Week 1 NFL Teaser Best Bets

One of the more popular types of wagers for bettors who test the NFL betting lines are teaser bets. Similar to parlays, however teasers allow you to move the spread or total by as much as six points with a minimum of two wagers. You can also purchase more points and increase the number of wagers. However, since you are moving the spread and/or total in your favor the payout on a winning ticket is less, meaning you have to hit more multi-team teasers in order to finish in the black.

I had the most success with teaser bets last year and I’ll look to continue that trend in Week 1 of the NFL season. The opening games are always risky since we don’t know a lot about the clubs and the preseason results are meaningless. The most common teaser is a 2-team, 6-point bet but I’m going with three teams to start. You can play your NFL teaser and make football bets online at BetRivers sportsbook.

San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers

Opening Line: Steelers +2.5

Teaser Line: Steelers +8.5

Many of the so-called experts have the San Francisco 49ers playing in the Super Bowl. And while that may be the case I have some doubts at the outset of the campaign. Brock Purdy may end up being a fine NFL quarterback, but the Niners are putting a lot on the young man’s shoulders. Mr. Irrelevant had a fabulous start to his career when taking over last season, leading the Niners to the NFC Championship. He sustained an elbow injury in that game spending a majority of the offseason recovering. They did just sign Nick Bosa but last year’s No. 1 ranked defense has a new coordinator meaning there could be a learning curve at the start.

When teasing a line a good strategy is to cross key numbers. Buying six points for the Steelers does that moving them across 3 and 7 to +8.5. Pittsburgh found their QB last season with Kenny Pickett living up to his draft status. It took a while, but Pickett was much better over the second half of the season and has his sights on bigger things for the Steelers offense. They closed last season winning four straight and six of their last seven behind a defense that didn’t allow more than 17 points in that span. An NFL wager on the home team with teased odds makes sense.

Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders

Opening Line: Commanders -7

Teaser Line: Commanders -1

The team formerly known as the Redskins opened as the second biggest NFL favorite this week laying a converted touchdown to the Arizona Cardinals. I’m not sure what to expect from the Cards as they underwent a complete overhaul during the offseason. More than half of the 53-man roster wasn’t with the club last year and 11 rookies are making their debut. And the QB situation remains jumbled. New coach Jonathan Gannon hasn’t named a starter, at least publicly, and either Josh Dobbs or Clayton Tune will have a big job ahead of them.

This season is a do-over for the Commanders with new ownership putting the focus back on the field. Though they missed the playoffs the Commanders finished .500 with the third best total defense and seventh-best scoring defense. They will need to score more points than the 18.9 they averaged last season, which is why Sam Howell starts. Howell started last season’s finale going 11 of 19 for 169 yards and a TD in a win over Dallas.

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Opening Total: 42

Teaser Total: 36

The post-Aaron Rodgers era begins in Green Bay with Jordan Love taking over for the three-time MVP. There are a number of folks who feel the Packers will decline without Rodgers, but I’m not one of them. They’ll still be competitive and Love gives the offense an added dimension. Let’s face it, while elusive Rodgers wasn’t a threat to run the football. Put Love on the same field with Justin Fields and the QBs could have a big afternoon, which is why I teased the total in this one.

The team went OVER the teased total on the NFL betting line in each of the last six meetings and the Bears made significant upgrades to their personnel around Fields to bolster their offense. Fields is always a threat to run after going for more than 1,000 yards and eight TDs on the ground last year, but the passing game should be a huge element with the acquisition of D.J. Moore.

Check out the latest NFL betting odds at BetRivers.