7 Things Bettors Should Know for NFL Week 1 (2020)

Tonight’s kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium marks the much-anticipated start of the 2020 NFL season. Intensified drama is added due to no preseason games being played, and lots of fans are anxious to place their week 1 bets.

Here are seven things you might want to know before you lock anything in.

Week 1 betting isn’t all about picking sides or deciding between overs or unders. There are all sorts of manufactured parlay bets already set up at BetOnline – many of which are going to grab your attention when you see the odds that are attached.

Check out Noah Davis’ top TNF prop bets as an example. The fact that BetOnline letting us grab hold of Travis Kelce going over 80 yards and the Chiefs winning the game at +122 is quite the bargain.

This is just an example of one of the many “performance doubles” available. Once you sift through the selection, you’ll see a fair amount of these wagers provide a good chunk of value.

I’m one of the many who think the Bears are due for a bounce-back year, especially the play of quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Nevertheless, I’m not in any hurry to back them on the road in Detroit in week 1. Getting three points against the Lions might sound great on paper, but that noise fades away once you do a little bit of digging.

Chicago was 1-6 against the spread as a visitor in 2019. Throw in their three-point loss to the Raiders as a 6.5-point favorite in London and they were 1-7 ATS in games not played as Soldier Field. As a favorite in general, the Bears covered just 20% of the time (2-8).

The Lions depth chart is vastly improved on both sides of the ball, and you can throw away the Bears two victories against Detroit last year. They won’t be facing Jeff Driskel or David Blough again, it’ll be a rejuvenated Matthew Stafford who’s ready to put the league on notice.

Highest graded passers to contested targets since 2015:

Tom Brady – 94.5
Patrick Mahomes – 94.1
Russell Wilson – 94.1
Matthew Stafford – 93.5 pic.twitter.com/NMPonermV0

— PFF (@PFF) September 9, 2020

So maybe you’re not impressed by the Ravens 59-10 drubbing of the Dolphins last year in week 1. But what about their opening performance the year before? And how about 2018, or 2017?

I’ll help you out.

The Browns not only got pounded by the Titans 43-13 last season in week 1, but they haven’t won a season opener since 2004. That takes me back to when I was in high school and when Lance Armstrong was still being celebrated.

Kevin Stefanski has hands full in his first game as a head coach, and let’s not forget the narrative attached to Baltimore owing Cleveland some payback.

Baker Mayfield and company went into M&T Bank Stadium in 2019 and laid a beatdown on the Ravens. My guess is Lamar Jackson and his crew are ready to return the favor.

I’m one of the many Miles Sanders owners in fantasy football waiting for that “Q” tag in week 1 to disappear. While it hasn’t vanished into thin air, Sanders was among the key Eagles starters who returned to practice on Wednesday.

Joining the stud RB back on the practice field were Carson Wentz, rookie wideout Jalen Reagor, and right tackle Lane Johnson. Defensive ends Vinny Curry and Genard Avery were both back in pads after each missed more than two weeks. 

If this news doesn’t help Philly fans breathe a big sigh of relief, it helps to know that the Washington Football Team has lots of kinks to work out. The first of which would be fully committing to Dwayne Haskins – that way Haskins isn’t looking over his shoulder waiting for Alex Smith to start warming up.  

Minnesota’s defense was already set to take a hit due to losing so many contributors from last year’s squad. The secondary was completely decimated through free agency, and I don’t say that lightly.

Xavier Rhodes joined the Chargers, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander both signed with the Bengals. Andrew Sendejo inked a deal with the Browns while Jayron Kearse bolted for the Lions.

And while trading for Yannick Ngakoue helps fill the voids from losing Everson Griffen and Stephen Weatherly, the Vikings will be without Danielle Hunter in their week 1 matchup.

#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter has been placed on IR and practice squad K Chase McLaughlin has been protected. pic.twitter.com/eNmJUAT2PP

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 9, 2020

That’s a major blow, as Hunter is one of the premier pass rushers in all of the NFL. Aaron Rodgers should be able to take advantage of extra time in the pocket, which puts the “over” 45 firmly in play as a wager.

We knew Joe Burrow was going to be Cincinnati’s week 1 starting quarterback from the moment they drafted him in April. Announcing him as one of the captains simply cements his status as the leader of this unit.

Zac Taylor has lauded Joe’s leadership qualities throughout training camp, and running back Joe Mixon echoed his head coach’s sentiments.

Don’t look now, but squaring off against a Chargers defense minus Derwin James should allow Burrow to have a field day at Paul Brown Stadium. Whether that means backing the Bengals +3 or betting on them to win the game outright, that’s up to you.

Remember that deadly duo of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb that John Elway was so excited about in Denver?

Unfortunately, we may have to wait another year until we see the tandem back in action.

Denver also still doesn’t know whether former first-round pick Bradley Chubb, who tore his ACL last year, will be ready to open the season Monday night against the Titans. https://t.co/6ZfYPMTONF

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2020

No Von Miller and no Bradley Chubb open the door for Ryan Tannehill to exploit the Broncos coverages. All of the major NFL betting sites have taken notice and swung this line from Denver laying 1.5 points to the Broncos getting 2.5.

However, it’s a mistake if you are naïve enough to assume the Titans are now a lock. Denver is playing at home with a really fast offense, and Drew Lock should prosper behind what is a stout offensive line.

In fact, if I see this line breach Titans -3, I’ll be hammering a bet in on the Broncos.