Betting Odds For The 9 Divisional Games That Kick Off NFL’s Week 1

• 18 NFL teams will start the 2020 season against a divisional opponent in the first week of play.
• Odds are available for each matchup, headlined by the Detroit Lions (-1.5) hosting the Chicago Bears (+1.5).
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4) also face the New Orleans Saints (-4) in a Brady-Brees duel.

DETROIT – As the US sports landscape continues to take shape in a socially distanced world, football fans and bettors are spending the time analyzing the NFL’s Week 1 matchups.

There are a total of nine divisional games in the first week of play, and odds have been available since the release of the schedule back in May.

NFC Divisional Matchups

Starting in the NFC, the Chicago Bears are small underdogs on the road against the Detroit Lions

While this legal betting line may be surprising to some, the Bears need to figure out their quarterback issue before playing any winning football.

The other two components to the NFC North also face off Week 1, with the Green Bay Packers traveling to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings are getting the slight edge here, so NFL bettors should consider the value of giving Aaron Rodgers and co. three and a half points.

Maybe the most high-profile matchup of Week 1 features the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking on Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, and the rest of the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.

While the Bucs have been getting all the offseason hype, they will still have a lot to learn in terms of team chemistry and cohesion by the time Week 1 arrives.

Especially with shortened minicamps and offseason programs, it is tough to ask this new team to keep up with the long-established Saints right out of the gate.

Also in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are large favorites to beat the struggling Washington Redskins on the road.

It remains to be seen whether Washington can find traction for Dwayne Haskins, and if the defense can pull together a capable product around rookie Chase Young.

The final NFC matchup takes place out west, where the Superbowl runner-up San Francisco 49ers are over a touchdown favorite to beat the Arizona Cardinals.

AFC Divisional Matchups

The first AFC Week 1 divisional game sees the new-look New England Patriots hosting the Miami Dolphins.

This will be a very interesting game to watch as both teams will be entering the game with attention to the quarterbacks. The Patriots are obviously dealing with life post-Brady, while the Dolphins could look to trot out Tua Tagovailoa in his first career game.

Staying in the AFC East, the New York Jets travel to face the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills Mafia has been putting together a seriously solid team in the last few years and will look to the development of Josh Allen to lift the squad to the next level this season.

The Jets on the other hand are dealing with their star safety Jamal Adams requesting a trade and seem to be rather directionless.

Other matchups include the return of defending MVP Lamar Jackson as the Baltimore Ravens are large favorites against the Cleveland Browns.

The final divisional matchup of Week 1 sees the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Indianapolis Colts.

While some are low on the Jaguars this season, giving the Colts a touchdown here might just be too overzealous. The Colts haven’t won in Jacksonville since 2014 and will be entering the Phillip Rivers-era at quarterback.

With so many NFL divisional games in Week 1 on the season, this year won’t waste any time affecting NFL betting lines right off the rip.

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