2025 NFL Week 1 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
If there’s one positive to the end of summer, it’s the beginning of a new football season. That’s what we have in store this week as the 2025 season officially kicks off on Thursday in Philadelphia, with the Eagles beginning their Super Bowl defence against the Dallas Cowboys.
Here’s out instant analysis of every Week 1 game and our best bets against the spread.
Make sure to check out our complete list of NFL game odds, NFL futures and NFL specials and props.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday
This is a division rivalry game, but it feels like varsity vs. J.V. Led by the likes of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown, the Eagles boast the same electric offence that won last year’s Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Jerry Jones Show in Dallas continues to tank the Cowboys’ chances, with the recent Micah Parsons debacle being just one example of an owner/GM who can’t get out of his own way.
Pick ATS: Philadlephia
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers, Friday in Brazil
The Chargers get a bit of a tough break in this one as they lose a home game. To make matters worse, KC has owned this head-to-head matchup with seven straight wins. Patrick Mahomes will be around for years, but with Travis Kelce nearing the end of his career, this season could be one last chance for the Chiefs to run it back with the old gang and they’ll want to start hot.
Pick ATS: Kansas City
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. is officially the man under centre in Atlanta, but he’ll be in tough against Tampa Bay’s suffocating defence. Combine that with Baker Mayfield, who is coming off the best season of his career, and you’ve got a recipe for a big Buccaneers win to kick of the season.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati is a notoriously slow starter, but they completely overhauled they way they approach the pre-season in hopes of avoiding another 0-3 start to the year. Facing a Browns team that isn’t a threat to do damage this season is a perfect opportunity for Joe Burrow and the Bengals to rewrite history.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
This shine has officially worn off Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins, but this line still seems disrespectful. Miami remains a really good warm weather team and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is miles better than Daniel Jones.
Pick ATS: Miami
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Yawn, wake me up when this game is over. These teams combined for just nine total wins last season and there’s no reason to think either team will end their playoff drought in 2025. The Panthers look further ahead in their rebuild and when you have two bad teams facing off, the safer play is picking the dog to cover.
Pick ATS: Carolina
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
New England worked hard in the off-season to provide quarterback Drake Maye with the tools to succeed this year. While the Pats likely aren’t ready to take the next step and make the playoffs, they’re still a deeper team than the Raiders.
Pick ATS: New England
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler is 0-6 in his career as an NFL starter and that winless streak should continue this week. If Kyler Murray can put down his Xbox controller and actually study the playbook, there’s no reason Arizona shouldn’t blow the doors off New Orleans.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers’ tenure in Pittsburgh starts with a revenge game against his former team. No, not the high-flying Packers, but the lowly Jets. I’ve got high hopes for Justin Fields to revive his career in New York, but he’ll be in tough against the Steelers’ defence this week.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm last season, but has the league figured him out? New York lost outright but covered the spread both times they faced Washington last season and they have a better quarterback this time around in Russell Wilson. The Commanders should win, but it won’t be a blowout.
Pick ATS: New York
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
Cam Ward went first overall in this year’s NFL draft, but his first career start on the road in Denver isn’t doing him any favours. The Broncos are a popular sleeper pick to win the AFC West this year, but it’s their league-best winning percentage (66.6) ATS last season that I’m looking at.
Pick ATS: Denver
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold parlayed a career-season in Minnesota last year into a $100 million contract with Seattle. Brock Purdy finally got paid by the 49ers to the tune of $265 million. Which of this millionaires will come out on top? I’ll go with the absolute lethal offence in San Franisco.
Pick ATS: San Francisco
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
This is the Game of the Week between two legit Super Bowl contenders. Jared Goff and the Lions have won three straight games at Lambeau Field, so I love their chances to cover as underdogs. And don’t underestimate how impactful the return of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will be for Detroit after last year’s season-ending leg injury.
Pick ATS: Detroit
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
It’s last year’s AFC South champion vs. last year’s NFC West champion at SoFi Stadium in L.A. I give the edge to Houston. There’s been a lot of questions about the health of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and this is a Texans team that is coming off a great showing at Arrowhead in last year’s playoffs.
Pick ATS: Houston
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
It’s the Game of the Week Part II in Buffalo. Lamar Jackson will be looking to avenge his runner-up finish in last year’s MVP voting against 2024 MVP Josh Allen. This is a coin-flip battle between two elite quarterbacks and two teams with Super Bowl aspirations…if they can finally get past Kansas City in the playoffs. I’ll take the points.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, Monday
The J.J. McCarthy era in Minnesota officially begins after he missed all of last season with an injury. Chicago is countering with a rebuilt offensive line to protect Caleb Williams in Year 2. It’s tough to gauge what you’re going to get from either young quarterback in this matchup, so I’ll lean toward the Bears in this game because of their defence.
Pick ATS: Chicago
