2026 NFL Kickoff Game prediction, odds, time: Seahawks vs. Patriots picks by expert on 28-16 — SkimNews
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- Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET Wednesday at Lumen Field in the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game, a rematch of last season's Super Bowl
- New England enters as a 3-point road underdog with the over/under set at 44.5 total points
- Emory Hunt, CBS Sports HQ analyst and SportsLine's Early Edge contributor, is 28-16 on Seattle picks and has returned $1,047 to $100 players on NFL betting sites
- Hunt is leaning Under 44.5, citing Seattle's league-low 17.2 points allowed and New England's fourth-ranked 18.8 points allowed from 2025
- Seattle's defense finished sixth in total yards allowed at 285.6 per game, anchored by linebacker Ernest Jones IV with 126 tackles, five interceptions and a pick-six
- New England's defense ranked eighth in total yards allowed at 295.2 per game, led by linebacker Robert Spillane's 97 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games
- Both teams finished 14-3 last season — Seattle 6-2 at home, New England a perfect 8-0 on the road
Why it matters: Two top-eight scoring defenses collide in the NFL's marquee regular-season opener, and Hunt's 28-16 track record against the spread on Seattle translates to roughly 10-to-1 returns for $100 bettors — making his Under lean on a 44.5 line backed by last year's defensive numbers a high-conviction call for kickoff night.
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