Fansided

NFL betting guide: 5 best wagers for Week 1

By Rucker Haringey

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on before the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on before the preseason game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 22: New England Patriots running back James White (28) smiles before a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 22: New England Patriots running back James White (28) smiles before a preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 22, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1 New England -6.5 vs. Pittsburgh

The Patriots aren’t going to go all out to win their Week 1 match-up against the Steelers, but that doesn’t mean they won’t handle the Steelers comfortably. Backing New England at home is the right play in Week 1.

For the record, this doesn’t have anything to do with any sort of shortage of offensive firepower for Pittsburgh. Even without Brown and Le’Veon Bell there are still plenty of toys for Ben Roethlisberger to work with. James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster are more than talented enough to torment the Patriots defense.

The big issue for Mike Tomlin’s team in this game is going to be their inconsistency in the secondary. Specifically, you should keep your eyes on Steven Nelson and Terrell Edmunds in this game. Tom Brady is going to pick on them for a full four quarters. There’s been a lot of talk about how much the Patriots want to run the ball this season, but it’s Brady’s arm that will make the difference for them in Week 1.

Next. 5 teams who could take the risk to sign Antonio Brown. dark

Pittsburgh has enough talent and motivation to keep this game close for a half, but the Patriots’ talent and coaching will win out in the end. Don’t get cute by teasing the line in the slightest, but New England -6.5 is the best bet of the weekend.