NFL Week 1 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview
The 2025 NFL season officially gets underway on Thursday, September 4 with the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys in a NFC East contest. Two of Philly’s 14 wins a season ago were over the Cowboys by a combined score of 75-13. The Eagles have also enjoyed success at the betting window against their division going 4-0-1 against the NFL betting line in their last five matchups.
The NFL heads to Brazil for a Friday night game between the Chiefs and Chargers in another division contest. And the betting week concludes on Monday Night Football with a NFC North tilt between the defending division champion Vikings and the new-look Chicago Bears. Minnesota won both games last season and has taken seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings.
NFL Week 1 Preview
The marquee game of the opening weekend takes place on Sunday Night Football. In a rematch of last season’s AFC Divisional Round the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills get together in western New York. The game also features the last two NFL MVPs with reigning winner Josh Allen facing Lamar Jackson. Buffalo prevailed 27-25 last postseason when the Ravens failed on a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt in the final minutes.
Fade the Chiefs at your own risk. They played a number of close games last season and went just 8-9 ATS, but they ended the regular season tied for the most wins with 15 and reached the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six years. Their attempt to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls was thwarted in a big way by the Eagles. The Chiefs face the Bolts in Brazil in Week 1 hitting the board as a 3-point favorite.
NFL Week 1 Schedule and Betting Lines
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-7, 46)
Friday, September 5, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 45) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5, 48) at Atlanta Falcons
Cincinnati Bengals (-6, 46) at Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (-1, 47)
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (-3, 42.5)
Arizona Cardinals (-6.5, 42.5) at New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 38) at New York Jets
New York Giants at Washington Commanders (-6, 45.5)
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3, 46)
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (-9, 41.5)
San Francisco 49ers (-2.5, 45) at Seattle Seahawks
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-1.5, 49)
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams (-2.5, 44)
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (-1, 51.5)
Monday, September 8, 2025
Minnesota Vikings (-1, 43) at Chicago Bears
NFL Week 1 Notes
Two former NFL head coaches will debut for their new team against each other in Week 1. The Las Vegas Raiders and Pete Carroll will visit the Patriots and Mike Vrabel. This matchup brought the Tuck Rule into every home during the 2002 AFC playoff game between the clubs that allowed the Pats to win the game and start a dynasty. Carroll won 147 games, including playoffs, and a Super Bowl during his time in Seattle. He also coached New England for three seasons in the late 1990s.
The most intriguing new coach is Chicago’s Ben Johnson, who directed the Lions to the most points and second most yards in the NFL in 2024. Johnson looks to turn around a Bears club that averaged just 18.2 points and ranked last in the NFL in total yards last season. The Bears invested heavily in the offense during the offseason and Caleb Williams is a talented QB. The total for Chicago’s Monday Night Football contest is 43.Take a look at all of your NFL betting options in this guide.
- Week 1 features eight division matchups with Philadelphia -7 the biggest favorite in those games.
- Denver is the biggest favorite on the early Week 1 board. The Broncos have payouts in their last five games when favored by at least 9 points.
- The Chiefs are 17-3 SU in their last 20 games against AFC West opponents.
- Philadelphia is 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six home games against the Cowboys.
- The Ravens and Bills led the AFC averaging more than 30 points in 2024. The total of 51.5 for their Week 1 tilt is the highest on the board yet the UNDER is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings.
NFL Week 1 Prime Free Pick
The Lions earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and tied for the league lead with 15 wins last season. They have to overcome the loss of both coordinators, but the experienced roster is deep. Coach Dan Campbell said this might be the best team he’s had in Detroit. The Lions are catching 1.5 points in their game at Green Bay and they are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a dog. Backing the Lions and the points is the pick of the week.
