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Mackenzie Rivers, Chris Dell and Smoove deliver you the most actional analysis and best bets on NFL sides, totals, teasers and props for the '24 season.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Dolphins -4 / Total: 49.5
Current Line: Dolphins -3.5 / Total: 49
While CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson are grabbing the majority of the headlines for the QBs in the AFC South, Trevor Lawrence has a lot to prove coming into his 4th year and his 3rd year running Doug Pederson’s system. They won’t have Calvin Ridley as he’s moved on to the Titans, but they’ll have a respectable WR group led by Christian Kirk and look for rookie Brain Thomas Jr. to make an impact. Also, Jacksonville got out to an 8-3 start, then Lawerence suffered an injury and wasn’t healthy enough to finish the season, so they’re coming into 2024 underrated. This line opened at Dolphins -4 and getting more than 90% of the tickets but just 57% of the money, and the line has moved to -3 with the market still heavy on the Dolphins as they’re getting more than 70% of the tickets, but I’m with the respected money for this matchup backing the Jaguars.
Best Bet: Jaguars +3.5
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Falcons -2.5 / Total: 43.5
Current Line: Falcons -3.5 / Total: 42
The Falcons have been looking for average to top-10 quarterback play since 2017, which was Matt Ryan’s last respectable season. They finally got it this past offseason by signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins. They even doubled down on the position by using their 1st round pick on Michael Penix, who won’t help them on the field unless Cousins misses significant time with an injury. Atlanta feels like they have all the pieces in place on offense and defense to make a run at the playoffs and they also have the easiest strength of schedule in the league. This line opened Falcons -2.5, with Atlanta getting more than 65% of the tickets and more than 80% of the money with movement towards the Falcons as this line currently sits at -3 consensus, and my model made this line Falcons -3.22.
Best Bet: Stay away
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Saints -4.5 / Total: 41
Current Line: Saints -4 / Total: 41.5
Carolina was the worst team last year, but the consensus opinion around the team is that improvement is expected under first-time head coach Dave Canales. He was able to get Baker Mayfield to play above-average football in Tampa Bay last year and is expected to improve Bryce Young. I backed the Saints last year to go over their season win total of 9.5, and they fell short at 9, which was disappointing as they had the easiest strength of schedule. In year 2 of the Derek Carr era, they find themselves in a similar position with the 3rd easiest schedule. As I’m backing the Saints again to go over their season win total of 7.5, this is a tough spot to back them as the Panthers have a 60% system working in their favor as road underdogs in divisional matchups for week 1.
Best Bet: Panthers/Saints under 41.5
New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Bengals -8 / Total: 43
Current Line: Bengals -8.5 / Total: 41
The Patriots finally named their starting quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, but I don’t see it making much of a difference when facing this Bengals defense. This Bengals roster may be better than expected as they finished last season 9-8 with their star QB Joe Burrow missing seven games due to injury. He now returns healthy, and it looks like his star wideout Ja’Mar Chase will be available to play as he practiced Wednesday despite battling for a new contract. The Bengals also play the Chiefs next week, so I don’t expect them to empty the playbook on the Patriots, but I expect an effort good enough to get a win and move on to next week healthy.
Best Bet: Patriots/Bengals under 41
Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Bears -4 / Total: 43.5
Current Line: Bears -3.5 / Total: 44.5
Number one overall draft pick Caleb Williams opens his season up against 2nd-year QB Will Levis. Not only is Williams dealing with all the hype of being the new franchise QB and 1st overall pick, but he’s also up against some tough trends for rookie QBs. Since 2000 there’s been 34 rookie QBs to start Week 1, and they’re combined 11-22-1 SU, averaging just 13.3 PPG. My model made this line Bears -4.33, but considering those strong trends against rookie QBs, this is a situation worthy of a pass.
Best Bet: Stay away
Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Opening Line: Bills -7 / Total: 48.5
Current Line: Bills -6.5 / Total: 47
Buffalo traded their top target in the offseason in Stefon Diggs to the Texans, and they’ve been downgraded too much, making them underrated coming into the 2024 season. Buffalo will have one of the better tight-end tandems in Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Plus, I think their rookie WR is underrated as his college numbers were affected at the end of the season because his starting QB was out for the rest of the season with an injury, and now he’ll be catching balls from a top 3 QB in Josh Allen. Arizona is expected to have a better season for 2024 as they’re starting it off with a healthy Kyler Murray, and their season win total is set at 6.5. Still, they had one of the worst defenses last season as they ranked 4th worst in Yards Per Point and 5th worst in Yards Per Play, and they’ll have to open up their season on the road versus a top 3 quarterback and offense. This line opened at Bills -7, but the majority of the market backed the Cardinals with more than 55% of tickets and more than 95% of money moving this line to -6, and there’s value in backing the home favorite and better team as my model made this line Bills -9.87.
Best Bet: Bills -6.5
Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.
Opening Line: Chargers -3 / Total: 44
Current Line: Chargers -3 / Total: 40
One of the most popular bets in the future markets is the Chargers' season win total over 8.5, which is currently at nine because of the trust in Jimmy Harbaugh, as he’s turned around just about every football program he’s coached rather quickly. Still, outside of the QB position, there isn’t much-proven talent on this roster, so this could be a slower development than usual. The Raiders finished last season on a high note. Even though they didn’t make the playoffs for interim head coach Antonio Pierce, they played well enough for him to earn the job full-time, and they’ll be out looking to make an early statement in a divisional game. My model made this line Chargers -2.05, so there is some slight value on backing the road underdog.
Lean: Raiders +3
Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions 8:20 p.m. (SNF)
Opening Line: Lions -3 / Total: 50.5
Current Line: Lions -4.5 / Total: 52
To kick off Sunday Night Football, we have a playoff rematch of Matt Stafford vs. Jared Goff part 2, and I’m expecting more of the same in this matchup as a close ball game. The Rams will start the era without Aaron Donald, but they’ve had all offseason to prepare, and they’ll face a familiar QB in Jared Goff that Sean McVay knows very well. My model made this line Lions -2.27, so there’s value in backing the Rams, who also could use the revenge factor facing the team that knocked them out of the playoffs.
Best Bet: Rams +4.5
New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. (MNF)
Opening Line: 49ers -5.5 / Total: 46.5
Current Line: 49ers -4.5 / Total: 43.5
Most of the market is down on the 49ers and expecting them to suffer from the Super Bowl loser curse, but I don’t see it that way, as they’re not in the typical spot most Super Bowl losers have fallen into. The 49ers have the best roster in the NFL, a top 3 coach and a legit MVP candidate in Brock Purdy. In his first full season as the starter, Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl while being the leader in the MVP race coming into Christmas and setting franchise records that include Joe Montana and Steve Young. Expect him to be even better going into his 2nd year and a healthy offseason. This line opened at 49ers -5.5, and the market has loved the Jets as they received more than 55% of the tickets and more than 60% of the money, moving this line to -3.5 and currently, the ticket count split at 51/49, so there’s value in backing the favorite on Monday night. My model made this line 49ers -6.44.
Best Bet: 49ers -4.5
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants, 1 p.m. Sunday
Opening Line: Giants -1 / Total: 41.5
Current Line: Giants +1.5 / Total: 41
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. Sunday
Opening Line: Colts +1.5 / Total: 48
Current Line: Colts +3 / Total: 48.5
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. Sunday
Opening Line: Seahawks -4.5 / Total: 43
Current Line: Seahawks -6 / Total: 41.5
Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Bucs, 4:25 p.m. Sunday
Opening Line: Bucs -3.5 / Total: 42
Current Line: Bucs -3.5 / Total: 42.5
Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. Sunday
Opening Line: Browns -1 / Total: 45
Current Line: Browns -2.5 / Total: 41
Our Early Bird NFL Premium Package is now available for the 2024 season! The Betting Predators NFL Premium Package was created to give you with the highest-quality betting and player prop analysis. We're here to help you save time, win money, and become a long-term profitable sports bettor. Our team of analysts, led by Mackenzie Rivers and Chris Dell, deliver real-time best bets and player prop analysis, every week, through the Super Bowl.