The first week of the 2020 NFL season was filled with plenty of upsets when it comes to betting but that’s the beauty of sports: a comeback is always in the cards. While it is always hard to bet with confidence so early during the NFL season, there are certain places where you can feel good about placing your money. So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best places to put your money this Sunday. All odds are via BetOnline.ag, check out their website for some of the best deals, and odds in online sports gambling.
Best Spreads
Jacksonville Jaguars (+7.5) @ Tennessee Titans, -116
This spread is utterly ridiculous. I know the Titans won on Monday night and the Jaguars’ upset over the Colts in Week 1 reeks of beginner’s luck and I fully expect Tennessee to walk away with a win here, but not by more than a touchdown. Gardner Minshew looked great against an admittedly weak Colts’ defense but what was more telling is what happened with Tennessee on Monday night. Derrick Henry finished the game with 116 yards which is impressive on the surface but looking deeper, that was primarily a product of the number of carries he was given with 31, finishing the game with a 3.7 YPC. The Titans offense regularly stalled in enemy territory and I think the Jaguars defense is very capable of keeping that trend going.
New Orleans Saints (-5.5) @ Las Vegas Raiders, -111
I understand why this spread is so small given the Raiders impressive offensive performance in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. The only problem with that thought process is that it was in fact against the Panthers. Carolina’s defense is clearly the weaker side of the ball for that team and the Raiders did what they were expected to. The Saints meanwhile boast one of the league’s best defenses as shown by their performance against an undisputedly talented Buccaneers’ offense. I’m excited to see the Raiders’ new stadium but I think the end result will be a Saints victory by at least 10 points.
San Francisco 49ers (-7) @ New York Jets, -103
The Super Bowl hangover theory looked very real for the 49ers in Week 1 as they struggled to contain the Arizona Cardinals but there is no better remedy for that than playing the Jets this weekend. Unfortunately for New York fans, the Jets looked every bit inept as most were fearing against the Bills and they get no reprieve facing an equally good defense in the 49ers. I think this spread would be bigger if the 49ers weren’t on the road so take advantage of the home-field advantage factor here.
Best Money Line
Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys (-190)
It’s a story as old as time: the Falcons offense looked good while their defense looked utterly lost in their Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. Meanwhile, the Cowboys could’ve easily won their primetime matchup against the Rams if Jalen Ramsey hadn’t sold a late offensive pass interference with an Oscar-worthy performance. The Cowboys are going to come out angry and with the Falcons defense going up against that loaded offense, it’s hard to see Dallas losing this one.
New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks (-197)
The Seahawks looked in midseason form against the Atlanta Falcons last week so I expect them to keep their streak going against the Patriots on Sunday night. While Cam Newton’s two rushing touchdowns were the focal point surrounding New England’s Week 1 game, it is important to note that the passing game was largely stagnant for the entire game and it was a one-score affair throughout much of the contest. Seattle is clearly the better team here and will walk away with this win.
Los Angeles Rams (+105) @ Philadelphia Eagles
In last week’s article, I said that the Rams offense now rests on the shoulders of Jared Goff and that would be their downfall and I’m here to say, at least for now, I was wrong. Goff took the back seat to a surprisingly effective running game led by Malcolm Brown but the real standout for the Rams was their defense. Holding the Cowboys to just two touchdowns and sacking Dak Prescott three times showed they can still compete against some of the top talent in the NFL. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz struggled against a poor Washington secondary which raises questions about how he’ll perform against one of the NFL’s best in the Rams.
Best Props
Allen Robinson 1+ touchdown at +129
Despite the weird drama that went down between Robinson and the Bears this week, he is still their top wideout and facing what is probably the worst secondary in the NFL in the Giants this weekend. While Mitchell Trubisky did struggle for most of the game against the Lions, their late-game comeback proved he can still be a capable starter. Expect Robinson to catch at least one touchdown.
Buffalo Bills O/U Total Touchdowns (2.5) at -123, Over
While Miami’s defense did look more formidable than they were last season, they still struggled to contain Cam Newton and his rushing ability which does not bode well for their Week 2 matchup against the Bills. While Josh Allen has struggled with consistency in the passing game, his running ability cannot be denied. The Bills are the favorites in this game for a reason and barring any unforeseen injuries to Buffalo’s offense, they are a near guarantee to score at least 3 touchdowns.
Malcolm Brown 1+ touchdown at +140
One of the biggest surprises of Week 1 was the emergence of Malcolm Brown as Los Angeles’ lead running back especially considering the hype around rookie Cam Akers. While Akers is likely to keep stealing some carries away from Brown, his performance against the Cowboys clearly has earned him the top spot on the depth chart this weekend. While the Eagles defense didn’t allow for any of Washington’s running backs to go over 40 yards, they did give up two touchdowns to Peyton Barber in short-yardage situations so if the Rams offense finds themselves in a similar setting, expect Brown to make the most of it.