The 2008 NFL regular season begins this Thursday in New York when the Washington Redskins try to win on the road against a bitter division rival and defending Super Bowl champions. The rest of the NFL action will play Sunday and Monday as each of the NFL teams try to start the season with a win. The exciting games of the week look like the Houston Texans at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys at the Cleveland Browns. All odds courtesy of Bodog Life.
Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
The defending Super Bowl champ’s pass rush has lost Osi Umenyiora to injury and Michael Strahan to the TV booth, but Justin Tuck is a force and Washington’s ailing line will not be able to stop him. The Giants have won and covered 3 of last 4 in this matchup. At Bodog, the Giants are 4.5 point favorites with the betting total set at 41.
Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is going to struggle all season long. It might start Sunday. Detroit is 0-7 as 3 or less point favorites on the road. The Lions are 3 point favorites on the road and the betting total is 41.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Last year the Ravens' defense started to bend from signs of age. If history is any indicator, this year they will break. This will come down to Carson Palmer vs. Joe Flacco in his first NFL start. Palmer every time in that situation. Bengals have won and covered 3 of the last 4 against Ravens. Cincinnati is currently favored by two points on the road with the total set at 38.5.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills
Matt Hasselbeck is ready to go for the opener which might be bad news for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have improved this offseason, but they didn’t turn into the Patriots. Buffalo has owned the NFC West against the spread going 15-4 ATS over the last 15 years. The line has moved towards the Bills with Buffalo now one point favorites and the betting total is set at 39.
New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
Brett Favre vs. Chad Pennington, Jake Long vs. Vernon Gholston. They line up on opposite sides. There’s only one storyline needed between these two AFC East rivals. They hate each other. Brett will be Brett, but the Dolphins will be the most improved team this season. Parcells has rebuilt them. They are younger, bigger, faster and stronger. New York has covered 8 of last 9 vs. the Dolphins with the one game a push. The Jets are 3 point favorites on the road and the total has held steady at 36.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots
The Brady/Moss sequel promises to have twice the excitement as the original. Especially against the Chiefs' porous secondary. New England coming off Super Bowl loss. The Patriots are currently -17 and bettors will want to check the status of Tom Brady in this one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans will be filled with the same emotional punch that fueled their 2006 explosion after Katrina. The Bucs can thank Gustav for a beating on opening day. Tampa has covered 3 of 4 vs the Saints. New Orleans is favored by 3.5 points with the total set at 42.5.
St. Louis Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Rams have to be better than last year, and Philly is sure to be ready to prove that they belong in the tough NFC East. Eagles are 7-1-1 last 9 ATS vs Rams. Philadelphia is laying 7.5 points with the total set at 44.
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Texans' offense hasn’t improved as fast as their defense has but they do have one of the most explosive wide receivers in the game with speedy Andre Johnson. The total has gone OVER in 17 of Pittsburgh's last 25 games at home. The Steelers are -6.5 in the matchup with the total holding at 43.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
The Titans can stop the run. The Jags can run the ball. Only one of these statements will be true on Sunday. DT Albert Haynesworth and the Titans should be able to lock up Jones-Drew and Taylor in Week 1. Tennessee is 10-2 ATS vs division last few years. Jacksonville is favored by 3 points on the road while the betting total is 36.5.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns
This came could be a shootout. Both of these teams have explosive offenses that pass first and pass second, but when it comes down to making that crucial defensive stop, the edge goes to the Cowboys. Dallas failed to cover their final 5 games last year. Bodog has taken a lot of action on Dallas this week as the Cowboys are now 6 point favorites with the total settling at 49.
Carolina Panthers vs. San Diego Chargers
As long as Shawne Merriman doesn’t rip his ACL/MCL combo completely, this game should be the Chargers' to lose. Of course it doesn't hurt that Steve Smith will be suspended for the opener. The Chargers are perfect against the spread over last 8 games at home when favored between 7 and 10 points. San Diego is 9 point favorites with the total at 42.
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Kurt Warner gets the start for the Cardinals over Matt Leinhart. These two teams have gone over 3 of the last 4 when facing each other. Arizona is a 2.5 point favorite on the road with the total at 42.
Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts
One big question looms. How healthy is Peyton? Marvin Harrison had the same injury last season and he wasn’t right all year long. Will Chicago will be able to put pressure on Manning and force him to make some mistakes his first game back? Indianapolis is 8-1 ATS last 3 years against NFC. The Colts are favored by 10 points with the total set at 44.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers’ first start in the NFL could be a rough one. On Monday Night Football, Jared Allen and the Vikings may be in the Packers’ backfield all night long. PAckers have won 4 straight in the series. Green Bay is a 2.5 point favorite with the total set at 38.
Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
The Jamarcus Russell and Darren McFadden era begins at the black hole. Oakland has covered last 4 vs Broncos. Denver is a 3 point favorite on the road and the total is 41.
Some tidbits from Bodog Sportsbook were used in this report and current odds are odds as of Thursday morning.
