NFL Week 1 Spreads: A First Look at the Betting Odds for Week 1 in the NFL

There is still a chance that there will not be any football games this season in the NFL. That did not stop the league from releasing the schedule for this year.

The release of the schedule allowed football fans to start talking about football again. It also allowed the NFL odds makers to announce the NFL spreads for Week 1 in the NFL.

Thursday Night: New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 17: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is chased by Aaron Kampman #74 of the Green Bay Packers on September 17, 2006 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-27. (P

The defending Super Bowl champions kick off the 2011 NFL season with a prime time game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Green Bay Packers are 3.5-point favorites to get the season started.

This line seems to make sense as the Packers have home-field advantage and will be eager to defend the championship. Drew Brees and the Saints look to be lively underdogs in what should be one of the better games of the week.

Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 19: Running back LeGarrette Blount #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers straight-arms safety C.C. Brown #39 of the Detroit Lions during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Im

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the pleasant surprises in the NFL in 2010. The 10-6 record from a year ago has carried some weight into this season as the Buccaneers spread is -3.5 points over the visiting Detroit Lions.

The Lions will be healthy and ready to make a run at the playoffs, but winning on the road could be a difficult task to start the season.

Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Garrett Wolfe #25 of the Chicago Bears against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 18, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons will make a trip to the Windy City to kick the season off against the Chicago Bears. The Bears are listed as 1.5-point favorites over the Falcons making this game a toss up.

Jay Cutler should be eager to get under center and erase his dubious playoff game. It will be interesting to see how the Bear fans welcome him back.

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills passes during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 31, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills get their season started in one of the hardest places to play in the NFL. Arrowhead Stadium is a nightmare for opposing teams, and the fans will be ready to cheer on the Chiefs.

The Chiefs opened up as six-point favorites over the visiting Bills. Last year, the Chiefs narrowly won 13-10 in overtime when the Bills paid a visit. If that is any indication of how close this game could be, the points look pretty tempting.

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Mike Hart #32 of Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball while tackled by Zac Diles #54 and Bernard Pollard #31 of the Houston Texans during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Phot

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts travel to Houston to battle the Texans. If the Texans expect to have a successful campaign in 2011, they will need to improve on a defense that was shredded most of last year.

This is the first interesting line of the NFL season as the Colts are listed as just a one-point favorite. If it looks too good to be true (it usually is), that could mean the Texans win in Week 1.

Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Rams

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles travel to St. Louis to open the season against the Rams. The Eagles will look to start the trek towards a Super Bowl and are 3.5-point favorites in the opener.

Sam Bradford will look to avoid a sophomore jinx by starting the season off with a good game, but that could be difficult against one of the better teams in football.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Running back Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens is hit by linebacker James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pen

If physical football games highlighted by bone-crushing hits are the brand of football you like to watch, then this game is for you.

The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens is always a hard-hitting affair by two rivals determined to beat the tar out of each other. The games are always close on the scoreboard, so it is not surprising that the Ravens are three-point favorites.

In a game between these two teams, the underdog is usually the safest bet.

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 03: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns is hit by cornerback Leon Hall #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 3, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

This AFC North game does not have the intensity of the Steelers-Ravens, but could be interesting to watch. The Cincinnati Bengals finished in the basement of the division and may not have the services of Carson Palmer, if he is traded or decides to retire.  

Because of this uncertainty, the Cleveland Browns are 2.5-point favorites in the season opener.

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 05: Jared Cook #89 of the Tennessee Titans makes a catch as Don Carey #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars defends at LP Field on December 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jaguars won 17-6. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

This AFC South matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars is another game the oddsmakers had to approach with caution. Will the Titans have Vince Young under center, a free agent, or a rookie?

The Jaguars are 2.5-point favorites and mainly because this game is at Jacksonville.

New York Giants at Washington Redskins

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 05: Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants has words with Rocky McIntosh #52 of the Washington Redskins after Jacobs scored a touchdown during their game on December 5, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherf

Anything can happen when these two NFC East foes meet on the field. This game has extra significance since it will be held on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I still believe this could be one of the best games on opening day.

The Giants are three-point road favorites since they swept the season series from the Redskins a year ago.

A home underdog on opening day could be very deadly.

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 12: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers runs after a catch as Lawyer Milloy #36 of the Seattle Seahawks defends during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on December 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jaco

The coaches will take center stage for this kickoff by the bay. The San Francisco 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh in the offseason and Pete Carroll would love to welcome him to the league with a loss.

The 49ers are three-point favorites and will look to put a miserable 2010 behind them, but who will be under center? The Seahawks set out to prove the playoff run was not a fluke in what could be one of the newest rivalries in the NFL.

Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 19: Jonathan Stewart #28 of the Carolina Panthers runs away from Paris Lenon #51 of the Arizona Cardinals during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/G

The Carolina Panthers kick off their season in the desert against the Arizona Cardinals. This could be the first NFL game of Cam Newton if the Panthers make him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Regardless of who is under center, it could be a long year for the Panthers as they are listed as three-point underdogs against Arizona.

Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 the San Diego Chargers delivers a pass against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 4, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 35-17.

The Minnesota Vikings begin life after Brett Favre with a trip to San Diego to play the Chargers. The Bolts are listed as 6.5-point favorites, but have a bad habit of starting slow under Norv Turner.

The Vikings will need a signal caller, but will still have Adrian Peterson and a stout defense.

Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets reacts against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets will take center stage on Sunday Night Football as they host the Dallas Cowboys. The Jets are three-point favorites in this contest, which may seem low considering the Cowboys won six games a year ago.

The Cowboys could be a live underdog in this prime time tilt.

Monday Night Football: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 4: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Sean Smith #24 of the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Field on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

In the first game of the Monday Night Football double header, the Patriots will take on the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, so it makes sense that they are 3.5-point favorites over the Dolphins in this game.

The Dolphins have double revenge heading into this game and home divisional underdogs are always worth looking at.

Monday Night Football: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos hands off the ball before being hit by Richard Seymour #92 of the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Im

The second game on Monday night football is an AFC West matchup between the Raiders and the Broncos. The Broncos are small 1.5-point favorites at home for this contest, which may come as a surprise.

The Broncos won four games a year ago and were beaten badly twice by the Raiders. The Broncos will be out for revenge on the national stage.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail].