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New England +3.5 over Seattle makes sense because the Patriots match up well against a Seattle team dealing with key offensive injuries, and Mike Vrabel’s historical trends strongly support the underdog in this exact type of spot. Seattle is without Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, leaving a rookie running back to handle a heavy workload, and their offense wasn’t sharp in last season’s Super Bowl meeting, putting up just 29 points despite multiple short fields. New England’s defense allowed only 18.8 points per game last year and held Seattle to 194 passing yards in that matchup, showing they can handle Sam Darnold’s timing‑based passing game. Drake Maye threw for 295 yards in that February meeting, and with added weapons like A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, the Patriots’ offense is better equipped to attack a Seattle secondary that may be without Nick Emmanwori. Vrabel’s situational numbers also matter: he is 7‑1 ATS with revenge and 7‑1 ATS on the road, and this is both a revenge spot and a road game. With New England’s defensive stability, upgraded offensive personnel, and Vrabel’s strong track record in these situations, grabbing the points is justified.

The market originally dealt approximately 45.5 and has dropped to 44.5. Rather than chase the move downward, the better value is now on the other side of it.

A respected simulation model independently reaches the same conclusion. After 10,000 simulations, it projects 46 combined points and recommends Over 44.5. New England and Seattle were both among the NFL's highest-scoring offenses last season, and the Patriots materially upgraded Drake Maye's supporting cast with A.J. Brown and additional offensive-line help.

New England averaged 28.8 points per game last season, while Maye now has a true physical No. 1 receiver capable of creating completions without requiring extended protection. That is relevant against a Seattle defense that sacked Maye six times in the Super Bowl: quicker contested completions to Brown provide an answer New England did not possess in February.

Seattle's backfield is different because Kenneth Walker is gone and Zach Charbonnet is unavailable, leaving rookie Jadarian Price in a prominent role. That creates uncertainty, but it may also force Seattle to place more responsibility on Sam Darnold and the passing game instead of recreating Walker's 27-carry, 135-yard Super Bowl performance.

There are injury concerns that prevent upgrading the total. New England defensive tackle Christian Barmore, running back TreVeyon Henderson and offensive lineman Ben Brown did not participate on Sunday's injury report. Henderson's ankle is particularly relevant to New England's offensive ceiling, while Barmore's absence would weaken the Patriots' interior defense.

Weather should not interfere. The Seattle forecast calls for mild temperatures, light wind and minimal precipitation risk.

The number has moved far enough to create value, and the independent scoring projection supports the buyback.

Free play: OVER 44.5.

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The case for New York starts with the fact that the Jets may be considerably better than their ugly 3-14 record from 2025 suggests, while Tennessee still has major structural problems to solve around Cam Ward. New York finished last season with an NFL-worst -203 point differential, but its defense experienced an almost unprecedented lack of turnover production, forcing just four takeaways and becoming the only NFL defense in modern history to go an entire season without an interception. That type of extreme turnover drought is highly unlikely to repeat, and the Jets aggressively addressed the problem by adding All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, veteran linebacker Demario Davis, defensive tackles David Onyemata and T’Vondre Sweat, plus No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, who recorded 14.5 sacks in his final college season. Bailey is especially important because New York finished 31st in sacks last season, and his explosive first step gives Aaron Glenn the type of edge presence his defense lacked. The offense should also have a much higher floor with Geno Smith replacing the failed Justin Fields experiment and veteran coordinator Frank Reich taking over the play-calling. Smith does not need to be a star in this matchup; he simply needs to distribute the football efficiently to Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, first-round tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. without putting the defense in bad positions. Smith as a stabilizing bridge and Reich as a steadier offensive hand, which is important after New York ranked 31st in EPA per pass last season. The Jets also strengthened an offensive line that PFF ranks substantially ahead of Tennessee's entering 2026, giving Smith a better chance to operate comfortably and allowing New York to lean on Hall and Braelon Allen against a Titans defense still undergoing a major transition.

Tennessee, meanwhile, was not merely unlucky in 2025—it was consistently overwhelmed, particularly early in games. The Titans posted an average scoring margin of -11.4 points per game, ranked 29th in first-half point differential at -106, and were -179 through three quarters, 30th in the NFL. Those numbers are particularly concerning against a Jets team that should be able to generate pressure and play from more favorable down-and-distance situations than it did last year. Ward finished his rookie season 31st in passer rating, 31st in completion percentage, 33rd in yards per attempt, and was sacked a league-high 55 times; the underlying problems included inaccurate throws, sacks, fumbles, drifting in the pocket, and a tendency to resort to hero ball when protection broke down. Tennessee attempted to protect Ward last year by investing heavily in the offensive line, but the unit still surrendered 56 sacks, the sixth-most in the league, and enters 2026 ranked near the bottom of PFF's offensive-line rankings. Brian Daboll should eventually improve the structure around Ward, and Robert Saleh should make the defense more respectable, but expecting all of those changes to immediately erase a massive talent and execution deficit is asking a lot. Tennessee was also one of the league's most undisciplined teams, accumulating 130 accepted penalties, ranking second in penalty frequency and posting the NFL's third-worst penalty margin, another major concern for a young team trying to operate efficiently. New York, by contrast, spent the offseason adding veteran stability, improving the offensive line, upgrading its pass rush and attacking the exact turnover weakness that made its 2025 defense look worse than it probably was. The Jets do not need Geno Smith to carry them here; a controlled offense built around Hall, complemented by a rejuvenated defense capable of pressuring Ward, provides a very favorable matchup against a Tennessee team that still has substantial weaknesses up front.

With New York possessing the stronger offensive line, a deeper collection of proven skill talent, significant defensive regression potential, and a favorable matchup against a quarterback who struggled badly under pressure, grab the point(s) with the Jets as Jeff Keim's Free Pick Winner for Sunday, September 13.

Indianapolis Colts (ATS) | Good until +1.5.

Baltimore got rid of HC John Harbaugh & brought in Jesse Minter for the new season. The change was questioned around the league as one would have thought that Harbaugh had accomplished enough to be able to leave on his own. But, that wasn't the case and with a completely new coaching staff, I think that the Ravens could take a minute to get everything clicking perfectly. Before he got hurt, Indianapolis was very dangerous when Daniel Jones was playing last year. Alec Pierce has also gotten the green light for the opener. Against a mediocre defense from last year, getting a field goal here at home is a gift. Go with the Colts.

Take Houston (#464)

While the recreational bettors fall in love with their favorite quarterback when it comes to betting Week 1 of the NFL, experienced pros know that getting stops – the better defense – is every bit as important as having an elite QB.  The Texans defense is better than the Bills defense on all three levels; one of many ‘depth concerns’ issues that Buffalo has after signing Josh Allen to his fat long term contract.  I trust Houston to get a key fourth quarter stop far more than Buffalo -- so crucial in this pointspread range -- just like they did last year when they held Matthew Stafford and the Rams to 14 points in Week 1.  This time around, however, I expect the Texans revamped offensive line to hold up; a game I expect them to win.  That said, I’d rather take the point and a half here ‘just in case’ of a tight finish -- the moneyline payout simply isn’t worth it.  Take the Texans