Bills vs. Rams Thursday NFL Kickoff Game odds, trends: Buffalo lapping the field in bets to win Super Bowl 57

The 2022 NFL season begins tonight with the Kickoff Game as the Buffalo Bills visit the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Could it be a preview of Super Bowl 57 in Arizona? Bettors at Caesars Sportsbook seem to think so from an AFC perspective. Buffalo (+600) has received more than twice as much money to win SB 57 than every other team in the NFL. The Bills have taken heavy action for this game as well, moving then from an original open of +1 to -2.5.

Many believed the Bills would have won Super Bowl 56 if they hadn't lost in excruciating fashion in the AFC Divisional Round in Kansas City. Buffalo hasn't been back to the NFL title game since losing it for a record fourth time in a row following the 1993 season. Josh Allen & Co. have gotten more than four times as much money to win the Super Bowl than 22 teams and more than 10 times as much as 12 clubs.

It's not impossible that Buffalo is favored in every game. Could we see a 17-0 season? The Bills have gotten more bets to finish with exactly 17 regular-season wins (+3500) than the rest of the NFL combined and more than 10 times the money compared to the entire rest of the league. Allen is the +700 MVP favorite and has gotten the second-most money at 12.67% behind Chargers QB Justin Herbert (+900) at 12.77%.

Since 2003, the Bills been the most profitable against-the-spread team in Week 1 at 13-6 ATS. However, defending Super Bowl champions like the Rams are 19-3 straight-up in Week 1 this century and have won the past four. Los Angeles is 5-0 SU & ATS in Week 1 games under Coach Sean McVay.

As for the total, it currently sits at 52 and it has received four times as many tickets as any other Week 1 total at Caesars as of this writing. The Over has taken 59.2% percent of tickets, but the Under 66.6% of the handle. Bills-Rams is the only Week 1 total in the 50s where the majority of the money is on the Under.

"Early money has definitely been on the Under," said Adam Pullen, Assistant Director of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. "A lot of sharps like to bet those high totals Under, especially when there's two good defenses. I anticipate that when we get closer to game time, the public is going to see those two teams and most likely bet over. Usually in standalones, especially the first game of the season, the general public is thinking Over rather than Under."

Injury-wise, the Rams have ruled out No. 3 receiver Van Jefferson, who had 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns last year. LA is a bit thin at wideout after losing the likes of Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. (although he could re-sign when healthy) but did sign free agent Allen Robinson. Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell should get more reps as the No. 2 without Jefferson.

Buffalo doesn't have any surprise injuries but opens with Pro Bowl cornerback Tre'Davious White on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL.

Perhaps the Rams don't win last season's Super Bowl without trading for Von Miller, and the future Hall of Fame pass-rusher signed a mammoth free-agent deal this winter with Buffalo. Miller is +165 to have a full sack tonight. Los Angeles receiver Cooper Kupp, the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP, is the +600 favorite to score the first touchdown.

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