Opening Odds, Lines, and Spreads for Week 1 of 2021 NFL Season
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: May 14, 2021 at 2:45 pm EDTPublished:
- Odds have been posted for 15 of 16 Week 1 games of the 2021 NFL season
- The San Francisco 49ers are the heaviest favorites vs Detroit; In an AFC Divisional playoff rematch, the Browns vs Chiefs game has the highest total at 53
- See opening odds, spreads and totals for all Week 1 NFL games below
The NFL isn’t waiting long to deliver intrigue to its fan base. Just look at the offerings from the league for Week 1 of the 2021 regular season.
For openers, the Cleveland Browns are tackling the team that finished them off in last season’s AFC Divisional playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) and Buffalo Bills (AFC East) meet in the only Week 1 matchup featuring reigning division champions.
Week 1 starts off with a Thursday Night Football barnburner pitting the Dallas Cowboys and the return of quarterback Dak Prescott against Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2021 Week 1 NFL Odds
| Team | Moneyline at DraftKings | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | +220 | +6.5 (-113) | O 52.5 (-110) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -278 | -6.5 (-108) | U 52.5 (-110) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Los Angeles Chargers | -117 | -1.5 (-106) | O 45.0 (-110) |
| Washington Football Team | -104 | +1.5 (-115) | U 45.0 (-110) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| San Francisco 49ers | -455 | -7.5 (+100) | O 46.5 (-107) |
| Detroit Lions | +340 | +7.5 (-121) | U 46.5 (-114) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | -122 | -1.5 (-109) | O 45.5 (-112) |
| Houston Texans | +102 | +1.5 (-112) | U 45.5 (-109) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Seattle Seahawks | +112 | +2.5 (-110) | O 52.5 (-107) |
| Indianapolis Colts | -136 | -2.5 (-110) | U 52.5 (-113) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| New York Jets | +165 | +4.5 (-113) | O 43.5 (-107) |
| Carolina Panthers | -108 | -4.5 (-108) | U 43.5 (-114) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +165 | +3.5 (-110) | O 46.5 (-118) |
| Atlanta Falcons | -200 | -3.5 (-110) | U 46.5 (-103) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Arizona Cardinals | +112 | +2.5 (-112) | O 51.5 (-110) |
| Tennessee Titans | -136 | -2.5 (-109) | U 51.5 (-110) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Minnesota Vikings | -165 | -3.5 (+102) | O 48.5 (-106) |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +135 | +3.5 (-122) | U 48.5 (-115) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +215 | +6.5 (-112) | O 50.5 (-118) |
| Buffalo Bills | -275 | -6.5 (-109) | U 50.5 (-104) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Miami Dolphins | +108 | +2 (-109) | O 45.5 (-112) |
| New England Patriots | -130 | -2 (-112) | U 45.5 (-109) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Denver Broncos | -117 | -1.5 (-105) | O 42.5 (-110) |
| New York Giants | -105 | +1.5 (-115) | U 42.5 (-110) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Cleveland Browns | +210 | +5.5 (-107) | O 53.0 (-112) |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -265 | -5.5 (-114) | U 53.0 (-109) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Chicago Bears | +260 | +7 (-112) | O 45.0 (-112) |
| Los Angeles Rams | -335 | -7 (-109) | U 45.0 (-109) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Baltimore Ravens | -286 | -6 (-110) | O 51.5 (-109) |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +225 | +6 (-110) | U 51.5 (-112) |
Odds as of May 12th
Betting lines with the NFL odds are already posted for 15 of the 16 Week 1 games. Only the Green Bay Packers-New Orleans Saints tilt is without an opening line. Perhaps oddsmakers are waiting for the Aaron Rodgers soap opera to play out before assigning this game a number.
Going Long
The longest opening spread for Week 1 is assigned to the San Francisco 49ers-Detroit Lions game slated for Ford Field. The 49ers, 6-10 a year ago, are listed as the 7.5-point chalk over the Lions, coming off a 5-11 campaign.
Our 2021 season premiere is set 👀#SFvsDET for Week 1 🍿 Full schedule drops tonight at 5pm on NFL Network. pic.twitter.com/6wLIh4jtd1
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 12, 2021
Oddsmakers evidently believe that San Fran’s rash of injuries caused the team’s decline from 13-3 and NFC champions to 6-10. On the other hand, the Lions went 5-11 because they’re the Lions and that’s what they do.
Short, Not Sweet
There’s a trio of games showing the shortest Week 1 point spread of 1.5 points. Interestingly, the visitor is favored in all three games. Jacksonville is favored at Houston and Denver is the pick at the New York Giants in battles between 2020 NFL train wrecks.
Chargers @ Washington in Week 1 👀
Rashawn Slater vs Chase Young 🍿
pic.twitter.com/6sQv9jWFzT— PFF (@PFF) May 12, 2021
The Los Angeles Chargers are 1.5-point favorites at defending NFC East champs Washington. Obviously, bookmakers aren’t concerned that the sophomore jinx will impact Chargers QB and NFL OROY Justin Herbert to open the season.
Big and Little Numbers
The Chiefs and Browns were assigned the highest Week 1 total of 53 points. Cleveland (10-8) and Kansas City (9-10) weren’t especially productive in going over last season. However, the Browns have allowed an average of 40.5 points in their past two season openers. KC has scored on average 37 points through its past two Week 1 games.
Week 1 vs. the Browns.
Playoff rematch.
Let's roll! pic.twitter.com/MBaT9QcHwr— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 12, 2021
On the other end, the pitiful Broncos and woeful Giants are listed with 42.5 points as their total. Denver was 8-8 on the total last season, while the Giants were an NFL-worst 3-13.
Expect Lions Movement
There’s another new regime in Detroit. Lions fans are already in love with coach Dan Campbell, because he speaks in catchphrases.
Campbell is the fifth first-time NFL head coach hired by Detroit since 2000. The other four went 0-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread in their Lions debuts.
Leaked Detroit Lions 2021 schedule
W1: Loss
W2: Loss
W3: Moral Victory
W4: Loss
W5: Loss
W6: Loss
W7: Loss
W8: Bye (Loss)
W9: Accidental win
W10: Loss
W11: Moral Victory
W12: Loss
W13: Loss
W14: Win no one expects
W15: Loss
W16: Loss
W17: Loss
W18: Win that ruins draft position— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) May 12, 2021
The Lions faithful are a gullible bunch. They will bet this spread down from +7.5 and patient Niners backers will benefit.
Oh, and speaking of betting the 49ers, this is the third time they’ve opened the season at Detroit. They won the Super Bowl in each of the other two seasons.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
