NFL Pick 6 Contest Bets for Week 1: The Return of Dak Prescott

Football is back, baby! It’s the season we have all been waiting for after a 2020 season filled with COVID-19 setbacks and no fans in the stands. This year already feels like things are back to normal with preseason out of the way and stadiums allowing full capacity again.

It’s the year of young quarterback starters who will have a lot of weight on their shoulders to lead their team to a potential Super Bowl run. Can one of them do it or will we be seeing drunken champion Tom Brady tossing another Lombardi trophy from boat to boat again? It’s still too early to tell for that but... follow me as I dive into the 2021 season while taking part in the SBR Pick 6 Football contest. The best part is it’s free to play and you can sign up at any time. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzHkb9fMgDo

The SBR Pick 6 contest has you pick 6 football picks each week. It’ll have you getting out of your comfort zone and rooting for teams you wouldn’t ever dare to. It’s great for beginners and experts. I’ll point out the best plays each week and sportsbooks to look into. You can bet with me or against me. 

It’s never too late! Go PRO, join me and my SBR contest, where I will test my own knowledge in capping over the entire NFL season. Below we’re going to open up the best sportsbooks to see what the early odds are saying. 

I hope you’ll join the fun! Happy NFL betting, ya’ll and may the odds be in your favor. And remember—play with your head and not your heart. 

Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Thursday, September 09, 2021 - 08:20 PM EDT at Raymond James Stadium

Speaking of reigning Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, he and his squad kick off Week 1 of the 2021 season on Thursday night against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Not much has changed in Tampa who has all 22 of their champions returning this season for another run at a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, in Dallas, it’s the return of Prescott whose season was cut short following a gruesome leg injury. 

Brady openly admitted to playing last fall with a fully torn MCL. Still, he completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 4,633 yards, 40 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2020. He also finished with a QB rating of 102.2. He should be back to feeling 100% after offseason knee surgery, which means a healthy, even better TB12. Their rushing attack, led by running back Ronald Jones II, is also top-notch. Through 14 games in 2020, Jones led the team with 978 yards on 192 carries and seven to touchdowns. And not to mention their defensive front who helped carry them to win their final eight games is back for more. 

https://twitter.com/Buccaneers/status/1434928385776574468?s=20

Prior to Dak’s injury, he had looked promising and finished the year completing 151 of 222 passes (68 percent) for 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns. Returning alongside him is running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is among the NFL’s leading rushers––although, last season, he failed to reach 1,000 yards for the first time since 2017. Hopefully, with Prescott back running the show, things will look better for Zeke and the rest of Dallas who haven’t seen a Super Bowl win in 25 years.  

Until we see what Dallas can do with a healthy Prescott, trust Tampa to cover. 

NFL Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1435013994809548800?s=20

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 01:00 PM EDT at Mercedes Benz Stadium

The Philadelphia Eagles have a new head coach in Nick Sirianni this season, but that’s not the only thing that’s new for them as they’ll be without QB1 Carson Wentz for the first time since 2016. Instead, second-year gunslinger Jalen Hurts will get his time to shine as the Eagles starter with experienced veterans Joe Flacco and Gardner Minshew as his backups.

And unlike last fall, Miles Sanders is once agains healthy and set to lead the backfield behind a healthy offensive line that features veteran group Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson??. Hurts have some weapons to target in wideouts Jalen Reagor and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Along with their new head coach, the Eagles also have a new defensive coordinator in Jonathan Gannon who seems extra confident in their cornerbacks Darius Slay and Steven Nelson that should give Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ O-line a tough task. 

Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP

Similar to Philly, Atlanta had a coaching shake-up following an 0-5 start to the 2020 season but new head coach Arthur Smith is determined to turn things around for the Falcons once and for all. Not much has changed at QB as Matt Ryan enters his 14th season with new face backups Josh Rosen and rookie Felipe Franks. But it is the first year Ryan won’t have his partner in crime, Julio Jones, at hand to whom he credits much of his success. He will, however, have a new toy in No. 4 overall tight end Kyle Pitts. All eyes will be on Pitts but he’s not the only weapon Ryan will have to work with.

Fouth-year wide receiver Calvin Ridley is destined for his best season yet and Russell Gage is ready to step up as the team’s No. 2 wideout. Smith was a backfield whisperer in Tennessee, but we’ll see if he can work his magic with veteran Mike Davis and a lackluster offensive line. And the Falcons defense should look better now that it’s run by two-time Super Bowl champ Dean Pees who is determined to rack up sacks. 

The Falcons always look promising on paper heading into the season but can never seem to execute on the field. It’s hard to trust a team whose offensive line has a lot of question marks heading into Week 1 and you can’t expect Kyle Pitts to save the day as a one-man-band. If the Eagles can stay healthy then both their defensive and offensive line look a heck of a lot more promising than Atlanta’s. It could be an ugly Week 1 matchup but expect Philly to keep it close. 

NFL Pick:

https://twitter.com/SBRSportsPicks/status/1435286748091793416?s=20

San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 01:00 PM EDT at Ford Field

Similar to the Bucs, the 49ers “are back” with their 2019 Super Bowl run team. Following a disastrous 2020 season derailed by COVID-19 and never-ending injuries, several key starters are set to return for San Fran including, star tight end George Kittle, starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. 

In Detroit, they made some notable changes and hired Dan Campbell as a first-year head coach. They also traded Matthew Stafford away to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, a former No. 1 overall draft pick. But the Niners have plenty of experience facing Goff when he was at the Rams, so their defense should know what to expect. For Detroits’ rebuilding defense, however, they likely won’t know what to do with the Niners’ problematic trio of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Kittle.  

Nonetheless, the 49ers’ offense should have themselves a field day against a Lions’ defense that allowed 419.8 yards a game last season, which put them dead-last in the NFL. 

NFL Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1434561234221731841?s=20

Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans 

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 01:00 PM EDT at Nissan Stadium

The Titans are coming off an impressive 11-5 season and first AFC South title win since 2008 but failed to make it past the first round of playoffs. Meanwhile, the inconsistent Arizona Cardinals saw an 8-8 ending and finished third in the NFC West.

Expect this game to be a higher scoring one with both offenses flexing a number of weapons. Last season, the Titans averaged 30.7 points a game and have All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones to an offense that already features top running back Derrick Henry, wideout A.J. Brown and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tennessee’s defense will have just one member of the 2020 starting secondary return in outside linebacker Bud Dupree. But the team did revamp it with the additions of defensive lineman Denico Autry and cornerback Janoris Jenkins and rookie corners Elijah Molden and Caleb Farley.

As for Arizona, they put up an average of 25.6 per game last year and will have most of their starters back for another season with notable additions of center Rodney Hudson and receiver A.J. Green. Not to mention the return of quarterback Kyler Murray, who is on tap for a record season alongside wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. On defense, their secondary remains a big question mark but their front seven staring edge rushers J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones, and linebackers Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons should be able to hold down the fort. 

This could be a close, high-scoring matchup, but Tannehill and company look a lot better in Week 1 than Murray and his crew. 

NFL Pick:  (visit our Sportsbook Review)

Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is greeted by A.J. Green #18. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 04:25 PM EDT at Gillette Stadium

Second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gets his first Week 1 start after spending most of last season behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is now in Washington. Tua will have to prove he’s worth but will have the help of trustworthy playmakers in veteran addition Will Fuller along with DeVante Parker, Mack Holins and rookie star Jaylen Waddle. 

Despite some struggles during his rookie year, Tagovailoa started nine games for Miami and posting a respectable rookie record of 6-3. He ended the year completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards and 11 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. 

Miami’s defense is just as loaded as their offense with a terrifying group of corners staring Xavien Howard and Bryon Jones who should give Patriots rookie QB Mac a “warm” NFL welcome. 

https://twitter.com/Tua/status/1363156504665157635?s=20

New England is putting all their eggs in the rookie quarterback after releasing Cam Newton ahead of Week 1. Some pressure will be off of Jones with a talented backfield led by Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. No to mention key additions of Matt Judon, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith this offseason. Jones has plenty of weapons to succeed but can the defense help? It’s notable to add that the Pats’ secondary will be without their star cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and for the next five games. 

I’m trusting Miami’s defense and Tua’s second-year debut. 

NFL Pick:

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1434942173464645632?s=20

Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 04:25 PM EDT at TIAA Bank Field

The Green Bay Packers had a scare this offseason but now know they Aaron Rodgers will be starting at least one more season. Meanwhile, the Saints have a lot of questions to answer as they will be without future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, who is now enjoying retirement. 

The Packers are the obvious better team in this matchup as they are loaded with talent at key positions in top target Devante Adams along with Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones and an extremely sturdy offensive line, even without David Bakhtiari.

It’s a true wild card for New Orleans who is starting interception king Jameis Winston and will be without star wideout Michael Thomas in the lineup leaving it up to the WR depth. While they’ll have Alvin Kamara, he can’t single-handily win for the Saints. It’s also an advantage for Green Bay Packers who won’t have to play in the Superdome, “thanks” to Hurricane Ida. Instead, the game will be played at a neutral venue in Jacksonville. 

NFL Pick:

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.