Tom Brady and the Patriots Kick off New NFL Betting Season
If you’re like many casino players, you’ve been waiting all summer for the start of the new NFL season. Keeping up with all the suspensions, injuries and trades can be challenging, so here’s a quick rundown to make sure you’re up to speed on everything you need to know about the new football season.
The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Thursday night (8:30 PM, NBC) in the first game of the 2015 campaign, and yes, Tom Brady will start at quarterback for the Patriots.
Nothing against Jimmy Garoppolo, who looks like a fine young quarterback and probably would have held his own during the first four games of the regular season. But it’s been Party Central in New England ever since Brady’s Deflategate suspension was overturned last week. The Patriots are 7-point home favorites at press time with an opening total of 52.
Peyton’s Last Stand?
Sunday’s slate of seven early-afternoon games includes the team New England beat at Super Bowl XLIX. The Seattle Seahawks visit the St. Louis Rams in an NFC West battle, with the Seahawks favored by four points and a total of 41 that points toward a more defensive matchup. The ‘Hawks have a shiny new tight end in Jimmy Graham, but safety Kam Chancellor is threatening to sit out the entire season if he doesn’t get a new contract. Kick-off is at 1:00 PM ET on FOX.
The biggest of the five late-afternoon games features Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos hosting the Baltimore Ravens, starting at 4:25 PM ET on CBS. This could be Manning’s last season in the NFL, and he’s got a very good chance of going out on top with new head coach Gary Kubiak and a strong supporting cast. Denver is a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 49.
Where Eagles Dare
The first Sunday Night Football broadcast of the new season (8:30 PM ET, NBC) will be a big one: the Dallas Cowboys will be pitted against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Dallas favored by six points and a big total of 51.5 on the NFL odds board. Can Tony Romo and the Cowboys build on their 12-4 record (10-6 against the spread) from last year? Or will Eli Manning and the Giants get back on the Super Bowl track after two losing seasons?
As usual, Week 1 of the 2015 season wraps up with ESPN’s Monday Night Football double-header. The first game (6:55 PM ET) sees the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Atlanta Falcons, who are 3-point underdogs at the Georgia Dome with a massive total of 55 points. This should be a fun game, and the Eagles are a hot pick this year with head coach Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense.
The nightcap sees the Minnesota Vikings taking on the San Francisco 49ers at 10:15 PM ET. San Francisco could be in for a down year with Jim Tomsula replacing Jim Harbaugh as head coach, and the Niners are 3-point home dogs at press time with a total of 41.5. Enjoy the games, everyone. It’s going to be a very interesting season.
