Upcoming Match-ups

Opening Odds, Lines, and Spreads for Week 1 of 2021 NFL Season

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated May 14, 2021 · 2:45 PM PDT

Josh Allen running with the football
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) scrambles away from Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
  • Odds have been posted for 15 of 16 Week 1 games of the 2021 NFL season
  • The San Francisco 49ers are the heaviest favorites vs Detroit; In an AFC Divisional playoff rematch, the Browns vs Chiefs game has the highest total at 53
  • See opening odds, spreads and totals for all Week 1 NFL games below

The NFL isn’t waiting long to deliver intrigue to its fan base. Just look at the offerings from the league for Week 1 of the 2021 regular season.

For openers, the Cleveland Browns are tackling the team that finished them off in last season’s AFC Divisional playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) and Buffalo Bills (AFC East) meet in the only Week 1 matchup featuring reigning division champions.

Week 1 starts off with a Thursday Night Football barnburner pitting the Dallas Cowboys and the return of quarterback Dak Prescott against Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2021 Week 1 NFL Odds

Team Moneyline at DraftKings Spread Total
Dallas Cowboys +220 +6.5 (-113) O 52.5 (-110)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -278 -6.5 (-108) U 52.5 (-110)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Los Angeles Chargers -117 -1.5 (-106) O 45.0 (-110)
Washington Football Team -104 +1.5 (-115) U 45.0 (-110)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
San Francisco 49ers -455 -7.5 (+100) O 46.5 (-107)
Detroit Lions +340 +7.5 (-121) U 46.5 (-114)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Jacksonville Jaguars -122 -1.5 (-109) O 45.5 (-112)
Houston Texans +102 +1.5 (-112) U 45.5 (-109)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Seattle Seahawks +112 +2.5 (-110) O 52.5 (-107)
Indianapolis Colts -136 -2.5 (-110) U 52.5 (-113)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
New York Jets +165 +4.5 (-113) O 43.5 (-107)
Carolina Panthers -108 -4.5 (-108) U 43.5 (-114)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Philadelphia Eagles +165 +3.5 (-110) O 46.5 (-118)
Atlanta Falcons -200 -3.5 (-110) U 46.5 (-103)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Arizona Cardinals +112 +2.5 (-112) O 51.5 (-110)
Tennessee Titans -136 -2.5 (-109) U 51.5 (-110)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Minnesota Vikings -165 -3.5 (+102) O 48.5 (-106)
Cincinnati Bengals +135 +3.5 (-122) U 48.5 (-115)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Pittsburgh Steelers +215 +6.5 (-112) O 50.5 (-118)
Buffalo Bills -275 -6.5 (-109) U 50.5 (-104)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Miami Dolphins +108 +2 (-109) O 45.5 (-112)
New England Patriots -130 -2 (-112) U 45.5 (-109)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Denver Broncos -117 -1.5 (-105) O 42.5 (-110)
New York Giants -105 +1.5 (-115) U 42.5 (-110)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Cleveland Browns +210 +5.5 (-107) O 53.0 (-112)
Kansas City Chiefs -265 -5.5 (-114) U 53.0 (-109)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Chicago Bears +260 +7 (-112) O 45.0 (-112)
Los Angeles Rams -335 -7 (-109) U 45.0 (-109)
Team Moneyline Spread Total
Baltimore Ravens -286 -6 (-110) O 51.5 (-109)
Las Vegas Raiders +225 +6 (-110) U 51.5 (-112)

Odds as of May 12th

Betting lines with the NFL odds are already posted for 15 of the 16 Week 1 games. Only the Green Bay Packers-New Orleans Saints tilt is without an opening line. Perhaps oddsmakers are waiting for the Aaron Rodgers soap opera to play out before assigning this game a number.

Going Long

The longest opening spread for Week 1 is assigned to the San Francisco 49ers-Detroit Lions game slated for Ford Field. The 49ers, 6-10 a year ago, are listed as the 7.5-point chalk over the Lions, coming off a 5-11 campaign.

Oddsmakers evidently believe that San Fran’s rash of injuries caused the team’s decline from 13-3 and NFC champions to 6-10. On the other hand, the Lions went 5-11 because they’re the Lions and that’s what they do.

Short, Not Sweet

There’s a trio of games showing the shortest Week 1 point spread of 1.5 points. Interestingly, the visitor is favored in all three games. Jacksonville is favored at Houston and Denver is the pick at the New York Giants in battles between 2020 NFL train wrecks.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 1.5-point favorites at defending NFC East champs Washington. Obviously, bookmakers aren’t concerned that the sophomore jinx will impact Chargers QB and NFL OROY Justin Herbert to open the season.

Big and Little Numbers

The Chiefs and Browns were assigned the highest Week 1 total of 53 points. Cleveland (10-8) and Kansas City (9-10) weren’t especially productive in going over last season. However, the Browns have allowed an average of 40.5 points in their past two season openers. KC has scored on average 37 points through its past two Week 1 games.

On the other end, the pitiful Broncos and woeful Giants are listed with 42.5 points as their total. Denver was 8-8 on the total last season, while the Giants were an NFL-worst 3-13.

Expect Lions Movement

There’s another new regime in Detroit. Lions fans are already in love with coach Dan Campbell, because he speaks in catchphrases.

Campbell is the fifth first-time NFL head coach hired by Detroit since 2000. The other four went 0-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread in their Lions debuts.

The Lions faithful are a gullible bunch. They will bet this spread down from +7.5 and patient Niners backers will benefit.

Oh, and speaking of betting the 49ers, this is the third time they’ve opened the season at Detroit. They won the Super Bowl in each of the other two seasons.

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