The 2022 NFL season gets underway on Thursday, September 8 with a Week 1 clash between the Buffalo Bills and Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on NBC. According to preseason prognosticators, this is a likely Super Bowl LVII matchup with both teams strong up and down their roster. There’s always a question about the dreaded Super Bowl hangover and the Rams will endure a stiff test from the loaded NFC. The Bills should be the hungrier team after getting bounced from the postseason by KC for a second straight season and they’d like nothing better than to send a message to the rest of the NFL with a road win over the defending champs. There is some question about the state of the Rams since few regulars played a snap during the preseason and Matthew Stafford is dealing with shoulder injury.
On Thursday, September 8, 2022, the Buffalo Bills visit the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff time is set for 8:20 p.m. ET with television coverage on NBC.
NFL Week 1 Betting Odds
Buffalo Bills -2.5
Los Angeles Rams +2.5
Total 53
Odds Analysis
To get an idea of how people feel about the Bills just take a look at the spread. Buffalo opened as a slight road favorite and the number went up to Buffalo -2.5. On the road. Against the Super Bowl champs. So, either everybody is ecstatic about Buffalo’s chances or the Rams are overhyped. I’m betting on a little of both in this scenario. The Bills won 11 games in arguably the tougher AFC and will be motivated from a crushing loss in the divisional round playoff game to the Chiefs. Both teams have tremendous offensive upside with two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL running the show. The total hit the board at 52 and was wagered up a point to 53, still within reach for teams that can move the football.
Buffalo Bills
They’re not saying it out load, but there is a feeling of Super Bowl or bust in Buffalo. Josh Allen has elevated the club to elite status with his play and once again the Bills are among the favorites to win the AFC. If it actually happens, well that’s another story, but the Bills are stacked on both sided of the football and should be motivated to quickly erase the sting of an overtime loss in last season’s playoffs. With many familiar faces still in place, the Bills should see similar results. They finished third in scoring with an average of 28.4 points and had the stingiest defense giving up just 17 points per game.
The team needed some help up front, especially on defense after the unit got shredded by Patrick Mahomes in the divisional round loss. Former Ram Von Miller joins the squad to pressure opposing QBs and Roger Saffold will anchor the offensive line, ironically, another former Ram. The Bills were favored in 15 of their 17 games last season going 8-5-2 ATS. And they will be impacted by not having Tre’Davious White roaming the secondary.
Los Angeles Rams
They say the hardest thing to do in any sport is to repeat as world champion, so the Rams have one strike against them. There are reasons for this. one being the so-called championship hangover. The reality is that there are a number of good teams in the league and a bad break here or there can ruin a season. The Rams made a bold move last offseason acquiring Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster deal. At the time Sean McVay said Stafford gives his club a better chance of winning. I guess you can’t argue with the coach after the team went 12-5 and won four playoff games, three of them by a field goal including the Super Bowl.
Just like last season regulars saw little to no time during preseason games. The strategy paid off last year with the Rams opening the campaign with a rout of Chicago averaging over 31 points in three straight wins. Stafford had a marvelous campaign throwing for nearly 4,900 yards with 41 TDs during the regular season and averaging 297 yards with nine TDs during the postseason run. They were just middle of the pack defensively, but the Rams have two playmakers on that side of the ball in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
Bills at Rams Free Pick
I’m torn picking a winner in this matchup. On one hand I like Allen and the Bills and think they’re eager to put last season to rest finally. That setback in Kansas City has lingered way too long. And I can’t go against a Rams team that did nearly everything right last year on their way to a Super Bowl celebration. If I had to make a selection I’d take the home team and the points with the OVER looking like more of a safe bet. Two sterling offensive clubs that can move the football should light up the scoreboard.
BookMaker Pick: OVER 53
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