Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against … [+]
The NFL has released the 2024 schedule nearly four months ahead of the regular season, and the excitement for the upcoming season has begun. So has betting on the games, as opening Week 1 lines and odds are now available at leading U.S. sportsbooks.
Week 1 presents some intriguing matchups including an AFC Championship Game rematch between the Balimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs on Thurs., Sept. 8 to kickoff the 2024 season. The following night in São Paulo, Brazil, the Green Bay Packers tackle the Philadelphia Eagles.
While it’s very early and just a few days after the NFL schedule and Week 1 odds release, FanDuel Sportsbook reports “the first two games to kickoff the season are the most popular betting games so far.” The Chiefs have taken early money with more than 60% of the spread bets and greater than 80% of the money (handle) on the Chiefs to cover the -2.5 point spread as small favorites. The Ravens have taken more bets and handle on moneyline wagering (to win the game).
The slightly favored Eagles (-1.5) have also taken more than 75% of the spread bets and 85% of the handle against the Packers for Friday’s first-ever NFL contest in South America.
Types Of Bets And How To Read The Odds
There are some intriguing matchups in Week 1 and just three road favorites – the Texans, Vikings and Cowboys. The NFL also went light on Week 1 division games with just three – Houston at Indianapolis, Carolina at New Orleans and Las Vegas at Los Angeles Chargers.
Betting Angle: Playbook Sports notes that NFL divisional home underdogs are 9-2 against the spread (ATS) in Week 1 over the past six years (2-2 last year). Since 2012, they are 17-4-1 ATS, and since 2009 divisional home underdogs are 23-7-1 ATS with 19 outright wins. The Colts are a division underdog against the Texans in Week 1 to open the 2024 season.
Divisional ‘Dogs are 40-18-1 ATS (69%) home or away in Week 1 over the past 12 seasons (5-3 last year).
2024 NFL Week 1 Odds
Pro football odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Point spreads listed on favorites.
NFL Prime Time games will also be the most watched and wagered of the regular season starting with Week 1 Sunday Night Football when the Detroit Lions host the Los Angeles Rams with the highest game total of Week 1 at 51.5 points, which is down from the over/under opener of 52.5. Quarterback Matthew Stafford of the Rams returns to Detroit where he was the Lions franchise QB for 12 seasons.
The opening Week 1 Monday Night Football contest between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers is the first meeting between Robert Saleh and Kyle Shanahan as respective head coaches. Of course, the two worked together in Santa Clara from 2017 until 2021. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is a Northern California native, and the 40-year-old returns to live action after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in the first series of the Jets Week 1 game last season.
Hall of Fame broadcasters and co-founder of the Vegas Stats & Information Network Brent Musberger said, “I think this has to be one of the most spectacular opening weeks in NFL history,” starting with the two most bet games on Thursday (BAL at KC ) and Friday (GB vs PHI in South America).
Musberger notes Tom Brady making his broadcasting debut on FOX covering the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns game, where FanDuel has the Cowboys a slight -1.5 point favorite, but another top online sportsbook DraftKings shows the Browns (-1) the slight favorite. Also in the Sunday afternoon window and part of the doubleheader is Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL with Los Angeles hosting the Las Vegas Raiders, and new full-time head coach Antonio Pierce.
I’ll be providing more NFL betting news and updates, schedule and betting insight including from leading experts and top online sports books ahead of Week 1 and throughout the 2024 season.
You can bet on it.