Three NFL Road Warriors for Week 1
If you’re looking for value with the first week of the 2017 NFL regular season quickly approaching, then you should know that I’ve got a trio of picks on three ‘road warriors’ that are all looking to get it done as road underdogs in the NFL regular season betting odds for Week 1. With hat said and the start of the regular season getting closer by the day, let’s get down to business.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
When: Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 8:30 PM ET
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: NBC
NFL Odds: New England -8
Total: 48
Analysis: I’ve said it time and time again since the odds were released for every Week 1 matchup this summer. I like Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs to get it done on the road against Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in Week 1.
I love Kansas City’s Pro Bowl laced defense featuring guys like safety Eric Berry, cornerback Marcus Peters and linebacker Justin Houston among others and I believe they’re going to give Brady and company a tough way to go while covering the spread in a narrow loss.
The Patriots may be 5-0 ATS in their last five games in the month of September, but Kansas City is 6-0 ATS in their last six road games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. While veteran quarterback Alex Smith isn’t going to win many games with his mid-range passing, he’s also not going to lose game because of foolish mistakes – which, by the way, Bill Belichick teams always seem to capitalize on.
I know the Chiefs are 1-4 ATS in their last five road dates against the Pats, but I still like Andy Reid’s team to get it done on the road in Week 1.
Pick: Patriots 27 Chiefs 24
Cardinals at Lions
When: Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 1:00 PM ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
TV: FOX
NFL Odds: Pk
Total: 48
Analysis: The Detroit Lions have looked pretty good this preseason and they just took care of quarterback Matthew Stafford in a big way, but I really like the Arizona Cardinals heading into 2017 and I believe they’re going to bounce back in a big way to possibly challenge for a berth in the NFC Championship.
The Lions have made the playoffs in two of the last three years ans that’s all fine and well. Unfortunately, they also keep coming up short when it matters most, so there just isn’t a whole lot of belief in Detroit on my end.
As far as Bruce Arians’ Cardinals are concerned, I believe that running back David Johnson, and to a lesser degree, aging quarterback Carson Palmer and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, are going to lead the NFC West hopefuls back to the playoffs after their two-year run ended last season.
Detroit has somehow managed to compile an insane10-4 ATS mark in their last 14 Week 1 games, but the Lions are also just 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in the month of September and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games against their NFC conference rivals. Conversely, Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals have gone 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in the month of September, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Week 1 games and a perfect 4-0 ATS against Detroit in the last four meetings. Arizona gets it done everyone!
Pick: Cardinals 27 Lions 24
Giants at Cowboys (-5)
When: Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 8:30 PM ET
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: NBC
NFL Odds: Dallas -3.5
Total: 47.5
Analysis: Hailing from Philadelphia, I guess it’s just ingrained in me to hate the Dallas Cowboys, but with that said, I plan on having a grand old time on opening weekend watching the ‘Boys take their third straight loss to Eli manning and the New York Giants.
I know the Cowboys went 13-3 last season and look like they’re going to be a force for years to come because of now, second-year stars Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott and a powerful offensive line, but the Giants have an elite defense and managed to beat the Boys twice last season by basically bullying them around.
Despite their solid preseason record, Dallas has still shown a propensity to be weak against the pass and that’s where I believe Manning and the G-Men will make the Cowboys pay, particularly after adding veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall and sure-handed rookie tight end Evan Engram, to go along with perennial Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr.
With Elliott out of the lineup, I’m expecting the Cowboys to be far more unbalanced offensively than they ever were last season. Dallas is just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against their NFC East division rivals and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall. Conversely, Manning and the G-Men are a robust 6-1 ATS in their last seven games on fieldturf. Simply put, I like New York to complete the trilogy over the Cowboys!
Pick: New York 28 Dallas 24