Bill Harrelson Picks targeted Calvin Ridley over 51.5 receiving yards in Denver. Ridley topped that mark in 8 of his last 10 and 9 of his last 11 games, finishing 2024 on a heater despite shaky QB play. Enter Cam Ward—whom Harrelson calls the best passer in last year’s college class—and an off-season of nonstop hype from Titans camp. Denver’s defense quietly finished bottom-10 versus WR yardage (154 per game) and, even with Pat Surtain, cannot blanket Ridley on every snap. Books project Tennessee to trail, so volume should spike; Harrelson sees Ridley clearing this line comfortably in a pass-heavy script.

Ed Feng laid ‑8.5 with Denver, calling Cam Ward’s first NFL start at altitude a worst-case scenario against a Broncos defense that finished elite last season. Denver fortified an already loaded secondary by drafting corner Jahdae Barron in Round 1, and although edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper may not match last year’s 28 combined sacks, Feng still projects consistent pressure. His model makes the game Denver ‑10.3, giving more than a 1.5-point cushion against the market. Feng acknowledged he rarely backs big favorites but trusts the defensive mismatch and Ward’s inexperience at Mile High.

Rob Pizzola said he "fails to see how the Titans get to 14 points" in Denver. His reasoning: rookie Cam Ward debuts on the road against an elite Broncos defense and must deal with Denver’s notorious early-season altitude advantage. Pizzola added that Tennessee’s 2024 profile looked competitive only when turnovers were removed from the box score, yet Ward’s college tape showed the same interception-risk tendencies. He recommends targeting the Titans’ team-total Under—especially any number 14.5 or higher—because Denver’s defense plus game-script pressure should keep Tennessee under two touchdowns.

Making his Gold Pick, Pat Mayo is comfortable laying the league-high spread (he and Rob Pizzola price it at –9) with Denver against Tennessee. Mayo expects a lopsided result because No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward faces his first NFL snap in Mile High, a venue Rob called a "big home-field advantage … early in the year." Both touts labeled Denver’s unit "the best defensive personnel in the entire league" and reminded listeners that Ward was turnover-prone in college. Even if Bo Nix is merely serviceable, Mayo thinks Denver can separate with field-goal driven drives while Ward’s mistakes set up short fields, making a multi-score victory likely.

Joyner not only laid the 8 points with Denver (confidence 8 SU, 6 ATS) but urged bettors to eye the Broncos at +2500 Super Bowl futures. The defense returns 61.5 of last year’s 63 sacks, rookie QB Bo Nix already looks like a franchise cornerstone, and RB RJ Harvey supplies breakaway speed the 2024 backfield lacked. Against that, Tennessee arrives with newly acquired Cam Ward but little surrounding talent. Joyner believes the road environment plus Denver’s pass-rush depth creates a mismatch too large for the Titans to keep within a touchdown.

Everett grabbed Tennessee +7.5, arguing that No.1 overall pick Cam Ward represents a significant upgrade from last year’s Levis/Rudolph combo. In what he projects as a low-scoring affair, Ward’s playmaking should keep the Titans inside the touchdown-plus spread.

Hill bet RJ Harvey Over 34.5 rushing yards. While Sean Payton traditionally rotates backs, Harvey was drafted early to be the lead option. Denver is a sizeable favorite, and Hill expects a run-heavy second half that lets the rookie cruise past the low threshold.

Tafur scooped up Tennessee +8. Rookie QB Cam Ward showed creativity and poise during preseason despite a bare-bones supporting cast, and the Titans fortified their offensive line to lean on the run game and shorten contests. He respects Denver’s defense and Bo Nix’s weapons but worries the Broncos are reading their own press clippings, making the full touchdown plus a hook too generous.

Prisco laid 7.5 with Denver, fading Tennessee rookie Cameron Ward in his first NFL start at altitude against "one of the league’s best defenses." He expects Bo Nix to capitalize on short fields and trusts Vance Joseph’s group to smother Ward, calling for a 26-13 Broncos win that justifies the large spread.

Laying a hefty –425, Knapp cited historical precedent: no No. 1 overall QB has won his Week 1 debut since David Carr in 2002. He predicts rookie Cam Ward will struggle in Denver’s hostile environment against a Broncos team he believes has the ceiling to challenge Kansas City in the AFC West.

Pearson laid 7.5 with Denver, warning that No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward faces his first NFL start in thin Mile-High air against a defense that finished third in EPA per play allowed and went 6-2 ATS at home last season. He expects Denver’s pass rush to speed up Ward’s internal clock while the Broncos’ balanced offense grinds a Titans defense that ranked 25th against play-action. Pearson forecasts an early two-score lead that never feels threatened.

MacMillan grabbed Titans +8, insisting last year’s 6-11 record masked a better roster undone by special-teams gaffes and a turnover-prone quarterback. Both problem areas are "fixed," highlighted by the No. 1 overall pick now under center. Conversely, he’s selling Denver after a schedule-driven 2024 and an offense he called "average at best." Eight points is too much in his view.

Kristopher Knox urged bettors to lay the 7.5 with Denver when Tennessee comes to town. Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward makes his first NFL start on the road against a Broncos defense that ranked seventh in total yardage and third in points allowed in 2024. Knox expects Sean Payton and Vance Joseph to throw confusing looks that create turnovers, giving Bo Nix and the Broncos offense short fields against a Titans unit that surrendered the league's third-most points a year ago. He predicts the game could be tight early, but Denver's defensive advantage will allow it to pull away late and cover.

Eric Polzin called Tony Pollard "one of the most boring, safe plays" for Week 1 DFS. With Tyjae Spears ruled out, Pollard should handle roughly 20 touches, including passing-game work. The Titans, however, are 7.5-point underdogs on the road against a Denver team with Super Bowl aspirations and will be starting a rookie quarterback, factors that could force a negative script and limit rushing volume. Pollard’s receiving role cushions the downside, but Polzin highlighted game flow as the primary concern.

Gilles Gallant recommended betting Cam Ward at +340 for an anytime touchdown in Week 1 against Denver. Gallant expects the Broncos’ man-heavy defense—anchored by Patrick Surtain II—and a pass rush that ranked second in pressure rate last season to open scrambling lanes for the rookie quarterback. He envisions Ward cashing in late, perhaps in garbage time of a lopsided game, similar to how Jaden Daniels turned early plus-money prices into chalk last season. With Will Levis out for the year and little threat of goal-line vultures from backs Tony Pollard or Tyjae Spears, Gallant sees low benching risk and plenty of rushing opportunity. He is betting now before the market reacts and Ward’s touchdown odds shorten below +200 after his first score.

Brady Kannon said he is laying the 7.5 points with Denver in Week 1. He called the Broncos defense "arguably the best in the NFL" and believes Mile High’s altitude will compound the challenge for rookie quarterback Cameron Ward in his first pro start. Kannon pointed out that Sean Payton’s club finished last season strong and returns almost every key piece, while Tennessee is still feeling out a brand-new offense and backfield after moving on from Derrick Henry. He expects Denver’s pass rush to force Ward into turnovers, giving Russell Wilson short fields and making it difficult for the Titans to keep the game within a touchdown.

Tyler Knaeble highlighted Bo Nix as an appealing late-round quarterback in Eliminator drafts. He prefers "skinny stacks" in this contest and likes pairing Nix with Courtland Sutton because Denver’s Week-12 bye doesn’t interfere with most of his other core pieces. Knaeble also noted that the Broncos open against Tennessee, a defense he views as more attackable than the Jets’ unit that Pittsburgh faces. Because nearly every drafter already has a quarterback by the time Nix goes off the board, Knaeble thinks you can consistently grab him at a discount, adding cheap correlation without sacrificing roster flexibility.