NFL Predictions Week 1: Picks and Odds Advice for Opening Schedule

It's last call for bettors who want to capitalize on the odds out of Las Vegas surrounding the NFL's Week 1.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots put on a show on Thursday Night Football to hit the house's number right on the head, but the full Sunday slate, beginning in just a few hours, offers even more opportunities for bettors to make some early season coin.

It's sometimes better to cash in on lines earlier in the week, but there is still some merit to grabbing last-second odds as things fluctuate. Below, let's take a look at the most recent lines, nail down predictions for each and focus on three games every bettor should know about.

NFL Week 1 Odds

Matchup	Spread	Predicted Winner
Seattle vs. St. Louis	SEA -4	SEA 17-10
Green Bay vs. Chicago	GB -7	GB 35-17
Kansas City vs. Houston	E	HOU 20-14
Cleveland vs. NY Jets	NYJ -3	CLE 13-6
Miami vs. Washington	MIA -3	MIA 28-13
Carolina vs. Jacksonville	CAR -3	CAR 14-13
Indianapolis vs. Buffalo	IND -2.5	IND 17-14
Detroit vs. San Diego	SD -2.5	DET 23-20
New Orleans vs. Arizona	ARI -1	ARI 24-23
Cincinnati vs. Oakland	CIN -2.5	CIN 27-24
Baltimore vs. Denver	DEN -4.5	DEN 20-10
Tennessee vs. Tampa Bay	TB -2.5	TB 24-14
NY Giants vs. Dallas	DAL -7	DAL 24-20
Philadelphia vs. Atlanta	PHI -2.5	PHI 30-27
Minnesota vs. San Francisco	MIN -1	MIN 24-20

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

Top Odds to Bet

Green Bay (-7) vs. Chicago

This line started much closer, which savvy bettors were sure to jump all over. 

Regardless, treat it the same.

Much hoopla surrounds the Green Bay Packers because they lost Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb has been all over the news this week thanks to a shoulder issue. Still, though, Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers, and it's safe to presume he could play with almost anyone who knows his system and light up the scoreboard. 

This is more about the Bears than it is the Packers, however. Jay Cutler won't have rookie wideout Kevin White, and his two top targets, while probable, continue to make the rounds on injury reports, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

What Cutler needs more than anything, though, is a defense able to contain Rodgers. Yet the new-look unit, which asks Jared Allen and others to stand up and rush, cut veteran corner Tim Jennings this offseason.

Starting in his place? The trio of Kyle Fuller and veteran journeymen Tracy Porter and Alan Ball. It's a lot of faith to place in Fuller, who ranked as the 106th corner in the NFL last year at Pro Football Focus on a list grading 108 players.

Look, this line could swell to almost 14 points and it would be a safe bet. Last year's series? Green Bay won in Chicago 38-17 before a home 55-14 triumph. Not much has changed.

Prediction: Packers 35, Bears 17

Indianapolis (-2.5) vs. Buffalo

AJ Mast/Associated Press

On paper, this one looks to be all about the Buffalo Bills. 

After all, new coach Rex Ryan went out and grabbed LeSean McCoy, shook things up under center and inherited one of the league's best defenses. At home, the team should give Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts some problems.

Should.

Here's the thing: The Bills will trot out Tyrod Taylor under center, he of 35 career passing attempts and Michael Vick-esque speed. It's a liability, to say the least. McCoy could help diversify the offense, but even he admitted he won't be 100 percent by Sunday, per ESPN's Josina Anderson:

If McCoy cannot perform as his usual self—and ask fantasy owners, a back with a bum hamstring is nothing to play with—this one won't be pretty.

While the attention goes to Buffalo, it's easy to forget Luck has himself two new and proven weapons in wideout Andre Johnson and back Frank Gore. The latter is especially interesting, because the new-look Colts can now play a grind-it-out affair with the best of the best, considering Gore has eclipsed 1,000 yards in eight of his 10 years as a pro and has never seen his per-carry average dip below 4.1 yards.

The Colts can now play the exact power game teams like the Bills employ, with one major difference—it's not a crutch to compensate for a weakness under center. Luck is one of the best and will make all the difference when he goes up and over. Buffalo's rushing attack stops working if the Bills have to play from behind.

Prediction: Colts 17, Bills 14

Minnesota (-1) vs. San Francisco

Look how much a line can change in the span of a few days.

When this one opened, the San Francisco 49ers were the favorite by more than a field goal. But this is what happens when one of the league's biggest train wrecks collides with a serious up-and-coming squad.

It's not hard to figure out which is which. The San Francisco 49ers lost the aforementioned Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Chris Culliver and coach Jim Harbaugh.

The issues showed in the preseason, too, with the offense and quarterback Colin Kaepernick looking like a Madden franchise with the option to perform passing plays turned off.

What was once one of the most dangerous defenses and diversified offenses looks miserable just in time for a showdown with a team rounding into form on both sides of the football. 

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Adrian Peterson is back for the Vikings, which doesn't need much elaboration. More important is sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who completed 64.4 percent of his passes with 14 scores and 12 picks last year. This year he gets to play with Peterson and reliable deep threat Mike Wallace.

"There's not too many guys that come into the league that have that talent, especially at the quarterback position," Peterson said of Bridgewater, per ESPN.com. "He's just so poised. He has a great arm. He's mature. And he's a competitor."

The stingy defense from one year ago? Coach Mike Zimmer enters his second year and figures to field a top-10 unit in most regards, especially after spending the team's first three picks on defense in the draft, highlighted by 11th pick Trae Waynes.

Look for the Vikings to come up big underneath the national spotlight. Peterson will run wild and open things up for Bridgewater while the defense slams the door shut on any passing efforts by the sluggish 49ers.

Prediction: Vikings 24, 49ers 20

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of September 13. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.