NFL Picks Against the Spread Week 1: Which Teams Should Upset the Odds?

The opening weekend of the NFL preseason is here and so are the odds from Vegas for all gambling enthusiasts out there.

There is no better feeling for any gambler than to prove the so-called experts wrong and win your money off of an underdog. The first football weekend of the year offers plenty of opportunities for people to latch onto some of these so-called weaker teams.

Instantly when you think of an upset, you must work your way up from the bottom and there was no team lower than the Carolina Panthers last season. However there are plenty of reasons that the Panthers could be the favorites on opening weekend heading to Arizona.

The Cardinals are essentially entering the season with a rookie quarterback on a lesser offense than the Panthers, yet the Panthers enter the game as seven-point underdogs against the spread.

Points could be hard to come by for Kevin Kolb's offense as his only real big-play threat is Larry Fitzgerald. Despite the fanfare of Fitzgerald (undoubtedly one of the best receivers in the league), the Cardinals cannot simply rely on him. Andre Roberts, Todd Heap and Chris Wells are not good enough to overcome a poor offensive line and a fresh-faced quarterback to the tune of seven points over the Panthers.

The Panthers could easily win this game outright, never mind stick within seven.

Another NFC team being insulted by Vegas is Chicago. The Bears are playing at home against a dome team in the Atlanta Falcons, yet are getting three points. The Bears may have some qualms within the organization as Lance Briggs and Matt Forte look for new deals but the Falcons have their issues also.

Ray Edwards missed most of the preseason so is yet to establish himself as a pass rusher across from John Abraham, while James Sanders and Kelvin Hayden have arrived too late to play prominent roles for the team yet, even as backups.

The Bears offense should be able to put up points against the Falcons while their defense could easily stifle the Falcons offense. Michael Turner will be looked to establish himself early in order to prevent the pair of Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije living in the backfield.

In Chicago it won't be easy for the dome team to consistently pass the ball especially on such a talented defensive group—with or without Lance Briggs.

The Bears should win this game and be the favorites however it seems that Vegas has forgotten which team made it to the NFC Championship Game last year.