The 2019 NFL regular season gets underway this weekend. The NFL and sports betting goes hand in hand, with the NFL being a very popular league to bet on here in Canada.
This year I will once again be giving out free picks every week. Last season my picks did not do very well, finishing with a 17-20-2 record on the season. I will be looking to bounce back with a profitable season this year.
I will be using SportsInteraction.com for all of the spreads and picks below. You can see our full SIA review here. I’m going with just 2 picks here in week 1. I’ll hopefully feel confident in more plays after seeing how everyone looks week 1.
Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins
- Baltimore -7
- Miami +7
The Dolphins are big 7 point underdogs at home in week 1. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Dolphins this year. It looks like Ryan Fizpatrick has locked up the starting QB job to start the season, but this team doesn’t have a ton of weapons on offense. Kenyan Drake has big play ability running the ball, but Fitzpatrick doesn’t have a ton to work with Albert Wilson and Devante Parker as his best two options throwing the ball. That said, Fitzpatrick came out of the gate firing in Tampa Bay last year before losing his mojo a few weeks into the season. If Fitzpatrick can start this season like he did last years, then he may be able to find a way to move the ball against this stout Ravens defense.
As much as the Dolphins lack offensive weapons, so do the Ravens. Mark Ingram joins the team from New Orleans this year, but I’m always hesitant about the impact new acquisitions can have early in the season. Outside of Ingram, the Ravens have arguably worse offensive weapons than the Dolphins, and Lamar Jackson is hit or miss at QB. I’m personally not sold on him as a top starting QB yet.
Overall, this should be a defensive battle with both teams having difficulty finding the end zone. I’m going to side with the Dolphins because they are big underdogs at home, and I think Fitzpatrick has some magic left to either win this game or at least keep it close.
Play: Dolphins +7
Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals
- Detroit -2.5
- Arizona +2.5
The Lions are getting the Cardinals at a good time of the season. Kyler Murray wasn’t able to find the end zone in the preseason and I think it may take him a few games to find his game in the regular season. David Johnson is by far the Cardinals biggest weapon, and the Lions were able to shut him down in week 14 last year, only allowing 49 yards on 15 attempts, and 12 yards on 8 receptions.
The Lions won last years week 14 game by a score of 17-3. That game was also in Arizona, and I don’t think the Cards will suddenly be able to put up big points this season, even with Murray at QB instead of Rosen.
On the other side of the ball, Matthew Stafford will be entering the season healthy, which means he has the ability to make every throw in the book. I believe Stafford is one of the better passers in the league when healthy. Look for Kenny Golladay to take a bigger share of the targets this season and Marvin Jones being healthy will also help this team.
The Lions beat the Cardinals last year with Stafford only throwing for 101 yards and without Marvin Jones and Kerryon Johnson who were both out with injuries.
I think if this Lions team can stay healthy this year they may surprise some people and that all starts with getting this win in Arizona on Sunday.
Play: Lions -2.5
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