Week 1 NFL Odds, Spreads, Lines
All odds via ESPN BET
- Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs: -3
- Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles: -2.5
- Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints: -4
- Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts: +3
- Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins: -3.5
- Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills: -6.5
- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons: -3.5
- Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants: +1.5
- Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears: -3.5
- New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals: -8.5
- Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks: -6
- Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers: -3
- Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -3.5
- Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns: -2.5
- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions: -4
- New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers:-4.5
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
The Houston Texans surprised everyone last season, finishing with a 10-7 record and winning the AFC South after going 3-13 in 2022. They went on to win on Wild Card weekend but lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round of the playoffs. It seemed like everything went right for the Texans in 2023.
Conversely, the Colts dealt with plenty of injuries to key players, including starting QB Anthony Richardson. Despite only having their starting quarterback for only four games, the Colts still went 9-8 and were eliminated from the playoffs in the final week of the season. They are a well-coached team who can beat anyone on any given night.
The Colts were a strong team last year and will only improve in 2024 with Richardson returning. On offense, they finished 11th in points per game and 10th in rushing yards per game, and that should only improve with Richardson adding much more explosiveness than Gardner Minshew. I expect the Colts’ game plan will be to run the football and control the clock. They will want to limit the possessions for C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense while running the ball and playing to their strengths on offense.
I think the Texans take a step back this season and lose Week 1 in Indianapolis.
The play: Indianapolis Colts: +3
Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears received a ton of hype this offseason as they were the featured team in the 2024 training camp edition of “Hard Knocks.” With the additions of Caleb Williams and Keenan Allen along with a stellar draft, the Bears are looking to take a big step in the right direction towards competing for the division.
I think the Bears will be a much better team this season, but it won’t start in Week 1. Rookie quarterbacks in their first start are 4-22-1 straight up and 7-20 against the spread. It helps that the Bears open up at Soldier Field, but I believe it will take a few games for Caleb Williams to get going.
The Titans are a sleeper team in the AFC for me. They quietly had a great offseason with a few big-time additions. Tennessee went out and traded for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who has solidified himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the game. Additionally, the Titans brought in Calvin Ridley after he had over 1,000 yards with the Jaguars in 2023.
The Titans won 6 games last season with a rookie quarterback starting 9 games. With a little more experience under his belt, I expect Will Levis to be improved going into his second season.
I expect the Titans to escape Soldier Field with a big Week 1 win on Sunday.
The play: Tennessee Titans +3.5
