NFL weekly lines are posted, and Seahawks power-rate No. 1
Not only does he have a supermodel wife, Tom Brady quarterbacks a team that is the NFL’s model of consistency and excellence. The New England Patriots have won 12 or more games in each of the past six regular seasons.
The Patriots are posted as the Super Bowl favorites for the 2016 season, but CG Technology oddsmakers put another team No. 1 in the power ratings. The Seattle Seahawks are on top by a narrow margin, followed by Green Bay, Carolina and New England.
A week after the NFL schedule was announced, and a week before the draft, CG Technology opened lines Thursday on all games for Weeks 1 through 16 and set wagering limits at $1,000 to $2,000 per side.
“We took a bunch of action,” said Matthew Holt, vice president for CG Technology books. “We’ve got guys trying to fade teams and bet on certain teams.”
The early bet-against teams, Holt said, are New Orleans, the New York Jets and Washington. The Los Angeles Rams, who hold the top pick in the draft, are a popular bet-on team.
Week 17 lines are obviously too unpredictable to post in April, and the Week 1 lines already have been analyzed. Here’s a look at several more of the season’s top games:
Week 2
Dallas at Washington (Pick): After opening at home against the New York Giants, the Cowboys face the defending NFC East champs. The Cowboys are 3-0 in their past three road games against the Redskins.
Indianapolis at Denver (-5): Von Miller and the Denver defense crushed immobile (Brady) and mobile (Cam Newton) quarterbacks on the way to winning Super Bowl 50. The Colts’ Andrew Luck can run and throw, although he’s off the worst season of his four-year career.
Week 3
Houston at New England (-8): Brady passed for two touchdowns in a 27-6 win at Houston in Week 14 of last season. But the Texans believe they have a true franchise quarterback now, so we’ll see how Brock Osweiler fares against Bill Belichick’s defense.
Chicago at Dallas (-6): The Cowboys went 1-7 at home last season. Jay Cutler and the Bears were surprisingly strong on the road (5-3) in a six-win season.
Week 4
Oakland at Baltimore (-2): The Raiders, who open at New Orleans and play at Tennessee in Week 3, make their third long road trip in the first month.
Week 5
Cincinnati at Dallas (Pick): The Bengals are the league’s No. 7 power-rated team by CG Technology. If quarterback Tony Romo is healthy, the Cowboys will probably go off as slight favorites in this game.
Week 6
Dallas at Green Bay (-6): The Packers will be playing their third of four consecutive home games. Based on opponents’ winning percentage from last year, Green Bay has the league’s easiest schedule on paper.
Week 7
New England at Pittsburgh (-2): This is one of the most intriguing matchups of the year. Holt said there still is some concern about a “potential suspension” for Brady stemming from Deflate-gate, but all Patriots lines are posted.
Seattle at Arizona (-1): The Seahawks are underdogs in only three games, but they are getting fewer than 3 points in all three. Arizona and Pittsburgh are tied as the league’s No. 5 power-rated teams.
Houston at Denver (-6½): Osweiler returns to face his former team. Who will be the Broncos’ quarterback on this Monday night?
Week 8
Oakland at Tampa Bay (Pick): The Raiders know they have a star quarterback in Derek Carr. The Buccaneers hope they have one in Jameis Winston. But this is a brutal scheduling spot for the Raiders, who go to Jacksonville in Week 7 and play five of their first eight games on the road.
Arizona at Carolina (-3½): Carson Palmer has a shot to (sort of) atone for his pitiful performance in the Cardinals’ 49-15 loss at Carolina in the NFC Championship Game.
Week 9
Indianapolis at Green Bay (-6): The Colts will need a lot of Luck to upset Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field, where the Packers went 13-3 the past two seasons.
Denver (-1) at Oakland: After winning only three home games last year, the Raiders need to make a stronger stand in the “Black Hole” to contend in the AFC West.
Week 10
Dallas at Pittsburgh (-6): If it’s Romo versus Ben Roethlisberger, this could turn into a crazy shootout. With an explosive offense, the Steelers will be public favorites all season.
Seattle at New England (-2): Rarely do the Patriots lay less than a field goal at home. Two years ago, Brady barely got the better of Russell Wilson in one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time.
Week 11
New England (-6) at San Francisco: A week after a hyped game against the Seahawks, the Patriots travel to the West Coast and lay a touchdown. We have no idea what new 49ers coach Chip Kelly’s offense will look like.
Week 12
Pittsburgh (-1½) at Indianapolis: In the finale of a Thanksgiving Day tripleheader, it’s Luck versus Roethlisberger, and that matchup is gravy.
Carolina (-3) at Oakland: Newton’s last trip to the Bay Area did not go so well. The Panthers will stay out West for a bigger game the next week.
Week 13
Carolina at Seattle (-3): The Seahawks will have the double-revenge factor working in their favor. Newton led the Panthers to a dramatic 27-23 win at Seattle in Week 6 of last season and a 31-24 win in the playoffs.
Week 14
Seattle at Green Bay (-2): Rodgers outdueled Wilson in the Packers’ 27-17 win at Lambeau in Week 2 of last season.
Week 15
New England (-1) at Denver: It’s not Brady versus Peyton Manning anymore. The Patriots lost both meetings in Denver last season, the first in overtime and the second by two points in the playoffs.
Week 16
Miami at Buffalo (-3½): Will coach Rex Ryan’s second season with the Bills be better than his 8-8 debut? On Christmas Eve in Buffalo, it’s probably going to be cold, and that would be bad news for the Dolphins.
Denver at Kansas City (-1½): Twelve games will be played Saturday. Christmas is on Sunday this year, and only two games are on the schedule. This one could have AFC West title implications.
Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
