Broncos vs. Seahawks prediction, odds, picks for NFL Week 1

The The Seattle Seahawks open the 2024-25 season by hosting the Denver Broncos. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series with a prediction and pick for the Broncos against the Seahawks.

The Denver Broncos finished the 2023-24 season with a record of (8-9), missing the postseason by a few games. The defense overwhelmed the subpar offense that the Broncos presented last season. As a result, they sent Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh, where he recently announced as starting quarterbackNewcomer Bo Nix, who recently also QB1 for the Broncos. Nix comes from Oregon, where he finished a successful college career. He has the potential to develop and become a great leader for the Broncos offense. Broncos Country should be optimistic about the future.

On the other side of the ball are the Seattle Seahawks, who finished last year with a record of (9-8) and also missed the playoffs. One thing these two teams have in common is that they both gave up on Russell Wilson. However, the Broncos decided to start fresh with a rookie QB instead of using Geno Smith like the Seahawks have done the past few seasons. They will once again stick with the veteran, and he has done a good job for them. He was a Pro Bowler the past two seasons, and at 33 years old, he still has a lot left in the tank.

Here are the NFL oddsCourtesy of FanDuel.

NFL Odds: Broncos-Seahawks Odds

Denver Broncos: +5.5 (-102)

Moneyline: +215

Seattle Seahawks: -5.5 (-120)

Money line: -260

Over: 41.5 (-110)

Under: 41.5 (-110)

How to watch Broncos vs. Seahawks

Time: 4:05 ET/1:05 PT

TV: CBS

Stream: fuboTV (Free trial)

Why the Broncos could cover/win the spread

The running game will be very important for the Broncos this season. It starts with a weak Seahawks rush defense. In 2023, the Hawks ranked 23rd in rush defense according to PFF. While they have a good number of defenders back, they are losing guys like Poona Ford and Jamal Adams. Denver has the opportunity to get Javonte Williams going early in the season. Jaleel McLaughlin is also an up-and-coming running back and has a chance to be one of the better backups in the league. If the Broncos are successful in the running game, they can cover that spread by controlling time of possession.

This plan also benefits the rookie. Nix needs to get into the game slowly. They don’t want him thrown in at the deep end early in his career. He has a great coach in Sean Payton and I expect him to slowly become a star in this league. The Broncos play in a tough division with the Kansas City Chiefs, the two-time defending champions, so I understand the rush. But right now, making sure Nix is ​​comfortable should be the top priority.

The Broncos defense is elite. They just paid Patrick Surtain II, making him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. Denver boasts an elite linebacker core led by Alex Singleton, and Zach Allen and John-Franklin Myers control the defensive line. They should find some success against a Seahawks offense that has many question marks.

Why the Seahawks could cover/win the spread

Much like the Broncos, the Hawks need to get their running game going. Kenneth Walker III has a chance to become one of the better running backs in this league soon. Zach Charbonnet is a solid backup from UCLA and as long as the offensive line blocks well, there should be no reason why they can’t get those two going.

The receivers remain well-stocked, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba looking to become a rising star. DK Metcalf is one of the best receivers and athletes in the NFL, and seeing him go up against Surtain should be an exciting battle throughout the game. Tyler Lockett has been a reliable player for years, and if he’s similarly successful, Smith shouldn’t be afraid to be one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks again. Lockett is questionable for Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury.

The Broncos’ defense is very good, so Smith will have to be at his best and play mistake-free football to help the Seahawks make up that lead.

The Hawks defense needs to blitz often and shut down the run. They need to force Nix to beat them and make him as uncomfortable as possible. If they can unsettle the rookie and force him into some turnovers, then the Seahawks can cover this spread with ease.

Final Broncos-Seahawks Prediction and Pick

This will be one of the most underrated games of Week 1. It will be exciting to see where these two teams stand after getting rid of Wilson. A rookie with an experienced coach takes on a veteran with a rookie coach. I believe in Nix and think Sean Payton is a good enough coach to win this chess game against a rookie coach. I’ll pick the Broncos to cover that spread in Week 1 on the road.

Final Broncos-Seahawks prediction and pick: Broncos +5.5 (-102)