7 best lines, props and more for Week 1, including Ravens at Chiefs

The NFL decided not to ease anyone into the regular season.

The best possible matchup for the traditional Thursday night season opener with the reigning Super Bowl champs was the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. Instead of saving that AFC championship game rematch for later in the season, the NFL scheduled it for opening night. Let’s go.

Here’s a look at Week 1’s betting angles, with all the spreads and odds from BetMGM.

Thursday night: Lamar Jackson is great as an underdog

This number might say as much about Jackson’s great career as any: The Baltimore Ravens have been an underdog 14 times with Jackson as their quarterback, and they’re 12-2 against the spread according to BetMGM’s John Ewing.

Despite that history, this is a pretty tough spot for Baltimore to start the season. The Ravens are a 3-point underdog in a great matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won a Super Bowl last season, beating the Ravens in the AFC championship game along the way, and they look even better on paper this season. The Ravens are breaking in new defensive coordinator Zach Orr after Mike Macdonald took the Seattle Seahawks head-coaching job, and figuring out Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in your first game is a tough ask.

The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes open up the season Thursday night against the Ravens. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

Surprising line of Week 1: Steelers at Falcons

We all know that Mike Tomlin doesn’t have losing seasons. Understood. But the Steelers offense had a pretty bad preseason. And while it’s the preseason, they were also trying to figure out their quarterback situation and a new scheme with coordinator Arthur Smith. They just looked bad. And despite that, they’re just 3-point road favorites at the Atlanta Falcons.

If you believe that new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins might be rusty, coming off a torn Achilles and not playing at all in the preseason, that’s reasonable. It’s just surprising to see a much-improved Falcons team…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-05 18:58:52

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