We’ll be here to guide you with weekly picks against the spread every week. with odds coming from Draft Kings, both official football betting partners of the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions (-4.5): Lions
It’s pretty clear by now Geno Smith isn’t the answer in Seattle but was just riding a hot run against unsuspecting defenses early last year. Now he’s likely without his two starting offensive tackles for a cross-country meeting with a fired-up and well-rested opponent. This could be a blowout.
New York Giants (-4) at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals
It’s pretty tough to back the Giants even if you believe in bounce-backs. That was a catastrophe on Sunday night, and now they’re giving up more than a field goal on the road? The Cardinals might be one of the worst teams in the league, but they hung with the Commanders last week and they’re at home with nothing to lose. I think the Giants are comically overrated, and they could easily lose this one outright.
Miami Dolphins (-3) at New England Patriots: Dolphins
I know nobody wants to completely abandon Bill Belichick’s Patriots, especially after they hung with the Eagles in Week 1, but Miami’s Week 1 road win on the road against a strong team was telling. This will feel like a walk in the park comparative to that effort against the Chargers, especially as they know New England well and beat them handily early last season.
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Archived Week 2 NFL picks article from Sept. 17, 2022
New England Patriots (-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers: Patriots
I just can’t see the Bill Belichicks starting 0-2, and they’re only laying two points against a team that was extremely lucky in Week 1 and is now down T.J. Watt. This is still a Pittsburgh squad quarterbacked by Mitchell freakin’ Trubisky, and Najee Harris is far from 100 percent in the backfield.
Los Angeles Rams (-10) at Atlanta Falcons: Rams
After a Week 1 dud, I expect this to be a fix-it game for the defending Super Bowl champions. Keep in mind that the Falcons also played way above their heads against the Saints last Sunday, and yet they still blew it at home. They’re one of the worst teams in the league, and those true colors should show here.
San Francisco 49ers (-8.5) at Seattle Seahawks: 49ers
This is another fix-it spot for a solid team that underperformed in Week 1 and now faces a team that overperformed on that day. Remove Jamal Adams from the Seahawks defense as well and this seems like a no-brainer blowout as Pete Carroll’s gutted squad comes back to earth.
Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5) at Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals
Arizona showed how flawed it can be in Week 1, but the Cards should bounce back at home and 5.5 points is a lot for a Las Vegas squad that lost its opener by five points at home. I expect this to be a field goal game either way.
Buffalo Bills (-10) at Tennessee Titans: Titans
The Bills are on fire and on extra rest, while the Titans were not impressive in Week 1. I’m expecting an adjustment here. That doesn’t mean Tennessee pulls off the upset, but a veteran, well-coached Tennessee squad should certainly be capable of keeping this in the single digits at home.
Archived Week 2 NFL picks article from Sept. 19, 2021Â
LAST WEEK: 8-8
Week 2 NFL Picks
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON (-3.5): WASHINGTON
The Giants might have beaten Washington in both of their 2020 matchups, but New York is pretty banged up for a short-rest road game with a team that should have a fire lit under them after a tough Week 1 loss. I’m also a Taylor Heinicke believer, so I’ll lay the field goal and the hook.
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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-3.5) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS: PANTHERS
The Saints are quite shorthanded, the Carolina defense is getting damn good and I still don’t really trust Jameis Winston. I’m not willing to give up the hook, and I’d be tempted by the Panthers moneyline.
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CHICAGO BEARS (-2.5): BEARS
The Bengals simply hang with teams with Joe Burrow under center. I’m sure that’ll be the case again here, but Chicago still has the defense and the experience to take down a novice Cincy team by a field goal in desperation mode at home.
HOUSTON TEXANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-12.5): BROWNS
The Browns also return home fired up for a W after a tough loss to start the season. I don’t think they’ll mess around with the Texans, who will at least not be overlooked after beating the hell out of the Jaguars in Week 1. I don’t think that D can stop Nick Chubb and the Browns running game.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-3.5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: RAMS
The hook is scary here because the experienced Colts are well-coached and could bounce back, but they’ve been hit so hard by injuries and the Rams looked as crisp as anyone in Week 1.
DENVER BRONCOS (-6) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: BRONCOS
The Jags have now lost 16 consecutive games overall. If the Broncos were able to beat the improved Giants by double digits on the road, there’s no reason they can’t do the same thing to the Jags with Bradley Chubb potentially returning from injury.
BUFFALO BILLS (-3.5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS: DOLPHINS
The Bills were lost in Week 1, while the Dolphins look as though they’ve put it all together. No way I’m laying more than a field goal with Buffalo on the road. Brian Flores has his team ticking.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-6) AT NEW YORK JETS: PATRIOTS
Bill Belichick is 10-1 with an average margin of three scores in his last 11 meetings with rookie quarterbacks. Coming off a tough Week 1 loss, he and his veteran team will feast on Zach Wilson and the banged-up Jets offense in a blowout.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: EAGLES
Speaking of banged up, that’s again the only way to describe the poor 49ers. Now they’re traveling across the country to deal with a Philly team that we may have overlooked. Jalen Hurts is getting it done and the Eagles are so damn strong in the trenches. They might win this one outright.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-5.5): STEELERS
The Raiders have also been crushed by injuries and are traveling three time zones on short rest following an emotional overtime thriller Monday night at home. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially considering the strength of Pittsburghs’ defense.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-4): VIKINGS
I don’t feel good about this game, this line or anything else to do with these two untrustworthy teams. Under those circumstances, I’ll take the points with the more desperate and experienced squad.
ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-12.5): BUCCANEERS
It’s beginning to look like the Falcons will be one of the worst teams in football this season, while Tampa Bay is operating on extra rest after playing in the Thursday night opener. Tom Brady and the Bucs killed with 10-plus days to prepare for games last season. Watch for that trend to continue here.
DALLAS COWBOYS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-3.5): CHARGERS
The Cowboys are always on extra rest, but they’ll likely/definitely be without DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), Michael Gallup (calf) and La’el Collins (suspension) for the Chargers’ home opener in front of a packed new stadium. No bueno, even if the hook and the rest are risk factors. Buy back that half-point if possible.
TENNESSEE TITANS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-5.5): TITANS
I refuse to believe Tennessee will go down easy while facing 0-2 in the face. Russell Wilson should have another field day, but look for an experienced Titans team to hang. That number is just too high for my liking.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-3.5) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS: RAVENS
I feel very uncomfortable with this because Baltimore is hurting on short rest following a tough Monday night loss, but the Ravens eventually have to break through against Kansas City and they’re the more hungry team at 0-1. At home, I expect them to put up a fight against a vulnerable defense.
DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-11.5): PACKERS
Aaron Rodgers frequently bounces back from disaster games with monster performances. At home against a terrible team with a horrendous defense, he should do exactly that to send a prime-time message to the football world.
Watch the line moves on these games, all odds were midweek at Draft Kings sportsbook, visit them for the current odds closer to kickoff or whenever you are many your Week 2 wagers.
Week 2 NFL picks archived article from Sept. 18, 2020
WEEK 1 RECORD: 10-5-1
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-6): BROWNS
The Bengals have all the good vibes after a near-win in a promising debut for Joe Burrow, but now they’re traveling on short rest and the Browns are already desperate. They’re simply too talented to bomb again this season and should bounce back in their home opener with a victory by at least a touchdown.
ATLANTA FALCONS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (-4.5): FALCONS
Dallas has been ravaged by injuries and Atlanta is way better than what we saw in Week 1. Why would anyone spot the Cowboys five points based on what we saw from them last week? The line is a mess, the defensive back seven is a mess. This is a field-goal game one way or another.
BUFFALO BILLS (-5.5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS: BILLS
The Bills defeated the Dolphins by double-digit margins in each of their matchups last season and have beaten them by at least six points in five of their last six meetings. They’re unpredictable but stacked with talent and turning a corner, while rebuilding Miami is still getting acclimated after a weird offseason full of change.
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-9): BUCS
This line has perplexed me all week. Oddsmakers and the public still believe in Tom Brady, who has been mediocre for almost a calendar year now. With Chris Godwin and Mike Evans both less than 100 percent, there’s little reason to believe Brady and the Bucs will clear a nine-point margin against a talented offense that put up 30 in Week 1.
