Best Over/Under Bets for NFL Week 1: Injuries a Factor as Regular Season Kicks Off
The 2022 NFL regular season kicks off this weekend and with all 32 teams making significant personnel moves during the offseason, Week 1 presents a huge challenge to oddsmakers setting game line odds, including Over/Under totals.
With so many unknowns to consider, it is not surprising that low totals dominate on the NFL Week 1 odds board, with eight of this weekend’s 16 games featuring Over/Under totals below 45, while just four games feature totals topping 50. However, sports bettors should temper any expectations they have of a big weekend for the Over.
Here are our top Over/Under bets of NFL Week 1 (odds via PointsBet, DraftKings Sportsbook).
Best NFL Week 1 Over/Under Picks
NFL Week 1 Over/Under Betting Predictions
Ravens-Jets Under 44.5 (-107)
The Baltimore Ravens will get a big lift from the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who closed out last season sidelined by an ankle injury. However, the Ravens still have work to shake off the injury bug that plagued them in 2021.
Baltimore remains without rusher Gus Edwards, while J.K. Dobbins has yet to be cleared to see his first action since last September. Add to that the uncertain status of tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marcus Peters, and you have a Ravens squad that still has plenty of work to do before declaring themselves healthy.
Fortunately for the Ravens, they face a New York Jets team with injury issues of their own. If, as expected, quarterback Zach Wilson cannot go, the Jets will be forced to turn the offense over to veteran pivot Joe Flacco. Now 37 years old, Flacco is a shadow of his former Super Bowl-winning self, and will likely have to rely on a young and untested backfield to move the ball.
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Packers-Vikings Under 47 (-107)
The Minnesota Vikings look to this season-opening divisional clash sporting the more polished attack, as the team returns to action with last season’s offense largely intact. However, a disappointing 0-3 preseason run in which they averaged just 13.3 points per game, and this team’s seeming inability to score early during the second half of last season casts doubt on their ability to engage in a Week 1 shootout.
NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will not enjoy the benefit of targeting his favorite receiver over the past two seasons. Davante Adams’ offseason departure leaves a huge void in the Packers' offense, which is further complicated by injuries to receivers Allen Lazard and Christian Watson, and tight end Robert Tonyan.
Buccaneers-Cowboys Under 51 (-105)
While concerns about how effective the Tampa Bay offensive line will be at protecting their aging star, the bigger question is who will Tom Brady target downfield if receivers Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are unable to go due to injury.
Things don’t look much better for the Dallas Cowboys, who face all kinds of injury problems among their receiving corps. The week opened with CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown being the only Cowboys receivers in good health. Add to that, the long history of low-scoring games involving these teams over the past decade, and NFL betting fans looking forward to a Sunday Night Shootout in Week 1 could be in for a disappointment.
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Over/Under picks made 9/6/2022 at 5:51 p.m. ET
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