There’s still a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader to close NFL Week 1, but the Week 2 numbers are up, topped by the line for an NFC Championship Game rematch. Covers checks in on the opening odds and early action for four games, with insights from John Murray, director of The SuperBook at Westgate in Las Vegas.
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (-3)
Los Angeles fended off a comeback to open defense of its NFC title with a season-opening victory Sunday. The Rams (1-0 SU and ATS) led by 13 points multiple times, including 23-10 late in the third quarter, then held on for a 30-27 win as 1.5-point road favorites.**video
New Orleans still has Week 1 work to do, opening the Monday twinbill at home against Houston. But the Saints surely recall the last time they were on the field for a meaningful game, in January’s NFC Championship Game. Drew Brees and Co. were 3-point home favorites to the Rams, got the short end of a now infamous noncall of pass interference and lost 26-23 in overtime.
“NFC Championship Game rematch could be the most heavily bet game of the day,” Murray said of a key clash on the Sunday docket. “There’s no reason to move off -3 here yet. The Rams took care of business. The Saints in action Monday night.”
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-3)
Tennessee got it done in Week 1 against a team that arguably received more offseason hype than any other outfit. The Titans (1-0 SU and ATS) gave up an early touchdown at Cleveland, but ended up leading much of the game and ran away in the second half for a 43-13 win as 5.5-point underdogs.
Indianapolis, without the recently retired Andrew Luck at quarterback, perhaps showed it will not be a pushover this season. On Sunday against the Chargers, Jacoby Brissett led the Colts (0-1 SU, 0-0-1 ATS) to a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final minute to tie the game at 24, but Indy fell short in overtime 30-24 catching 6 points in Los Angeles.
“We opened Titans -3 and moved to Titans -3 (-120) off action we took on that side,” Murray said. “Both teams impressed today, the Titans with a great win in Cleveland, the Colts really hung in there on the road against the Chargers. Indianapolis might have won with a better kicking game.”
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5)
Seattle travels across the country for one of next Sunday’s early kickoffs, after barely hanging on as big home chalk in Week 1. The Seahawks (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) went back-and-forth with Cincinnati on Sunday, eking out a 21-20 victory as 9.5-point faves.
Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last season, then opened the 2019-20 campaign against the defending Super Bowl champions. Under the Sunday night lights, the Steelers (-4.5) wilted in a 33-3 loss at New England getting 5.5 points.
“We opened Steelers -4.5, but it’s off the board, as they are currently getting throttled by the Patriots,” Murray said while Pittsburgh-New England game was in the fourth quarter. “We may see this line come down a little between now and Monday morning, although the Seahawks’ performance today wasn’t anything special either.”
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3)
Green Bay is already off to a good start in the NFC North as it prepares for another big rivalry game. The Packers (1-0 SU and ATS) put the clamps on Chicago in a Week 1 defensive slugfest, posting a 10-3 victory as 3.5-point road ‘dogs.
Minnesota, which reached the NFC title game two seasons ago but missed the postseason last year, stormed out of the gate in Week 1. The Vikings (1-0 SU and ATS) built a 21-0 halftime lead against Atlanta and coasted to a 28-12 victory giving 3.5 points at home Sunday.
“Great win for the Vikings over the Falcons. Only 10 passing attempts from Kirk Cousins,” Murray said. “The Vikings are clearly looking to establish the run. They’ll need to move it on the ground effectively against what appears to be an improved Packers defense.”
The line opened -3 but at even money for the Pack, then briefly ticked to -2.5 (-120) before going back to the opener.
Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.
