7 Best Lines, Props, and More from Ravens vs. Chiefs (Video)

The NFL has decided not to make it easier for anyone to enter the regular season.

The best possible matchup for the traditional Thursday night season opener with the reigning Super Bowl champions was the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Baltimore Ravens. Instead of saving the AFC Championship rematch for later in the season, the NFL scheduled it for opening night. Let’s get started.

Let’s take a look at the betting for Week 1, along with all the spreads and BetMGM odds.

Thursday Night: Lamar Jackson Is Great as the Outsider

That number may say as much about Jackson’s career as any: The Baltimore Ravens have been underdogs 14 times with Jackson at quarterback and have a 12-2 betting record, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing.

Despite that history, this is a tough spot for Baltimore to start the season. The Ravens are a three-point underdog in a big game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season, beating the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, and on paper they look even better this season. The Ravens are bringing in new defensive coordinator Zach Orr after Mike Macdonald took over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and figuring out Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in the first game is a tall order.

Week 1 Surprise Lineup: Steelers vs. Falcons

We all know Mike Tomlin doesn’t have losing seasons. We get it. But the Steelers offense had a pretty bad preseason. And even though it’s a preseason, they were also trying to figure out the quarterback situation and a new scheme with coordinator Arthur Smith. They just looked bad. And yet they’re a 3-point road favorite against the Atlanta Falcons.

If you think new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​might be rusty after a torn Achilles tendon and not play at all in the preseason, that’s understandable. It’s just surprising that a much-improved Falcons team has to give up just one home field goal.

People’s MVP Pick: CJ Stroud

The most ticketed player in the NFL MVP market at BetMGM is Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, with 12.1% of bets on Stroud, who has 11-to-1 odds at BetMGM. Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons ever for a quarterback, and many expect him to improve.

Anthony Richardson was also a rookie last season, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback played only a handful of games due to injury. When he did play, it was great. Richardson is healthy as the Colts open the season at home against the Texans, with Indianapolis a three-point underdog. The Texans have been the most exciting team of the offseason, but let’s not forget how close the Colts came to beating them for the division title when Gardner Minshew II started at quarterback for most of the season.

The team that bettors love: Denver Broncos

The most heavily bet on a team to make the playoffs is one that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2015, went 8-9 last season and is starting a rookie quarterback who was the sixth quarterback taken in his class. The Broncos are the most popular playoff pick among BetMGM players. Of all the bets on the Broncos making the playoffs, 97% of the bets are on Denver making the postseason. The Broncos are priced at +450 to make the playoffs.

Additionally, tipsters prefer over 5.5 wins for the Broncos.

While Bo Nix has looked good in the preseason, it’s the preseason. We’ll see if he can do it again, starting in Week 1 against the Seahawks. The Seattle crowd is loud, and new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive master. Seattle is a 6-point favorite.

Prop of the Week: Tony Pollard Gains Yards

We didn’t see much of the new Tennessee Titans offense in the preseason, but we got a taste. And we saw their backs catch the ball.

New Titans coach Brian Callahan will reshape the Titans’ offense. Pollard played in just 19 snaps in the preseason and caught four passes for 38 yards. Callahan hasn’t shown his full potential, but it makes sense he’d want Pollard and backup Tyjae Spears involved in the passing game. Pollard has looked explosive again in the preseason after a disappointing 2023 season.

All of this makes it surprising that Pollard only had 10.5 yards receiving in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. That seems low considering what we’ve seen this preseason.

Potential Survival Pool Killer: Carolina Panthers

In Yahoo Survival Football, 46% of the picks are for the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the New England Patriots. While survival pools are built on the complaints of “This team looked so good, how could they lose?”, it seems like the Bengals are a safe bet. That’s what we think.

Not every favorite will win. Which pick could cause the most carnage? The New Orleans Saints are getting 10.2% of the picks this week against the Carolina Panthers. Those are the picks from your opponents who are hoping the Patriots will pull off an upset. But don’t discount the Panthers entirely. This is a much improved Panthers squad under new coach Dave Canales. The Panthers are a 4-point underdog against a Saints team that hasn’t impressed anyone this season. Watch out.

Monday Night: Jets-49ers Fantasy Game

How much of the 49ers’ contract drama of the past month will be a prolonged distraction? We’ll find out. Receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams got their contracts, but will they be in optimal football shape? Maybe, but we won’t know until Monday night.

The 49ers and New York Jets are off to a rocky start to the season. They face the Jets as 4-point underdogs. The Jets are strong, but haven’t been able to show it because they’ve been stuck with terrible quarterback play. This season, they’re hoping Aaron Rodgers can last more than four plays. If he can, the Jets will be very good. Don’t be surprised if they scare the 49ers into an upset.