Highlighting the Top Betting Trends for NFL Week 1

NFL Football is finally back, and the action in Las Vegas is heating up for Week 1. We're seeing some big betting trends developing right now, and teams like the New England Patriots and Houston Texans are setting the pace. 

It's important to realize that betting trends don't always indicate which team will overcome. Use this upcoming information to see what everyone else is doing, but don't blindly follow the herd. 

Let's take a look at the biggest trends as we head into the first weekend of the 2012 NFL season. 

Note: All trends and odds courtesy of Stat Fox

Patriots -6 at Titans

Side: 87 Percent

The New England Patriots currently hold a six-point spread, and 87 percent of all side bets are in their favor to cover the spread. At the open, they had a seven-point spread, so taking the current bet is even more enticing.

Money: 66 Percent

Bettors who are foregoing the spread are also heavily betting on the Pats against the Tennessee Titans, and who can blame them? Jake Locker is getting his first career start, and I guarantee that Bill Belichick has something special dialed up for the greenhorn. 

It's really no surprise that the Patriots are trending like this. Many pundits believe that the 2012 team is capable of winning up to 15 games, and this upcoming contest against the Titans should be nothing more than a speed bump in their pursuit of another postseason run.

Dolphins at Texans -13

Side: 90 Percent

The Houston Texans are favored to win by a whopping 13 points this Sunday when they host the Miami Dolphins. 90 percent of all bettors taking the spread are betting in favor of the Texans. 

13 points is nothing to laugh about, and if we learned anything from the Dolphins a year ago, it's that they can be highly competitive at times against good teams. 

Money: 76 Percent

Even though it makes perfect, logical sense on paper to assume that the Texans will win, especially at home, the team's offensive stars are prone to injury. If the team suffers a rash of injuries in their home opener, it could be a rough night for those who took this bet. 

Still, the Texans are superior to the Dolphins in every single way, and they will likely win the game. 

Falcons -3 at Chiefs

Side: 74 Percent

Being that the spread is only three points, I'm surprised that more people aren't giving the Kansas City Chiefs a chance to beat the spread. The Atlanta Falcons will be in an extremely hostile environment, and the sea of red has caused many a team to lose focus on Sundays. 

Money: 48 Percent

More than half the bettors who are betting straight up are picking the Chiefs to win at home. 

This doesn't surprise me at all. As I mentioned, it's tough to win at Arrowhead stadium, and though the Falcons are loaded this year, the Chiefs are really solid on defense.

Still, I'd be in the minority here, as I'm confident the Falcons will come away with the victory. 

Seahawks -3 at Cardinals

Side: 87 Percent

I'm not surprised at all to see that most people believe this game will be a close one. Both teams have some big weaknesses, though the Seattle Seahawks are a more complete team at this time than the Arizona Cardinals. 

Money: 62 Percent

I am surprised by this, however, and it tells me that Russell Wilson mania is in full effect to start the 2012 season. 

Don't get me wrong. I have a high opinion of the young man, but I'm not convinced he's going to have as much success during the regular season as he did during the preseason. 

Plus, even though John Skelton was terrible in the preseason, we know from his time as the Cardinals' starter in 2011 that he's a gamer. I won't be surprised in the least to see the Cards come away with a victory here.

Redskins at Saints -7

Side: 59 Percent

I'm a bit surprised that the spread is only seven points in this contest. The home team is given plus-three points, all things being equal, so what the oddsmakers are saying here is that the New Orleans Saints are only four points better than the Washington Redskins. 

I'm not surprised that 59 percent of side bets are being given to the Saints, though. People are rightfully a bit nervous about how well the Saints might perform without their head coach.

Money: 24 Percent

Wow. 

Out of all the people taking the straight bet, only one-quarter of them believe the Saints will win. That's stunning. 

The Saints are at home. The Redskins will be going with a rookie quarterback. I just don't get it. 

Eagles -9 at Browns

Side: 87 Percent

This is a pretty safe bet. The Philadelphia Eagles should blow out the Cleveland Browns. 

Even if Mike Vick goes down with an injury (which wouldn't surprise anyone), Nick Foles has been phenomenal this preseason, and I'd expect the Eagles to win big. 

Money: 49 Percent

The Browns aren't likely to win this game unless the Eagles offense completely breaks down. 

I don't see how you would take the Browns to win. Not unless you are a diehard Browns fan who doesn't care about losing some money. 

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