NFL underdogs look strong against spread
Top wagering picks for NFL Week 1 based on lines from Tipico Sportsbook:
Browns at Chiefs
The Browns underwent further improvement this offseason after keeping their AFC divisional round matchup against the Chiefs within five points on the road. Cleveland’s offseason retooling was seemingly geared to combating the styles of the incumbent two-time conference champs.
Free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney and rookie LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah join DE Myles Garrett in trying to make life difficult for the rebuilt Chiefs offensive line. S John Johnson III and first-round rookie CB Greg Newsome were added to help limit the damage done by QB Patrick Mahomes. WR Odell Beckham Jr. is back to full health and should quickly return to the top of a deep and strong receiving corps.
A full home crowd will certainly provide an edge for the Chiefs, but the Browns are well-used to hostile road environments in the AFC North. The visitors to keep this tight until the end.
Pick: Browns +5.5
Dolphins at Patriots
The Patriots are home favorites in the NFL debut of QB Mac Jones. The 15th overall pick of the 2021 draft will face a Dolphins defense that had a leaguehigh 29 takeaways last season.
Longtime Patriots assistant and now Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is 2-2 against his former team but beat it 22-12 in in the most recent meeting, with then first-year QB Tua Tagovailoa under center in the head-to-head matchup for the first time. The Dolphins upgraded their passing attack this offseason and Tagovailoa will have the best array of receiving options of his career even with WR Will Fuller still suspended for Week 1.
Pick: Dolphins +2.5
Ravens at Raiders
Raiders coach Jon Gruden has his strongest defensive unit entering the fourth season of his second tenure with the team, led by the line additions of Quinton Jefferson and Yannick Ngakoue. The Raiders will also be playing in front of fans in their new home for the first time and will be boosted even more by the “Monday Night Football” spot.
The Ravens needed to adjust their offensive game plan for 2021 on short notice after losing second-year RB J.K. Dobbins to a torn ACL late last month. RBs Gus Edwards and Ty’Son Williams are next in line, but it appears Baltimore may finally need to lean more heavily on the passing of QB Lamar Jackson.
The hosts keep this competitive against the AFC title hopefuls and their questionable offensive line.
Pick: Raiders +4.5