Mike Tomlin Likes Week 1
I love betting games in Week 1 of the NFL season as some coaches just know how to start strong. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is one of those guys.
The Browns host the Steelers as Cleveland searches for their first win since December 24, 2016. Tomlin has faced the Browns in Week 1 three other times and has won all three meetings.
In his eleven years in the league, Tomlin has coached the Steelers to an impressive 7-4 record in Week 1 games. The Steelers love to start fast, leading at half-time in eight of those eleven contests.
2018 will be the fourth straight year that the Steelers begin their season on the road. They are definitely used to it by now and should not have a problem bringing a high energy level to the field.
A veteran like Tomlin is wise and will not allow his team to let their guard down. A Week 1 loss in Cleveland would be embarrassing, considering the fact that the Browns have not won the first game of a season since 2004.
The Steelers have won their previous three games in Cleveland, proving immunity to the effects of the Dog Pound. Because the public is very high on the Browns this year, the spread is only -4.5 in favor of the Steelers with the moneyline at -210.
The Steelers at a measly -4.5 against the Browns? Yes please! I’ll take that all day!
John Harbaugh Likes Week 1, Too
Since taking over the Ravens in 2008, Harbaugh has coached Baltimore to a 7-3 record in Week 1 games. Even better, Harbaugh is 5-1 in Week 1 games at home.
The Buffalo Bills, headed by second-year coach Sean McDermott, will travel to Baltimore for their second Week 1 meeting in three years. The Bills knocked off the Jets to begin 2017, but the Ravens will be a much tougher opponent.
The Bills were 8-point favorites to open 2017 and are now 7.5-point underdogs against the Ravens – talk about a big swing. Buffalo’s quarterback situation is laughable right now and they are deservedly among the biggest underdogs of Week 1.
It is a small sample size, but Harbaugh is 2-1 career against the Bills and 2-0 when playing at home.
| Date | Ravens | Bills |
| Week 7, 2010 | 37 | 34 |
| Week 4, 2013 | 20 | 23 |
| Week 1, 2016 | 13 | 7 |
Each game has been decided by just one score, making me a bit wary of betting the Ravens to cover a -7.5-point spread. I would use one of the following options below to get some exposure on the Baltimore-Buffalo game.
| Bet Type | Odds |
| Ravens Moneyline | -340 |
| Ravens & Steelers 6-Point Teaser | -120 |
| Ravens & Steelers Moneyline Parlay | -109 |
Happy betting this NFL season! Be sure to check back for some Week 2 advice.
Kreighton loves sports, math, writing, and winning — he combines all of them as a writer for WagerBop. His favorite sports to review are MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAAF, and NCAABB.
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