If I Were A Betting Man: NFL Week 1 2016
The NFL is here and with that comes spreads, over/unders and totals. Indeed it is a billion dollar industry for Las Vegas. While I’d recommend sitting out Week 1, this is what I’d do if I were a betting man this Week 1 2016.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
Julio Jones has recorded at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in 12 consecutive games. Tampa Bay has totaled at least 375 yards in three straight contests, one shy of tying the franchise record set in 2012, and has matched the franchise mark of three straight games with at least 275 passing yards. Doug Martin has recorded 100 yards rushing just once in five meetings with the Falcons and averaged 83 in two clashes last season. The favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Atlanta 23 – Tampa Bay 20
Buffalo at Baltimore
Rex Ryan lost all three matchups against the Ravens as coach of the Jets but is 6-1 as a head coach in season openers with five straight victories. Rookies make up one-fifth of the Baltimore’s roster. The under is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Baltimore 20 – Buffalo 17
Green Bay at Jacksonville
Green Bay owns the second-best record (104-55-1) in the NFL, behind only New England, over the past 10 seasons. Jacksonville is 1-10 in September over the past three seasons. Aaron Rodgers owns the highest career passer rating (104.1) in NFL history. The underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Green Bay 23 – Jacksonville 20
Cleveland at Philadelphia
Cleveland’s Duke Johnson Jr. registered 61 receptions last season, fourth-most among league running backs. Philadelphia TE Zach Ertz recorded career highs of catches (75), targets (112) and yards (853) last season, although his touchdown total (two) decreased for the third straight year. Browns OT Joe Thomas is the only offensive lineman in NFL history to be selected to Pro Bowl in each of his first nine seasons. The home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Philadelphia 27 – Cleveland 20
Miami at Seattle
Seattle WR Doug Baldwin had an NFL high-tying 14 receiving touchdowns last season and a career-high 78 catches and 1,069 yards. The Dolphins are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Seattle 27 – Miami 17
New York Giants at Dallas
New York finished plus-7 in turnover differential last season while Dallas was an NFL-worst minus-22 with a league-low 11 takeaways. Cowboys veteran TE Jason Witten, who restructured his contract to create cap space on Thursday, made a team-leading 77 catches in 2015 – including a TD reception with seven seconds left in a 27-26 season-opening win over the Giants. The over is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in Dallas.
New York Giants 27 – Dallas 24
Pittsburgh at Washington
Pittsburgh’s 41 wins on Kickoff Weekend are the most by any AFC team. Redskins WR DeSean Jackson averages 17.7 yards per catch in his career, the most in the league since 2008. Antonio Brown tied for the NFL lead with 136 receptions in 2015 and his 265 catches in the past two seasons are the most in any two-year span. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
Pittsburgh 27 – Washington 20
Los Angeles at San Francisco
San Francisco and Los Angeles ranked 31st and 32nd, respectively, in total offense last season. The Rams averaged a league-worst 175.3 yards passing in 2015. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco, and 4-1 in the last 5 meetings overall.
Los Angeles 20 – San Francisco 17
