NFL Betting Insights by Bruce Marshall
As the football season kicks off, Bruce Marshall, a seasoned handicapper for CBS Sportsline, provides invaluable insights into NFL betting notes and trends. With a keen eye on matchups, team dynamics, and past performances, Marshall helps bettors navigate their wagering strategies for a profitable season. Below, we break down this week’s matchups and trends:
Sunday Matchups
Raiders at Patriots (-2½, 43½)
In an intriguing season opener, Pete Carroll makes his coaching debut for the Raiders, while quarterback Geno Smith steps under center for his first game with the team. The Raiders ended last season with a solid “under” trend, going 5-1, and they’ve shown an 8-5 “under” record on the road. Conversely, the Patriots thrived at home, finishing 7-1 to the over last season. With new head coach Mike Vrabel at the helm, this matchup leans slightly in favor of the Patriots and the “over.”
Steelers (-2½, 38) at Jets
Aaron Rodgers is set to make his debut as the Steelers’ quarterback, bringing renewed hope after two seasons with the Jets. Coach Mike Tomlin has a track record of success in season openers, having won and covered four of his past five. This matchup skews towards the Steelers and a slight inclination towards the “over.”
Dolphins at Colts (Pick, 46½)
Last season, the Colts successfully covered against the Dolphins at home. However, Miami has struggled on the road, failing to cover seven of their past 11 games. On the flip side, the Colts failed to cover seven of their last nine games last season, but they went over the total in seven of their final eight. The slight edge goes to the Colts for this matchup.
Panthers at Jaguars (-3½, 47)
The Panthers finished strong last season, covering seven of their final nine games and ending on an 11-3 “over” run. This momentum provides them with a slight edge focus against the Jaguars, who may struggle against a confident Panthers squad aiming to build on last season’s success.
Giants at Commanders (-6, 46)
The Commanders won both matchups last season while also covering the spread in each. Historically, their last seven meetings have seen the total go under six times. The Giants have had difficulties recently, failing to cover 10 of their last 12 games. With a strong 12-5-1 spread record, the Commanders have the edge here, comfortably leaning towards the “under.”
Bengals (-5½, 48) at Browns
The Bengals have recently dominated this matchup, winning and covering in four of the last five contests, including a streak of three straight victories. With an impressive trend of 5-1-1 on the under in their past seven meetings, the Bengals offer value against a Browns team that struggled last season, failing to cover 15 of their last 19. The edge is towards the Bengals and the “under.”
Cardinals (-6½, 43) at Saints
The Cardinals have made strides in their final stretch last season by covering eight of their last 11 games. Meanwhile, the Saints battled inconsistencies, failing to cover nine of their last 13. Their past performances make the Cardinals the favorable choice heading into this matchup.
Buccaneers (-2, 47½) at Falcons
The Falcons showed resilience last season, winning and covering both meetings with the Buccaneers. With the total going over in three straight meetings, there’s potential for another high-scoring affair. The slight edge favors the Falcons home advantage and the “over.”
Titans at Broncos (-8½, 42½)
The Titans had a dismal season last year, finishing at 3-14 and a staggering 2-15 against the spread. In contrast, the Broncos closed strong with six covers in their last seven home games, showcasing a 10-3 “over” run. All signs point towards a Broncos win with a likely strong offensive effort.
49ers (-2, 43½) at Seahawks
Despite a recent hiccup against the Seahawks at home, the 49ers have performed well against them overall, winning and covering six straight prior to that meeting. However, they’ve struggled against the spread recently. The Seahawks, with a rough 2-6-1 ATS at home last season, face a challenge, giving the edge slightly to the 49ers.
Lions at Packers (-2, 47)
The Lions have been competitive lately, going 4-1-1 against the spread in their past six matchups against the Packers. They excelled as underdogs, covering six of their last seven last season. With a tendency to hit the over, this matchup shows a slight lean towards the “over” once again.
Texans at Rams (-3, 43½)
With season opening games under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are a strong contender, boasting a solid 6-2 record straight up and against the spread. The Texans, finishing last season at 7-9-1 ATS, have their work cut out against a Rams team looking to build on their momentum. Expect the Rams to slightly edge this match and lean towards the “over.”
Ravens at Bills (Pick, 51)
The Ravens and Bills have had competitive contests lately, with the home team going 3-0-1 ATS in their last four meetings. John Harbaugh has led the Ravens to success in season openers, with seven wins and covers in his last nine. The Bills were strong at home last season, further adding intrigue. The edge slightly favors the Ravens in this high-profile matchup.
Monday Matchup
Vikings (-1½, 43½) at Bears
Historically, the Vikings have performed well at Chicago, winning their last five games there with a record of 4-0-1 against the spread. With four of their past five matchups hitting the under, and the Bears on a solid home run, expect a tightly contested game that leans slightly to the Bears and the under.
Enjoying the Action
As the football season unfolds, analyzing these betting insights can significantly enhance your wagering approach. Each matchup features unique dynamics, trends, and elements that make the NFL betting landscape as thrilling as the game itself. Embrace the excitement, make informed decisions, and enjoy the ride as the season progresses.