The time is nigh! The NFL season is upon us. In just a few short hours, the NFL season will kick off! All the research we have done during the off-season will pay dividends for your bankroll. Let's kick the tires and light the fires--here are the winners for Week #1:

(If you need to know where to bet, find sportsbook options in your state HERE.) 

WEEK ONE:

Buffalo Bills (-2) at Los Angeles Rams (51.5)

You cannot ask for a better match-up to kick off the 2022 season. The defending champion, the Los Angeles Rams, hosts the Buffalo Bills.

I expect a high-scoring affair with Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford lighting up the scoreboard.

I don't see either team controlling the tempo with their ground game. The Bills have too many weapons for the Rams' defense to contain. Take the Bills and the Over.

BILLS 31
RAMS 27

San Francisco 49ers (-7) at Chicago Bears (41.5)

Trey Lance and Justin Fields face off for the first time in their young careers. There is intrigue to this game, seeing how the 49ers' offense looks with Lance under center.

The 49ers' will look to ease Trey Lance into the starting role, and they won't ask him to do too much. 

The 49ers are the better team, but with a conservative game plan on the road, this game is closer than some think.

I'll take the home underdog, and I'll take the Under.

49ERS 21
BEARS 17

Baltimore Ravens (-7) at New York Jets (44.5)

The Baltimore Ravens are going to smash the New York Jets on Sunday. I don't see how the Jets' defense will slow down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense. 

My initial reaction was to lean 'Under'--but the Ravens could score 40 points themselves in this one. Hammer the Ravens and the Over.

RAVENS 31
JETS 14

Indianapolis Colts (-7) at Houston Texans (46.5)

The only thing missing from the Indianapolis Colts a year ago was consistent QB play. The Colts traded for Matt Ryan in the off-season and now have a balanced attack. 

The Texans are improved, and with Dameon Pierce listed as the RB1, they should be more balanced on offense.

The Colts are too much and eventually pull away, but the Texans make the Colts struggle enough that the Under is the play.

COLTS 27
TEXANS 17

Philadelphia Eagles (-4) at Detroit Lions (48.5)

The Eagles and Lions face off in a match-up of two potentially surprising teams this season. 

Both teams invested in additional firepower for their offense. I believe this game has sneaky shoot-out potential. Take the Over.

The Eagles make enough plays in the passing game and their secondary clamp down enough to walk away with the win and cover.

EAGLES 31
LIONS 24

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5) (44)

My initial reaction was to take the Steelers in this one. The Bengals' defense was one to attack via the run and the pass for the vast majority of 2021. 

Najee Harris and the short-area passing game should find success. The problem is, I don't see how the Steelers' defense slows down the Bengals' offense. 

Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins get it cooking in the second half and pull away. Take the Bengals. Take the Over.

BENGALS 30
STEELERS 20

New Orleans Saints (-5.5) at Atlanta Falcons (42.5)

The Saints/Falcons game provided me the most pause. The Saints should have their full compliment of weaponry with Alvin Kamara avoiding suspension, for now, and a returning Michael Thomas. 

The Falcons feel like a rebuilding team, but they have looked quite capable this off-season. 

The Falcons put up a good fight and give the Saints offense all they can handle, so the Under is the play. The Falcons don't have the talent to compete with the Saints for four quarters. Take the Falcons and give the points.

SAINTS 24
FALCONS 17

Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (-2.5) (42)

Two evenly matched teams, I am expecting a low-scoring affair between the Browns and Panthers. 

The revenge narrative is at play in this one as Baker Mayfield gets a chance to exact revenge on a team in the Cleveland Browns who jettisoned him. 

There is no way I'm picking against a motivated Baker Mayfield in this one. Take Carolina the Cover. Take the Under.

PANTHERS 20
BROWNS 17

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (-3.5) (46.5)

The Patriots feel like a complete mess on the offensive side of the ball. I'm not bullish on the Dolphins this season either, but they appear to be trending significantly more positively than are the Patriots. 

The Dolphins make enough big plays to Cover, but the Patriots make them work for it, so take the Under.

DOLPHINS 24
PATRIOTS 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders (-2.5) (44)

The Washington Commanders may have changed their name, but the same problems abound. Carson Wentz is not providing any more consistency under center than Taylor Heinicke provided. 

Jacksonville feels much more promising in year two of the Trevor Lawrence era. Doug Pederson provides more credibility as the Head Coach, and the Jaguars have a variety of weaponry at their disposal.

Not only will the Jaguars cover, but they will win this one outright. 

UPSET SPECIAL:
JAGUARS 23
COMMANDERS 20

New York Giants at Tennessee Titans (-5.5) (43.5)

The Tennessee Titans are a team heading in the wrong direction. Derrick Henry is back to command the rushing attack. The weapons at receiver for the Titans feel a bit underwhelming. 

As for the Giants, there is a sense of optimism around the team. Brian Daboll taking over should inject some life into the Giants' lifeless offense. The Giants have more playmakers than the Titans, and with additions to the offensive and defensive line, the Giants prepare for an upset.

Take the Giants and take the Under.

UPSET SPECIAL PART TWO:
GIANTS 23
TITANS 20

Kansas City Chiefs (-6) at Arizona Cardinals (54)

The Kansas City Chiefs have way too many weapons on offense for the Cardinals' defense to contain. 

The Cardinals will be without DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games of the year, and their offense will feel the pinch.

The Chiefs boat race the Cardinals in this one going away. Take the Chiefs and take the Over.

CHIEFS 37
CARDINALS 24

Green Bay Packers (-1.5) at Minnesota Vikings (47)

The Packers feel more vulnerable than they have been in years. The Vikings have the feel of a team on the rise. So I must be taking the Vikings?

Not quite. The Packers' defense is far superior to the Vikings' unit. The Packers utilize their running backs as runners and receivers as Aaron Rodgers makes just enough plays to lead the Pack to a victory.

PACKERS 27
VIKINGS 24

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers (-4) (52.5)

The word on the street is that the early money is on the Raiders. I'm heading in the opposite direction in this one. 

The Raiders' offense will be improved with Davante Adams in Silver and Black. I don't see a strong rushing result behind the Raiders' poor offensive line.

The Chargers feel like a complete team. Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams provide a high-end passing game. The offensive line is improved, and they should have the best ground game they have had in years.

I'm taking the Chargers to Cover. I expect a shoot-out, so take the Over.

CHARGERS 31
RAIDERS 24

Sunday Night: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5) at Dallas Cowboys (51)

Tom Brady and the Buccaneers' offense have work to do to reach their pinnacle. I am guessing that Chris Godwin will be absent from this one.

The Dallas Cowboys offense will have to get used to life without Amari Cooper. CeeDee Lamb is prepared to step up, but the depth behind him is suffering.

The Buccaneers are too tough on both sides of the ball. Take Tampa Bay to Cover, but these offense struggle out of the gate--Take the Under.

BUCCANEERS 27
COWBOYS 20

Monday Night: Denver Broncos (-6.5) at Seattle Seahawks (44.5)

Russell Wilson returns to Seattle as a member of the Denver Broncos. The NFL sure knows how to conjure up the storylines. The Broncos are the far superior team with the better QB. Don't overthink it.

Hammer the Broncos, and take the Under.

BRONCOS 30
SEAHAWKS 13