Oddball: Week 1 NFL Bets

Kirk and Matt get $100 each per week and go head-to-head to see who can light the most money on fire betting the NFL this season.

Welcome to Oddball! Our weekly NFL gambling competition. The rules are simple:

• We each get $100 to make NFL bets every week.

• We must bet the entire $100.

• We'll post our picks every Thursday and recap how we did every Tuesday.

• We can only bet on stuff that will be resolved during the week (no futures).

• Loser must eat an entire well-done steak at Applebee's.

Any profit you make in a given week can be banked and used later. Any portion of the $100 that you don't lose, cannot be used later but does count towards your overall total for the season.

• Example 1: Kirk bets $100, wins $50 profit. Next week he can bet $150 and has a $150 overall total for the season.

• Example 2: Matt bets $100, loses $75 of it. Next week he can only bet his $100 weekly budget but has a $25 overall total for the season.

All right, now with the complicated math out of the way, let's get to this week's picks.

Matt's Picks

$100 available to bet this week +$0 last week +$0 for the season

Thank god the NFL is back. I have goosebumps just thinking about firing up the big screen in my basement, cranking the surround sound, settling into my old man recliner, and neglecting my family for several hours at a time. Oh, and wasting my money on dumb bets. But I'm also excited for the world to see what a maniac Kirk is when it comes to this stuff. My strategy is going to be a bit like rope a dope. Slow and steady, and avoid the weeks where I get completely cleaned out. Easier said than done, I suppose...

6-point teaser (-139)

Browns +8.5 Steelers +8.5

Two great teaser legs as we are crossing key numbers of 3 and 7. Not to mention I like both teams in their respective spots. Browns are a Home Underdog In Division (HUID) going against a rusty and banged up Burrow, who they manhandled last year on Halloween. The Steelers are coached by Mike Tomlin who is great against the spread as a dog. They will be facing a very highly-hyped 49ers team with the questionable Brock Purdy under center.

💰 $40 to win $30

Texans +10.0

Straight up ATS (-115)

This line is way too high. That's it. That's my whole argument.

💰 $22 to win $20

Giants +3.5

Straight up ATS (-115)

Yes this is a homer pick. But the Giants are also a nice HUID candidate with a great coach who will have them well-prepared. Wink's defense will be hitting Dak all night long and the MetLife faithful are going to love it. Plus, we're getting the extra half point. Sign me up for Big Blue in this spot.

💰 $22 to win $20

Buccaneers (+210)

Moneyline

I have this game circled as the Week 1 knockout pool spoiler game of the year. I was tempted to just take the points and be safe, but I'm going to grab the +210 on the moneyline and try to forget about all the money Baker Mayfield has lost for me over the years.

💰 $16 to win $33.60

Kirk's Picks

$100 available to bet this week +$0 last week +$0 for the season

Sure, Hard Knocks and preseason football tickle the itch a bit, but there is nothing like the real thing. The NFL season kicks off Thursday night and it should be absolutely electric.

Matt and I decided to have this weekly competition to highlight our ineptitude when it comes to decision making. I am committed to making sure he comes out of it far worse than me and looks like a complete moron. Friendships will be shattered.

Anywho, moving on to my picks this week.

First here’s an absolute gimme pick that does not make sense as to the line offered.

Packers +1.5 (-118)

Straight up ATS

In case anyone forgot, the Bears and Justin Fields are not good at football. They’re up there this year with overhyped teams like the Lions and Jets. I’m not buying the Lions D, I’m not buying it’s going to be all kumbaya with Rodgers, and I certainly am not going to forget the Bears propensity to make costly mistakes. Having this game at home, with all the hype and Rodgers no longer there to haunt them, it feels like an absolute trap game for the Bears fans. I’m taking the points and a Packers team with something to prove with their departed HOF’er.

💰 $75 to win $63.56

Same Game Parlay (+13831)

Amon-Ra St Brown (to score 2 or more touchdowns)

Isiah Pacheco (to score 2 or more touchdowns)

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (anytime touchdown)

You may look at that bet and say, "Wow WTF are you doing here bud?"

Now you wouldn’t be too out of line, but I ask you to consider the following. The rules state that if you lose your money for the week you’re capped the next week at $100. BUT, there is nothing against using your winnings to grow your lead exponentially week to week.

I am going for the throat with these bets. With Kelce’s knee I’m slotting in Isiah Pacheco for the run/short game passing threat in the red zone. For the rest of the bet sure there is a bit of a hope/prayer in there. One of these bets over the course of a long season is all I need to crush Matt's conservative strategy. If I hit one, I have Matt half buried and get to sit back and bask in my glory.

💰 $25 to win $3457.76