stated, beating the Bills at home is a tall ask of any NFL team. Buffalo outscored their visiting opposition 256-143 last season.

The Bills have a new WR core, but that should present no issue in this game. They still have Josh Allen. Even with all of the issues that he has had in the postseason, Allen remains one of the top QBs in the game. The Bills have some season long questions to answer, but they will be fine Sunday. Expect Buffalo to win and cover the spread.

New England Patriots (+9.5) at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 PM

Out of all this weekend’s games, this one has the largest line. Let’s be clear up front: it doesn’t matter who does or doesn’t play for the Bengals in this game. Cincinnati is going to win. They are at home and they are a formidable team, especially with Joe Burrow healthy at QB.

On the other hand, the Patriots were an awful team a year ago and that should still be the case this season. Drake Maye will not make his debut here as Jacoby Brissett was named the starter for week one. However, none of those players is the key to this game. As of this moment, there has been no agreement announced with star WR Jamarr Chase.

Bottom line: pay close attention before betting this game. If Chase is out of the lineup, take the Patriots to cover the points. If he is signed and will start in this game, this NFL Opening Best Bets edition says take the Bengals to win and cover.

Denver Broncos (+5.5) at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 PM

Right off the bat, let me say that I was trying to avoid this game as a top bet. The reason is simple: I don’t want the fact that I am a Seahawks fan color my analysis. Even as that is the case, I kept getting drawn back to it. The reason for that is also extremely easy to explain. Denver announced their intention that their surprise rookie selection Bo Nix will be the starter in this game.

If anyone has ever attended a game in Seattle, as I have, you know just how loud that stadium can get. Certainly, the 12s make their presence known. The noise level has seriously impacted even the most veteran of quarterbacks. Expect that Nix will be no different. There will be plenty of false start calls for Denver, placing them in long yardage downs. No question, that is not a recipe for success.

Without doubt, the defense in Seattle has been more bust than boom in recent years. However, look for the Seahawks to improve drastically in this area under first year head coach and defensive guru Mike MacDonald. When I look at this game, I see a long day for both the Broncos offense and especially for Nix. Seattle wins and covers.

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 PM, 41.5 Over/Under

Clearly, this is one of the most anticipated games of the opening weekend. Here we have two playoff teams from a year ago set to battle for the victory. However, those that are looking for offensive firepower need to look elsewhere. Cleveland comes in with the number one defense from last season, including the top pass D. They weren’t too shabby against the run, either, finishing 11th.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they come in with an unsettled running game. Certainly, trying to establish a rushing offense against the number one defense on the road is not an easy mountain to overcome. The expectation here is that the Browns will bottle up Dallas’ run game and the Cowboys will be forced to put the ball in the air. Despite the fact that CeeDee Lamb will play in this game, that could make a long afternoon for Dak Prescott and company.

On the other side, Dallas was no slouch on defense themselves. They had the fifth overall D, with the exact same ranking against the pass. On offense, the Browns ranked 16th overall, 19th in passing. Everyone is still waiting to see if DeShaun Watson ever gets it together again. Even at home, expecting him to have a big game against the Cowboys is a lot to ask.

When all is said and done, with two top defenses squaring off against two questionable offenses, it is the wise move to take the under.

Note:

Of course, there are quite a few other games that one can bet on. Are the any of the ones above on your list? Are there other games that are favored? If so, let’s get a discussion going!

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this NFL Opening Best Bets edition! Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to bellyupsports.com/ and bellyupfantasysports.com/ for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!

I am a co-host of The Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball Show. The show will be live Sunday September 16 at 8 pm Eastern. If you’ve missed a single episode this season, head on over to Youtube and give us a look! You can check out our latest show, dedicated to fantasy baseball regular season award winners, waiver pickups, drops and more here.