If you have some extra cash lying around and want to increase the entertainment value of your first betting week of the NFL season, parlay bets are a fun investment. A parlay consists of multiple bets on the same ticket with shops accepting as many as 12 bets, though the numbers and odds vary at different crypto sportsbooks. And you can have different types of bets on the same ticket, but they all must win in order to pay out. Winning nine bets on a 10-team parlay makes for a great story, but it’s still a loser. With a majority of teams sitting starters and regulars for much of the preseason, we didn’t glean much from the exhibition games. Most of what we know and handicap is based on past results and a lot can change, so I’m heading into Week 1 cautiously optimistic about my NFL parlay picks. But we’ll see if I can make a few bucks anyway.
NFL Betting Lines
Parlay Card Underdogs
Pittsburgh Steelers ML +117
Detroit Lions +6.5
$100 bet to win $317
There are a number of ways to play a parlay. You can bunch several bets on a single ticket or you can break the wagers into different tickets. The types of wagers also vary. There is the standard pick against the spread, the straight up moneyline bet or picking between the over or under on the total. Whichever you decide it pays to do a little homework.
I’m going to start my parlay picks with a pair of underdogs who I feel have a chance at staying within the opening line. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the Detroit Lions this season after finishing with eight wins in their last 10 games to close the 2022 campaign. The Lions were in the NFC playoff picture until the final weekend of the season. An offense that ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring last season added pieces in Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Sam LaPorta with the hope being Jared Goff can continue where he left off last season.
That’s good news since the Chiefs’ weakness is defense and the continued holdout of Chris Jones makes them even more susceptible. The Lions need to be better stopping teams and the revamped secondary will get a huge early test from Patrick Mahomes and Co. I think the Lions will be better and catching 6.5 points is a nice chunk for a team with aspirations of winning a division title.
I’m not convinced the San Francisco 49ers are a Super Bowl contender. They handed the reins to Brock Purdy by dealing Trey Lance, which is a huge move for a guy with only a handful of games under his belt and coming off major surgery. The defense was a big reason why the Niners reached the NFC title game, but with Nick Bosa still holding out and coordinator DeMeco Ryans off to Houston there will be changes. I’m backing the Steelers outright at home.
Parlay Card Favorites
Baltimore Ravens -10
Seattle Seahawks -5
$100 bet to win $264
The Ravens look scary good on paper with Lamar Jackson healthy and signed. Opposing defenses had a hard time stopping Baltimore’s O even before the team upgraded its receiving corps. Give Jackson new targets like Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. and the passing game has the potential to be special. It won’t take much to better last year’s production when Baltimore receivers posted the fewest combined receiving yards in the NFL.
With more options in the passing game that should theoretically open up space on the field allowing Jackson to do what he does best. We haven’t seen a quarterback run the football like Lamar, and while the runs may be less frequent they should still be explosive. New Texans coach DeMeco Ryans had the NFL’s best defense in San Francisco, but he’s a long way from that now. And it’s going to take time to get the pieces in place and for top draft pick C.J. Stroud to become a valuable everyday signal caller.
It was just a few years ago the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl. That thing got torn down in a hurry leaving the team with a few star players surrounded by unproven ones. Cooper Kupp is still ailing leaving Matthew Stafford without his favorite target. And the Seahawks are poised for a big year with Geno Smith having a cadre of pass catchers at his disposal.
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