Expert NFL Betting Picks: Weekly NFC East Predictions Week 1

by Dave Schwab - 9/9/2015

The long wait for a new season in the NFL is finally over, and I am happy to announce that I will once again be covering the NFC East for Doc's Sports. The Dallas Cowboys had a breakout season in 2014 with a 12-4 record and a division title, but the new-look Philadelphia Eagles are primed to reclaim the top spot after winning the NFC East the season before.

Each week of the NFL regular season I will briefly preview all the games in the NFC East usingBetOnline's NFL betting odds. I will also highlight my top "pick of the week" with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System. The ultimate goal is to generate another solid profit with my picks.

Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins (Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.)

The bar has been raised for the Dolphins coming into a new season after going an even 8-8 straight up (7-9 against the spread) in 2014. Under the guidance of fourth-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the offense is looking to take the next step after ranking 11^th in the NFL in scoring last season with 24.3 points per game. The addition of defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh already makes this defense better.

Washington appears destined to remain in the basement of the NFC East following a 4-12 SU record in 2014, which was just one more victory than the season before. Kirk Cousins will be the Redskins' starting quarterback this Sunday afternoon after second-year coach Jay Gruden demoted Robert Griffin III to second on the depth chart. Washington's problems are pretty much across the board, including a defense that was ranked 29^th in the NFL in points allowed last season.

Miami comes in as a 3.5-point road favorite in this inter-conference clash, and the betting odds for the total have been set at 43.5.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, Sept. 13, 8:30 p.m.)

The Giants fell to 6-10 SU last season after winning seven games in 2013, but veteran head coach Tom Coughlin remains confident that the talent is there to compete in the division this time around. The biggest thing that New York does have going for it is the combination of Eli Manning throwing the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. Last season, these two connected 91 times for 1,305 yards and 12 scores in Beckham's rookie year. The loss of defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul for the immediate future still looms large for this defense.

Dallas remains confident that it can stay on top in the NFC East despite the loss of free agent running back DeMarco Murray to rival Philadelphia. If the team's recent performance in the preseason is any indication of what to expect in the regular season, the Cowboys could be headed back to a very familiar 8-8 record after winning 12 games and the division title last season with Murray rushing for a league-high 1,845 yards.

The Cowboys come into this primetime matchup on Sunday night as six-point home favorites over their bitter rivals. The total line for this contest has been set at 51.5.

NFC East 'Pick of the Week'

Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons (Monday, Sept. 14, 6:55 p.m.)

It's almost time for the grand unveiling of this new-look Eagles team after undergoing a complete makeover at the hands of third-year head coach Chip Kelly. The offense rolled up 115 points in its first three preseason games, but we will get a full dose of Sam Bradford at quarterback and Murray at running back on Monday night. The most exciting part of this offense could be a pair of dynamic receivers in Jordan Matthews and rookie Nelson Agholor.

The Falcons are another playoff-caliber team that has suffered through two straight losing seasons, but they still have the firepower on offense to move the ball through the air and light up the scoreboard. With Matt Ryan throwing the ball and Julio Jones catching it, Atlanta was ranked fifth in the league last season in average passing yards per game. The problem was a defense that was ranked dead last against the pass and 27^th in points allowed.

I like the Eagles chances to cover the three points on the road against Atlanta, but my top pick in this matchup is still the "over" 55 on the total line. Kelly comes into every single game with the sole intention of scoring as many points as possible, and against the Falcons' defense that could add up to quite a few on Monday night in the Georgia Dome.

3-Unit Play Take Atlanta at Philadelphia OVER 55

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