Week 1 NFL Odds (2023) – Updated Pricing, Top Picks, and Winner Predictions
- You can already bet on Week 1 for the NFL at the top sportsbook, such as BetUS.
- Baltimore, Minnesota, and Kansas City are the heaviest favorites per the NFL Week 1 odds.
- Some of my favorite bets include Atlanta’s moneyline and the under in Bills vs. Jets.
Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is quickly approaching. Before we know it, the season will be underway, and the chase for the Super Bowl will be on.
If you can’t contain your excitement, one way to help pass the time is to place bets. The top NFL betting sites already have the odds up for Week 1.
You can place your wagers on who you think wins certain matchups even though we are still weeks away. It’s also a good idea to make your NFL Week 1 picks now because the odds will shift all the way up until kickoff.
I’ll be breaking down the NFL betting odds for Week 1 and offering my best bets, so let’s dive in!
Updated NFL Week 1 Odds
Here are the latest Week 1 NFL odds, courtesy of BetUS.
As you can see, the season opener will feature the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. They’ll be hosting the Detroit Lions, who are coming off a strong season.
Kansas City is favored to win this game by a touchdown, while the over/under is set at a healthy 54 points.
The Chiefs are the second-most favored team out of all the NFL betting odds for Week 1. Detroit has a solid team, but frankly, no one is on the same level as Kansas City. They’ll be looking to win their third Super Bowl in the last five seasons in 2023.
The full 2023 NFL Schedule is here!
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If you’re looking for the heaviest favorite for the first week of the season, that will be the Baltimore Ravens at -9.5. They take on the Houston Texans at home, who still aren’t quite done with their rebuild.
You are probably wondering where the Browns vs. Bengals NFL betting odds for Week 1 are. Well, Joe Burrow’s recent injury makes things a bit more complicated. Cincinnati was favored by 2.5 points, but they’ll likely be underdogs if he can’t suit up.
If you already made your Week 1 NFL picks and included the Browns’ moneyline or spread, you’re in a great spot right now.
The rest of the NFL Week 1 odds imply close games across the board, which should make for many intense matchups.
You might think it’s too early to bet on the NFL odds for Week 1, but you could be missing out.
These lines likely won’t be the same once Week 1 rolls around. They’ll constantly shift, given different betting patterns, team changes, and other reasons.
One of the best ways to capitalize on this opportunity is to bet now before the odds shift. That way, you can get a team for a great price and reap the rewards later.
As I said, these Week 1 NFL odds can be found at BetUS. Feel free to check out this BetUS review, or head directly to their site to place your bets now!
Top Week 1 NFL Picks Against the Spread
- Detroit Lions +7 (-115) – Bet on the Lions at BetUS
- Los Angeles Rams +5.5 (-110) – Take the Rams at BetNow
- New England Patriots +5 (-110) – Back the Pats at MyBookie
If you know how to bet on football, you know the importance of spread betting. One of the main reasons why you should place your bets as soon as possible is because you can get better spread prices.
It’s also important to shop around for the best Week 1 NFL betting odds, as I did for these three picks.
For example, you can find the Lions +7 at BetUS. Other sites already have them at +6.5 or +6, which could drop even more before kickoff.
I get it; betting against the defending Super Bowl champions is not easy. However, a full touchdown spread is pretty tough to cover, no matter the matchup.
Detroit also ranked as the second-best team in the NFL against the spread (ATS), covering in 70.6% of their games.
Sportsbooks know how good the Chiefs are and how many people will bet on them. That’s why they always give them a large number to cover.
It’s no different for the NFL odds in Week 1 of 2023. Detroit is one of the grittiest teams in the NFL. Giving them a full touchdown spread is enough for me to take their side, even if it’s against the defending champs.
I’m also surprised to see the Rams as 5.5-point underdogs against the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle is a very solid team, but these two division rivals should be in for a close game. The Rams also want to bounce back from a season full of injuries.
It’s usually a good idea to bet on the Patriots when they are at home. Yes, Philadelphia is a great team and nearly won the Super Bowl last year. However, New England should make this game a bloodbath with their incredible defense.
They also hired an actual offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien, so there should also be improvements on that side of the ball.
If you’re looking to bet on the Eagles today, maybe their 2023 NFL division winner odds will be more appealing.
Best Bets for Week 1 in the NFL
Spread picks are great, but winning picks are better. How about some of my best bets for the first week of the 2023 NFL season?
There are so many games to bet on, but it’s important not to go overboard. A lot of teams are going to look a lot different than they did last year. That’s why it’s better to stick to a few good bets rather than a bunch of bad ones.
Here are two of my top Week 1 NFL predictions.
Bills vs. Jets Under 47 (-110)
A lot of eager bettors will hammer the over for just about every game in Week 1. That could get them in a heap of trouble for a few games, such as the Bills vs. Jets.
These two division rivals should have some interesting clashes this season, and the first one is right out of the gate.
The NFL odds for Week 1 have the line set at 47 points, and I’ll be taking the under. You might be excited about Aaron Rodgers being traded to New York, but this should be a low-scoring affair.
Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan were abysmal are two good examples from 2022. Rodgers could be a lot better than them, but there’s a good chance he will struggle in the first game of the season.
Both teams have incredible defenses, which also helps the under.
The Bills ranked second in points allowed, while the Jets were right behind them at fourth. They combined for 37 and 32 points in their two games last season, so 47 is a little too much for my liking.
This will be the first Monday Night Football game of the year, but I wouldn’t expect tons of fireworks.
Atlanta Falcons to Win (-160)
This might come as a surprise, but I’m taking the Atlanta Falcons to win their first game of the season.
Atlanta is set to take on the Carolina Panthers, who they are favored to beat by three. Although the spread is coverable for the Falcons, I find the moneyline a bit safer.
Neither one of these teams will be the best team in the NFL this year, and probably far from it. However, a matchup between the two makes it more appealing to bet on one of them.
In this case, I am going to take the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina made a big move to trade for the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. They ended up taking Bryce Young, but they traded away their top wide receiver (D.J Moore) in the process. Young could go on to have a great career, but this will be his first NFL start.
Bryce Young’s first practice snap as a Panther 👀
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Atlanta’s defense is pretty underrated and could be tough to score on for Young if he starts. The Falcons also have several solid playmakers, such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
If Desmond Ridder takes a step forward in his second season, Atlanta could easily start the year off with a win.
Week 1 NFL Winner Predictions
- Chiefs Over Lions
- Falcons Over Panthers
- Ravens Over Texans
- Bengals Over Browns
- Jaguars Over Colts
- Vikings Over Buccaneers
- Saints Over Titans
- Steelers Over 49ers
- Commanders Over Cardinals
- Bears Over Packers
- Broncos Over Raiders
- Chargers Over Dolphins
- Eagles Over Patriots
- Seahawks Over Rams
- Cowboys Over Giants
- Bills Over Jets
We’ve broken down the NFL Week 1 odds and my predictions, but I haven’t covered every game. Above are my rough winner predictions for each matchup.
You can learn a lot just by looking at the NFL odds for Week 1 in 2023. If a certain team is a heavy favorite, it means they have a very high chance of winning. This information can be very valuable for those who prefer to make moneyline picks.
I already touched on a few of these games, so I won’t dive much deeper into those.
If you’re looking for the most entertaining game, I’d consider betting on the Dolphins vs. Chargers. These two teams have a lot of firepower and should exchange blows all game long.
I’ll take the Chargers since they have home-field advantage, but it won’t be an easy win.
Even though I prefer the Chargers for this matchup, one of my favorite 2023 NFL win totals is for Miami to win over 9.5 games.
The Jaguars had a great year in 2022, making it all the way to the Divisional Round. They should look to build off this, and they get a good matchup with Indianapolis.
Baker Mayfield should enter this season as the start for Tampa Bay after Tom Brady’s retirement. His first game comes against a good Vikings team that went 13-4 in 2022. Minnesota should have the upper hand here.
Derek Carr is now in New Orleans and will take on Tennessee in Week 1. The Saints have a great defensive line, which should help slow down Derrick Henry. Carr could start things off right in New Orleans with a win.
I think the NFL Week 1 odds make the most sense in terms of underdogs and favorites.
Most of my picks are for the favorites to win, except for San Francisco. Their quarterback situation will be murky, and this should be a low-scoring, defensive game.
Both teams have great defenses, but Pittsburgh has a home-field advantage. Kenny Pickett could take a step forward in Year 2, and the 49ers’ quarterback situation for Week 1 is murky.
To find the NFL Week 1 odds and make your predictions, head over to Bovada. Our Bovada review also has more information if you’re wondering about their site.
Betting on the NFL in Week 1
You can bet on a few different things before football season is officially underway.
The updated NFL odds for Week 1 are live on the top sites, and it’s a good idea to get your bets in now. There will be a lot of movement from now until then, so make sure you set yourself up for success.
If you’re still looking for more things to bet on, I recommend the 2023 NFL MVP odds. It’s a bit more challenging than making Week 1 picks, but the payouts make it worth the risk.
I also think the Lions, Rams, and Patriots have very strong chances of covering the spread.
These picks have great prices right now and might not stay that way for long. Place your bets now, and you could be thanking yourself once September rolls around.
Already made your NFL Week 1 predictions? Maybe try these 2023 NFL player props next.
Footnotes:
- NFL stats, records, and more are from Pro Football Reference.
- Team transactions, contracts, etc., are courtesy of Spotrac.
- The official NFL site provided news, storylines, and more.