We have reached Week 1 of the NFL season, and every team in the league is set to be in action this weekend. The return of the NFL means the return of good betting opportunities, and the focus in the season opener should be on the underdogs.
You don’t typically only want to focus on underdogs when betting on the NFL, but it’s a good thing to explore in Week 1. There are just so many unknowns about every team in the league that you can cash in by taking a team that comes out as a big surprise.
There are three underdogs that really stand out heading into Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, and here is a look at those games.
Check out the full 2023/24 NFL season odds over on Bookmaker
Tennessee Titans +3.0 vs. New Orleans Saints
The Tennessee Titans visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and this is a battle of two teams that have some questions. Both Tennessee and New Orleans are going to be good enough to win a division title this year, but they could also finish the year under the .500 mark.
The one reason to bet on Tennessee in Week 1 is for the simple fact that they have Derrick Henry running the football. Henry continues to be a nightmare for opposing defenses, and there is a good chance he will have a big game in this one.
New Orleans still has some question marks at the quarterback position, but they believe that Derek Carr can be the answer. This team is going to try to win games on defense, but at some point, they have to score.
This is going to be a low-scoring affair, and taking the points and backing the Titans is the best option in this game.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers +2.5
The San Francisco 49ers travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 1, and this is a battle of two historic franchises. San Francisco is a 2.5-point betting favorite, but Pittsburgh is never an easy place to play for opponents.
The Steelers come into this season with a ton of optimism, and they are going to be solid on both sides of the ball. San Francisco is going to go with Brock Purdy at quarterback to begin the year, and that’s going to create some issues.
You simply can’t ignore the fact that the Steelers are getting 2.5 points in this game, especially at home in Week 1. Bet on Pittsburgh to come up with a big win to begin the 2023 season.
Miami Dolphins +3.0 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
One of the best games of the entire weekend should take place in Los Angeles as the Chargers are set to host the Miami Dolphins. This will also be one of the most entertaining games, as these teams aren’t known for their defensive abilities.
Miami is hoping that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa is going to make a ton of difference this season, and that offense should be nearly impossible to stop. The Dolphins are going to be trying to hit on some big plays, and they are extremely aggressive when they have the ball.
The Los Angeles Chargers are going to be great on offense this season as well, and quarterback Justin Herbert can be a star. This team has to find a way to get stops on defense, though, as that has been a problem in recent years.
Since neither team in this game is dominant on defense, you are going to have a chance to bet on the underdog in this one. Take the three points as Miami will come away with a win to begin their season.
