NFL Week 1 Schedule 2026: Betting and Predictions

The 2026 NFL season kicks off in two weeks, when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Washington Commanders on Sunday, September 13. The opening matchup is already driving action at sportsbooks, which are releasing spread lines, odds, and totals for every Week 1 game.

Who are the Week 1 favorites

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland: The Jaguars are favorites with -7.5 points and a total of 40.5. The SportsLine computer model predicts they will cover the spread in nearly 60% of simulations.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders: The Eagles are -4.5 favorites with a total of 45.5. The model predicts they will cover the spread in nearly 60% of simulations.
Chiefs vs. Broncos and Cowboys vs. Giants: both with +2.5 on the spread, indicating that the favorites need to win by more than 2.5 points.
Aaron Rodgers in his last game with the Steelers against the Falcons: the Falcons are +3 on the spread.

How Week 1 betting works

Spread: the favorite must win by more than the indicated number of points; the underdog can win outright or lose by less than the spread.
Moneyline: a direct bet on the winner, without considering the spread.
Over/Under: a bet on the total points scored by both teams.
Player props: bets on individual performance, such as passing yards or touchdowns.
Parlays: combinations of two or more bets on a single ticket.
Same-game parlays: multiple bets within the same game.

What the computer model says

The SportsLine model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has already generated over $7,000 in returns since 2024. In Week 1, it recommends the Jaguars and the Eagles as high-probability bets to cover the spread, covering in 78% and 60% of simulations, respectively.

Offer for new users

At FanDuel, new customers can earn up to $350 in bonus bets by betting $5 per day for seven days. The platform also offers betting promotions and telephone betting options.

What to expect from the full schedule

Week 1 features 16 games, including divisional matchups and games with new starters. The games are scheduled between 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time, with betting available at all online sportsbooks.

With information from CBS Sports, FanDuel, Cape Gazette.