With the release of next season’s NFL schedule, Indiana’s online sportsbooks have been working on adding new options for Week One.
The NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, so sportsbooks are focusing on futures bets from here on out.
At least for now, COVID-19 isn’t interrupting the league’s plans. The NFL will still be playing a full schedule of games starting on Sept. 10.
Although the games will be taking place, the league isn’t sure if fans will be in attendance for them or not. Forbes estimated that the NFL could miss out on $5.5 billion in revenue if fans can’t pack stadiums.
Thankfully for the NFL, they have all summer to make that decision. By the time fall rolls around, it might be a much easier one to make. Regardless of whether fans end up being a part of things, the show will go on.
You can already bet on Week One matchups at Indiana sportsbooks. Although the odds vary a bit from place to place, there’s generally a consensus on how things will shake out.
Bet on the Chiefs-Texans season opener
The very first game of the 2020-2021 NFL season should be an exciting one.
It features Kansas City’s return to the field after its Super Bowl win back in February. However, contrary to the Super Bowl, this game won’t be against the 49ers.
The Houston Texans will head to Arrowhead Stadium to open up the football calendar. The quarterback battle between Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson should be the highlight of the night.
All of Indiana’s sportsbooks have the Chiefs as the heavy favorite for the bout.
DraftKings has the Chiefs as the -10 and -500 favorites to start their season out 1-0. The Texans are at +10 and +370 to pull off the upset.
Trading away DeAndre Hopkins certainly isn’t helping Houston when it comes to those odds. Now that Watson no longer has one of his top receivers to throw to, the team’s passing offense might take a step back this year.
Additionally, DraftKings has over/under NFL betting on the board for the season opener. The total is set at 55 for those wagers.
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Week 1 odds for the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are on a mission this season.
After missing out on the playoffs with a 7-9 record last year, the team is looking to course correct.
Obviously, Indy would love to get started on the right foot. That starts with the team’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Colts fell short in the last meeting between these two AFC South teams. The Jaguars took home the 38-20 win in the team’s final game of the regular season.
According to FanDuel’s odds, the Colts have a good chance to come out on top this time around. The sportsbook has the Colts as the -7 and -300 favorites for the matchup, with the Jaguars as the +7 and +245 underdogs.
If over/under betting is more your style, FanDuel has that as an option as well. Right now, the total is set at 46.
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Chicago Bears have a tough matchup for Week 1
Much like the Colts, the Chicago Bears didn’t end last season the way that they would have hoped.
The team missed the playoffs after sporting a mediocre 8-8 record. That was a far cry away from the Super Bowl aspirations from which the team started the season.
Chicago’s Week One matchup is against NFC North rival Detroit.
BetRivers Sportsbook has the Lions as -1.5 and -136 favorites for the game. The Bears landed at +1.5 and +112 in what’s basically a toss-up.
Prop bets will become available for all the Week One matchups a little closer to game day, but in the meantime, Bears fans can still place a point total wager on the team’s Week One game. BetRivers has the total at 44.5 for now.
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Joe Burrow and company are the underdogs for Cincinnati’s first game
After drafting LSU standout Joe Burrow first overall in this year’s NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are hoping he can turn the franchise around.
The team’s season opener will be Burrow’s first chance to show off his skills at the professional level. Cincinnati will open its season up with a Sept. 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
At BetMGM Sportsbook, the Bengals are the +3.5 and +150 underdogs to come hot out of the gates and win their first game. The Chargers are the favorites at -3.5 and -182.
BetMGM has the point total set at 45.
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If you don’t love the odds out there right now for your favorite team, shop around a bit. Every sportsbook has slightly different odds, and they’ll probably fluctuate, leading up to the start of the season.
As the NFL season gets closer, sportsbooks will add more and more betting options so that there’s something for everyone.