The 2025 NFL schedule dropped on May 14th, sending football fans into a frenzy at the realization that the new campaign isn’t too far away. Social media timelines flooded with anticipation, debates ignited over matchups, and the countdown to kickoff officially began. There was even an appearance from NBA icon Allen Iverson in a hilarious skit announcing the Buffalo Bills’ schedule for next term.

After a riveting draft at the start of the month, excitement was already high. How will Shedeur Sanders fare following his embarrassing slip into the fifth round? Will Cam Ward manage to resurrect the ailing Tennessee Titans, or will the Nashville outfit live to regret overlooking the likes of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter?

Online betting websites already have their odds posted for next season, and it’s the familiar faces at the top of the Super Bowl futures list. The latest odds from the popular Bovada website have the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles listed as the joint +700 favorites to claim a second straight Lombardi following their demolition of the history- seeking Kansas City Chiefs back in February. They are level with the Baltimore Ravens, while the Buffalo Bills are breathing down their necks as the +800 third favorites.

But it’s not just futures betting that the bookies have priced up. Despite the 2025 kickoff game between the aforementioned Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys still being four months away, lines have already been posted for the campaign’s opening weekend of the season. It might be way too early, but we simply cannot wait another minute, and these are the three picks we have locked in for our opening weekend parlay.

Bengals -5.5 (@ Browns)

We’re starting out brave. The Cincinnati Bengals can never be trusted in the opening weeks of the season. In each of the last three campaigns, they have lost their opening two games of the season, with last season’s disaster-class at home to the New England Patriots somewhat of a new low. However, in week one in 2025, we will be breaking our unbreakable promise and backing Cincy on the road in a divisional clash with the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals come into the 2025 season as one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams. With Joe Burrow under center and a stacked roster on both sides of the ball, the Ohio outfit is an offensive juggernaut. They racked up a mighty 472 points last season, the sixth-highest in the league.

Their superstar quarterback led the league in terms of both throwing yards and throwing touchdowns, while wideout Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown. Add to that the fact that fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins has been tied down to a bumper new deal, and there should be no stopping the Bengals next season.

Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins are ready for the regular season! 🔥

pic.twitter.com/hjGn0E4h1r

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) August 10, 2024

The Browns, on the other hand, are somewhat in disarray. They picked up a paltry three wins last season, but they have managed to secure an extension for defensive powerhouse Myles Garrett, while it remains to be seen whether a highly motivated Shedeur Sanders can prove the naysayers wrong.

The bookies have made Cincy a 5.5-point betting favorite on the road, and we can see them covering. After three years, they will have surely learned from their mistakes of the opening weekends of yesteryear, and we can see them flying out of the blocks and setting out a marker of their Super Bowl credentials.

Commanders -7.5 (vs Giants)

The Washington Commanders were the stars of the show in the NFL last season. They headed into 2024 with no expectations whatsoever, but the arrival of quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick of last year’s draft changed the entire trajectory of the franchise. After being an afterthought for what felt like decades, the capital city side burst into life, finishing the regular season 12-5 before advancing to the NFC Championship game.

In the offseason, they have added to an already impressive roster. Deebo Samuel has arrived from San Francisco, and he will now form one of the best receiving corps in the league alongside Terry McLaurin.

In week one, they will host a Giants team that picked up just three wins last term and are a 7.5-point favorite to get the W. The Big Apple side is firmly entrenched in a rebuilding phase, and both quarterback options of Justin Fields and rookie Jaxson Dart could struggle on debut at Northwest Stadium. We can see Washington covering in a commanding victory as they aim to prove that last season wasn’t a flash in the pan.

Lions +1.5 (@ Packers)

The Detroit Lions were one of the NFL’s most exciting teams in 2024. They finished the season as the NFC’s top seed, winning the NFC North for the second time in as many seasons, despite never winning the division before 2023. However, their blockbuster campaign came to an end with a shocking upset loss to the Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs, and it remains to be seen how they will bounce back from that heartbreaking reverse.

They head to Green Bay on the opening weekend for a clash with their archrival Packers, and the bookies make them a 1.5-point underdog. With a confident Jared Goff under center and Amon-Ra St. Brown cemented as an elite target, we can see the Motor City outfit heading to Lambeau Field and proving that they are up for the fight in 2025.