The 2026 NFL season is finally here, and bettors have an unusually intriguing slate to work with. The season opens with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, then moves into a Week 1 schedule that includes an international matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, several divisional games, and plenty of questions around new-look teams.
For bettors, the key isn’t simply picking the teams most likely to win. The real challenge is finding where the betting line reflects a team’s true chances. This season, look for futures, spreads, totals, moneylines, and player props, while also watching injuries, coaching changes, and how quickly new offensive or defensive systems come together.
Odds mentioned below are snapshots and can move before kickoff. Always compare prices across sportsbooks and bet responsibly.
Super Bowl Winners
The Los Angeles Rams are the current favorite and a team to consider this season. The market currently has them as favorites at +500 via DraftKings, and that doesn’t offer the same value as taking a contender at a longer number. Its top-of-the-board position means bettors are paying a premium. A more interesting strategy could be to look for a team with higher odds that’s playoff-caliber and will pay more, with the odds listed below.
Teams Worth Monitoring via DraftKings:
- Buffalo Bills +1000
- Baltimore Ravens +1000
- Seattle Seahawks + 1200
- Philadelphia Eagles + 1700
- Kansas City Chiefs + 1600
- Los Angeles Chargers + 1700
- Houston Texans +1800
- Cincinnati Bengals + 1800
The important point is not that any of these teams will win the Super Bowl. Rather, bettors should ask whether their actual championship probability is greater than the probability implied by the different markets across many sports betting apps.
NFL MVP Markets
The MVP market is another futures category worth watching. With many candidates who could perform well during the regular season and boost their teams, there’s plenty for fans to get excited about. Here are some of the players to look out for this season.
- Josh Allen is the safest choice from a pure probability standpoint. He’s already established himself as an elite quarterback and plays for a Buffalo team expected to contend for a playoff spot this season, with DraftKings at +600.
- Lamar Jackson is arguably the more interesting value candidate. Baltimore has a new coaching structure, and the expectation is that the offense can take advantage of Jackson’s ability as both a passer and runner. If he can avoid injury this season, he could be the co-favorite for regular-season MVP with his odds currently at +800 via DraftKings.
- Drake Maye is another player worth monitoring because he has improved offensively and can be a team player for a team looking to return to the playoffs this season. At +1000 via DraftKings, he is already receiving substantial respect from the market.
- Justin Herbert is another strong candidate for regular-season MVP because he is looking to prove himself as a standout player, and his passing, running, and the coaching and offensive talent around him could make him a candidate at the end of the season. At +1000 via DraftKings, he has the potential to gain people’s interest after winning key matchups in the regular season.
One important betting principle applies here: don’t bet on your favorite player; bet on a player you expect to perform well. Avoid betting on MVP futures immediately simply because you like a player. If a quarterback starts slowly, his odds can improve dramatically. That can create a better opportunity later in the season.
Team Win Totals
For a full-season betting strategy, win totals may be more attractive than trying to predict the Super Bowl winner. A bettor doesn’t need to identify the eventual champion. Instead, the goal is to determine whether a team is likely to finish above or below its team total wins that season. The Kansas City Chiefs are a particularly interesting example. Their current win total is listed at 10.5, with the over at +115 and the under at -140 via DraftKings, while questions remain about Patrick Mahomes’ return from his knee injury and the overall construction of the offense. That doesn’t automatically make the under a good bet. But it does make Kansas City’s win total one of the numbers worth researching closely.
When evaluating win totals, look at:
- Strength of schedule
- Quarterback health
- Offensive-line stability
- Coaching changes
- Turnover regression
- Expected point differential
- Injuries to key players
- Division strength
Week 1 Bets to Watch
Week 1 is always difficult because bettors don’t have regular-season data from the current year. That’s why I avoid betting every game, but instead look for moneylines, points, and/or total points. Another strategy is to focus on matchups where there is a clear reason to believe the market could be mispricing a team.
Seahawks vs. Patriots
The season begins with Seattle hosting New England in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Seattle enters as the defending champion, but both teams have changed since February. Seattle also lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III during the offseason, while New England added significant offensive talent, including A.J. Brown.
Seattle’s home-field advantage and defensive identity make the Seahawks the side I would lean toward in the opener.
Best approach: Seahawks Moneyline
49ers vs. Rams
This is arguably the most fascinating Week 1 matchup. The game will be played in Melbourne, Australia, making it the first regular-season NFL game in Australia, and the Rams enter with high expectations as the Super Bowl favorite. I’m interested in the Rams, but this matchup makes the line worth watching on Thursday night. The international setting adds another variable that makes traditional home-field assumptions irrelevant. The Rams’ overall roster strength makes them a logical side, but bettors should be careful about laying a large number against a talented San Francisco team.
Best approach: Rams Moneyline or Rams Spread.
Packers vs. Vikings
This is one of the Week 1 games that could produce an underdog opportunity. Green Bay has the roster to compete in the NFC, while Minnesota enters the season with questions surrounding its offense and quarterback situation. This is the type of game where a competitive road underdog can be more attractive than the favorite.
Best approach: Packers Spread or the under in points
Jets vs. Titans
This could be one of the lower-profile games that attracts smart-money attention. This is the kind of game where you should treat offensive expectations carefully. If neither team has a major advantage at quarterback and both offenses struggle to consistently create explosive plays, a low total can still have value depending on the number.
Best approach: Jets/Titans Total Points under
Eagles vs. Commanders
Philadelphia opens at home against Washington in an NFC East matchup. The Eagles enter the season as one of the NFC’s premier contenders, while Washington is attempting to bounce back under a revamped coaching and offensive structure. Philadelphia is the team I’d lean toward, particularly at home. But divisional games can be unpredictable, especially in Week 1. Rather than chasing a large Philadelphia spread, I would consider:
Eagles moneyline
or
Eagles at a manageable spread
Philadelphia’s defense and home-field advantage could give it the edge while Washington adjusts to its new systems.
My 2026 Bets to Watch
If I were building a list of bets to monitor entering Week 1, my early board would look something like this:
Best futures to monitor
- Rams to win Super Bowl — only at a favorable price
- Bills to win Super Bowl — value candidate
- Eagles to win Super Bowl — value candidate
- Lamar Jackson MVP — strong value consideration
- Justin Herbert MVP — intriguing longer-shot candidate
- Chiefs win total — worth investigating closely
Week 1 bets to watch via DraftKings
- Seahawks moneyline -170
- Rams moneyline -198
- Packers spread -108
- Jets/Titans under -110
- Eagles moneyline -218 /spread -108
The most important thing, however, is price discipline. A good prediction can still be a bad bet if the odds are too expensive. This 2026 season will present an unusually strong opportunity to watch the market during the opening month. New coaching staffs, new quarterbacks, international games, and changing offensive systems create uncertainty—and uncertainty is exactly where bettors should be looking for mispriced lines. Ultimately, the goal shouldn’t be to have an opinion on every NFL game. The goal should be to identify different matchups and look at the props that work in a handful of situations where your assessment of the matchup differs meaningfully from the sportsbook’s number. The NFL season begins Wednesday, September 9, and enjoy the week of NFL Football Sunday.
Betting involves financial risk. Odds change, and no pick is guaranteed to win. Only wager what you can afford to lose and follow the laws and age requirements in your jurisdiction.
