Week 2 NFL Picks, Betting Analysis Odds

We’ll be here to guide you with weekly picks against the spread every week. After a strong showing with our first 16 dart throws, here are the next 16 kicks at the can, with odds coming from Sugarhouse SportsBook and BetRivers.

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.

Pittsburgh’s bread and butter is splash plays on defense, but Broncos quarterback Drew Lock hasn’t thrown a pick on any of his last 112 passes and the Steelers are even more banged up than the Broncos after both played Monday night. Much-improved Denver isn’t getting enough credit and we’re giving the Steelers too much of it for an easy win against the rebuilding Giants. FWIW, Trend Dummy points out about a half dozen solid UNDER angles in this one.

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-6): PACKERS

Detroit has been crushed by injuries and should also be emotionally crushed after a brutal loss to the Bears on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Packers are vibing offensively with Aaron Rodgers seemingly on a mission. You never know with these NFC North battles, but I think Green Bay can win by at least a touchdown.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (-9): TITANS

Avoid this one at all costs, but if you have to go one way or the other, consider the Week 1 overreaction factor. The Jaguars are likely still one of the worst two or three teams in the league, while the Titans fell just short of the Super Bowl last season. In Nashville, Derrick Henry should have a field day in a one-sided victory to balance the scales a bit in the AFC South.

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-1): EAGLES

It’s amazing how everyone now trusts the Rams again based on one strong season-opening performance against Dallas. And haven’t we learned not to write off the Eagles regardless of the piles of injuries they always seem to have? L.A. is completely untrustworthy and Philly has the mental strength to bounce back at home. Eagles win a close one.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-3): COLTS

Altogether, Indy is a better team than Minnesota. At home, they’re likely to bounce back from a disaster against the Jaguars, while it’s hard to find faith in the Vikings defense considering Danielle Hunter’s injury up front and a simple lack of talent in coverage. Colts roll by a touchdown.

NEW YORK GIANTS AT CHICAGO BEARS (-5.5): GIANTS

This is wayyyy too many points for the Bears, who rode one hot quarter to a surprise victory over a mistake-prone opponent in Week 1. Do you really trust Mitchell Trubisky to do it again? Do you really believe Saquon Barkley can be contained again? This is a field-goal game one way or another.

I might regret this one because the Jets are such a dumpster fire, but the current state of the San Francisco roster leads me to believe they could have trouble clearing a seven-point hurdle on the road right now. Last year’s Super Bowl team is currently missing Joe Staley (retired), DeForest Buckner (a Colt), Emmanuel Sanders (a Saint), Richard Sherman (calf), possibly George Kittle (knee), and possibly Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion). Yikes.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-6.5): CARDS

I truly believe in the WFT, but not in this spot. The Cardinals offense is just too well-equipped to counter Washington’s stacked defensive front, and the Arizona defense has the weaponry to neutralize the evolving Dwayne Haskins (even if they are down a man in the secondary). It’s just not a good matchup for D.C.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (-7) AT HOUSTON TEXANS: TEXANS

This is a low-confidence pick because Baltimore could be unstoppable, but Deshaun Watson is a gamer who should bounce back on extra rest against a familiar opponent. The inspiration factor is there for Houston, while the Ravens could be caught looking ahead to their critical Week 3 meeting with the Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-8.5) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: CHIEFS

Last week, the Chargers were lucky to defeat a team that was just 2-14 last season. Now they face Andy Reid, who often rocks out with extra time to prepare. The Bolts never have had much of a home-field advantage in L.A. and shouldn’t without fans, and their top-notch pass-rush might not matter much against Patrick Mahomes and Co. This might be a blowout.

If this seems like a big home dog number for the Chargers, that’s because it’s the biggest one since 1998 when they were +13.5 at home to John Elway’s Broncos

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-4): SEAHAWKS

Huh? Russell Wilson is 16-3 straight-up and 13-5-1 against the spread in home prime-time games, and he’s got a career 128.5 passer rating against New England. The Pats might have easily taken care of the rebuilding Dolphins at home last week, but Seattle is in a completely different league in the Pacific Northwest.

Again fair warning from the Trend Dummy, who has evidence that shows the Patriots (almost) never lose as underdogs.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-6) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: SAINTS

I wouldn’t spend a dollar on this game. That’s a big number considering the Saints won’t have superstar Michael Thomas, but Las Vegas is completely unreliable and star offensive tackle Trent Brown is dealing with an injury of his own. I’ll side with the more experienced and trustworthy squad in prime time, which is usually where Drew Brees thrives.