NFL Bold Bets: Odds & Predictions for Week 1

America's long, grueling wait is over, and it's one day shorter than usual. The 2026 NFL season will open with its traditional Kickoff Classic on Wednesday rather than Thursday.

Good news: there's an NFL game on Thursday as well, featuring the team that oddsmakers pick as the favorite to win the next Super Bowl.

(Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

NFL Bold Bets For Week 1

Not only are 16 NFL games on the schedule over the six days from Wednesday to Monday, but you'll also have a chance to find football betting offers from the top NFL sportsbooks.

(All odds via DraftKings)

Myers 4+ Field Goals for Seattle Seahawks: +670

The season opener pits the Super Bowl opponents from last season on NBC/Peacock on Wednesday evening. Odds have the Seattle Seahawks priced as favorites.

The Over/Under is set at 44.5 for Patriots/Seahawks, one of the lower numbers for Week 1. The Seahawks have the NFL's most fearsome defensive unit, 1 through 11. As has often been the case for Seattle, defense and special teams will be important.

No kicker has attempted more field goals than Jason Myers the last three years: 120 for Seattle. He was 8-for-8 in three games in the postseason last year. The Seahawks will administer death by a thousand paper cuts. That's if you consider field goals to be like paper cuts.

• BOLD BET: Jason Myers 4+ Field Goals Made (+670 DraftKings)

A winning $100 bet on this player prop will return $670.

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Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers Any Team To Score 40+ Points (+600)

It doesn't matter what part of the world you live in. If you're an NFL fan you've heard a lot of chatter about the Los Angeles Rams all offseason. That's because the Rams coaxed defensive monster Aaron Donald out of retirement (though he will not play in Week 1). They also have Myles Garrett to pester the opposing quarterback and ball carriers. Between them, Donald and Garrett have five AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The other team in the LA/San Francisco matchup has a defense too. But the 49ers are getting long (very long) in the tooth. The 49ers ranked 20th last season in yards allowed. The task of containing the high-scoring Rams offense will be daunting.

Matthew Stafford has these weapons: Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Puka Nacua, and behemoth tight end Colby Parkinson. The reigning NFL MVP has everything he needs: a line that can create a cocoon and a top-flight RB1 in Jordan Whittington, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season.

I like the Rams (#1 in scoring last season with 518 points) to score loads of points against the mediocre and aging Niners defense. I found bold odds from DraftKings that covers my wager if either team goes big in points.

• BOLD BET: Any Team to Score 40+ Points (+600 DraftKings)

Kyler Murray Touchdowns vs Packers: +850 Bet

A lot has changed in the 11 months since Kyler Murray wore pads and a helmet during a play on an NFL field. The former Rookie of the Year has exchanged red for purple: going from the Cardinals to the Minnesota Vikings. His responsibility is to refurbish the Minnesota offense. He'll have a good opportunity against the Packers in Week 1.

Green Bay's new defensive coordinator is Jonathan Gannon, and his roster is at a disadvantage starting the season. Four defensive players are on Injured Reserve coming out of camp, lineman Warren Brinson is questionable, and Micah Parsons is still sidelined with the after-effects of his ACL tear from last season.

Murray can still hoof it: he has in excess of 3,000 yards rushing to go along with his 20,000+ passing yards. All signs out of camp are that Murray is healthy after playing only five games for Arizona in 2025. If anything, he'll be rested.

Murray has 11 career games with 2+ TD passes AND 1+ rushing TD. That ranks 16th all-time (according to StatMuse), and he's done that in seven seasons, even though he's missed 27 games in the last four seasons due to injury.

Without Parsons to chase Murray, the new Vikings QB will have an opportunity to get to the corner and pick up yards with his feet. But even more than that: Murray can throw to Justin Jefferson, one of the best wide receivers he's had in his huddle in the NFL.

• BOLDEST BET: Kyler Murray To Throw for 2+ TDs and Score Anytime TD (+850 DraftKings)