NFL Week 1 Odds: Eagles vs. Panthers, Bears vs. Packers point spread

Today we continue our NFL Week 1 odds and point spread preview with the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers opening week match-ups. As always we check with the popular sports betting website Bookmaker (new window) for the latest NFL betting odds and spreads. You can also place a wager on any and all football games at the bookie by visiting the link above. Right now we will check out the betting odds and point spread offered on the two football games, as well as some of the betting trends and injuries that could influence the outcome of these NFL games.

Starting with the Eagles vs. Panthers game on Sunday, a match-up not seen since the preseason last year, when Philadelphia had the upper hand and won the game 24-13. And even though the odds makers at Bookmaker are still banking on the Eagles to deliver a victory in their opening game, the sportsbook is not as confident as it was last year. At Bookmaker the Philadelphia Eagles are favorite to win but listed with relatively big payout for a favorite status with just -140 odds. The Carolina Panthers are of course the underdog, but the odds on the Panthers to win are at +120. The Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers point spread is currently at -2.5 points chalk the Eagles and the total is expected to level at 43.5 points, according to the sports betting site.

The long list of injured players in Philadelphia is likely one of the reasons the Eagles are such a small odds-on favorite this week. Eagles running backs Leonard Weaver and Brian Westbrook, linebackers Tracy White and Moise Fokou, defensive end Darren Howard, wide receiver Kevin Curtis and many others are listed as just probable for Week 1 football, while linebacker Joe Mays and right tackle Shawn Andrews will miss NFL Week 1. Of course, let's not forget that we won't see the recently signed quarterback Michael Vick until Week 3, still sidelined by a suspension. Meanwhile at Carolina only safety Chris Harris and CB Sherrod Martin remain questionable for the NFL Week 1 game of the Panthers. Also keep in mind that Philadelphia is 6-2 against the spread in its last 8 games, but the Eagles are 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games when playing the Carolina Panthers.

Moving on to the spreads and odds on the next NFL Week 1 game on our list, the matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, truly the Midwestern derby of the NFL season. The Bears will travel the short distance to Lambeau Field this Sunday to face off rival Green Bay, who took a hit last December, losing to the Chicago Bears at home 20-17. The odds, however, are stacked in Green Bay's favor this time around - the Packers are -205 odds-on favorite entering the first game of their NFL season, while the Bears are underdog with odds +175. The point spread on the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers at Bookmaker is currently favoring the Packers by 4 points, while the total expected by the odds makers is set at 46 points. Also worth noting is that even though Chicago is 1-4 against the spread in its last 5 games on the road, Green Bay is 1-3-1 against the spread in its last 5 games when playing at home against the Bears. Also, the total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Packers last 6 games when playing the Chicago Bears.

As far as injuries are concerned entering the Bears vs. Packers NFL Week 1 game, no player on either teams has been completely ruled out, but a few are still questionable. In Green Bay running back Brandon Jackson remains doubtful for the season opener, while corner back Will Blackmon and defensive tackle B.J. Raji are both questionable for the game against the Bears on Sunday. Quarterback Matt Flynn, nursing right shoulder injury, is probable and so is safety Aaron Rouse. Bears wide receiver Devin Aromashodu and cornerback Charles Tillman are both questionable for Week 1 football with injuries, while defensive tackle Israel Idonije was upgraded to probable for the game against the Packers.

Published on 09/12/2009