The NFL Season Starts This Weekend And Here’s Our Tips For The Big Games

The NFL Regular Season gets underway on Thursday night US time (early Friday morning UK Time) as the defending Super Bowl Champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, take on Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

That game precedes a busy weekend of 15 games through to Monday Night (early Tuesday morning UK time) which will see every other NFL franchise get their season underway.

With the season now expanded by one additional game, it promises to be the longest and most exciting NFL season in a good while, especially when you consider the number of teams that have the potential to be Super Bowl candidates again this year.

Throughout the season, you can find superb NFL betting at bet365 Sport, where you can also use up any Bet365 Credits you may have remaining, or earn some more by betting to release the bonus funds from your welcome offer.

Alternatively, if you are based in the United States, then check out the fantastic range of NFL betting available at BetRivers Sportsbook.

With so much to get through in our preview and tips for the 16 games, let’s crack on starting with the game in Florida on Thursday night which sees last year’s Super Bowl Champions back in action.

In addition to a scoreline preview, we have given you our best tips for the Over/Under points market for each game.

NFL Matchday 1 Preview & Tips

• Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It will be exciting to see this strong Cowboys offense in action, but they are up against the best defense in the NFL in my view and as such, I am backing Brady to lead his Super Bowl Champions to a strong win in their opening game.

Score Prediction – Dallas Cowboys – 21-38 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Bet – Over 51.5 (10/11)

• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills

I fancy Buffalo here as I think they have an outstanding offense and a strong defense. They should be amongst the real challengers in the AFC. Can’t say the same for the Steelers who tailed off worryingly last season and I think the Steelers time has come and gone.

Score Prediction – Pittsburgh Steelers 13-20 Buffalo Bills

Best Bet – Under 48.5 (10/11)

• Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

Two sides with exciting offenses clash in Nashville and it should be a cracker. I think the Cardinals are a decent side, but the Titans offense has so many weapons that it is hard to see how even a good defense like the Cardinals can stop all of their key men.

Score Prediction – Arizona Cardinals 27-38 Tennessee Titans

Best Bet – Over 52.0 (10/11)

• Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts

I think the Seahawks best days are behind them now but they are still a danger with Russell Wilson at quarterback. The Colts though look to have a lovely balance to their squad and are strong in all three facets of the game. They look the likely winners here to me.

Score Prediction – Seattle Seahawks 14-20 Indianapolis Colts

Best Bet – Under 49.5 (10/11)

• San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions

It’s going to be a long hard season for the Lions as they embark on another rebuild, in contrast, this 49ers team is ready to win and I think they will do precisely that here by dominating the game on offense and defense.

Score Prediction – San Francisco 49ers 35-7 Detroit Lions

Best Bet – Under 45.0 (10/11)

• Los Angeles Chargers @ Washington Football Team

For me this is a tough game to call and I can make a case for either side winning the game. However, I feel the upgrades the Chargers have had on offense mean that they should score just enough to snatch the win over a Washington team whose offense I feel will still struggle.

Score Prediction – Los Angeles Chargers 21-17 Washington Football Team

Best Bet – Under 44.5 (10/11)

• Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

I can’t see either of these teams having the best of seasons, but I think the Falcons are much more in a position to take the win here than the Eagles who seem set to be in rebuilding mode for the next couple of years at the very least. Matt Ryan should pick apart the Eagles here.

Score Prediction – Philadelphia Eagles 10-28 Atlanta Falcons

Best Bet – Under 48/5 (10/11)

• Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

The Trevor Lawrence era starts for the Jaguars in Houston against their divisional rivals the Texans and I think it could well be a winning start for the Rookie as this Texans team, DeShaun Watson apart, looks ripe for the first pick in the draft next year.

Score Prediction – Jacksonville Jaguars 28-21 Houston Texans

Best Bet – Over 44.5 (10/11)

• Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals

Two teams that I think could have interesting, but not necessarily winning seasons. The Bengals will get better over time I feel, but at the moment, I think the Vikings have enough firepower in their team to collect the win here.

Score Prediction – Minnesota Vikings 35-20 Cincinnati Bengals

Best Bet – Over 47.5 (10/11)

• New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers

Two teams that are something of a mystery heading into the season. I think the Jets will start to come good this season and will likely improve, but I think it may take time for them to do so, so I am backing the Panthers to land the win with home field advantage.

Score Prediction – New York Jets 13-24 Carolina Panthers

Best Bet – Under 45.0 (10/11)

• Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

Jameis Winston has earned the right to succeed Drew Brees in the pre-season but he faces a tough baptism of fire against the Packers who managed to persuade Aaron Rodgers to stay for at least one more season. That may well be the key here as I am backing Rodgers to lead the Pack to a narrow win here.

Score Prediction – Green Bay Packers 41-35 New Orleans Saints

Best Bet – Over 50.0 (10/11)

• Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs

For me, this is the game of the weekend and I think that the Chiefs will likely win the game. However, I do feel the Browns will push them hard as they did in the playoffs but may just come up short this time around too against this incredible Chiefs offense.

Score Prediction – Cleveland Browns 28-45 Kansas City Chiefs

Best Bet – Over 54.5 (10/11)

• Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

After a below par season last year, I think the Patriots will improve this year, but I also feel they are in a tough division and may be battling with the Dolphins for second spot behind Buffalo. As such, I think a win here is crucial for either team and I think the Patriots will do just enough to land that win.

Score Prediction – Miami Dolphins 17-21 New England Patriots

Best Bet – Under 43.0 (10/11)

• Denver Broncos @ New York Giants

I’m going against the Giants here as there are too many question marks over this team. I am not convinced by the Broncos situation at quarterback and I feel that they will struggle to score points as a result which means the onus will be on the defense to keep teams out. They should do enough here.

Score Prediction – Denver Broncos 17-10 New York Giants

Best Bet – Under 42.0 (10/11)

• Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Rams

There’s lots of expectation on the Bears new quarterback Justin Fields, but going up against Aaron Donald in your first game is a huge ask, especially with Matt Stafford throwing bombs downfield. As such, I expect the Rams to win this one in a blowout.

Score Prediction – Chicago Bears 14-41 Los Angeles Rams

Best Bet – Over 46.5 (10/11)

• Baltimore Ravens @ Las Vegas Raiders

I think both these teams have improved from last season, addressing some weaknesses on their teams. If the Ravens can get any sort of passing game going, then the Raiders are going to be in for a very long day and I feel that is what is most likely to happen here.

Score Prediction – Baltimore Ravens 38-24 Las Vegas Raiders

Best Bet – Over 51.0 (10/11)

• All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of Wednesday 8^th September 2021.