<u>THE 10 BEST GAMES TO BET</u>
RAVENS at JETS
1 p.m., Ravens by 6 ½, 45
HANK’S HONEYS: No one prepares his crew higher for the beginning of the season than John Harbaugh. Since 2008, his Ravens have a 10-4 Week 1 document, together with 5-1 over the past six seasons with a 204-59 level differential and a 7-2 ATS document within the favourite’s function. The Ravens are wholesome after an injury-ravaged 2021 season (no Lamar Jackson to shut out the season) and this can be an announcement to the league that they’re again. Look for Baltimore to run the ball successfully and for Jackson, regardless of the contract intrigue, to benefit from an inexperienced secondary. He’ll benefit from the Jets’ age-old weak point overlaying tight ends with Mark Andrews. We can’t see Joe Flacco (0-5 as NYJ starter), recreation supervisor at finest lately, protecting tempo in opposition to his outdated crew.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Ravens and the over.
GIANTS at TITANS
4:25 p.m., Titans by 5 ½, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: We love the underneath for starters. The Giants’ defensive power is up entrance and it’ll go well with them nicely right here. Derrick Henry could also be wholesome once more however Tennessee’s offensive line is with out Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry this season. Ryan Tannehill is on the draw back of his profession and he doesn’t have a No. 1 receiver with A.J. Brown traded. That ought to enable the Giants the posh of specializing in Henry and getting after Tannehill sufficient to take strain off a questionable secondary. Daniel Jones is an enigma for positive however a minimum of he gained’t be working away from elite cross rusher Harold Landry, misplaced for the 12 months. The Titans have been big-play susceptible a 12 months in the past and the Giants’ new employees underneath Brian Daboll ought to have alternatives to unleash Jones’ large arm, making these six factors very engaging. While the Giants are on a 0-5-1 ATS streak in season openers, the Titans have did not cowl of their final 5 and with the Bills up subsequent, they may very well be trying forward.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Giants and the underneath.
SAINTS at FALCONS
4:05 p.m., Saints by 5 ½, 43
HANK’S HONEYS: The Saints may very well be the largest public play of the week however why not? The Falcons, on an 0-7 ATS residence schneid, are anticipated to battle within the post-Matt Ryan period whereas many of the matchups favor New Orleans in its first recreation underneath Dennis Allen. The Saints have a nasty, fast big-time protection and must be throughout Marcus Mariota as he operates behind a weak O-line. The Falcons might battle to attain greater than 14 factors. The Atlanta secondary is hurting on the security place and Jameis Winston, one of many many injured Saints final 12 months, ought to have loads of time to seek out comeback child Michael Thomas, rookie Chris Olave and new arrival Jarvis Landry. The Saints’ O-line is likely to be a query mark however they’re a wash in opposition to a Falcons crew that may’t rush the passer.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Saints and the underneath.
JAGUARS at COMMANDERS
1 p.m., Commanders by 2 ½, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: There’s much more upside with the Jaguars because the groups head into 2022. After struggling by the Urban Meyer debacle as a rookie, Trevor Lawrence will get a contemporary begin with QB guru Doug Pederson and, whereas the QB’s preseason was a blended bag, it is a fairly great place for him in opposition to a so-so protection that can be lacking cross rush wiz Chase Young and SS Kamren Curl. Pederson can be intimately aware of opposing QB Carson Wentz, who was abysmal in opposition to these Jags in his closing recreation as a Colt. Travis Etienne is poised for a breakout 12 months after lacking 2021 with a Lisfranc damage and it begins right here. In spite of some fairly horrid groups, the Jags are 3-2 SU in openers over the past 5 seasons. There’s sharp cash on Jacksonville for good purpose.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Jaguars and the underneath.
49ERS at BEARS
1 p.m., Niners by 6 ½, 40 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: The Bears have been 0-5 ATS as a house canine final 12 months, 3-10 ATS general as an underdog they usually haven’t gotten a lot better, even with Matt Nagy and his employees having left the constructing. It’s going to be laborious for Justin Fields to take the following step if he’s continually working for his life and this Niner cross rush, beginning with a wholesome Nick Bosa, is elite. True, Trey Lance is making his first begin and nobody is aware of how that can prove however the man who led the Niners to final 12 months’s NFC Championship Game is holding the clipboard and may very well be on the sphere at a second’s discover. And the 49ers aren’t going to need to mild issues as much as cowl. Bear backers are saying they’ll’t presumably be as dangerous as folks suppose. Or possibly they’ll.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Niners and the underneath.
PATRIOTS at DOLPHINS
1 p.m., Dolphins by 3 ½, 46 ½
HANK’S HONEYS: Bill Belichick took his crew to Florida 5 days early to acclimate to the warmth and humidity in a locale that hasn’t been sort to the Pats (2-7 SU in final 9 journeys). We don’t know if the Patriots acquired any higher. We do know the Dolphins have. On paper, they’ve the second-best crew within the division. Tua Tagovailoa has new coaches and new weapons, together with the versatile Tyreek Hill, whereas the Patriots just about have extra of the identical. Mac Jones has points in opposition to man protection and that’s what the Dolphins play. Belichick gained’t need to open issues up right here however it is a good offense that may pressure his hand.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Dolphins and the underneath.
BROWNS at PANTHERS
1 p.m., Panthers by 2 ½, 42
HANK’S HONEYS: Is revenge overrated? Not on this one. Baker Mayfield is all about emotion and he’s been ready for this for months. The Browns by no means appear to be prepared for the beginning of the season. They are 0-16-1 SU in Week 1 since their final opening week win in 2004. Now they’ve gone by a multitude of an offseason with the Deshaun Watson factor hanging over their heads and with journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their starter. Mayfield, in the meantime, doesn’t actually need to do all that a lot. Christian McCaffrey begins the 12 months totally wholesome and his blocking unit was upgraded with Bradley Bozeman at heart and Austin Corbett at guard.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Panthers and the underneath.
BRONCOS at SEAHAWKS
Monday, 8:15 p.m., Broncos by 6 ½, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: Maybe that is too simple however is there any situation the place Russell Wilson returns to Seattle in prime time and doesn’t torment his outdated crew? Not one which we will see. He has extra weapons than at any time in his profession with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Javonte Williams, and Albert Okwuegbunam. Nor will we see Geno Smith with the ability to sustain utilizing Wilson’s outdated worn-out weapons. The Broncos have a proficient secondary throughout the board and a vastly improved cross rush that can make Smith jittery. The Seahawks’ home-field benefit isn’t what it was once. The twelfth Man can boo Wilson all it desires. He’ll go away the winner, identical to outdated instances.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the underneath.
STEELERS at BENGALS
1 p.m., Bengals by 6 ½, 44
HANK’S HONEYS: Forget the developments that beg bettors to fade Cincy, just like the one about Super Bowl losers. On the opposite, the Bengals are able to crush the rivals who’ve traditionally owned them. They outscored Pittsburgh, 65-20, in final 12 months’s two conferences and there’s nothing to point that the Steelers can gradual them down. The expertise hole is big — beginning with Joe Burrow vs. Mitch Trubisky at QB — and the Bengals will get pleasure from a big matchup benefit with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in opposition to the Steelers cornerbacks. Trubisky might battle behind an offensive line that was an enormous concern throughout the preseason.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Bengals and the over.
PACKERS at VIKINGS
4:25 p.m., Packers by 1 ½, 47
HANK’S HONEYS: There are 10 residence underdogs this week together with this recreation, which is of explicit curiosity as a divisional recreation. If you want developments, Week 1 residence divisional underdogs are 19-6 since 2009 and 5-1 since 2018. With Davante Adams gone and Allen Lazard injured, Aaron Rodgers can be and not using a big-time risk for the primary time in his profession and whereas the Packers ought to be capable of run the ball, it’s extra more likely to grow to be a shootout. If something, the Minnesota offense must be much more energized underneath Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings have scored 34 factors of their final two residence video games in opposition to their NFC North rivals and are 6-1-1 SU of their final eight conferences, together with a 3-0 mark as residence canines.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the over.
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<u>LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH</u>
RAIDERS at CHARGERS
4:25 p.m., Chargers by 3 ½, 52
HANK’S HONEYS: First off, factors can be flying in every single place so if it’s important to wager it, wager the over. After that, it’s powerful. The Chargers spent the offseason bolstering the protection, together with ex-Raider Khalil Mack, and the Raiders the offense, together with the No. 1 commerce prize of the offseason, WR Davante Adams, whereas hiring offensive mastermind Josh McDaniels as head coach. The Raiders’ greatest query mark is their offensive line. The Chargers can deliver strain however Derek Carr is adept at eliminating the ball. Justin Herbert has been nice in his matchups in opposition to the Raiders however the hook makes this a Vegas lean.
CAN’T HELP YOURSELF? Raiders and the over.
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<u>BEST OF THE REST</u>
COLTS at TEXANS
1 p.m., Colts by 7 ½, 46
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Texans and the underneath.
CHIEFS at CARDINALS
4:25 p.m., Chiefs by 5 ½, 54
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Cardinals and the over.
BUCS at COWBOYS
8:20 p.m., Bucs by 2 ½, 50 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Cowboys and the underneath.
EAGLES at LIONS
1 p.m., Eagles by 3 ½, 48 ½
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Lions and the over.
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WEEK’S BEST BET: Saints. Avert your eyes. This might get ugly.
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LAST SEASON:
Overall: 143-137-4
Over/underneath: 156-126-1
Best Bets: 13-8
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Source: www.bostonherald.com