If you’re an NFL betting enthusiast that is excited about the start of the 2018 regular season and you like stringing wagers together as part of what could be a potentially bankroll-boosting parlay, then consider your ticket punched! Thanks to the triumvirate of week 1 NFL picks that you’re about to get, you’re going to have three great chances to cash in this coming weekend. Okay, with that said, let’s get started.
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
🏈: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
⏰: Sun. Sep 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET
🏟️: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
📺: CBS
🎰: Indianapolis Colts -2½ -120 | -145 | U 48½ -110
With franchise quarterback Andrew Luck back on the field this season after he missed the entire 2017 season, I’m expecting the Indianapolis Colts to be a lot better than they were when they went 4-12. However, Indianapolis also has a lot of problems at other positions that not even Luck’s presence can fix, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where the Colts finished last season ranked an uninspiring 30th in points allowed (25.3 ppg). Cincinnati closed out their 2017 season with a nice effort that saw them win three of their final five games while suffering their only two losses by a combined six points. Not only that, but the Bengals looked pretty solid in going 3-1 in the preseason. Although no one’s really talking about it, I like the Bengals to be one of the most improved teams in the league this coming season. Cincinnati ranked a respectable 16th in points allowed last season (21.8 ppg) and I’m expecting some improved offense in 2018 thanks to the contributions of second-year wideout John Ross and second-year running back Joe Mixon. Cincinnati is a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games against their AFC conference rivals and an encouraging 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall. Indianapolis is an awful 1-9 ATS mark in their last 10 Week 1 openers, making the Bengals an easy pick for me to win outright.
Predicted Score: Cincinnati 28 Indianapolis 23
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
🏈: Houston Texans at New England Patriots
⏰: Sun. Sep 9, 2018 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
📺: CBS
🎰: New England Patriots -6 -115 | -270 | U 51 -110
The Texans went 3-1 in the preseason and have some elite players on both sides of the ball and what looks like the makings of one of the league’s best defenses now that their stars are back and healthy. Second-year quarterback Deshaun Watson was the talk of the NFL last season before tearing his ACL before Week 9 and J.J. Watt, among other defensive starters, is also back following his own season-ending injury. The Patriots also looked decent this preseason in going 3-1 even though that was mostly without future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady calling the shots. The Pats changed their roster a bit this offseasons after coming up just short against Philadelphia in Super Bowl 52, but at this point, it’s clear that as long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are joined at the hip, new England is going to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. For this Week 1 matchup of AFC title favorites, I like Houston to cover the chalk as a nearly touchdown road dog. I know New England has gone 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in the month of September, but Houston has gone 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in September and they may have more overall talent in this matchup. The Texans will push the Pats for the outright win, but I think New England narrowly manages to scratch out the victory.
Predicted Score: Patriots 31 Texans 28
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
🏈: Houston Texans at New England Patriots
⏰: Sun. Sep 9, 2018 1:00 PM ET
🏟️: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
📺: CBS
🎰: New England Patriots -6½ -110 | -275 | U 46 -110
I know the San Francisco 49ers won their final five regular season games a year ago once new franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took over and that they’re a popular pick to improve in 2018. However, I think everyone should just pump their brakes a bit and slow down on the Jimmy G express train. First, Frisco didn’t look very good in going 1-3 in the preseason. The Niners lost their final three scrimmage games after beating lowly Dallas in their opener, so they’ve clearly got some improving to do moving forward. On the flip side of the coin, Minnesota has looked great in the preseason (3-1) and enter the 2018 regular season with the league’s best defense and an offense that should be improved in a big way thanks to the addition of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Vikings’ new franchise signal-caller has a ton of playmakers in wide receivers Stephon Diggs and Adam Thielen, tight end Kyle Rudolph and running back Dalvin Cook. For this regular season opener, I think the Minnesota Vikings are the easy pick to win outright and cover the chalk as a near touchdown home favorite. I know the 49ers have gone 6-1 ATS in their last 7 regular season openers, but the Vikings are a near-perfect 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in the month of September and an incendiary 42-19 ATS in their last 61 games overall. I’m expecting Minnesota to shut down Jimmy G with their powerful defense while their new look offense puts their fair share of points on the board to help them get the win and ATS cover.
Predicted Score: Minnesota 29 San Francisco 20
