Bettors at Ontario sportsbooks love the Buffalo Bills, so any talk about Week 1 NFL matchups in mid July is only going to perk up ears across the province.
Sportsbooks like BetMGM know that. Hence their current odds update for the Week 1 Bills’ opening night, Sept. 11, against the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets, in New York. That’s a Monday night game (8:15 p.m. Eastern start).
Already, Rodgers has made headlines this week by expressing his unhappiness over the Jets being featured this season on HBO’s Hard Knocks series. Something to do with the coverage and NFL Films cameras being shoved down their throats at upcoming training camp.
Bills Week 1 NFL Betting Odds Against Jets
As for the Bills? They look to further solidify themselves as a top tip for Super Bowl odds at Ontario sports betting apps. It has been all quiet on their front, at least since a mini uproar involving receiver Stefon Diggs and the team, specifically QB Josh Allen, apparently got resolved during minicamp a few weeks back.
There was talk that Buffalo could add WR DeAndre Hopkins to complement Diggs, and there was reportedly mutual interest in the free agent. But The Tennessee Titans ended that talk by signing Diggs to a contract for $32 million over two years. The Bills don’t have that kind of salary cap room.
As of Monday, the Bills were a 1.5-point favorite against the Jets, getting 84% of bets and 88% of the handle at BetMGM Ontario Sportsbook. The Jets are at +1.5. The over/under is 47.5 (with under getting 62% of the bets). Buffalo is generating 57% of moneyline bets and 56% of that handle).
So the talk going into Bills camp is who will step up on defense. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver just signed a new four-year contract and wants to prove he’s worth that extra money (14.5 sacks, 42 QB hits, 30 tackles for loss in four NFL seasons). A healthy All Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White, more than a year removed from ACL surgery, is another storyline.
New Players Arrive in Buffalo
Just as the province has new Ontario sportsbooks to peruse, the Bills also have some new pieces.
Versatile, intelligent safety Taylor Rapp comes to the Bills after starting four years with the Los Angeles Rams, including a Super Bowl ring on his finger (nine interceptions, 323 tackles during those years). Big things are expected from defensive end Greg Rousseau heading into his third season. And the return to health of All-Pro outside linebacker Von Miller, also coming back from ACL surgery (eight sacks in 11 games last season before suffering the injury), will get a lot of attention.
As for the running game, James Cook in his second season, and the Bills brought in a couple of bigger bruisers, Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. The 5-foot-11, 213-pound Harris had a 4.4-yard average, rushing for 462 yards, for the New England Patriots last season (929 yards, and a 4.6-yard average, in 2021).
Allen was second on the team in rushing last season, at 762 yards. That can’t continue if the franchise quarterback is going to endure another 17-game regular season.
Allen Rated As One of NFL’s Best QBs
Other than the rushing game, Allen is one of the best QBs in the NFL (third after Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, according to an ESPN survey of league executives, coaches, scouts and players released this morning). And the Bills drafted tight end Dalton Kincaid, a player to keep an eye on this season, complementing TE Dawson Knox.
NorthStar Bets Ontario Sportsbook has the Bills at 1.83 on the moneyline with the Jets at 2.00. BetMGM says the most bet game (tickets) so far for Week 1 is Kansas City Chiefs-Detroit Lions. The most bet teams (tickets) are the Chiefs (6.5-point favorites) and the Lions.
As for handle, the teams drawing the most action for Week 1 of the regular season are the Pittsburgh Steelers (+2.5 against the San Francisco 49ers) and the Chiefs. The most bet Overs (tickets) are the Chiefs-Lions (54.5) and the Miami Dolphins-L.A. Chargers (49.5). The most frequent Under tickets are the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears (44.5) and the Atlanta Falcons-Carolina Panthers (42.5).
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