Tom Brady and the Bucs take on the Dallas Cowboys to open the NFL season, and that miiiight just draw a high TV rating — and all the betting bonus opportunities.
But really, Was there any other way this was going to go than this player taking on this team for the league’s first signature national television game of the year?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will celebrate last season’s Super Bowl by opening this season on Thursday night for an 8:20 p.m. kickoff on NBC against “America’s Team.”
Michigan sports betting operators are ringing in the occasion with multiple promotions and bonuses for the NFL season opener.
How to watch: Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Who: Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
- When: 8:20 p.m. ET Thursday (Coverage begins at 7 p.m. on NBC)
- Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- TV: NBC (Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
- Online livestream: Watch live on Peacock or on the NBC Sports app
- Radio: Westwood One Sports (97.1 FM/1270 AM in Detroit, WTKA-AM 1050 in Ann Arbor)
- Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Channel 211 (Tampa Bay stream), Channel 81 (Dallas stream), Channel 88 (national stream)
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay favored by more than a touchdown
The defending Super Bowl champions are loaded again, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs at Michigan sportsbooks for shortest Super Bowl odds.
Brady is back under center, with a wide array of weapons that includes wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown (Central Michigan). The defense is also a strength once again, led by linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David.
Defensive lineman William Gholston (Michigan State, Detroit Southeastern, Detroit Mumford) and defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting of (Central Michigan, Chippewa Valley High School) are defensive starters of local interest. Former Lions star Ndamukong Suh is back on the line as well.
The Cowboys feature the return of Dak Prescott at quarterback and former Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliott running the ball. Amari Cooper and breakout candidate CeeDee Lamb lead a strong receiver unit. Former Michigan star Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech) is among the defensive backfield reserves.
DraftKings: Bucs hanging within 73 against Cowboys is a No-Brainer betting bonus
The Bucs are favored in this one comfortably. But here’s a bet that’s even more comfortable for Buccaneers backers.
DraftKings Sportsbook is serving up a single-use Odds Boost for Tampa Bay to cover a 73-point spread. The +100 bet has a $50 maximum bet.
The 73 points comes from the NFL record margin of victory, achieved by Chicago against Washington in 1940.
Feels pretty safe for Thursday.
DraftKings also has Week 1 same-game parlay offer. If you lose, you receive $25 bonus bet back.
The sportsbook also has a sign-up deal for new customers, giving $200 for your bankroll (eight $25 bonus bets) after you place a first football bet of at least $1 on any college or pro football game.
PointsBet Sportsbook: First Tom Brady completion means cash for bettors
PointsBet Sportsbook players will score once Brady completes a pass. If the future Hall of Famer throws for 1 or more yard, the Tom Brady On The House Booster will hit for a max bet of $10 to add to your Bucs-Cowboys betting bonus pile.
NFL fans just want to make sure there isn’t a repeat of 2008, when Brady injured his knee in the opener and was out for the season. But even then, he completed seven passes for 76 yards before the mishap.
The sportsbook is giving a $25 bet on a single-game parlay for Thursday after you opt-in.
PointsBet is also setting all spread odds for every NFL game at +100. The no-juice games will be available 48 hours before kickoff. The operator also has a deal where if you opt-in and place $100 on any Week 1 game, and you receive up to $250 in bonus casino spins.
New PointsBet customers can get their first bet up to $2,000, earning bonus bets back if it loses.
Caesars Sportsbook: Start working toward your bonus NFL jersey
Caesars Sportsbook has continued to bring the bonuses for Michigan sports bettors since its rebrand from William Hill, and now they will give up some gear.
Bet $100 on NFL games this month, and you get an authentic NFL jersey. Winners will be sent a digital gift card for NFLShop.com with a $150 credit toward a jersey of their choice.
This week, Caesars added an NFL Opening Night Super Boost for Thursday night. If Tampa Bay scores at least one point, a +100 wager kicks in ($50 maximum bet).
If you haven’t signed up for Caesars yet, you can also take advantage of the $5,000 bet offer for new customers on Thursday.
WynnBET Sportsbook: Triple the spread in favor of Dallas
WynnBET Sportsbook is juicing the spread for Dallas backers.
The Triple The Spread promotion is turning the original 7.5 spread into a tasty 22.5-point spread, making Dallas a pretty safe bet. There is a $20 maximum bet for this one.
WynnBET also has a $1,000 bet for new customers.
Bonus bets for openers at FanDuel, BetMGM, Fox Bet
- FanDuel Sportsbook has a bet up to $10 for any Week 1 game. Opt-in on the Promos page before placing your bet.
- BetMGM Sportsbook is giving a bonus $10 bet for the opener, along with another bonus $10 bet for any game on Sunday.
- Fox Bet Sportsbook has a $5 bonus bet each week for each Thursday night game. Players need to opt-in at the Promotions section each week.
