NFL Betting – Regular Season Week 1

It’s finally that time of year again; the NFL’s regular season is ready to get underway! Football bettors were able to curb their appetite for NFL betting a bit during the preseason, but the intensity gets kicked up a few notches with the start of the regular season.

Here’s an in-depth look at two games that highlight Sunday’s loaded schedule.

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Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

Sunday’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots in New England pits two AFC division winners in 2009 against each other. Both will try to get their division title defenses off on the right foot with a win this week.

The Cincinnati Bengals surprised many experts and fans last season in topping Baltimore and Pittsburgh to win the AFC North.

Led by quarterback Carson Palmer and surprising breakout seasons by the defense (finishing fourth in the NFL in total yards against) and running back Cedric Benson, the Bengals finished up the 2009 regular season with a 10-6 record SU and a 7-9 record ATS.

Adding Terrell Owens and Jordan Shipley to the wide receiving corps this season should provide some extra firepower in the passing game.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Bengals from a betting standpoint in 2009 was their lopsided underdog/favorite split ATS. Cincinnati was 0-7 ATS in their seven games as a favorite, but was an impressive 7-2 ATS in their nine games as an underdog. The Bengals seemed to rise to the occasion against tougher opponents.

The New England Patriots won the AFC East last season with a 10-6 record SU and an 8-7-1 record ATS. It was the Patriots’ seventh AFC East title over the last nine years. The always dangerous combination of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady will once again lead the way for New England in 2010.

A bitter loss to the Baltimore Ravens at home ended New England’s postseason last year, and it was the first time that the Patriots had lost at home since November 30, 2008. New England enters Sunday’s game with a regular season streak of nine straight wins at home, including going a perfect 8-0 last season.

Over the nine-game home winning streak, the Patriots are 6-3 ATS.

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles

The Green Bay Packers visit the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in another matchup featuring two teams that made the playoffs last year. Quarterback play will likely dominate the headlines in this one.

Green Bay has one of the premier quarterbacks in the game in Aaron Rodgers, who finished in the top five in the league in both passing yards and passing touchdowns for the second straight year last season. Also returning all of the key players on a defense that ranked second in total yards against last year, the Packers appear to be in prime position for another great season.

Green Bay made the playoffs last year with an 11-5 record SU, along with an NFL-best 11-4-1 record ATS.

As the league’s best team ATS last season, Green Bay was profitable in just about every situation. They finished 5-2-1 ATS at home, 6-2 ATS away, 8-3-1 ATS as a favorite, and 3-1 ATS as a dog. With such an explosive passing attack and shutdown defensive unit, the good times may continue to roll for Green Bay backers in 2010.

The Philadelphia Eagles move into the post-Donovan McNabb era this Sunday, starting the season without McNabb under center for the first time since 1999. Running back Brian Westbrook is also gone after eight years of service in Philadelphia. Quarterback Kevin Kolb will be leading the new-look offense, which still has a great wide receiving corps and offensive line.

Expectations will be high as the Eagles are coming off an 11-5 season (9-7 ATS).

Philadelphia fared well SU at home last season with a 6-2 record, but was just 4-4 ATS. The total went OVER in 10 of the Eagles’ 16 regular season games last season.

While the defense should be consistent from last year, how comfortable Kevin Kolb is running this offense will determine the fate of both the Eagles and their backers this season.