Super Bowl Rematch: Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks

Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 9/21/14, 4:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Seattle -4.5
Current Betting Line: Seattle -4.5
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 48
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Seattle Seahawks will try to shut down Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning at CenturyLink Field

Denver has been listed as a favorite in 31 straight games, which is important to consider when making your Week 4 NFL betting picks, as that streak will come to an end at CenturyLink Field. Since the start of the 1996 campaign, the Broncos own the league’s best record in the first month of the regular season at 48-20. The franchise is looking to begin a season 3-0 for the 13th time in its history and the fourth time in the past seven seasons. Denver is 1-3 SUATS as underdogs since 2012, with the OVER going 3-1 in that situation.

The Broncos are looking to gain revenge from a humiliating 43-8 defeat to the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, but they’ll have a hard time moving the football in this matchup. Denver hasn’t visited Seattle since a 31-9 victory on Nov. 17, 2002, while its Sunday opponent has held teams to an average of 13.3 points in its last 19 home games. Quarterback Peyton Manning has plenty of weapons, and will welcome back wide receiver Wes Welker, who had 73 catches for 778 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in 13 regular-season games last year.

Seattle returns home after a disappointing 30-21 setback to the San Diego Chargers as 4.5-point road favorites last week, while it went OVER the betting total for the second time in as many opportunities to open the 2014 campaign. The Seahawks were able to stop Manning in the Super Bowl, but the veteran signal-caller has completed 69.4 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions through two games this season. The stop unit must find a way to stop opposing tight ends, as it allowed Chargers veteran Antonio Gates to catch three touchdowns in Week 2. Seattle is 6-0 SUATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Seahawks are hoping that wide receiver Percy Harvin can be the X-factor in this affair, as he can allow the offense to open up with Russell Wilson under center and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield. Seattle’s offensive line will need to play a solid game, with Justin Britt and Russell Okung trying to stop the pass rush of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.