NFL Odds Week 1: Picks and Betting Lines for Opening Weekend

Note: The following betting lines are not an endorsement of gambling. Seriously, that is not the way out of a bad economy!

These games are presented like a rankings football pool with the team that is most certain to win (not necessarily to cover the spread) listed first and the team least likely to win listed last.

Each team is listed with last year's record both for the regular and (if applicable) postseason, both overall and at home if they are playing at home or away if they are on the road. Each game's winner is then listed, along with who will beat the spread and whether or not the teams will combine for more or fewer than the over/under for points in the game.

Chargers over Vikings

Minnesota Vikings (6-10, 2-6) at San Diego Chargers (9-7, 6-2)

Key: Donovan McNabb vs. San Diego's pass-rush

Line: Chargers by nine, Chargers straight up; Vikings vs. spread, over 41.5

Cardinals over Panthers

Carolina Panthers (1-15, 0-8) at Arizona Cardinals (5-11, 4-4)

Key: Kevin Kolb vs. Carolina's pass-rush

Line: Cardinals by seven, Cardinals straight up; Cardinals vs. spread, over 36.5

Browns over Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals (4-12, 1-7) at Cleveland Browns (5-11, 3-5)

Key: Cincinnati's running game vs. Cleveland's front seven

Line: Browns by 6.5, Browns straight up; Browns vs. spread, under 35.5

Texans over Colts

Indianapolis Colts (10-6/0-1, 4-4) at Houston Texans (6-10, 4-4)

Key: Kerry Collins vs. Houston's pass-rush

Line: Texans by nine, Texans straight up; Texans vs. spread, over 43

Chiefs over Bills

Buffalo Bills (4-12, 2-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-6/0-1, 7-1/0-1)

Key: Buffalo's linebackers vs. Kansas City's running backs

Line: Chiefs by six, Chiefs straight up; Chiefs vs. spread, under 40.5

Patriots over Dolphins

New England Patriots (14-2/0-1, 6-2) at Miami Dolphins (7-9, 1-7)

Key: Tom Brady vs. Miami's pass-rush

Line: Patriots by seven, Patriots straight up; Patriots vs. spread, under 45.5

Giants over Redskins

New York Giants (10-6, 5-3) at Washington Offensively Named Ones (6-10, 4-4)

Key: Washington's offensive line vs. New York's front four

Line: Giants by three, Giants straight up; Giants vs. spread, over 37.5

Jets over Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys (6-10, 4-4) at New York Jets (11-5/2-1, 5-3)

Key: Tony Romo vs. New York secondary

Line: Jets by 4.5, Jets straight up; Jets vs. spread, under 40.5

Eagles over Rams

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6/0-1, 6-2/0-1) at St. Louis Rams (7-9, 5-3)

Key: Philadelphia's line vs. St. Louis' pass-rush

Line: Eagles by 4.5, Eagles straight up; Eagles vs. spread, under 43.5

Tians over Jaguars

Tennessee Titans (6-10, 3-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8, 3-5)

Key: Which new quarterback adjusts to his new role faster

Line: Jaguars by one, Titans straight up; Titans vs. spread, under 37.5

Bucs over Lions

Detroit Lions (6-10, 2-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6, 4-4)

Key: Detroit's front seven vs. Tampa Bay's running game

Line: Buccaneers by one, Buccaneers straight up; Buccaneers vs. spread, over 41 points

Falcons over Bears

Atlanta Falcons (13-3/0-1, 6-2) at Chicago Bears (11-5/1-1, 5-3/1-1)

Key: Atlanta's receivers vs. Chicago's secondary

Line: Falcons by 2.5, Falcons straight up; Bears vs. spread, under 40.5

Ravens over Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4/2-1; 7-1/0-0) at Baltimore Ravens (12-4/1-1; 7-1/0-0)

Key: Pittsburgh's receivers vs. Baltimore's secondary

Line: Ravens by one, Ravens straight up; Ravens vs. spread, over 36 points

Packers over Saints

New Orleans Saints (11-5/0-1, 6-2/0-1) at Green Bay Packers (10-6/4-0, 7-1/0-0)

Key: Green Bay's offensive line vs. New Orleans' blitz schemes

Line: Packers by four, Packers straight up; Saints vs. spread, over total points, 47

Click the following link to see a complete preview of this game. In the interest of full disclosure, it was 21-17 Packers by the time I got to this slide.

Niners over Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks (7-9/1-1, 1-7/0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (6-10, 5-3)

Key: San Francisco's offensive line vs. Seattle's pass-rush

Line: Niners by 5.5, Niners straight up; Seahawks vs. spread, under 38

Raiders over Broncos

Oakland Raiders (8-8, 3-5) at Denver Broncos (4-12, 3-5)

Key: Kyle Orton vs. Raiders secondary

Line: Raiders by three, Raiders straight up; Broncos vs. spread, over 40