Week 1 NFL Betting Trends: Rams and Browns Worst Bets

Betting against the Browns and Rams sounds like common sense, NFL handicapping 101, but when it comes to Week 1 odds, there is some statistical science under the public's general opinion of those lousy teams.

Both teams are big Week 1 underdogs -- Cleveland at home to Philly and the Rams at Detroit -- and both have proven to be among the worst Week 1 bets in the past dozen years.

The Browns are 1-11-1 ATS in their 13-year history of season openers and the Rams are almost as bad at 1-10-1 ATS in their past 12 season openers.

Carolina has been dreadful (2-7 ATS) and their Week 1 foes have been just as bad -- Tampa Bay is 3-8 ATS in 11 openers -- so bettors (and bankroll contest fans) can flip a coin on this one. The game is a ‘pickem' on the NFL odds menu.

Among the Week 1 locks, the Patriots have played OVER the total in seven straight openers as they visit Tennessee and the Packers have won and covered 5 straight season openers (as they host San Francisco).

Which teams have been the best Week 1 bets over the past dozen years or so? The Jacksonville Jaguars are 11-2 ATS in 13 seasons and the Minnesota Vikings are 8-2 ATS in the past 10. Those teams clash in Minnesota to see which trend will continue to run hot.

More Week 1 NFL Trends, courtesy of OddsShark.com's searchable NFL database

Falcons 1-4 ATS past 5 season openers on the road (at Kansas City)

Ravens 9-3 ATS past 12 games in September (vs Cincinnati)

Ravens 5-1 ATS past 6 season openers

Bills 6-1 ATS past 7 season openers (at Jets)

Bills 1-7 SU past games vs Jets

Panthers 2-7 ATS past 9 Week 1 games (at Tampa Bay)

Panthers OVER is 7-1 past 8 trips to Tampa Bay

Bears UNDER is 7-1 past 8 season opening games (vs Colts)

Bengals 7-3-1 ATS past 11 games vs Baltimore (at Baltimore)

Browns 1-11-1 ATS lifetime in Week 1 of the season (vs Eagles)

Browns UNDER is 10-2-1 in season openers

Lions 7-2 ATS past 9 season openers overall (vs Rams)

Lions 5-1 ATS past 6 Week 1 games at home

Packers Won and covered 5 straight season openers (vs 49ers)

Colts 0-4 ATS past 4 season openers (at Chicago)

Jaguars 11-2 ATS past 13 season openers (at Minnesota)

Chiefs 9-2 ATS past 11 games as underdog (vs Falcons)

Dolphins Played 5 straight September UNDERs (at Houston)

Vikings 8-2 ATS past 10 season openers (vs Jaguars)

Patriots Played 7 straight September OVERs (at Titans)

Jets UNDER is 5-1 past 6 season openers (vs Bills)

Raiders 5-1 ATS past 6 games vs Chargers (vs Chargers)

Raiders Played 5 straight home OVERs vs San Diego

Eagles UNDER is 6-1 past 7 season openers

Eagles OVER is 5-1-1 past 7 September road games

Steelers 2-7 ATS past 9 September road games (at Denver)

Chargers 0-4 ATS past 4 season openers (at Raiders)

Chargers 2-7 ATS past 9 September games

49ers 6-2-1 ATS past 9 season openers (vs Packers)

Seahawks OVER is 11-1 past 12 September games (at Arizona)

Seahawks 1-8 ATS past 9 September road games

Rams 1-10-1 ATS past 12 season openers (at Detroit)

Rams 3-14 ATS past 17 September games

Bucs 3-8 ATS past 11 Week 1 games (vs Panthers)

Titans 7-3 ATS past 10 season openers (vs Patriots)

Redskins UNDER is 7-2 past 9 season openers (at New Orleans)