NFL betting: Play total on Falcons-Steelers, underdog in New York

After an offseason of hype, the Super Bowl favorites got an contiguous world check. The Rams flew from Los Angeles to Australia astatine the past infinitesimal and looked unprepared, sleepwalking done a humbling 27-7 nonaccomplishment to the 49ers. It was a reminder to the betting nationalist not to judge the hype, particularly aboriginal successful the season.

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network

Week 1 tends to beryllium unpredictable. Remember erstwhile the Raiders upset the Patriots to unfastened past season? Las Vegas finished 3-14, portion New England went 14-3 and reached the Super Bowl. Don’t overreact to thing that happens this weekend. Below are 2 of my favourite Week 1 plays, though I person respective much astatine the VSiN website.

Atlanta Falcons astatine Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s past telephone for Aaron Rodgers, who claims this decidedly is the last twelvemonth of his NFL career. He said thing akin a twelvemonth ago, but this clip helium truly means it.

Time catches up to everyone, and we are astir to find retired however overmuch the 42-year-old backmost has left.

Rodgers’ 2nd play with the Pittsburgh Steelers begins Sunday nether a caller coach. Mike Tomlin is out, and Rodgers’ aged person from Green Bay, Mike McCarthy, is present successful charge. Although the McCarthy-Rodgers reunion is 1 of the season’s apical storylines, the betting enactment connected the Falcons-Steelers crippled is 1 of the hottest topics of Week 1.

Atlanta volition unfastened the play with the No. 3 backmost connected its extent chart. With erstwhile first-round prime Michael Penix Jr. inactive rehabilitating a genu wounded and Tua Tagovailoa sidelined aft suffering an oblique wounded successful signifier Thursday, journeyman Cooper Rush gets the call. Pittsburgh has moved from a 3-point favourite aboriginal successful the week to a 6-point favorite.

Rush is thing special. In 9 years with the Cowboys and Ravens, helium has a 9-7 grounds arsenic a starter. Rush mislaid some of his starts with Baltimore past play and threw 4 interceptions without a touchdown pass. Still, the information is Rush mightiness not beryllium a downgrade from Tagovailoa, who looked unspeakable successful the preseason, truthful the enactment question looks similar a insignificant overreaction.

The Falcons bash person immoderate affirmative attributes. Kevin Stefanski is simply a large coaching upgrade, and Bijan Robinson is an elite moving back. Robinson’s playmaking quality is the superior crushed Atlanta could propulsion the upset, but Pittsburgh’s antiaircraft beforehand volition beryllium focused connected containing him and forcing Rush to marque plays done the air.

Rodgers did not marque galore large plays past season, erstwhile his mobility was severely limited. His numbers were bully — 3,322 passing yards, a 65.7 percent completion rate, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions — but helium mostly made abbreviated throws and utilized his precocious shot IQ to dissect defenses.

I stake the Steelers astatine -3 (-125) aboriginal successful the week and wanted to slice Tagovailoa. At this point, it doesn’t marque consciousness to laic a bigger fig against a likewise ineffective quarterback. Chris Boswell is 1 of the league’s astir close long-range kickers, and Pittsburgh astir apt volition number connected his limb to assistance triumph this game. With 41 being a cardinal fig for totals bettors, look to the nether connected the DraftKings full of 41.5 successful what apt volition beryllium a low-scoring grinder.

Most importantly, the Steelers conscionable request to win. I’m utilizing Pittsburgh connected aggregate Circa Survivor entries, and it has go a fashionable prime this week.

Bet: Falcons-Steelers nether 41.5 (-115)

Dallas Cowboys astatine New York Giants

John Harbaugh’s debut arsenic Giants manager is being hyped arsenic a turning constituent for the franchise, and helium tin commencement by turning astir this one-sided rivalry Sunday night. The Cowboys person won 16 of the past 18 meetings, with New York’s lone 2 victories coming successful Week 18 games.

Dallas has legitimately precocious expectations due to the fact that of its improved defence and a Dak Prescott-led discourtesy that should beryllium explosive arsenic usual. But the defence volition get an aboriginal accent test. Harbaugh has built a bigger violative line, the moving backs are carnal and tough, and backmost Jaxson Dart is simply a playmaker. The Giants’ spot could beryllium their antiaircraft front, truthful don’t beryllium amazed if Harbaugh’s squad wins the conflict connected some sides of the enactment of scrimmage.

Bet: Giants +3 (-110)