The first game of the new NFL season kicks off on Wednesday, and there is no shortage of NFL Week 1 picks and to consider when building a parlay. We have been waiting all offseason for the chance to get back in the saddle. Let's jump right into our two favorite parlays for the first week of the new season.
- More NFL Betting Advice
- NFL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Expert NFL Game Picks
- NFL Betting Strategy
- Best +EV NFL Picks
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Best Early NFL Week 1 Picks & Parlays
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Boost your NFL betting strategy with our Same-Game Parlay (SGP) Tool. Get expert correlations, projections and bet ratings.
Early NFL Week 1 Parlay #1
Leg #1: New Orleans 17+ Points (-275)
New Orleans is up against a depleted Detroit secondary, and with Tyler Shough at the helm, the Saints should be able to put up quite a few points. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph will not be available as they recover from injury, which leaves Detroit extremely vulnerable on pass coverage. New Orleans chose the pass over the run on 59.3% of their plays last season.
Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson will have the opportunity to rack up yards. Travis Etienne Jr. assumes the role of playmaker in the backfield. Detroit allowed over 24 points per game last season and over 23 at home. We only need two scores and a field goal. The New Orleans Saints should be able to muster up enough offense to cover this leg of the parlay.
Leg #2: Christian McCaffrey 61+ Rushing Yards (-115)
This line continues to drop, and even at 61+ yards, the sportsbooks are getting into dangerous territory. It only takes one big run to absolutely cook this line, and who knows how the travel will impact the Rams’ defense.
Had this game taken place in either Los Angeles or San Francisco, that might have had us leaning the other way. The offensive line for the 49ers isn't the most reliable by any means. Yet by volume, Christian McCaffrey would need to rush the ball 15 times if he were to average only four yards per carry.
Unless something catastrophic happens, McCaffrey is going to be called upon to tote the rock on 15 plays. The veteran running back averaged 18.2 attempts last season and 70 yards per game. The Los Angeles Rams defense is definitely not one to try and take advantage of. However, McCaffrey just needs to break one long run, and we are already a quarter of the way there.
Leg #3: Steelers Moneyline (-180)
Oh, boy. Where do we even start with Atlanta? Second-year edge-rushing talent, Jalon Walker, is out for the season after tearing his ACL. The news gets even worse when the Falcons were informed that James Pearce Jr. will miss the first eight games for a personal conduct violation.
The Falcons have major issues on both sides of the ball, and open the season on the road against a Pittsburgh squad that added some new pieces in the offseason (Michael Pittman Jr. & Rico Dowdle) to give Aaron Rodgers playmakers.
Atlanta has a juggernaut in Bijan Robinson. Beyond that, things look entirely bleak for the Falcons going into this contest. We feel the Steelers will open the season up with a victory in front of their home crowd.
Parlay Odds: +296
Early NFL Week 1 Parlay #2
Leg #1: Miami Dolphins @ Oakland Raiders Over 7.5 Combined Punts (-125)
Our first selection in this parlay is probably best taken as early as possible. The juice is already at -125, and if it keeps increasing, it's going to dip to a total of nine punts between the two teams. Which still isn't too bad. Yet, it's nowhere near the best of it. The Dolphins and Raiders are full of questions offensively, and unless someone completely dominates this game, we are expecting a bunch of points.
The Raiders and Dolphins combined for 7.9 punts per game last season. Miami and Las Vegas rank in the bottom five of preseason projections with regard to overall offense. The Raiders and Dolphins also ranked in the bottom five in first down completions last season. Two quarterbacks making their first start for new teams in the first week is tailor-made for at least eight punts.
Leg #2: Jaguars Moneyline (-440)
Nothing too complicated here. The Browns are in shambles and will have to move forward without Myles Garrett, who set the NFL sack record last season for Cleveland (23). Jacksonville is projected to be a team that could once again make the playoffs. Cleveland is projected to once again make a top-five pick in next year’s draft.
Deshaun Watson will make his first start since 2024, after suffering a torn Achilles. Watson averaged a quarterback rating of 56.4 through two preseason games, with zero touchdowns, one fumble and one interception. Jacksonville are 9-point favorites against Cleveland, and it should be no surprise to anyone if the Jaguars take that lead into double digits by the end of the contest.
Leg #3: Geno Smith 1+ Interceptions (-110)
We pick up where we finished off last season, and get in on what will more than likely be the best odds of the season for Geno Smith to throw an interception.
Smith completed a pass to the defense in 13 out of 17 games last season - including six out of the last eight contests. Smith threw an interception in five out of seven road games. He was also sacked on three or more plays in seven consecutive games to close out the year - make of that what you will for defensive purposes.
Smith faces a Titans defense that will have a little extra incentive, in addition to playing at home, to begin the season. Head coach Robert Saleh was let go by the very same New York Jets team he will face this week. We expect nothing short of an absolute nightmare of a day for Smith that will result in at least one interception.
Parlay Odds: +321
