The first week of the NFL season can be an odd one.
It's the first time since February that football games actually mean something, and it can sometimes take a little while to knock the rust off.
There's also not much we can go off of. Sure, we can look back on a slate of four preseason games, but that's an excercise in futility more often than not. Starters' playing time is severely limited in exhibition games, and teams are understandably guarded about how much of their playbook they're willing to put on tape.
So when it comes to handicapping the first week, things are never easy. With that in mind, here are this week's lines via Bovada.lv.
Indianapolis at Chicago (-9.5)
Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck gets his first taste of the NFL's regular season when he and the Colts take their show on the road to take on an improved Bears team.
Philadelphia (-9.5) at Cleveland
Is this the year the Eagles' dynasty finally takes flight? They'll get their first chance to flex their muscles against a likely hapless Browns club in Cleveland to open the season.
Buffalo at New York Jets (-3)
The Jets' circus gets under way under the big top at the Meadowlands, and it won't be easy with the improved Bills ready to prove that their offseason investments were money well spent.
Washington at New Orleans (-7.5)
It's another big-time debut with Robert Griffin III leading the Washington Redskins into The Big Easy where an angry — and shorthanded — Saints ball club will look to stick it to Roger Goodell.
New England (-6) at Tennessee
The Patriots have question marks on the offensive line and defensively, and they'll attempt to answer those on the road in Nashville against Jake Locker, Chris Johnson and the Titans.
Jacksonville at Minnesota (-4)
The Jaguars and the Vikings will play a football game on Sunday in Minnesota. The Vikings are favored to win by four points. Moving on.
Miami at Houston (-12.5)
One of the sexy picks to win the AFC this season, the Texans welcome the lowly Dolphins to town for the opener.
St. Louis at Detroit (-7.5)
Ford Field will be rocking when the Lions look to begin improvements on a playoff season from a year ago by hosting the Rams.
Atlanta (-3) at Kansas City
In one of the weirdest lines of the week, the Falcons are a field goal favorite for their opener in Kansas City.
San Francisco at Green Bay (-5)
This could be an NFC Championship preview with one of the game's best offenses (Packers) and best defenses (49ers) in a showdown at Lambeau.
Carolina (-3) at Tampa Bay
Is Cam Newton the real deal? He'll look to continue to prove that he is in the first game of his sophomore season against a divsion rival in Tampa Bay.
Seattle (-3) at Arizona
The NFC West!
Pittsburgh at Denver (-2)
It's Peyton Manning's debut with the Broncos in Denver, and his welcome to the Broncos family will come on the national stage against the Steelers.
Cincinnati at Baltimore (-6.5)
The Ravens look to shake off the bitter end of last year's AFC Championship by hosting a divisional tilt with the Bengals.
San Diego at Oakland (-1)
The AFC West!
