NFL Week 1 predictions and betting lines

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (+2.5)

Drama seems to follow the 49ers, especially during the preseason. Just two days ahead of their rivalry game in Seattle, head coach Kyle Shanahan still wasn’t sure about his wide receiver lineup.

Finally, veteran Jauan Jennings has resolved his contract situation with the team.

While the team has shown some interest in Kendrick Bourne, any potential trades are still up in the air.

Despite the uncertainty around the 49ers, they come in as slight favorites against the Seahawks, who finished four games ahead of them in the standings last season.

With all the chaos, the Seahawks look to capitalize on their home field advantage under new quarterback Sam Darnold.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers (+3)

The Panthers seemed a bit more competent once Bryce Young took over as starting quarterback in Week 8, leading them to a 4-6 finish for the remainder of the season.

During that time, they narrowly lost to both the Chiefs and the Buccaneers and nearly pulled off an upset against the eventual champion Eagles.

Over that 10-game period, Young really showcased why he’s viewed as the future for Carolina, averaging 210.4 passing yards per game with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Notably, in the last three games of the season, he really stepped it up, throwing seven touchdowns without any interceptions.

Looking Ahead

The Panthers seem poised to emerge from their slump as they start to harness the potential of their younger talent. On the other hand, the Jaguars have brought in Liam Cohen to reinvigorate their offense alongside Trevor Lawrence, though expecting instant results might be unrealistic.