NFL Week 2 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
One of the major highlights of Week 2 around the NFL is clearly the betting capital of North America, the city of Las Vegas, welcoming its own team for the first time. Alas, there will be no fans in attendance.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, Thursday
It’s a match up of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks in Bengals rookie Joe Burrow and the Browns’ Baker Mayfield. Both teams lost on Sunday, with the Browns getting slaughtered in Baltimore and Cincinnati losing by a field goal to the Chargers. These state rivals split last year, each winning at home.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
New York Giants at Chicago Bears
It’s a short week for the Giants after hosting Pittsburgh on Monday night. The Bears were the most unlikely winners on Sunday as they trailed in Detroit 23-6 in the fourth quarter but prevailed 27-23. It’s the second year in a row the Giants visit Chicago, losing there last November 19-14. The Bears outscored New York 16-0 in the third quarter.
Pick ATS: Chicago
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta was largely dominated in a 38-25 home loss to Seattle on Sunday. Matt Ryan threw for 450 yards in a losing effort. Dallas was a 20-17 loser at the LA Rams as new coach Mike McCarthy for some reason didn’t attempt a chip-shot field goal early in the fourth quarter to tie it. He went for it on fourth down and the Cowboys were stopped. They also lost two starters, tight end Blake Jarwin and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, to serious injuries.
Pick ATS: Dallas (-6.5 alternate line)
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
The Lions lost a game like only they can Sunday, blowing a 23-6 fourth-quarter lead to the Bears. Rookie running back D’Andre Swift was wide open to catch the winning touchdown with a few seconds left but flat out dropped it. Aaron Rodgers was spectacular Sunday in a 43-34 win at Minnesota in throwing for 364 yards and four scores. Green Bay has won 26 of the past 29 at home in the series, including playoffs. The Pack won both meetings overall last season but by only a combined four points.
Pick ATS: Green Bay
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans
Short week for the Titans as they were in Denver on Monday in Week 1. The Jaguars were upset winners Sunday, 27-20 over Indianapolis. Gardner Minshew was 19-for-20 passing for 173 yards and three scores. The Jaguars entered Week 1 as the NFL’s biggest home underdogs. The home team tends to win almost every time in this series and that’s what happened in 2019.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville
Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts
Neither of these teams looked good Sunday. Philip Rivers’ Colts debut was a 27-20 upset loss at Jacksonville. Rivers threw for 363 yards and a TD but had two awful interceptions as his turnover problems continue. The Vikings were shredded at home by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 43-34. Minnesota allowed 522 yards.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis (-2.5 alternate line)
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
The Bills had little trouble Sunday in a 27-17 win over the awful Jets. Josh Allen threw for 312 yards and two scores and rushed for another TD. Two starting Buffalo linebackers did leave due to injury. Miami was a 21-11 loser at New England as Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off three times. Let the Tua Tagovailoa watch officially begin. The rookie won’t start this week, but if Fitz is awful again he might relieve him. Buffalo swept Miami last year, winning each by double digits.
Pick ATS: Buffalo
San Francisco 49ers at New York Jets
The Jets looked like the AFC’s worst team in Sunday’s 10-point loss to Buffalo. Running back Le’Veon Bell is proving an utter free-agent bust as he left with a hamstring injury. That franchise is a mess. The 49ers were upset at home by Arizona 24-20. Star Niners tight end George Kittle played through a lower leg injury but was a non-factor.
Point spread: 49ers -7.5
Pick ATS: New York
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
The Rams christened the new $5 billion SoFi Stadium on Sunday with a 20-17 win over Dallas. Malcolm Brown rushed for a career-high 79 yards and two scores. L.A. is now 4-0 in season openers under Coach Sean McVay. Philadelphia blew a 17-0 lead at Washington and was upset 27-17. The Eagles’ offensive line already is down two injured starters for the season and it showed as QB Carson Wentz was sacked eight times.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
This is a rare spot where both teams are on a short week because both played Monday night, with Pittsburgh at the New York Giants and Denver at home vs. Tennessee. The Broncos already have been hit with one major injury, though, losing star pass rusher Von Miller perhaps for the season. No. 1 wideout Courtland Sutton was to be a game-time call Monday with a shoulder injury.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady’s Bucs debut didn’t go as planned as the 43-year-old was intercepted twice, one returned for a touchdown, in a 34-23 loss at New Orleans. Top Bucs wideout Mike Evans was in question with a hamstring injury. He played but had just one catch. Carolina couldn’t give Matt Rhule a win in his first game as an NFL head coach, losing an entertaining 34-30 decision to the Raiders. Panthers star Christian McCaffrey racked up 134 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns. These NFC South rivals split in 2019.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay
Washington Football Team at Arizona Cardinals
Both these clubs pulled off Week 1 upsets. Washington rallied from down 17-0 to beat Philadelphia in Ron Rivera’s first game as the club’s head coach. Washington had eight QB sacks, including one by Defensive Rookie of the Year favourite Chase Young. Arizona rallied for a 24-20 win at San Francisco. Kyler Murray, a sneaky MVP pick, passed for a score and rushed for one. DeAndre Hopkins was spectacular in his Cardinals debut with 14 catches for 151 yards.
Pick ATS: Arizona (-6.5 alternate line)
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Kansas City is on extra rest after winning the Kickoff Game last Thursday 34-20 over Houston. That Chiefs offence looked unstoppable as Patrick Mahomes threw three TD passes and rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 138 yards and a score. The Chargers were somewhat lucky to win in Cincinnati on Sunday, 16-13. The Chiefs swept the Chargers in 2019.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Perhaps no team was more impressive Week 1 than Baltimore, which is my pick to win the Super Bowl. The Ravens obliterated the Browns 38-6 behind three TD passes from Lamar Jackson and two rushing scores from rookie JK Dobbins. Houston was a 34-20 loser at Kansas City last Thursday. Deshaun Watson threw for a score and rushed for one but clearly missed the traded DeAndre Hopkins.
Pick ATS: Baltimore (-6.5 alternate line)
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday night matchup. The Cam Newton Era in New England got off to a winning start as the former league MVP rushed for two scores in a 21-11 win over Miami. The Pats rushed for 217 yards. Seattle was a 38-25 winner in Atlanta as Russell Wilson was nearly perfect in completing 31 of 35 passes for four TDs and no picks.
Pick ATS: Seattle
New Orleans Saints at Las Vegas Raiders, Monday
The debut of the spectacular $2 billion (US) Allegiant Stadium in Sin City. The Raiders played their first game as Las Vegas on Sunday and won 34-30 at Carolina. Josh Jacobs rushed for three touchdowns. The Raiders did lose two offensive tackles to injury. The Saints looked Super Bowl-caliber in a 34-23 win over Tampa Bay. Drew Brees threw two scores and Alvin Kamara, who got a big extension on the eve of the season, rushed for a TD and caught one. Saints superstar wideout Michael Thomas did tweak his ankle late but it’s not thought to be serious.
Pick ATS: New Orleans
