NFL Predictions 2012: Week 1 Odds for Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will open up the 2012 NFL regular season against each other on Sunday, Sept. 9, with the opening kickoff from MetLife Stadium scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

BetOnline sports book has established the Jets as five-point home favorites in this AFC East affair, while the total has held steady at 42.5.

New York won both meetings against Buffalo during the 2011 season, including a 28-24 win as 9.5-point home favorites on Nov. 27, which immediately followed back-to-back prime-time losses to the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.

Highly scrutinized quarterback Mark Sanchez completed 37 of 63 passes for 410 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions in those victories over Buffalo, but he will enter with a 51.9 completion percentage in six career games against the Bills.

The former USC star will be under immense pressure to perform early after the franchise traded for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who became available after the Indianapolis Colts parted ways with Peyton Manning.

Sports bettors will find that the Jets were 6-10 against the spread last year, while the "over" was 10-6 in those contests.

Buffalo was the talk of the AFC after three weeks with a perfect 3-0 record, but the Bills ultimately finished the year with a 6-10 record due to numerous injuries and an offense that went stagnant in November.

The Bills can definitely win their first three games for a second straight year if they come away with a victory here, as they will host the Kansas City Chiefs and play the Cleveland Browns on the road the following two weeks.

My early suggestion is to play the "under" in this contest, as I anticipate the Bills having a much stronger defense in 2012 with the free-agent signing of former Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will also be maturing in his second year out of Alabama.

Early Pick: Under 42.5

Follow Jeff Grant on Twitter.