NFL Week 1 Predictions: 3 Best Bets and Picks

NFL Best Bets in Summary

• Jets-Titans First-Half Under 19.5 (-120)
• Buccaneers-Bengals Under 50.5 (-108)
• Dolphins Moneyline (+146)

The NFL season is finally here, bringing with it a fresh slate of games and plenty of intriguing betting opportunities.

Week 1 can be particularly interesting from a betting perspective. We have an entire offseason of roster moves, coaching changes and injuries to account for, while oddsmakers are working with many of the same uncertainties as bettors.

With a loaded Week 1 schedule ahead, let's dive into the board and highlight three wagers that stand out at FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL odds.

All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL betting odds and may change after this article is published.

Best NFL Bets and Predictions for Week 1

Jets-Titans First-Half Under 19.5 (-120)

Jets vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET)

This is not exactly the headline matchup of Week 1, and I think there are reasons to like this game to go under 19.5 points in the first half.

The most obvious reason is that neither of these teams is particularly good offensively. While Geno Smith should prove to be an improvement for the New York Jets, he’s unlikely to give them a significant boost. On the Tennessee Titans side, Cameron Ward was mostly dreadful as a rookie, and although the addition of Carnell Tate should help, Ward is learning his second offense in two years.

That brings me to how both of these offenses have undergone big offseason changes, and this will be their first half of competitive football. In short, I think we’ll see both offenses come out of the gates slowly.

Coaches Aaron Glenn and Robert Saleh are also defensive-minded coaches who have had a long time to prepare for this game, which is another thing that gives these defenses an edge.

I nearly wrote up under 6.5 first-quarter points, but I am opting instead for the first-half under.

Buccaneers-Bengals Under 50.5 (-108)

Bucs vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET)

There’s a lot of offensive firepower on both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals, and I’m not sure either defense is all that good. That’s not how you want to start an under recommendation.

But all of that can be true, and this game can still go under 50.5.

The Bucs gave up the eighth-most yards per play last year and will likely be in and around that level of defense in 2026. The Bengals, however, should be better. In fact, after adding Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, Cincy might be considerably better on defense.

A year ago, the Bengals were in a lot of shootouts as their high-powered offense routinely had to keep its foot on the gas because Cincy’s defense was so bad (Bengals gave up the most yards per play in 2025). Things should be a little different this year, and while there’s a chance this game shoots out, I think the market might be underrating an improved Cincinnati defense just a bit.

Dolphins Moneyline (+146)

Dolphins vs. Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET

I’m pretty intrigued by Sunday’s Miami Dolphins-Las Vegas Raiders game — not because I think either of these teams will be good but because I’m pretty uncertain about what to expect from both sides, which — in my eyes — makes the underdog Fins appealing.

Last year, Kirk Cousins looked washed, completing just 61.7% of his passes and posting 6.3 adjusted yards per attempt. Both of those are career-worst numbers by a fairly sizable margin. On top of that, the Raiders are expected to be without Brock Bowers, so a potentially washed Cousins is going into this game without Vegas’ clear-cut top target.

Malik Willis is getting a chance to start this season for Miami, and he earned it with quality backup play in Green Bay the past two years, completing 78.7% of his passes across the last two seasons (11 appearances, three starts). He’s also a dynamic runner, rushing for three TDs in that span.

Plus, there’s been some buzz about Miami wideouts Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas while we know what De'Von Achane brings to the table.

All in all, I think there’s a chance the Miami offense is a little better than people think, and I like them at this number.

NFL Betting FAQ

What is an NFL point spread?

A point spread is designed to level the playing field between two teams. Favorites must win by more than the spread, while underdogs can either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.

What is an NFL moneyline bet?

A moneyline bet is simply picking which team will win the game. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds.

What are NFL player props?

Player prop bets focus on an individual player's performance, such as passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, or receptions, rather than the outcome of the game.

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Which bets stand out to you this week? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest NFL odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.