Opening Odds and Lines for Week 1 of 2020 NFL Season

• The opening lines for Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season have been released
• The Kansas City Chiefs kick things off, hosting the Houston Texans as the biggest favorite of the opening week
• Look at every spread and total for each game below

The wait was longer than usual and though it comes with several contingency plans, the 2020 NFL schedule is finally here. Naturally, there’s tons of enticing matchups across the tentative 17-week schedule, but from a sports betting perspective, it’s hard to top that opening week.

With the slate now officially set, it’s never too early to look at the NFL odds for Week 1 of the 2020 season.

NFL Week 1 Odds

Odds taken May 7.

Defending Champs are Biggest Favorite

The NFL normally tries to give the reigning Super Bowl champions at least a little challenge on their banner raising night, but after Kansas City’s offense tore through the Houston Texans in a 51-31 Divisional Playoff rout, bookmakers aren’t expecting the rematch to be much closer.

Mahomes and the Chiefs vs. Watson and the Texans to open the 2020 NFL season! pic.twitter.com/EtBi4EIY68

— PFF (@PFF) May 7, 2020

The 10.5-point spread is the largest for a kickoff game since the Super Bowl winners began hosting the Thursday Nighter in 2005. It’s also the biggest spread of a Week 1 slate that only has four teams favored by more than a touchdown. To top it all off, this game boasts the highest total, with the over/under currently set at 56.5. So even if the opener isn’t expected to be close, it should be a fantasy players dream.

Beware Home Dogs

Six squads are getting points on their own turf in Week 1, including the Los Angeles Rams who should be opening a brand new stadium on Sunday Night Football against America’s Team. But before you jump on these early dogs, understand why they’re not even favored in their own buildings.

For a team to be a home underdog this early, they have to be a presumed bottom feeder (see Jacksonville) or hosting a real contender (see Atlanta). There’s not a lot of value on these dogs right out of the gate, since their opponent won’t be caught napping in the first game of the year. Throw in the fact that these early games may not even have fans present and homefield matters less than ever before.

Underdogs went a nearly even 8-7-1 ATS in Week 1 of the 2019 season, but the teams who were getting points at home performed poorly. Four home dogs went 1-3 ATS, with the Arizona Cardinals pulling out a miraculous tie for the lone win against the number.

Patriots Get a Legacy Line After All

Even if the public doesn’t believe in Jarrett Stidham being the heir apparent to Tom Brady in New England, the Patriots are still getting a healthy amount of respect from oddsmakers, opening as six-point favorites against Miami at home.

This line is particularly notable given the amount of trouble the Dolphins have given New England during the Belichick era. The teams have evenly split the season series going back to 2017 and whether it’s Tua Tagovailoa making his first start or Ryan Fitzpatrick making his 140th, it’s very likely Miami will enter this game with the better player under center.

The Patriots have kept this dominant run going for nearly two decades by winning on the margins. This will be an interesting first test to see whether they can still “do their job” without no. 12.

Divisional Clashes Highlight the Week

In case the games do have to be moved to later in the year, Week 1 has nine divisional matchups on tap that could have even more meaning if they’re shifted as a result of coronavirus. That includes the first of two 2020 matchups between Brady and Brees when the Buccaneers visit the New Orleans Saints,  and all the early money is going toward Tampa Bay.

We’ll also get our first look at angry Aaron Rodgers when the Packers visit the Vikings, and the new-look Cardinals will get a chance to prove themselves against the reigning NFC Champion 49ers, who they played tough twice in 2019.