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NFL Week 1 ATS: Top 4 Picks to Win Cash

By Dan Salem

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There are some huge lines to start the season, but these are your 4 best bets for NFL Week One ATS. Pick these four games to win the cash. Thank us later. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

Each week during the regular season, each of us is going to pick two NFL games against the spread. The best value is likely found early on in the year before Vegas knows quite what it has in each team. However, the reverse is also true as we gamblers know less about each football team as well.

Kicking things off for week one, here are my two ATS picks:

Dallas Cowboys -5.5 vs. New York Giants
Detroit Lions +2.5 at San Diego Chargers

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Both of these bets are more picks against the loser than for the potential winner. I am down on Dallas in general this season, but the New York Giants are going to have a very rough year regardless. Their defenders are dropping like flies, and the offense is still a new system with a group of receivers who haven’t played much together.

Dallas could have a worse offense and a worse defense than it had in 2014, but a solid rushing performance and some deep plays in the passing game should be enough to cover less than a touchdown at home.

In San Diego, the Chargers are the ones who will be missing their best and most reliable weapon as Antonio Gates sits out the first quarter of the season. They will also be relying on a rookie running back to take pressure off of Phillip Rivers.

On the Lions’ side, Detroit has a good defense and a very good passing game backed by its own questions at running back. The difference is while Ameer Abdullah, Joique Bell and Theo Riddick aren’t world-beaters, they make quite a formidable trio if everyone is healthy. The Lions are also the road underdogs here, being given close to a field goal. I’ll take the points.

Sep 3, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver

Seth Roberts

(10) is defended by Seattle Seahawks safety Ryan Murphy (36) at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

Nothing like a betting line to crush allegiances and make you root for the enemy. There are some huge lines in week one this season, with the Steelers getting 7.5 on opening night and Chicago getting 6.5 against the Packers. But neither of those teams make my picks either.

My NFL Week one ATS picks:

Atlanta Falcons +3.5 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Oakland Raiders +3.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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There’s a trend in my week one picks. Home teams rule the day. Both the Eagles and Bengals are probably a bit better than the competition here, but playing on the road to open the season proves too much to handle.

The Falcons offense is shaping up to be a behemoth, and at home in week one they can easily cover the spread against a questionable Eagles team giving 3.5 points. I know Atlanta’s defense is suspect, but I’d take the Falcons and the points week after week on the back of their offense.

With the Bengals, I don’t trust them on the road to start the season. Playing in the Raiders’ Black Hole only solidifies my pick. Oakland is much improved from a season ago, and should start strong on the arm of their sophomore quarterback. Playing at home will do wonders for the Raiders as well. Getting points just ices this game in their favor.

Every team looks good in week one, and every team is in a great position to win. Getting points at home is huge, and I’m not about to ignore these two games.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.

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