NFL Picks, Week 1: Vegas Sets Tight Lines, Can Packers Beat The Spread?

One of the fun parts of the NFL season is picking against the spread. You don't have to actually bet real money to get in on the Vegas odds action. Just join a pick 'em league (like ours, ID# 55411, PW: arizona) and lay down your marker. Not only do you get the thrill of the game, but you can root for a specific score so you can beat the spread.

Week 1 in the NFL picks world starts Thursday night with the New Orleans Saints at the Green Bay Packers. This meeting of the last two Super Bowl winners promises to be a fun battle on the field with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees airing it out.

The Packers, at home, are understandably a 4.5 point favorite with Vegas predicting a high scoring game -- the over/under is 47.5. That's a tight line and a tough call. I'll take Green Bay and the over and just assume that Rodgers will win by at least a touchdown. It's a great bet as long as no real money is involved.

The next big contest of the NFL weekend is the rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Expect lots of blood and little scoring. Vegas has basically called his a toss up with the spread set at Ravens -1 with a 36 point over/under. The Steelers feel like the right way to go here despite being on the road. 

At home, the Cardinals are a whopping eight-point favorite over Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. While I'm confident picking an Arizona win, the eight points feels like a lot and 37 points over/under seems high for a Week 1 game with two brand new quarterbacks. I'll go with the Panthers losing but covering the spread and take the under.

Here's the full list of NFL picks with the spreads via Odds Shark. Remember, gambling is for fools and rich people. 

Join our Pick 'Em league: ID: 55411, PW: arizona