Patrick Everson
FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst
How massive is the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ matchup with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7? With out query, it’s large enough to be America’s Sport of the Week on FOX.
One other solution to decide the significance of this Tremendous Bowl rematch: test in on the NFL odds market. Practically 5 months earlier than the Chiefs and 49ers do battle at Levi’s Stadium, this matchup is getting bettors’ consideration.
“It’s in all probability going to be certainly one of our greatest wager video games of the season,” Caesars Sports activities head of soccer buying and selling Joey Feazel mentioned. “It’s thrilling anytime you get to see a Tremendous Bowl rematch, particularly when the 2 groups are pretty much as good because the Chiefs and 49ers.
Feazel, together with FOX Sports activities betting analysts Geoff Schwartz and Sam Panayotovich, present early insights on Chiefs-49ers odds and a number of different FOX Video games of the Week.
WEEK 7: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers
After we final noticed Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco, the Chiefs pulled out a 25-22 additional time victory within the Tremendous Bowl. Patrick Mahomes threw a landing go to Mecole Hardman as time expired, giving Ok.C. its second consecutive championship.
The rematch is ready for Oct. 20, and with San Fran at residence, Caesars Sports activities opened the 49ers as 2.5-point favorites. Early betting is such that the road has already shortened to 49ers -1.5 (-120).
“We see these two as comparable groups, however we predict the Niners are barely higher. And the Niners undoubtedly need revenge,” Feazel mentioned. “However we’ve been seeing some sharp motion on the Chiefs’ facet to date.”
That’s unsurprising to Schwartz, now a FOX Sports activities betting analyst after an eight-year profession as an NFL offensive lineman.
“In a Tremendous Bowl rematch the place the profitable workforce is touring to the dropping workforce, I might sometimes lean towards the dropping workforce,” Schwartz mentioned, echoing Feazel’s touch upon revenge. “Nonetheless, I might lean towards the Chiefs on the second. I might think about that is the one recreation the Chiefs are underdogs for look-ahead strains, and also you’d have to put a small quantity with the 49ers.”
Certainly, on the Chiefs’ 17-game schedule, Caesars has them as a ‘canine simply as soon as, at San Francisco. Kansas Metropolis is at present a 1-point favourite for its recreation at Buffalo on Nov. 17. And Schwartz is sort of acquainted with Mahomes’ report within the underdog position: 10-3 straight up (SU) and 11-1-1 in opposition to the unfold (ATS).
“Wagering in opposition to Patrick Mahomes when he’s an underdog is a dropping wager. He and his workforce use that as motivation,” Schwartz mentioned. “The Chiefs additionally have a tendency to point out up for large video games like this and never a lot as double-digit residence favorites in opposition to a bottom-tier workforce.
“Lastly, the Chiefs are coming off a bye earlier than heading to San Francisco. Andy Reid is 21-4 after a bye, and including the postseason into the combination, he is 31-7. He’s simply an elite coach when given an additional week. So I am taking the Chiefs right here.”
Is the Chiefs’ schedule too daunting for a 3-peat?
WEEK 1: Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns
Each groups made the playoffs final season, and each misplaced immediately on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend. The Cowboys bought trucked at residence by Inexperienced Bay 48-32, whereas the Browns had been dealt a 45-14 street rout at Houston.
Cleveland will get QB Deshaun Watson again, after he exited midseason because of a shoulder damage. Dallas not has Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator, after he took the teaching job with the Washington Commanders.
Feazel pointed to Watson’s return as the larger concern.
“How will Watson play coming off that damage?” Feazel mentioned. “We opened this recreation as a decide ‘em and noticed some slight Browns cash are available in. However betting has since gone the opposite means, and now the Cowboys are favored.”
Caesars is now at Dallas -1, and as is usually the case, Feazel anticipates loads of public Cowboys motion within the coming months.
“This might be probably the greatest video games of opening week, contemplating how equally good these groups are. Nevertheless it’s clear to see already that we’ll want the Browns,” he mentioned.
Schwartz will want the Browns, as properly, however he believes Cleveland is as much as the Week 1 job.
“I’ve the Browns profitable and masking in opposition to the Cowboys, due to the road of scrimmage,” Schwartz mentioned. “The Cowboys could have two rookie offensive linemen of their first begin, on the street, in opposition to the Browns’ line of defense. Myles Garrett, probably the greatest defensive gamers within the recreation, goes to pass-rush in opposition to Tyler Guyton, a rookie left sort out who wants polish within the NFL.
“The Cowboys will wrestle to hurry the ball, and Dak Prescott will get hit all recreation. It’s worrisome for me.”
Schwartz additionally famous that Cleveland’s offensive line must be wholesome, as ought to working again Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee damage in Week 2 final yr. Plus, the Browns acquired wideout Jerry Jeudy in a commerce with Denver.
“The Cowboys misplaced defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Commanders, and they’re due for a regression this season on protection. I’m wagering that regression begins immediately,” Schwartz mentioned.
WEEK 3: Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
You’ll discover a recurring theme — or extra precisely, recurring workforce — in America’s Sport of the Week on FOX: the Dallas Cowboys. They may not be the America’s Staff of the distant previous, however they all the time draw eyeballs to TV screens and cash to the betting window.
Caesars has Baltimore at -1 (-120) on the NFL oddsboard, with no early motion on this recreation.
“The Ravens had been arguably one of the best workforce within the AFC final yr. The one issues that concern me in regards to the Cowboys are how good that new protection is gonna be, and the run recreation,” Feazel mentioned.
Former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer returns to Dallas as defensive coordinator, a task he held from 2000-2006. As for the Cowboys’ run recreation, free agent Tony Pollard signed with Tennessee, and Ezekiel Elliott returned to Dallas after a one-year stint with New England.
“We haven’t seen a lot motion but. However anytime you’ve two good groups, particularly the Cowboys, there might be lots of motion,” Feazel mentioned.
Panayotovich is extra involved with the Ravens’ offseason losses on protection.
“Baltimore’s perennially sound protection has some inquiries to reply out of the gate,” Panayotovich mentioned. “The Ravens misplaced Jadeveon Clowney and Patrick Queen, to not point out defensive coordinator Mike McDonald took the top teaching job in Seattle.
“I count on the protection to undergo some rising pains within the first few weeks.”
Baltimore elevated Zach Orr from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
“There’s additionally some chatter about [Ravens] offensive coordinator Todd Monken eager to throw the ball extra in 12 months 2 with Lamar Jackson,” Panayotovich mentioned. “If that is the case, we’ll see higher-scoring video games. I feel Over 48 is a good wager proper now, and we may simply see this whole at 50 or 51 by mid-September.”
Skip Bayless has Cowboys going 8-9, lacking playoffs
WEEK 6: Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys rank twelfth in FOX Sports activities’ NFL power of schedule for 2024-25. However as you possibly can inform by now, Dallas has a number of powerful opponents in marquee video games.
Detroit may very properly have been the NFC Tremendous Bowl consultant final season. The Lions blew a 24-7 halftime lead at San Francisco, dropping the NFC Championship Sport 34-31.
Nonetheless, Dan Campbell’s squad completed a strong 14-6 SU and ATS, and the Lions have been an ATM for bettors for the reason that center of the 2022-23 season (22-8 SU/23-7 ATS).
“These are actually intently rated groups. The Cowboys get the slight edge being at residence, so we opened Cowboys -1,” Feazel mentioned of a line that hasn’t moved. “At 50.5, we’re on the upper facet for the overall, despite the fact that Unders had been very fashionable final yr.
“If the Dallas protection is inferior to in earlier years, this whole may simply fly over. I count on a higher-scoring recreation.”
WEEK 9: Detroit Lions @ Inexperienced Bay Packers
Just like the Lions, the Inexperienced Bay Packers additionally may’ve taken out San Fran in final season’s playoffs. After trouncing Dallas 48-32 on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend, the Packers led the 49ers at a number of junctures within the divisional spherical.
Inexperienced Bay was up 21-14 getting into the fourth quarter, however in the end misplaced 24-21 on the street. The Packers completed a middling 10-9 SU final season (11-8 ATS), however actually appear to be shifting in the proper path behind QB Jordan Love.
Feazel likes what the Lions are doing, however he has the Packers as 1-point residence favorites on this Nov. 3 conflict.
“The Lions are the marginally higher workforce and the NFC North favourite,” Feazel mentioned, whereas noting the street workforce received within the two Lions-Packers conferences final season. “This division a pair years in the past was not the best. Now, with Jordan Love enhancing, Caleb Williams with the Bears, Jared Goff getting paid in Detroit, and J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, this division is strong.
“Lions-Packers is an effective rivalry, the 2 high groups within the NFC North. Whoever wins this recreation will in all probability have the momentum to win the division.”
Panayotovich is already intrigued by this Week 9 matchup, and he’s notably passionate about Love.
“There weren’t many quarterbacks that performed higher soccer than Jordan Love from Thanksgiving to the top of the common season,” Panayotovich mentioned. “And who may overlook Love torching the Cowboys for 3 passing touchdowns within the playoffs? I am larger on Inexperienced Bay than most, and I am not a kind of individuals who consider the Lions are going to waltz to a different division title.
“The Packers’ schedule is fairly simple the primary two months. If they arrive into this recreation with a 5-3 or 6-2 report, notion will heighten and so will the quantity. It isn’t loopy to examine the Cheese as field-goal favorites if all the pieces breaks proper.”
Packers, Lions, Vikings or Bears: Which is NFC North’s finest?
WEEK 12: San Francisco 49ers @ Inexperienced Bay Packers
Whereas the Packers are slim Week 9 residence favorites in opposition to Detroit, the identical can’t be mentioned in Week 12 in opposition to San Francisco. Caesars Sports activities has the Niners at -2.5.
“It’s late November, so climate may very well be an element. However we nonetheless have the Niners as one of the best workforce within the NFC,” Feazel mentioned. “It must be an excellent recreation, particularly late within the yr. It may have playoff seeding implications. And I’m positive the Packers have revenge on their minds.”
WEEK 14: Buffalo Payments @ Los Angeles Rams
The general public betting lots perennially leap on the Buffalo Payments to win the Tremendous Bowl. However Josh Allen & Co. proceed to allow them to down. This yr, the Payments received’t have Stefon Diggs, after buying and selling the star wideout to the Texans.
On the flip facet, Los Angeles misplaced three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Aaron Donald to retirement.
“These are two evenly matched groups that misplaced star energy. We opened this recreation a decide ‘em, and we haven’t seen any motion both means,” Feazel mentioned. “The Payments should make the lengthy trek, however don’t have to fret in regards to the climate. It must be a terrific matchup.”
WEEK 17: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
If the 2023-24 common season ended on Thanksgiving weekend, the Philadelphia Eagles would’ve been within the catbird seat within the NFC playoff image. The Eagles had been coming off a 37-34 residence additional time win in opposition to Buffalo, shifting to 10-1 SU.
Sadly for Philly, there have been six video games left.
The Eagles went 1-5 SU/0-6 ATS in these video games and ended up settling for a Wild Card bid. Philadelphia then traveled to Tampa Bay and bought blown out 32-9.
Nonetheless, with Jalen Hurts at QB and many extra expertise in Philadelphia, the late-season showdown in opposition to Dallas nearly actually could have playoff ramifications. Caesars opened the Eagles -2.5 and hasn’t moved but.
“These groups battled final yr for the NFC East, and this can be a massive rivalry recreation,” Feazel mentioned. “I may see this line shifting to both facet of the spectrum. Hopefully all of the starters are taking part in, and hopefully it means one thing.”
Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He’s a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting house. He’s based mostly in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Comply with him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
