The wait is finally over! Since February 3rd, 2008, the NFL betting community has been starving for some real football action. We’ve all read the magazines, checked the trade market, the free-agent frenzy and watched all the training camp news. Now it’s time to put all that knowledge and pent-up excitement to good use. You guessed it – Week 1 of the NFL is upon us!

The season opens with Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants on Thursday September 4th, 2008. The Giants are coming off a week that saw them lose their star defensive player, Osi Umenyiora, to a serious knee injury.

Any coaxing to get Michael Strahan out of retirement failed, and I don’t blame the gap-toothed stopper for wanting to end his career on top. The Giants are 3-point favorites in that, but I would bet on Washington getting their season off to the right start.

Then we roll the clock forward to Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Every team is in action, and BetUS.com has the best lines for all the big games kicking off. Here’s a rundown of all the online betting action coming your way in Week 1. Check back frequently to the new and improved BetUS.com Locker Room for all your football betting needs! We’ve got your game.

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EARLY GAMES


Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants

NFL Betting Line: NYG -4 (39)
The defending Super Bowl champs should have little difficulty winning the opening game of the 2008 regular season. I don't see the Redskins returning to the postseason this year.
NFL Free Picks: NYG -4 (UNDER)
Results: WIN, WIN

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

NFL Betting Line: PICK (39)
The Bengals are facing a myriad of injuries from Chad Johnson’s messed up shoulder to Carson Palmer’s broken face. The Bengals have been a betting nightmare over the past two seasons, falling to a 23-23-2 ATS record over the past three seasons. Their strength is in their offense, but injuries to all their stars is putting that threat in jeopardy.

The Ravens, after a season of struggle last year, have handed the ball to Heisman winner, Troy Smith, who was strong during the pre-season. I don’t expect the Ravens to steamroll the Bengals, but you can safely bet on the Ravens to protect Smith by unleashing Willis McGahee against a weak Bengals defense that allowed 118.31 rushing yards against per game.
NFL Free Picks: Baltimore (UNDER)
Results: WIN, WIN

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

NFL Betting Line: NYJ -3.5 (36)
Chad Pennington will face his old team in week one, surrounded by a team that is struggling to find itself. Ricky Williams returns, and has been a stud in the pre-season. His return will lessen the loss of Ronnie Brown as he recovers from a strained thumb, and that horrific knee injury from last season. Miami is 3-14 ATS against the AFC East.

Brett Favre makes his debut for the Jets, but he’s not the only one. I expect Mangini and the new-look New York Jets to plow through the Dolphins in south beach. The Jets have a very strong offense, and will continue their 6-0 ATS road record against a Miami team that has nobody to throw the ball too.
NFL Free Picks: NYJ -3.5 (OVER)
Results: WIN, LOST

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots

NFL Betting Line: New England -16.5 (46.5)

A new NFL betting season and the Patriots are still getting silly spreads. The Patriots struggled to find their groove against the spread last year, especially with these monster spreads. Though KC isn’t much of a team, the tandem of Dwayne Bowe and Larry Johnson will do some damage against a secondary that will have trouble stuffing the run and controlling the pass. KC is one of those teams that I expect the oddsmakers to fall asleep on.
NFL Free Picks: KC +16.5 (OVER) - Brady, IR
Results: WIN, LOST

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Betting Line: Pit -6.5 (43.5)

Houston and Pittsburgh are both teams with plenty to prove. The Steel-Curtain remains, as Pittsburgh returns one of the best defenses from the 2007 NFL season. However, their new offense looks to score in bunches. Rashard Mendenhall has looked tremendous in the pre-season, and will continue a streak of 12-2 ATS in their last 14 home games. Expect that streak to continue as they match their top-ranked defense with an insanely explosive offense that will far exceed the 24.56 points they averaged last year.
NFL Free Picks: Pitt -6.5 (OVER)
Results: WIN, WIN

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

NFL Betting Line: Jax -3 (37)

The battle for the Wild Card begins with Jacksonville against Tennessee. I have split feeling about both teams. I think that Jacksonville is a bit overhyped, and Tennessee is underrated. The problem is that everyone has underestimated the Titans against their own division, despite a 10-2 ATS record against the AFC South. Vince Young starts the season healthy, with no weapons, and with an inexcusable spread victory to start the season.

Don’t bet against Tennessee’s stiff run defense allowing Mojo and Fred Taylor to open up the rushing attack of Jacksonville. Jeff Fisher has proven impossible to beat at home (unless you’re the Colts).
NFL Free Picks: Tennessee -3 (UNDER)
Results: WIN, WIN

Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons

NFL Betting Line: Det -3.5 (41)

The Lions and Falcons are both so miserable right now that this is one of those games I won’t even be tuning in to. Aside from Matt Ryan’s obvious and expected struggles, the only other thing to watch is how Detroit’s rushing attack responds. Detroit finished last season with an inexplicable 0-8 ATS record against sub .500 teams, and that means bad things when facing the worst of the worst in A-Town.

But how can you reasonably bring yourself to bet on the Falcons this year? Until Matt Ryan grades out, this is a stay away game. But if you twisted my arm:
NFL Free Picks: Det -3.5 (UNDER)
Results: LOST, LOST

Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills

NFL Betting Line: Sea -1 (39.5)
Seattle has already claimed the unofficial throne in the NFC West. They return this season with a more established rushing game headed by Julius Jones who was shipped in from Dallas. The problem is that Seattle does not handle the road well, and Buffalo is not an easy place to play.

The Bill shave plenty to prove. And an up-and-coming team in the AFC will always trounce the king of a terrible division in my books. I loved Buffalo last year, and I love them for this betting season as well.
NFL Free Picks: Buf +1 (OVER)
Results: WIN, WIN

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

NFL Betting Line: NO -3.5 (42.5)

The showdown between the top-two teams in the NFC South begins in Week 1, leaving no time to waste. So many questions abound in this matchup that I don’t even know where to start. Is Earnest Graham the real deal? Is Reggie Bush? How does Jeff Garcia respond to the Brett Favre drama in Tampa? Is Shockey still a cancer?

Of course, all those questions are offensive. The truth is that the defense in Tampa ranked third in points against with only 16.68 points against. The other stat I love is the betting trends that the underdog is 11-2 ATS and 10-3 SU when these two teams face each other.
NFL Free Picks: Tampa +3.5 (OVER)
Results: LOST, WIN

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