2018 NFL picks against the spread for Week 1

Every week of the 2018 season, we’ll take on the odds with NFL picks against the spread, and we’re ready to get started in Week 1.

Sundays are for football and we finally get the NFL back in our lives this Sunday as Week 1 of the 2018 season gets things fully underway. It’s been a long offseason and a seemingly even longer preseason/training camp period. But all of that was leading to this moment where we have a full slate of action to digest and react to. Beforehand, though, we’ve obviously got to make some NFL picks.

With sports gambling seemingly on the verge of becoming more widespread than ever before in the United States, it only makes sense that we would again look at the odds and make NFL picks against the spread this season. We’ve done this before, but we’ll do it once again and see if we can’t, well, beat the odds.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get off to a great start with the Kickoff game between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles as I took the former as one-point favorites. I learned a lesson that I should’ve already known — don’t bank on Steve Sarkisian.

Even after the 0-1 start with my 2018 NFL picks against the spread, however, there are still 15 more chances to get that back on the right track. And with that, let’s get into these picks for Week 1.

All odds are courtesy of Westgate Sportsbook, via Odds Shark.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (-9.5)

Ryan Fitzpatrick will be getting the start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers given the three-game suspension for Jameis Winston. As you might expect as they subsequently take on the defending NFC South champion New Orleans Saints, they are heavy, heavy underdogs in this one. And really, they should be.

The Buccaneers, even with Winston, aren’t the same caliber of team as the Saints. With Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara leading the offense, this is a team that has Super Bowl LIII aspirations. That’s especially true if their defense is able to stay at the level that they played at one season ago.

Normally the 9.5 points might scare me away, but that’s not the case here. At home in Week 1, I think the Saints are going to roll over the Harvard graduate and the Bucs. If this one is within two touchdowns, I’d honestly be surprised.