The Seahawks and Broncos kickoff 2022 Week 1 Monday Night Football in Seattle. (AP Photo/Charlie … [+]
The most anticipated Monday Night Football opener has arrived with Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson drawing headlines in his return to the Emerald City to face the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos are up to a 6.5-point road favorite at many leading online sportsbooks including FanDuel, which has the lowest total at 43.5 points.
Types of bets and how to read the odds
Following a wild opening Sunday in Week 1 that saw some surprising results, the Broncos will try to avoid the upset in a game they hold a number of match-up advantages. Russell Wilson has won 29 of 40 starts playing in prime time games while with the Seahawks. But Monday Night Football favorites are 32-27 straight up (SU) and 19-39-1 against the spread (ATS) since 1980.
In Sunday’s Week 1 action, favorites went 8-5-1 SU and 7-7 ATS, and the Bills won as a favorite Thursday to kickoff the 2022 NFL season. There are a record 10 road favorites in Week 1 including the Seahawks, and those favorites have gone 6-2-1 SU and 4-5 ATS thus far. The Broncos are another popular road favorite and are taking more than 70% of the spread money and greater than 80% of the spread bets at the leading U.S. online sportsbooks.
Monday Night Prop Bets
But beyond the spread, total and moneyline, fans and bettors are more engaged than ever with weekly NFL contests, daily fantasy picks and prop bets. Those include game and player props not tied to the outcome of the game.
Which player will score the first TD is always a popular proposition bet, and players to score a touchdown anytime during the game are usually among the most wagered player props overall. The Broncos and Seahawks players taking the most bets and money to score an anytime touchdown include:
- Broncos RB Javonte Williams (+135)
- Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy (+135)
- Broncos WR Courland Sutton (+155)
- Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny (+155)
- Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (+195)
Those five players are also the favorites to score the first touchdown of the game with odds ranging from +650 to +1000, or 10/1.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson responds to a question during a news conference before the … [+]
The Broncos-Seahawks Monday Night Football betting match-up preview in Forbes highlights Seahawks QB Geno Smith under 208.5 passing yards. Other player props to follow and note with props and odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Passing Props
Broncos QB Russell Wilson
- Over/Under passing yards: 253.5
- Passing touchdowns: 1.5 (over -146)
- Pass completions and attempts: 22.5 and and 33.5
- Will Russell Wilson throw an interception? Yes (+136), No (-182)
Seahawks QB Geno Smith
- Over/Under passing yards: 208.5
- Passing touchdowns: 1.5 (over +168)
- Pass completions and attempts: 18.5 and 29.5
The quarterback’s longest completion props are 38.5 and 35.5 yards.
Rushing Props
Broncos RB Javonte Williams
- Over/Under 58.5 yards (rushing and receiving 79.5 yards)
Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny
- Over/Under 68.5 yards taken off the board (rushing and receiving 79.5 yards)
Receiving Yards
- Broncos WR Courtland Sutton O/U 61.5
- Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy O/U 58.5
- Seahawks WR DK Metcalf O/U 55.5
- Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett O/U 49.5
- Broncos TE Albert Okwuegbunam O/U 30.5
- Seahawks TE Noah Fant O/U 22.5
Defensive player props including sacks, tackles and assists along with interceptions are also offered, along with dozens of other player and scoring props and promos.
The popular Same Game Parlay props continue to draw lots of interest for fans that like to bet a little to win a lot.
Follow the NFL betting news, odds, lines, totals and props, but understand the betting market is fluid and is always subject to change. The Broncos are a -6.5 point favorite Monday night vs the Seahawks, and Week 2 advance lines on FanDuel sportsbook prior to tonight’s kickoff show the Broncos as a -10.5 point home favorite over the Houston Texans. The Seahawks hit the road in Week 2 and are currently an +8.5 point underdog Sunday at San Francisco with the 49ers returning home as a 19-10 road favorite loser to the Chicago Bears yesterday.
Seattle Seahawks Winning Culture
The Seahawks have an established culture and winning formula under head coach Pete Carol. Will that continue without QB Russell Wilson, who now tries to bring back a winning season to Denver for the first time since 2016?
“A lot of people are going to be surprised by what we do this year.” Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Last season was the Seahawks first losing season in the past 10 years. The Seahawks posted double-digit wins eight times and made the playoffs each year with a Super Bowl win in 2014 following the 2013 season. The 43-8 beatdown of the Broncos was led by one of the most dominating defenses in league history that put on a show in the Super Bowl. Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense dominated QB Peyton Manning and the Broncos record-setting offense.
Now with more personnel turnover and it’s franchise QB Russell Wilson traded to Denver, the Seahawks are being written off by the media as an also ran in 2022. The consensus is for the Seahawks to finish in last place in the NFC West. Odds ahead of the season were +2800 for the Seahawks to win the division and currently +40000, or 400/1 to win the Super Bowl on FanDuel Sportsbook. But with the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals all losing in Week 1, the Seahawks are now +1600 and in position to be in solo first place with a Monday Night win over the Broncos.
Seahawks defensive tackle and co-captain Al Woods bluntly added, “I don’t give a (expletive) about none of that. All I’ve got to say is, everybody tune in and you’ll see.”
We will, along with wagering interest and live betting during the game.
You can bet on it.