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Week 1 NFL Underdogs
September 7, 2016
Week 1 of the NFL season is officially upon us and as a new weekly feature here from Sportsbook.ag, we'll be discussing some of the best underdog ML options on the card each week. Any underdog getting 4 points or more will be considered as NFL bettors everywhere look to add a few more units to their bankrolls each week with a sizable underdog ML score.
Sportsbook.ag Week 1 NFL Underdogs that Qualify
San Diego Chargers (+7); ML: (+240)
Chicago Bears (+6.5); ML: (+220)
Jacksonville Jaguars (+5.5); ML: (+195)
Miami Dolphins (+10.5); ML: (+400)
New England Patriots (+6); ML: (+200)
Right off the bat it's hard to give too much credence to a ML wager on the Miami Dolphins as the biggest dog on the board as they've got arguably the toughest hurdle to overcome. On the road in Seattle in Week 1 is not the most ideal situation to start off a season and while the +400 payout would be nice, there is a solid chance that a ticket there is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Jacksonville is the only home team on this list as they welcome the Green Bay Packers into town. Green Bay has been considered as one of the Super Bowl favorites all summer (along with Seattle) and many expect them to cruise to another division title in the NFC North. Many also expect the Jaguars to be a much improved team this year and could fight for a playoff spot, but +195 seems just a tad too low to seriously consider a ML bet. This game is likely going to be one of the most one-sided bets on the board with plenty of Packers tickets ATS written, so if you are a believer in being “on the books side,” then a Jags ML wager would be something to consider.
New England ML bets at +200 will definitely see some support even with Jimmy Garoppolo starting, because the reputation of Belichick and the Patriots always garners respect. But Arizona is considered one of the Super Bowl favorites as well and their defense will throw so many different looks at Garoppolo that it will be tough sledding for New England in Week 1. The Patriots do have a chance to shock many though and start the year 1-0 SU, so if you were already considering a Patriots ML bet, I wouldn't shy away from it.
However, the best underdog outright option on this list in my opinion has to be the San Diego Chargers at +240. This wager comes for multiple reasons as the Chiefs could still be without RB Jamaal Charles and are a little overhyped by many this summer. Andy Reid and KC aren't going to be as good or dominant as many expect them to be in 2016, and this spread is much too high here. Throw in the +240 price tag and the Chargers are definitely a live dog.
QB Philip Rivers knows the fate of the Chargers largely rests on his shoulders this year, but WR Keenan Allen is poised to breakout and become an elite WR in this league, and RB Melvin Gordon will be much better than what we saw from him in the 2015 campaign. Rivers is tired of losing to this division rival as they've lost four straight to KC, but last year's game in Arrowhead was a close 10-3 game that the Chargers easily covered as +11.5 underdogs and this year in Week 1 they get over the hump.
September 7, 2016
Week 1 of the NFL season is officially upon us and as a new weekly feature here from Sportsbook.ag, we'll be discussing some of the best underdog ML options on the card each week. Any underdog getting 4 points or more will be considered as NFL bettors everywhere look to add a few more units to their bankrolls each week with a sizable underdog ML score.
Sportsbook.ag Week 1 NFL Underdogs that Qualify
San Diego Chargers (+7); ML: (+240)
Chicago Bears (+6.5); ML: (+220)
Jacksonville Jaguars (+5.5); ML: (+195)
Miami Dolphins (+10.5); ML: (+400)
New England Patriots (+6); ML: (+200)
Right off the bat it's hard to give too much credence to a ML wager on the Miami Dolphins as the biggest dog on the board as they've got arguably the toughest hurdle to overcome. On the road in Seattle in Week 1 is not the most ideal situation to start off a season and while the +400 payout would be nice, there is a solid chance that a ticket there is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Jacksonville is the only home team on this list as they welcome the Green Bay Packers into town. Green Bay has been considered as one of the Super Bowl favorites all summer (along with Seattle) and many expect them to cruise to another division title in the NFC North. Many also expect the Jaguars to be a much improved team this year and could fight for a playoff spot, but +195 seems just a tad too low to seriously consider a ML bet. This game is likely going to be one of the most one-sided bets on the board with plenty of Packers tickets ATS written, so if you are a believer in being “on the books side,” then a Jags ML wager would be something to consider.
New England ML bets at +200 will definitely see some support even with Jimmy Garoppolo starting, because the reputation of Belichick and the Patriots always garners respect. But Arizona is considered one of the Super Bowl favorites as well and their defense will throw so many different looks at Garoppolo that it will be tough sledding for New England in Week 1. The Patriots do have a chance to shock many though and start the year 1-0 SU, so if you were already considering a Patriots ML bet, I wouldn't shy away from it.
However, the best underdog outright option on this list in my opinion has to be the San Diego Chargers at +240. This wager comes for multiple reasons as the Chiefs could still be without RB Jamaal Charles and are a little overhyped by many this summer. Andy Reid and KC aren't going to be as good or dominant as many expect them to be in 2016, and this spread is much too high here. Throw in the +240 price tag and the Chargers are definitely a live dog.
QB Philip Rivers knows the fate of the Chargers largely rests on his shoulders this year, but WR Keenan Allen is poised to breakout and become an elite WR in this league, and RB Melvin Gordon will be much better than what we saw from him in the 2015 campaign. Rivers is tired of losing to this division rival as they've lost four straight to KC, but last year's game in Arrowhead was a close 10-3 game that the Chargers easily covered as +11.5 underdogs and this year in Week 1 they get over the hump.
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