Seahawks vs. Broncos Total Prediction
The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos won Super Bowls fairly recently and are attempting to be sleeper playoff contenders heading into 2018. Is the over a good bet when these teams square off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday?
Game Snapshot
471 Seattle Seahawks at 472 Denver Broncos
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 9, 2018
Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Broncos are 3-point favorites to beat the Seahawks. The total, meanwhile, sits at 42.5 points. As of this writing, 52% of the public betting tickets are on the Seahawks to cover the point spread.
Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Rashaad Penny (hand) will play in the season opener against the Broncos. Penny practiced fully all week, so there wasn’t much doubt over his status. His role is the bigger concern coming off a lost preseason. Penny may get a few series, but he’s the clear backup to Chris Carson going into Week 1.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos will reportedly list rookie RB Royce Freeman atop their depth chart Sunday. Freeman (15-84-3 in three preseason games) ran circles around Devontae Booker (9-33) in August and showed to be the more explosive option of the two. He’ll reportedly be listed atop Denver’s revised depth chart when it’s released later this afternoon. Rookie Phillip Lindsay is expected to stick at No. 3 behind Booker. Although the Broncos clearly have confidence in Freeman, we fully expect this backfield to use a committee approach (at least to start the year). Freeman has workhorse traits and is still the preferred fantasy option given his red zone and goal line usage throughout the preseason.
NFL Betting Trends
Seattle
The under is 5-1 in the Seahawks’ last six road games.
Denver
The over is 7-1 in the Broncos’ last eight games played in Week 1.
Prediction
The Seahawks’ offensive line could be a weakness heading into the season (what else is new). Right tackle Germain Ifedi (ankle) and guard D.J. Fluker (hamstring) might not play, so Russell Wilson will most likely be running for his life again (again, what else is new). That said, Wilson is a big-play machine so even if some of the Seattle o-linemen are out, the Seahawks will score.
Defensively, the Seahawks could be without Earl Thomas, who reported to the team on Wednesday following a lengthy holdout but it isn’t clear as of right now whether or not he’ll play. The defense is already without starting linebacker K.J. Wright, so allowing points shouldn’t be a problem for the Seahawks either. I like the over.
NFL Week 1 Prediction: Seahawks/Broncos over 42.5