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Week-by-week NFL predictions, tips and best bets for the 2026 season, which opens on 9 September and brings the Rams against the 49ers to the MCG on Friday 11 September.
Season opens 9 September: and the 49ers meet the Rams at the MCG on Friday 11 September →
This is our week-by-week home for NFL predictions, tips and best bets across the 2026 season. Every week of the regular season we run through the slate that matters to an Australian audience, with the games, the markets and the plays we like. The 2026 season is the one Australian fans have been waiting for, because Round 1 comes to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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NFL 2026 Season Key Dates
| Stage | Date (AEST) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Fame Game | 6 August | Carolina Panthers v Arizona Cardinals, the traditional curtain-raiser |
| Preseason Week 1 | 13–15 August | All 32 teams in action |
| Regular season opener | Thu 10 September | Seattle Seahawks v New England Patriots (Wed 9 September, 8:20pm ET). The NFL moved its opener off Thursday this year to make room for the Melbourne game |
| NFL in Melbourne | Fri 11 September, 10:35am | Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers at the MCG, the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Australia. Full preview and tips |
| Super Bowl LXI | February 2027 | The season finishes at Super Bowl LXI |
Round 1 and the Melbourne Game
The Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG at 10:35am AEST on Friday 11 September, which is 8:35pm Eastern on the Thursday in the United States. It is an NFC West divisional game between two sides that finished level at 12-5 last season, and it counts for exactly as much as any other Round 1 fixture.
Because it is a Friday morning here rather than a Monday, it is the rare NFL game an Australian audience can watch live at a civilised hour. Our full breakdown, markets and best bets are on the NFL in Melbourne preview.
What We Cover Week to Week
- Game predictions for the marquee fixtures on each week’s slate
- Line and spread reads, plus totals where the number looks wrong
- Player props, especially passing, rushing and receiving yardage lines
- Same game multis built off the week’s best matchups, priced on our NFL multi tips page
- Season-long futures as the picture changes, on our Super Bowl odds page
NFL Betting Markets We Target
Moneyline: The straight winner. Best used on underdogs the market has over-corrected against after one bad week.
Spread: The handicap. In a league built on parity most games sit inside a touchdown, so the spread is usually the sharper market than the moneyline.
Totals: Over or under the combined points. Weather, pace and a backup quarterback move this line more than reputation does.
Player props: Passing, rushing and receiving yardage, plus anytime touchdown scorers. The softest market in the sport, especially on role changes after an injury.
Futures: Division winners, conference winners and the Super Bowl. Longest hold, so only worth it at a genuine price.
Where to Bet on the NFL in Australia
Compare NFL lines, props and same game multis at our top-rated Australian bookmakers in our best betting sites guide, or start with our newest betting sites.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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NFL Predictions FAQs
When does the 2026 NFL season start?
The regular season opens with Seattle hosting New England on Wednesday 9 September in the United States, which is Thursday 10 September in Australia. The NFL moved its opener off its usual Thursday slot this year to make room for the Melbourne game.
When is the NFL game in Melbourne?
The Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG at 10:35am AEST on Friday 11 September 2026, which is 8:35pm Eastern on the Thursday in the United States. It is the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Australia.
Does the Melbourne game count as a regular-season game?
Yes. It is a Round 1 NFC West divisional fixture and counts fully towards both teams’ records, unlike a preseason exhibition.
What is the best NFL market for beginners?
The spread. NFL parity means most games are decided inside a touchdown, so the handicap usually offers better value than backing a short-priced favourite on the moneyline.
When is Super Bowl LXI?
February 2027, at the end of the 2026 season.
More NFL Content
- NFL Tips & Hub
- NFL Schedule in AEST · How to Watch in Australia
- NFL Ladder & Standings · NFL Results · Power Rankings
- 2026 NFL Draft: top 10 picks graded, and what it moved in the futures markets
- NFL in Melbourne: Rams v 49ers at the MCG
- NFL Same Game Multi Tips
- Super Bowl Odds · Super Bowl Tips
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