The Giants' revamped defence will be too much for Dallas' rookie quarterback, while the Rams and Bears should also make fast starts to the season
{ODDS:86237656:10/11} – New York Giants (+1) @ Dallas Cowboys
Dallas’ chances of beating their division rivals at home are lessened by the absence of their starting quarterback.
The Cowboys won just one of 12 games last season without Tony Romo, who was sidelined for the majority of the season with a broken collarbone.
Their best receiver, Dez Bryant, has only just recovered from a concussion and will likely see much less of the ball with rookie Dak Prescott making his first start.
The Giants were not much better than the Cowboys last season, winning six games and finishing third in the NFC East.
They have a new offensive coach in Ben McAdoo, though, and committed more than $100m to improving their defence with free agents in the summer.
With the sixth-best attack in the NFL last season, they should be able to outscore the Romo-less Cowboys, who put up fewer points than all but one team in 2015.
{ODDS:86237812:10/11} – Detroit Lions (+3) @ Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were considered a potential Super Bowl candidate prior to last season, but an injury-hit year for quarterback Andrew Luck saw them finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
They should be better now, but more injuries during the pre-season mean they are unprepared for the opening week.
Luck is nursing a bad shoulder, while the defence will suffer from the absence of Darius Butler, Vontae Davis and Clayton Geathers.
The Lions were the superior offensive team of the two last season, ranking 19th, six spots higher than the Colts.
Detroit will miss retired receiver Calvin Johnson, but Golden Tate should be able to step into his role as the No. 1 option.
Tate averaged over 100 receiving yards per game during a three-week spell in 2014 when Johnson was injured.
{ODDS:86238364:10/11} – Los Angeles Rams (-2.5) @ San Francisco 49ers
The Rams are starting Case Keenum at quarterback – a 28-year-old who has won just five games and lost 10 in his three-year career so far.
Hardly a record that inspires confidence.
Luckily for the former Houston Texan, though, he is facing a 49ers team that was among the NFL’s worst in 2015.
They scored just 14.9 points per game – easily the lowest mark in the league – and allowed more rushing yards than all but three teams defensively.
Their deficiency in stopping the run will prove crucial against the Rams’ Todd Gurley, who is perhaps the best running back in the league.
New San Francisco coach Chip Kelly lost nine games with the Philadelphia Eagles last year, and starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick won just two of eight before he was replaced by Blaine Gabbert.
{ODDS:86237188:20/23} – Chicago Bears (+6) @ Houston Texans
These teams were ranked 23nd and 24rd offensively last season, with the Texans edging the Bears out by just four points.
But Chicago were the superior team on the other side of the ball, ranking 13th defensively to Houston’s 26th.
The Texans are counting on new quarterback Brock Osweiler, who signed a huge contract after winning five of eight games with the Broncos last season.
That team was carried by its defence, though, and it remains unclear whether he is truly a starting-calibre quarterback at this point.
A six-point advantage for the Texans is too high – these teams will be relatively close in performance this season, and their struggles offensively should keep this game tight and low-scoring.
A £10 bet on this four-fold handicap accumulator returns £130.08*
*Odds and amounts correct at the time of publication, but subject to change. See site for latest.
