NFL Week 1: Teams to buy, sell

We're still a day away from the official start of the NFL season, but a rush of late transactions, a few key injuries, and holdout drama have left plenty of value to be found in the betting market before opening weekend.

Each week during the NFL season, we'll break down which teams you should be buying and selling based on their value in the betting market. Here are our picks heading into Week 1:

Buy

Dallas Cowboys (22-1)

When we profiled the NFC East in mid-August, the Cowboys were pegged at 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl and were given a win total of 9. They're currently at 22-1 to win it all, with the same win total, even after coming to terms with star running back Ezekiel Elliott at the 11th hour.

Zeke alone isn't enough to buy Dallas as a contender, but an elite defense and a star-studded offense should be. The Cowboys have averaged just shy of 11 wins over the past three years and will open the schedule with a very manageable seven weeks before their bye. Grab them before the price shortens.

Seattle Seahawks (30-1)

It's usually a given that only quarterbacks affect odds, but can we really ignore the Seahawks snagging three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney for two mediocre linebackers and a third-round pick? Rushing the passer was an Achilles' heel for this defense in 2018, but with Clowney and late offseason signee Ezekiel Ansah in the fold, Seattle now has two menacing pass-rushers to bolster what could be one of the league's best defenses in 2019.

The offense wasn't exciting in 2018 thanks to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's archaic commitment to the run. Yet the pieces are there for a more dynamic approach in Year 2 under Schottenheimer. Even if the 'Hawks run themselves to death, this is still a team that won 10 games last year for the sixth time in seven seasons. Tying for the eighth-shortest NFC title odds (15-1) is too little respect.

Baltimore Ravens (35-1)

Banking on a dominant defense from this team is nothing new, but the Ravens are once again entering a season with an elite secondary and a bevy of pass-rushing options under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Even if the defense regresses from 2018, it can still create enough havoc in the passing game to produce opportunities for the offense.

It may need to do just that, depending on how Lamar Jackson pilots the Ravens' unconventional offense as a full-time starter. If he flops, it'll be obvious within the first few weeks. But if he soars - while flanked by physical runners and a diverse receiving corps built for his cannon arm - Baltimore could be the hottest futures ticket on the market. Don't wait for a Week 1 drubbing of Miami to buy in.

Sell

Houston Texans (20-1)

What exactly are the Texans doing? On one hand, they went with a win-now approach by sending premium draft capital to the Dolphins for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills while buying low on running back Carlos Hyde. On the other hand, they delivered Clowney to the Seahawks on a silver platter.

You could argue the salary ramifications of the Clowney deal, but it's hard to say the Texans are clearly better today than they were a week ago, when Andrew Luck's retirement pushed Houston's title odds from 40-1 to 30-1. Lamar Miller's injury shouldn't be overlooked, and Tunsil alone can't fix an offensive line that has stunted Houston's ascent into the AFC's elite. The Jaguars at 40-1 are much more appealing than paying 20-1 here.

San Francisco 49ers (40-1)

The 49ers were one of the hottest buys this summer, and at full strength, they looked like a value. But the "at full strength" 49ers don't exist for a second straight year, thanks to camp injuries and a single preseason game that left seven more players injured.

Defensive end and No. 2 pick Nick Bosa is questionable for Week 1, as is new cornerback Jason Verrett. Running back Jerick McKinnon and receiver Trent Taylor will both miss significant time, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off last year's ACL tear. These aren't just names - they're major contributors to the team. San Fran's win total (8) feels lofty, and you should stay away from these futures odds.

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.