NFL Week 1 Odds Analysis: Betting Trends for Season Openers

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a disappointing 2014 campaign that saw them go 6-10 straight up and 7-9 against the spread.

However, the Falcons started off last year by pulling off a 37-34 overtime victory against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 as three-point home underdogs to improve to 6-0 ATS in season openers at the Georgia Dome since 1999.

This year, Atlanta hosts the Philadelphia Eagles in the first game of the Monday night doubleheader to kick off the season, again as three-point home underdogs. In 2005, the Falcons upset the Eagles 14-10 in their season opener at home as 1.5-point dogs.

Philadelphia has not had much trouble scoring since then in season openers, though, totaling more than 30 points in five of its past seven Week 1 games.

There are several other teams that have performed well, and not so well, in season openers recently. The Buffalo Bills (8-2), Detroit Lions (9-3) and San Francisco 49ers (9-2-1) are three teams that have beaten the spread on a consistent basis in Week 1 over the past decade or so.

However, it might surprise you that the Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) have also enjoyed a lot of success in season openers, versus the number anyway. In fact, the Jaguars are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 Week 1 games at home.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are among the favorites to win Super Bowl 50. However, the Packers have lost their last three season openers straight up heading into Sunday’s NFC North rivalry game with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Green Bay is not the only team that has struggled in Week 1 over the years, as the Cleveland Browns have dropped 14 of 15 straight up and gone 3-11-1 ATS in those games. In addition, the Indianapolis Colts are among the favorites to win the AFC, but they are just 1-6 ATS in their past seven season openers, while the St. Louis Rams are a dismal 2-12-1 against the line in their previous 15.

In terms of situational matchups, the New York Giants have also failed to cover their last six Week 1 games on the road.