It’s time for one of if not the toughest weeks of the NFL season to pick, Week 2.

You have all offseason to work out opinions for Week 1 but now we have a very short turnaround to work out if it’s time to re-evaluate off a very limited sample size.

Take a potential Super Bowl contender like Cincinnati for example, they are traditionally slow starters and it showed up in their loss to New England, but can they bounce back against the juggernaut Kansas City this week?

Meanwhile, Green Bay comes home from a loss in Brazil set to tackle the next few games with backup quarterback Malik Willis running the show.

Then there’s rookie quarterback Caleb Williams who was not great on debut but has plenty of room to improve when the Bears go on the road to take on Houston.

Find our previews and best bets for every NFL game this week here.

A few years ago, putting this game in any prime time slot would have been seen as a crime against nature, but now it’s an exciting AFC East matchup.

Despite it being Week 2, this is going to be an important game for both sides in the race for the playoffs given it’s tiebreaker implications and the chance not only for an early head to head and divisional win.

History is firmly in the Bills’ favour though, winning 11 of the last 12 and they look like a decent value play as outsiders.

Josh Allen is the true centrepiece of that offence, running for two scores last week as the Bills won, and he is a go-to option in the touchdown scorer market.

SGM: Buffalo to Win, Josh Allen 225+ Pass Yards & Anytime TD Scorer @ $4.08

If you are ever in doubt about the importance of the quarterback position, take a look at this market reflecting the injury to Jordan Love.

Had he been available, the Packers would have been favoured by at least a field goal, if not more in their home opener.

But he’s not and Malik Willis will get the call for the foreseeable future, which is not the most reassuring scenario for Green Bay.

He only arrived in town three weeks ago after a trade from Tennessee and it is unlikely he has complete command of the offence.

The Colts were good but not good enough in Week 1 and have the talent to come in and pick up an early season road victory with their big play ability.

Indianapolis to Cover -3 @ $1.90

One game is usually too soon to hit the panic button but Cleveland has to be more than a bit nervous about their quarterback situation with serious questions emerging about Deshaun Watson’s on field play… not to mention off field headlines.

They did next to nothing when they played Dallas on offence with Watson barely completing over 50% of his passes and throwing two picks while getting sacked six times.

Jacksonville might not have anyone on the level of Micah Parsons but the Jags are good enough to cause havoc on this dysfunctional Cleveland offence.

The Browns defence might be able to keep them in the game but I have a lot more faith in Trevor Lawrence to do the right thing in a clutch moment.

Jacksonville to Cover -6.5 @ $2.35

The only reason the Panthers have half a chance of keeping this close is that the Chargers are flying west to east for a very early game on their body clocks.

However Carolina was that bad last week against a New Orleans team that is no great shakes themselves that you have to back against them at all costs.

Look for the Chargers to force a couple of early turnovers, get to a lead and cruise home.

LA Chargers by 14+ @ $3.25

These teams might have the same record heading into Week 2 but they are in very different positions in terms of where their seasons are heading.

Baltimore gave their all against Kansas City, losing a close game that went down to the wire and showed that they will be competing for higher honours.

Meanwhile, Vegas really struggled against the Chargers and there were plenty of red flags about not only that roster but the overall makeup of that team.

I’m not expecting this one to be close at all as Baltimore makes a statement in their home opener.

Baltimore to Win by 14+ @ $2.55

New Orleans might be the ultimate Week 1 misdirect, having put up almost 50 points on the Carolina Panthers.

But the market is not buying into that performance, mostly because Carolina could be competing for the first overall pick (again).

Now they will face a team that is actually competitive in the Dallas Cowboys and with quarterback Dak Prescott now secured with a long term contract, the Cowboys should go into this game with plenty of confidence.

Micah Parsons had a strong game defensively and he should make life very tough on Saints quarterback Derek Carr no matter where he is rushing from.

This might not be a high scoring classic like we saw in the Drew Brees-Tony Romo era but all Dallas needs to do here is get the win and avoid any major calamities in the process.

Dallas to Win and Under 50.5 Points @ $2.10

The stat line might say that the Washington Commanders have lost eight of their last nine but all that really matters is last week’s outcome with the franchise embarking on a new era.

It’s fair to say that they never really got going in Tampa Bay, but they could not have received a softer opening than this week against the New York Giants.

No matter what your preferred social media platform is, the jokes about the Giants, in particular quarterback Daniel Jones have been flying in this week following a horrific Week 1 showing at home against Minnesota.

This is not going to be an overly pretty game, but for Washington, who are searching for signs of optimism with their rookie quarterback, anything will do here.

Washington to Win and Under 45.5 Points @ $3.05

Frustration will be at an all time high in both camps with the Titans and Jets suffering different but equally annoying defeats in Week 1.

After jumping out to an early lead in Chicago, the Titans quite literally threw the game away in the second half with the Bears defence and special teams doing all the damage.

For a team that unlikely to threaten much this season, that would have been a huge confidence boosting win to start the season off on a positive note.

Meanwhile the Jets, a side with Super Bowl aspirations, were run over by a McCaffrey-less San Francisco 49ers and did next to nothing of note on offence as Aaron Rodgers returned from a torn Achilles.

There will be points in this game, perhaps most scored by one side but the total looks to be way too low given the potential for touchdowns on just about every play, regardless on if the offence or defence scores them.

Over 40.5 Points @ $1.90

No matter what notes you want to attach to it, that Week 1 win in Cincinnati was a good one for the New England Patriots.

It did not answer the questions over the offensive line, or whether or not Jacoby Brissett is good enough to hold down the fort for longer than is absolutely necessary but it did show that they will be more competitive than last year.

But the market has this one right, they should not be favoured, even at home, over this Seattle team.

The Seahawks were good but not great first up, and you would expect them to take some notes on how to handle this Patriots team by avoiding the same mistakes the Bengals made.

Another win for New England and it might be a different story but for now I’m sticking to my preseason opinions and taking the better team.

Seattle to Cover -3.5 @ $1.94

While many do not believe it to be the case, two conflicting thoughts can both be true and that is exactly the case with the Minnesota Vikings following Week 1.

They played well enough to record a comfortable win over the dismal New York Giants and Sam Darnold showed that not all hope will be lost if he plays this season.

However it is also true that they are probably going to get their doors blown off by the San Francisco 49ers this weekend.

It’s a tough spot for the 49ers who are coming off a Monday night win at home before taking on a long flight, and their roster is a touch underdone following a disrupted preseason.

However all of that does not discount the fact the 49ers have a ridiculously good and deep roster that offsets that potential disadvantage.

San Francisco’s defence should make life very tough on Darnold and help steer the visitors to another victory.

San Francisco to Cover -6 @ $1.90

Perhaps Detroit’s first up victory over the LA Rams was a bit more stressful than it needed to be, but there was a lot to like about it.

Mostly with the game on the line, Dan Campbell just decided to do away with the finesse and opted to lean on his running game to batter the Rams defence into submission.

Now they will start as clear favourites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this could be a game that follows a similar script.

Tampa has the firepower to keep pace with Detroit and Baker Mayfield got his season off to a strong start throwing for four touchdowns in a win over the Commanders.

Chances are that will stop Detroit from running away with the game, literally and figuratively because you can hurt the Lions in the air.

But I’m not taking Detroit on, instead backing them to win a tight game looks like the way to go.

Detroit to Win by 1-13 @ $2.25

I don’t really like the idea of backing the Cardinals as favourites (for now) and I don’t exactly love the Rams until we get an answer on how the loss of Puka Nacua impacts that offence.

LA still has the talent on hand and creativity in the coaching staff to get the most out of the players that are healthy but it might not be enough against a good team.

Arizona looked like a good team in spurts last week but it’s hard to ignore the fact they kind of forgot about fourth overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr, only providing him with one catch.

Despite all of those foibles, they did still manage to put up four touchdowns on the Buffalo Bills last week so there is some cause for optimism with that offence’s future.

However they did also manage to blow a promising start, leading 17-3 early before getting run down.

This has all the makings of a game where there will be points and it is won by the team that messes up the least.

Rather than trying to force a selection from either team, the over looks like a much more palatable selection.

Over 49 Points @ $1.90

Despite being Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs have been given a tough pair of home games to kick off their quest for the three-peat.

There is no sugar coating just how poorly Cincinnati played last week in their loss to New England but one of the mitigating factors might be that they had one eye on this blockbuster showdown.

Whenever these two teams face off with Mahomes and Burrow at the helm it is always close and this one should be no different.

The Chiefs looked great in their win over Baltimore and seem to be playing with some real confidence that should get them over the line against a much more lively Bengals side than what we saw last week.

Kansas City to Win by 1-13 @ $2.25

There might be some real dysfunction on the offensive side of the ball with Pittsburgh, but thanks to their dominant defence they really don’t have to do a whole lot.

Justin Fields took the reigns to start the season with Russell Wilson injury and it looks like the former Bears man will make his second consecutive start after leading Pittsburgh to six field goals in Atlanta.

Given Denver’s offensive line was largely responsible for a pair of safeties and Bo Nix being under a fair bit of pressure against the Seahawks, the hopes are not high for their chances here.

There probably won’t be that many points scored here and even with the low total, the under looks like the way to go.

Under 36.5 Points @ $1.90

It’s a battle of the young quarterbacks to wrap up a busy Monday morning and this is a game that could go anywhere.

Houston is providing the blueprint for Chicago after CJ Stroud’s impressive rookie campaign, although Caleb Williams has a way to go based on his Week 1 performance.

The rookie has a dynamic playmaking ability that still need some refining while Stroud is already established as one of the better quarterbacks in this league.

Houston is the better side and given how much further along they are on the team development course, so while this game could go anywhere, I’m expecting an easy Texans win.

Houston to Cover -6 @ $1.90

The Eagles took care of business in Brazil in Week 1 and now they head home for another primetime game and to be totally honest, it’s a match they should win quite easily.

Saquon Barkley might be the signing of the season if we are jumping to conclusions following Week 1, with the former Giants playmaker running in three touchdowns.

Atlanta found themselves in a street fight with Pittsburgh last week and the fact they are playing a team with a competent offence this week does not bode well for them.

Kirk Cousins is still very much on the comeback trail and heading to Philadelphia at night could set the Falcons up for a very rough game.

Philadelphia to Win by 14+ @ $2.90

2023

Week 2 remains one of, if not the most difficult weeks of the NFL season to tip as plenty of teams have not lived up to preseason expectations, for better or worse.

It’s no different in season 2023 with all three AFC heavyweights in Kansas City, Cincinnati and Buffalo all staring down the barrel of an 0-2 start if they fall this weekend.

However no team had a bigger gut punch in Week 1 than the New York Jets whose Super Bowl aspirations were extinguished on their fourth offensive snap and they lost Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles.

It does not get any easier for them this week as they face the most impressive team from Week 1 in the Dallas Cowboys in one of the feature games.

We’ve got you covered with our previews and best bets for all 16 games below so read on and see who we are backing.

Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl last season really kick started in Week 2 with a dominating 24-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings to move to 2-0 and they will be hoping to follow a similar script here.

After barely escaping New England with a win last week (in a similar vein to a close win over Detroit in 2022), the Eagles ran riot on the Vikings secondary and based on how they struggled in Week 1, we could see a big passing day for Jalen Hurts.

Against New England, Hurts was efficient but not spectacular, however the Vikings defence is not as good as the Patriots and we should see him open up a bit more, especially if his hesitancy to run carries over from Week 1.

Mike Evans was the main man for the Bucs and I like AJ Brown to produce a similar stat line here so I’ll be backing the Eagles to win on the back of the Hurts to Brown.

SGM: Philadelphia to Win, Jalen Hurts 250+ Passing Yards & AJ Brown Anytime TD Scorer @ $4.22

One of the surprise winners of Week 1 opens up their home schedule with a great chance to go 2-0.

Tampa is not exactly looking like a powerhouse, but they should be able to handle what looks to be a pretty average Chicago team.

They did give up 150 yards to Justin Jefferson last week but the good news for the Bucs secondary is that Chicago doesn’t have a receiver anywhere close to his level and their strength lies in their ground game.

The Bears just weren’t that good against the Packers and I’m happy to take them on in this game.

Tampa Bay to Cover -2.5 @ $1.83

Cincinnati might have been able to dig themselves out of an 0-2 hole last season, but they would love to avoid having to repeat that feat in 2023.

They head into this divisional game with Baltimore as favourites even after the Ravens handled the Texans in spite of an error riddled performance.

Lamar Jackson didn’t exactly light it up as he was sacked four times and only threw for 169 yards with an interception.

Joe Burrow also failed to live up to his new contract with just 82 yards passing as the Bengals were never really in that game.

However he has a much better history against the Ravens and Jackson should have more opportunities to throw in this game as well, which has me thinking we’re going to see a few more points.

I’m not quite sure which team I want to back in this game as it really could go either way but both teams seem destined for at least 20 points so I’ll take the overs and sit on the fence as for the winner.

Over 46 Points @ $1.90

Green Bay was one of the more surprising teams in Week 1 (in a good way) as they dismantled the Chicago Bears, however this is going to provide a lot of context to that performance against a team they haven’t owned for a long time.

Atlanta was solid but unimpressive getting by a Panthers team starting a rookie quarterback on debut but Desmond Ridder did not exactly inspire a lot of confidence.

The big surprise for the Falcons was Tyler Allgeier getting more touches than Bijan Robinson although both backs found the end zone saving more than a few anytime touchdown bets.

Green Bay might be without their lead back in Aaron Jones who pulled up with a hamstring injury in the win over the Bears but if Jordan Love can replicate his performance, it won’t matter too much who is in the back field.

I just can’t see the Falcons sticking with the Packers once that passing game gets going.

Green Bay to Cover -1 @ $1.90

If this is not the game with the youngest combined age of the two starting quarterbacks it’s going to be pretty damn close.

CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson are only 21 years old each and will be making their second starts here.

Both are leading developmental offences with a lot of room to grow but that doesn’t bode well for the short term production.

This game is one of half a dozen this week with a total below 40 but frankly I’ll be stunned if either team is able to reach 20 points.

History is pointing towards a low scoring grind as well with five of the last seven meetings in Houston having 40 or fewer points including last year’s Week 1 tie.

Under 39 Points @ $1.90

This is a sneaky big game to have in the stupidly early kickoff window, but it will be one well worth setting the alarm for.

Jacksonville gave Kansas City all they could handle in the Divisional Round last year (albeit with Patrick Mahomes on one leg for most of the game) but they are a team on the rise and they will really like their chances of moving to 2-0 at home.

That confidence will only have been boosted by the efforts of the Chiefs in Week 1, putting in a well below par performance as they lost to Detroit in the kickoff game.

Admittedly their offence looked disjointed because star tight end Travis Kelce was a late out with a knee injury and the receivers decided that dropping the ball was more fun than doing their job and catching it.

Andy Reid has a great record with a rest advantage and he’s had 10 days to prepare a gameplan to cover for the absence of Kelce and at least one of the receivers is going to have a better game this time around.

There’s plenty of reason to like both teams to put up some points here and even though the total is one of the higher ones this weekend, I still like the overs as the Jags look to put the foot down and turn this into a shootout.

Over 51 Points @ $1.90

Two 0-1 teams with polar opposite identities face off and it will be interesting to see which side gets to dictate the terms of play.

Tennessee should be able to do that at home with a physical defence and heavy reliance on their ground game.

LA will be happy to open things up and turn it into another shootout like they were involved in last week against Miami.

Their 34 points would have been enough to outscore everyone in the NFL except for Dallas, Green Bay and annoyingly for them, the Dolphins.

If it goes the way of the Chargers, the Titans will be in trouble because there were more than a few troubling signs from Ryan Tannehill and the passing game in their loss to the Saints.

What swings this game in favour of the visitors though is their ability to play both ways and if this does turn into a ground heavy game, they are more than happy to rely on Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelly to lead the way.

LA Chargers to Cover -3 @ $1.94

Days after their Week 1 loss in New Jersey, it still beggars belief that the Bills could have a 13-3 lead over a team that lost their starting quarterback to an Achilles injury and find a way to lose on a walk off, overtime punt return.

Josh Allen looks like an all world quarterback when he’s on, but the number of times he costs the Bills games with stupid mistakes (like his four turnovers against the Jets) does hold the team back.

Las Vegas didn’t do anything overly spectacular on either side of the ball in their win over Denver but it was enough to suggest this team is going to be a problem for opponents early on.

They have the pass rush to get after Josh Allen and limit his scrambling ability and keep the Bills from getting on a roll offensively and an efficient offence that should limit mistakes.

On top of that, I just can’t see the Bills suddenly turning things around and covering one of the bigger lines of the week.

The Bills should win this but I don’t have any confidence in a significantly improved performance.

Las Vegas to Cover +9.5 @ $1.90

If you’ve backed the Seahawks to have a good season, there is a very good reason to stay on the bandwagon at least through Week 2.

Sean McVay has a great record against Pete Carroll and just seems to know how to get after the Seahawks which does provide some context to their 30-13 loss.

No context is needed for the Lions win though, it was a victory that came more through grit and determination rather than style, but they would have blown that game more often than not over the last 50 years.

Seattle is going to be much better than their effort last week but coming across country and beating a surging Lions team might be asking a bit much of them here.

They’ll be able to keep it close, in part because Detroit isn’t quite at the level where they can dominate an opponent for all 4 quarters but the home team will find a way to come up with a win.

Detroit to Win by 1-13 @ $2.30

It turns out that when you welcome back your healthy Super Bowl winning quarterback, your star defensive tackle looks rejuvenated and your head coach goes up against his bunny, it sets up for an encouraging result.

At least that’s what it was for the LA Rams last week as they roasted Seattle to pick up a first up win.

Unfortunately for them, Week 2 does not offer up the perfect setup with the 49ers dominating this rivalry and are coming off a 30-7 waxing of what many thought would be a half-decent Steelers team.

The 49ers have won the last eight regular season meetings between these teams and have handed the Rams some of their biggest defeats.

When Kyle Shanahan has his triplets fully healthy, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Chrisitan McCaffrey are damn near impossible to stop.

Even playing at SoFi isn’t going to give the Rams the help they need and I’ll happily jump on the 49ers to give LA a reality check.

San Francisco to Cover -8 @ $1.90

Arizona is not a good team but at least they showed some fight in their loss to Washington.

New York showed absolutely no fight as they were pantsed by Dallas on the prime time stage.

The Giants are definitely better than what we saw in that game but they have to be able to play from in front to have a chance, even if it means keeping the score down.

Neither team really offers up a whole lot of offensive potential and the unders looks to be the way to go.

Under 39.5 Points @ $1.94

Dallas was the big winner of Week 1, absolutely waxing the New York Giants and holding them to a shutout to top it all off.

The Jets suffered the biggest loss of Week 1 and it came after four offensive snaps when Aaron Rodgers Achilles exploded.

Their Super Bowl odds blew out from $14 prior to their opening game to $26 which is largely a testament to a roster still packed with difference makers everywhere but the quarterback position.

Where this game swings firmly in favour of the Cowboys though is their defence is much better than the Bills, and are more than capable of causing plenty of mistakes across the board.

When their opponents make those mistakes, they have the playmakers to really punish them and this could get out of control early.

Dallas to Win by 14+ @ $2.45

It was an almost good start to the Sean Payton era in Denver, just falling to the Raiders but they have a very winnable second up assignment against the Washington Commanders.

Washington needed every last second of the game to get by a very poor Arizona team and the signs were not good in terms of the team being contenders in 2023.

Denver is very much a work in progress that probably won’t blow out many teams, but they can stifle the Commanders offence and squeak out a win at home.

Denver to Win by 1-13 @ $2.15

Monday’s action concludes with another game between teams with very different identities, as the Patriots will try to slow down the hyperactive Dolphins.

Containing Miami’s athleticism is going to be an issue for every team this season, at least when Tua Tagovailoa is healthy and he is coming off a career day against the Chargers.

New England just doesn’t have the game-breaking ability to match the Dolphins when they get going and while the Patriots still have Bill Belichick dialling up defences, it’s not going to be enough to completely slow the Dolphins down.

Miami has dominated this rivalry of late winning four of the last five games, although they did only break 30 points on one occasion.

This is likely to go down to the wire again but you have to side with the team that has more talent.

Miami to Win by 1-13 @ $2.30

It’s tough to get a read on what exactly the Saints are off their Week 1 game given the opponent, but history is not on their side when it comes to facing the Panthers.

Despite their uneven form over the last few seasons, the Panthers have won at home the last two times they have faced off, both of which came early in the season.

While Bryce Young did not set the world on fire in his NFL debut, he is going to win a game at some point and Frank Reich is going to find ways to put him in position to succeed.

I like the Panthers as a home underdog to record the first win of Young’s NFL career, the Saints have been very inconsistent and I can’t see them scoring enough points to put this game away.

Carolina to Win @ $2.35

Let’s keep riding the Cleveland Browns after their very impressive first up win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Or you can frame this as taking on the Steelers after their no-show to start the season, whichever angle you want to take, the Browns look like a great value bet.

It was enough to give the Dawg Pound hope that they might have a capable and competitive team on their hands, especially with Nick Chubb leading the way with 106 yards on the ground.

Conversely, Pittsburgh might have been belted by the best team in the league right now but those sorts of losses do linger, especially with their inability to contain the 49ers playmakers.

Chubb will have been frothing at the mouth after seeing the stat line Christian McCaffrey put up and the Browns look ready to move to 2-0.

Cleveland to Cover -2.5 @ $1.90

2022

Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season has a lot to live up to after a drama filled Week 1.

It gets underway at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday morning (AEST) with an AFC West clash that has the potential to go down to the wire before another big Monday of action.

Then we have a Tuesday double header with contenders from both conferences looking to establish their credentials.

Check out our previews and best bets for all 16 NFL Week 2 games below!

It’s a massive game to kick start Week 2 and we’re going with a big SGM that will hopefully live up to the hype surrounding this AFC West battle.

Kansas City went to Arizona and crushed the Cardinals in Week 1 while the Chargers harassed and harangued the Raiders to pick up a season opening victory of their own.

Perhaps the best part of this matchup is the forecast quarterback duel between Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, two guys who were near the top of the MVP markets heading into the season.

Last year across two games, the signal callers combined for 1187 yards and 12 touchdowns as they both won in their opponent’s building.

What swings this game to the Chiefs favour here though is the fact LA will be without Keenan Allen on offence and most likely JC Jackson on defence.

Herbert is good enough to cover for that absence and keep the Chargers in the game but I’ll take the Chiefs in a shootout with both quarterbacks registering three touchdowns apiece.

SGM: Chiefs to Win, Over 54 Points, Mahomes & Herbert 3+ TD Passes @ $11.75

Give the Giants plenty of credit, they overcame plenty of (self-inflicted) trouble to come away with a huge win over the Titans last week.

There’s no telling how much confidence they will take from Brian Daboll’s brave call to go for the game winning two point conversion but it should be enough to get them by this Panthers team.

It’s a battle of the returning running backs as Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey face off and if Week 1 is anything to go by, Barkley is looking a lot better than his Carolina counterpart.

He tallied 194 total yards from scrimmage, a touchdown and the game winning conversion and I’ll back him to carry the home side to a win.

Back the Giants to Cover -2 @ $1.90

It was the site of one of the more spectacular choke jobs in NFL history last season, the Colts just had to travel to Jacksonville in Week 18 and beat a Jaguars side that had already secured the first overall draft pick.

Instead there was an all time meltdown and the Colts blew the game and a seemingly surefire playoff berth.

Based on Week 1 in Houston, the Colts might not be completely over that one, stumbling to an ugly tie.

If you really wanted to, you could talk yourself into a Jaguars upset win at home but at some point, the Colts have to correct the course and find a way to win.

It might not be pretty but they should be able to come away with a win.

Back Indianapolis to Cover -4 @ $1.90

Baltimore took care of business against the Jets in Week 1 but still has some questions to answer.

Miami got the win over New England but a closer examination of that game shows a performance that would not have alleviated any concerns about the long term viability of the Dolphins and their quarterback situation.

It was a game they could have easily won by 30 if not for some horrendous calls by coach Mike McDaniel and panicking throws by Tua, decisions which could come back to haunt them against a much tougher Ravens team.

This line looks a couple of points too low and the Ravens should be favoured by closer to a touchdown, so its a fairly straightforward pick.

SGM: Baltimore to Cover -3.5 & Lamar Jackson 2+ TD Passes @ $3.18

If we travel back in time to about 2016 then this line would make a lot of sense, but otherwise it is hard to justify how New England is favoured in Pittsburgh.

The Patriots made a few more mistakes in Miami in one of the least watchable games of Week 1 and with Mac Jones battling a back injury, it’s a bad sign for their already sputtering offence.

Even with the Steelers missing TJ Watt, the Steelers still have the playmakers on defence to stifle the Pats when the visitors have possession and Minkah Fitzpatrick seems odds on for at least one turnover.

That will make life a lot easier on Mitch Trubisky, especially given running back Najee Harris has made it clear he is expecting to play.

Pittsburgh to win might be the value play of Week 2 and it’s one to jump on.

Back Pittsburgh to Win @ $2.10

In terms of an opening to the season, the Browns might have had a couple of favours thrown their way with the hapless duo of the Panthers and Jets first up.

Admittedly they barely survived the trip to Carolina but the Jets in Cleveland is a different story.

All the Browns have to do here is just not screw up which is easier said than done for the most part.

Taking them to cover a touchdown is a big ask but you just have to remember the three simple words that should allay most if not all of the concerns: it’s the Jets.

Back Cleveland to Cover -6.5 @ $1.90

It’s a real shame that this game is buried in the early window because there is a chance it could be the best of the day based on the history between these sides.

Since Tom Brady came to Tampa Bay, he is yet to win a regular season game against New Orleans, going 0-4 and has been held without a touchdown twice.

His offensive line is beaten up and depleted which is not what you want against a hungry Saints defence that can generate plenty of pressure on opposing passers.

Conversely, the Saints offence is good enough with Jameis Winston calling the shots, even if he is prone to an ugly turnover or two.

It’s not often I will back against Tom Brady but I’ll take the Saints here.

Back New Orleans to Win @ $2.20

It’s a battle of two sides that might not be that good, but will scratch and claw their way through four quarters most weeks.

Overall the line for this looks about right with Detroit slightly favoured at home, and it seems like we’re headed for a close finish that will get plenty of air time on NFL Red Zone’s witching hour.

Despite going 3-14-1 head to head since the start of the 2021 season, the Lions are actually a solid 11-7 against the spread which has to be some sort of endorsement of the coaching of Dan Campbell.

Take Detroit to get the win and not by much.

Back Detroit by 1-13 @ $2.50

We’ll learn a fair bit about the Rams this weekend when they take on a Falcons side as the biggest favourites of Week 2 at the time of writing.

On paper this is no contest but Atlanta showed a bit of fight in a divisional battle last week, while the Rams were unbelievably poor against a ruthless Bills side in the season opener.

Perhaps that will serve as a wake up call and Sean McVay will find a way to get his team back on track.

After all, the Falcons gave up over 200 yards on the ground last weekend so the Rams can turn to the likes of Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson to run over the Atlanta defence.

Defensively the Rams are still working a few things out which should allow the Falcons to score some points but not enough to get in striking distance of a Rams team that is primed for a response.

Back LA Rams to Cover -10.5 and Over 46.5 Points @ $3.50

It was hard not to be impressed by the Seahawks in Week 1, stunning the Denver Broncos who were lead by their former franchise icon Russell Wilson.

But that win did lead to a few big questions heading into Week 2, most notably over whether or not the Seahawks can play with that level of intensity every week.

San Francisco did not look good in their loss to the Bears but that could be excused by the rain bomb that fell on Soldier Field during that contest.

Perhaps the 49ers will get things back on track but even taking the weather into consideration, Trey Lance did not look all that comfortable and running back Elijah Mitchell will miss this game with an injury.

San Francisco has the playmakers to get them over the line but taking them with anything more than a straight up win is asking a bit much of the punters.

SGM: San Francisco to Win and Under 41.5 Points @ $2.38

Both of these teams went into Week 1 with high hopes and were brought back to earth in stunning fashion.

The Raiders could not keep the Chargers pass rush at bay while Arizona had no answers for Patrick Mahomes as both teams seek to get on track in Week 2.

Falling into an 0-2 hole is something neither team can afford in stacked divisions but it’s tough to back against the Raiders here.

After all, Arizona’s defence struggled to generate any pressure on Mahomes and if they can’t get after Derrick Carr, they’ll get picked apart.

Back Las Vegas to Cover -5.5 @ $1.90

What a game this could have been… if not for Dallas’s worst case scenario unfolding in Week 1 with an ugly loss to Tampa Bay and Dak Prescott being lost for at least a month with an injury.

It wasn’t great for Cincinnati either, suffering a turnover filled defeat at home to Pittsburgh but they at least have the playmakers to make some quick course corrections.

First and foremost they will have to find a way to keep Micah Parsons away from Joe Burrow and should they do that they’ll be able to comfortably win this one as Dallas finds its footing with a new quarterback.

Back Cincinnati to Cover -7.5 @ $1.94

Russell Wilson’s first home start in Denver Broncos colours will hopefully go a bit better than his return to Seattle where he just couldn’t get the job done.

Despite throwing for 340 yards on the Seahawks porous secondary, he could only muster 16 total points in that game.

Houston will be a tough out at times but this Texans side doesn’t have the talent to travel to places like Denver and compete at an elite level.

Especially if Denver opts for a bit more offensive balance and tries to get their running game going to make things a bit less predictable.

Back Denver to Cover -10 @ $1.90

Green Bay was another team whose Week 1 performance could only be described by a synonym for ugly as they stumbled to a defeat in Minnesota.

Working in their favour is the fact they return home to take on a Chicago side they have owned in recent years.

They have won their last six games against the Bears and 11 of their last 12, averaging 36 points per game over the last two seasons as well.

This offence will run through it’s duo of running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon who I’ll back to both find the end zone in a comfortable Packers win.

SGM: Green Bay to Cover -10, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon Anytime TD Scorer @ $4.78

Tennessee is much better than their first up loss to the Giants, but they will have to play a much cleaner game against the most impressive team in Week 1, the Buffalo Bills.

Highmark Stadium is going to be going off with the Bills the Super Bowl favourite and Josh Allen playing like an MVP candidate.

His favourite target Stefon Diggs should be in for a field day on the Titans secondary and I’ve got a SGM which I’m very confident in as the Bills further cement their status as the team to beat.

SGM: Buffalo to Cover -10.5, Over 48 Points and Stefon Diggs Anytime TD Scorer @ $4.81

Get ready for some fireworks in the city of brotherly love with Philadelphia and Minnesota set to engage in a shootout.

The Eagles put up 38 points against Detroit and almost let them back into it at the end of the game, while Minnesota has Justin Jefferson who is aiming to be considered the best receiver in the NFL by the end of the season.

Based on his opening performance of the season, he probably will be.

It’s a game that really could go either way but it does seem destined to be decided by the team that scores last so I’ll take the over.

Back Over 50.5 Points @ $1.90

2021

As tough as the opening week of the NFL season can be to predict, Week 2 is an even tougher prospect as punters face the dilemma of following their preseason opinions or overreact to Week 1.

Not to mention having three days to prepare for this weekend as opposed to the four month build up to the season beginning.

While Washington and New York is not the most exciting way to kick start the weekend, it should be a fascinating clash from a betting perspective with Taylor Heinicke filling in for the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Several surprise winners such as the Houston Texans will be out to prove it was not a fluke and there will be plenty of teams looking to avoid starting the season in an 0-2 hole, like the Cleveland Browns.

Those two will face off in the very early window Monday morning but the best of the day is saved until last when the Baltimore Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

We’ve got our previews and predictions for all 16 games right here!

The rumours are swirling and this could be a great test on whether or not Joe Judge really has lost the New York Giants.

After getting run out of their own stadium by the Denver Broncos (that 27-13 final score was generous to say the least), they head to division rivals Washington looking to avoid an 0-2 start.

For most teams losing their starting quarterback would be a huge blow but for Washington, having to turn to Taylor Heinicke is not the worst outcome for them.

He is a capable part-time starter and he won’t have to do too much beyond handing the ball to Antonio Gibson as much as the game will allow him to.

Gibson would have seen Melvin Gordon rip off a 70 yard touchdown against the Giants and be thinking that is the bare minimum for him here.

I’ll back Gibson to run the Football Team to victory and even out their record at 1-1.

SGM: Washington -3.5, Antonio Gibson Anytime TD Scorer, Gibson 70+ Rush Yards @ $3.75

The expectation for this game was that one team would be out to atone for a first up loss while another would be hoping to build on its perfect start.

Admittedly most assumed that Buffalo would be the one that is coming off a win and the Dolphins would be trying to avoid an 0-2 hole.

We saw Miami’s path to victory in the early stages this season last week, and they will be hoping that they can force the Bills into some mistakes that prevent their high flying offence can’t get going.

Should the Bills avoid turnovers and penalties, they should have no problems brushing aside a Miami team they have won their last five against.

Even in the steamy Florida heat, the Bills don’t look like a team that will melt under the pressure of their 0-1 start and I’ll back them to get off to a fast start and take the life out of Miami early.

Back Buffalo HT/FT @ $2.10

Chicago’s defensive line should be salivating at the prospect of facing off against this Bengals offensive line.

It is probably going to be what stops Joe Burrow from being a truly elite long term quarterback in the NFL but in spite of getting sacked five times against the Vikings, he had a great day in his return from a major knee injury.

Even when he was running for his life, he was able to combine with Joe Mixon to guide the Bengals to a first up victory.

While neither side possesses a complete roster, I love the value on the Bengals as the underdog.

In a quarterback duel I have to back Burrow over Dalton.

Back the Bengals to Win @ $2.25

Based on first impressions at least, the Trevor Lawrence era is going to be the same as the Gardner Minshew era, the Mike Glennon era and so forth.

He is most likely going to be in for a very rough afternoon in his home debut when Denver comes to town, the Broncos are a much better team and a six point handicap is far too small.

With the roster as it is currently constructed, he just doesn’t have the right level of support, especially compared to what is surrounding Teddy Bridgewater.

It is tempting to back the Broncos by 14+ in the margin market but keeping the line at less than a touchdown is some decent insurance against a Lawrence garbage time rally.

Back Denver to Cover -6 @ $1.90

It’s a familiar position for the Cleveland Browns, sitting at 0-1 for the 17^th consecutive season but all signs are pointing to them rebounding against the 1-0 Texans.

There is not a lot of reason to abandon your preseason expectations regarding Houston, they beat up a bad team and Cleveland is a much tougher opponent, hence the huge line in favour of the home team.

Perhaps the one change you might have to make regarding Houston, is the fact that their offence might not be completely hopeless which brings the over into play as well.

As we saw last week the Browns defence is far from bulletproof and Tyrod Taylor should be able to get the Texans up and down the field a few times but not enough to match the Browns offence.

Expect the Browns to get into the 30’s while Houston hovers around 20 points in this one.

Back Cleveland to Cover -11.5 & Over 48.5 @ $3.60

Let’s just keep this one nice and simple, if the Colts secondary plays the same way it did against Seattle last week, Matthew Stafford might throw for 400 yards.

Russell Wilson efficiently carved them up and you just know Sean McVay will have a creative way to attack their coverages.

Unfortunately for the Colts they can’t sell out to stop the pass which leaves them in a major dilemma.

It should open up plenty of rushing lanes for Darrell Henderson to have a big day as the Rams move to 2-0.

SGM: Rams -3.5, Darrell Henderson 50+ Rushing Yards & Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $4.61

This is an awful spot for the Raiders, even though they are coming into this game at 1-0.

After going to overtime on Monday Night Football at home against Baltimore in a draining game, they have to pack up their bags and fly to Pittsburgh for an early kickoff.

On the plus side, they may only need to score 20 points to win this game with the Steelers happy to ride their defence by the looks of things.

Taking all of the other factors into account, this really is a game that could go either way but I am confident taking a low scoring game.

Back Under 47 Points @ $1.90

Perhaps I am giving the Patriots too much benefit of the doubt, but surely they will not fumble and penalise away this game against the Jets.

It will be a different test for rookie Mac Jones as he goes on the road for the first time as an NFL starter but the Jets are not exactly the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

This one will not be an all time classic, in fact it would not be a surprise to see both teams finish below 20 points but I have to back New England here.

It’s still Bill Belichick running the show and you just know he will be hammering his team to clean up their performance this week.

Back New England to Cover -6 @ $1.94

Well how about those Saints?

While some may have picked them to get by the Packers in Week 1, few would have expected a 38-3 beatdown of one of the NFC’s premier teams over the last two years.

Bizarrely enough, New Orleans has won its last four games at Bank of America Stadium, and have won three of them by at least 20 points.

Admittedly the last two came in Week 17 dead rubbers so that record does need a bit of an asterisk, and I’ll back a slightly closer contest than the 33-7 beatdown we saw in January.

Carolina might not quite have the same level of talent as New Orleans but they are scrappy and know how to play the Saints close.

The visitors might still get the job done but it won’t be a blowout.

Back New Orleans by 1-13 @ $2.50

If there is one positive to take from San Francisco’s near collapse in Detroit, it’s that it kept the line for this game at a relatively small number.

They will need to show significantly more guile and ruthlessness in Philadelphia this week after the Eagles surprised everyone winning first up in Atlanta.

The 49ers looked good for three quarters moving the ball at will, and the Eagles had no dramas throwing on the Falcons secondary either.

That projects to a high scoring game here given the injuries Kyle Shanahan is dealing with in his defensive backfield.

It will require some creativity on offence as they have to try and outscore Philadelphia but I am happy to back them at such a small line.

Back San Francisco -3.5 & Over 50.5 @ $3.70

After a total no-show in Week 1, this is not what Atlanta would have been hoping for as a follow up act.

Their worst fears over their defence turned out to be justified as Jalen Hurts shredded their secondary and up next is Tom Brady, fresh off a 379 yard, four touchdown performance.

Tampa’s secondary did not cover itself in glory and Atlanta should be able to generate a bit more offence but not enough to keep themselves in the game.

I’ll back the Bucs to record a big win on the back of a big day in the air by Brady.

SGM: Tampa -13, Tom Brady 300+ Pass Yards & 3+ Pass Touchdowns @ $3.13

Arizona was the surprise team of Week 1 and they will be out to prove it was not a fluke against the Vikings at home.

Perhaps there is a little bit of scepticism about whether or not that was a one week explosion but there was a lot to like about the whole team performance.

You get the feeling Minnesota will be a bit more effective slowing down Chandler Jones than the Titans were but he will still find ways to make life tough for Kirk Cousins.

Minnesota went down to Cincinnati and had no answer for the Bengals offence which is not encouraging considering the step up in talent to Arizona.

This line looks way too small and the Cardinals should be able to cover in fairly comfortable fashion.

Back Arizona to Cover -3.5 @ $1.90

Dallas won plenty of admirers with their gallant performance in defeat in Tampa on opening night but they are in a bad spot against the Chargers here.

A leaky secondary is going to get exposed thanks to an injury crisis up front, which should lead to a big day for Justin Herbert.

Star pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot in practice during the week and his partner in crime Randy Gregory is unlikely to be cleared to return off the Covid list in time for kickoff.

Dak Prescott will need to repeat his heroics from Week 1 to keep them in this game which seems like a big ask and I’ll back the home side to record a win and cover to move to 2-0.

Back LA Chargers to Cover -3.5 @ $1.94

There is no points total high enough for me to not back the over in this game (well maybe something in the 70’s).

Seattle is back in its usual September form with Russell Wilson slicing the Colts defence last week and looking dangerous early in the season.

Tennessee is bound to bounce back against a defence that should be a lot better than it actually is as their high powered offence stalled out of the gate.

The potential for a Titans bounce back makes them a very tempting bet at their current price ($2.90) but instead I’ll play it a bit safer and back the shootout.

Back Over 54 Points @ $1.90

When healthy, there is no safe lead against the Kansas City Chiefs.

They might not always blow teams out and will not always be the safest line bet but you can usually throw them in a multi with some confidence.

Baltimore returns home after a gut wrenching loss to Vegas and will be staring down the barrel of an 0-2 start.

In the three battles between Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City has won all of them but the Ravens have caused them plenty of stress, taking them to overtime in 2018.

Last year the Ravens were undone by some Mahomes magic in the second quarter to fall 34-20.

I’m expecting this one to return to the familiar pattern of two good teams trading blows for four quarters before the Chiefs find a way to produce a win.

It’s worth throwing the under in as well with the potential for some long, time consuming drives from the Ravens.

SGM: Chiefs by 1-13 & Under 55 Points @ $4.24

Despite the very different fortunes of these two franchises, they have a tendency to play hard fought, close contests.

Four of the last six, including the last two in Detroit, have been decided by a single score and this one should be no different.

Green Bay should be much more ready to play after last week’s wake up call while Detroit will be buzzing over their fast (but ultimately futile) ending to last week’s game.

Even if the Packers fly out of the blocks, Detroit will battle for all four quarters and find a way back into this game.

I won’t back a Lions upset but I will take them to at least keep it close and earn another “moral victory” here.

Back Green Bay by 1-13 @ $2.40

2020

The opening week of the season served up a generous portion of upsets as only 10 of the 16 favourites managed to walk away with a win.

Looking ahead to Week 2, it appears punters have a few more tough decisions on their hands with six divisional games and a Sunday Night Super Bowl rematch to look forward to.

It might not be the most exciting game on paper, but the Bengals and Browns could turn into a thriller with No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow searching for his first win of the season on Friday.

Monday’s early slot features another NFC North showdown between the Lions and Packers from Lambeau Field, followed by a battle between Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson in a Ravens v Texans blockbuster.

Seattle hosts New England in the primetime slot, followed by the Raiders unveiling of their new stadium on Tuesday against the Saints.

After nailing nine of our tips last week, we’ve previewed every single game in our 2020 NFL Week 2 Preview below!

The Battle of Ohio headlines Thursday Night Football this week as the Bengals and Browns both hope to bounce back from Week 1 defeats.

Cincinnati showed plenty of promise last week against the Chargers and were unlucky not to tie the game on Randy Bullock’s late field goal with only seconds remaining.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, things weren’t quite so close between the Browns and Ravens.

Cleveland surrendered 24 points in the first half on their way to a lacklustre 38-6 defeat in Kevin Stefanski’s first game as head coach.

The Browns secondary was torched by Lamar Jackson and Marquise Brown, while Alex Van Pelt’s offence turned the ball over three times.

Cincinnati famously earned their second win in the final game of the season against the Browns last year, and it’s safe to say the Bengals are well and truly a live chance based on last week’s performance.

While Joe Burrow failed to throw a touchdown on debut, he did show plenty of poise leading his team down the field to set up a potential game-tying field goal.

A.J. Green, C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Boyd all combined for 13 receptions against the Chargers – an encouraging sign for the Bengals against what is a very questionable Browns defence.

Cincinnati has covered in four of their last five away games against the Browns, so don’t be surprised if they give this a good shake.

Tip: Back the Bengals to Cover the Line (+6 Points) @ $1.90

The Jaguars ruined a handful of multis last week as they pulled off one of the early upsets of the season against the Colts.

It wasn’t pretty by any stretch, but Jacksonville’s defence deserves credit for not only forcing two turnovers, but also holding one of the league’s top running back committee’s to only 88 yards on the ground.

Speaking of unflattering performances, the Titans survived by the skin of their teeth in a 16-14 win over the Broncos on Monday Night Football.

To be fair, Tennessee would have won by more if Stephen Gostkowski managed to kick straight, but the veteran did manage to nail the game-winner with only seconds remaining to send the Titans to 1-0.

Overall, Mike Vrabel’s team appears much the same as they did last year.

Ryan Tannehill is still capable of making plays in the red zone, but it’s obvious the Titans feel comfortable playing through Derrick Henry, and really, who can blame them?

Defensively the Titans are also hard to fault.

They forced four fumbles against Denver and also held the Broncos to just three third down conversions.

Beating the Colts is one thing, but this is an entirely different test for the Jags.

Jacksonville hasn’t won in Tennessee since 2013, so go ahead and take the Titans to win big.

Tip: Back the Titans to Cover the Line (-9 Points) @ $1.94

The Packers prepare for their second NFC North tilt after manhandling the Vikings in Minnesota last week.

It will be a strange sight to see Lambeau Field empty in Green Bay’s home-opener, but fans at home can feel pretty confident following a 300-yard, four touchdown performance from Aaron Rodgers to begin the season.

The Lions, meanwhile, have spent most of the week wondering what went wrong.

Detroit held a 23-6 lead over the Bears heading into the fourth quarter before allowing three unanswered touchdowns in a heart-breaking 27-23 loss.

The Packers are being favoured by just under a touchdown here, but they may wind up winning by more if Rodgers and Davante Adams can link up for something close to 14 receptions again.

Rodgers looked like his old self last week as the Packers dialled up plenty of play-action and deep vertical routes to catch the Vikings off guard, which spells disaster for a Detroit secondary that looks questionable at best.

The Packers famously won both games over the Lions on last-minute field goals last year after trailing for all four quarters.

With a 10-2 record in their last 12 home games against Detroit, you have to side with Green Bay’s red-hot offence.

Tip: Back the Packers 1-13 @ $2.15

The Rams can improve to 2-0 this week with a victory against another NFC East foe.

Los Angeles were far and away one of the most impressive sides to emerge from Week 1 after defeating the Cowboys 20-17 in their lavish new stadium.

The Rams will hit the road this week to face the Eagles, one of the many sides to blow a comfortable lead in their season opener.

Philly held a 17-7 lead over Washington at half time before suffering the biggest upset of the early season in a 27-17 defeat.

The Eagles turned the ball over three times against Washington, two of which came off the arm of Carson Wentz.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, wreaked havoc against Dak Prescott as the Rams finished with three sacks and only three third down conversions (from 12 attempts) allowed.

The Eagles have won each of their last five games against the Rams dating back to 2008, but it’s difficult to back this side with much confidence after Washington’s defensive line made life almost impossible for Wentz last week.

The Rams’ pass rush looked almost as scary as it did back in 2018, so it’s worth taking LA outright here at a very generous price.

Tip: Back the Rams to Win @ $1.85

The Bears have opened the season 1-0 for the first time since 2013 following a come-from-behind victory over the Lions last week.

Three fourth quarter touchdown passes from Mitch Trubisky helped Chicago over the line, although a last second drop from Detroit’s rookie running back D’Andre Swift in the end zone certainly helped matters.

The Giants, on the other hand, have opened the season 0-1 following a very forgettable performance against the Steelers.

Daniel Jones threw two picks and spent most of his night under pressure, while the defence struggled to cope against the returning Ben Roethlisberger and his favourite target, JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Bears are being favoured heavily in the market to remain undefeated, and it’s difficult to disagree based on the Giants’ struggles against the pass rush last week.

Chicago’s defence forced a crucial interception on Matthew Stafford late in the fourth quarter that ultimately led to the game-winning touchdown, a worrying sign for fans of Big Blue.

Jones made some interesting choices with the football against the Steelers that cost him dearly, so when you also consider the Giants also haven’t won at Soldier Field since 2007, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to watch them struggle for points.

Tip: Giants Under 18 Points @ $1.92

All eyes will be on the Niners this week as they look to avoid what many are starting to label a Super Bowl hangover.

Jimmy Garoppolo was sacked three times and threw two picks in last week’s loss to the Cardinals, a game that certainly caught the eye of many as far as the NFC West playoff picture is concerned.

The Jets are also looking to bounce-back after falling 27-17 to the Bills in Buffalo.

Sam Darnold did well to keep his side in the game during the second half, but things are about to get even tougher this week with star running back Le’Veon Bell ruled out for the next three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Niners haven’t faced the Jets in New York since 2012, a game they won 34-0.

It’s difficult to predict a similar scoreline this time around, but this does shape up as a perfect opportunity for Garoppolo to shake the monkey off his back,.

The Jets allowed 318 yards through the air last week to Josh Allen – a quarterback that isn’t well-known for his accuracy.

With a 3-1 record in their last four games following a previous loss, the Niners are the obvious choice here with a pretty generous line on offer.

Tip: Back the 49ers to Cover the Line (-5.5 Points) @ $1.85

The Steelers found the winner’s circle nice and early in Ben Roethlisberger’s return last week with a convincing 26-16 win over the Giants at home.

Roethlisberger hurled three touchdowns, but perhaps the biggest winner of the day was the defence forcing two turnovers and allowing less than 300 total yards.

A much bigger test awaits this week for the Steelers in the form of the Denver Broncos.

Denver opened its season 0-1 with a loss to the Titans, but there was certainly plenty to like about their new-look offence with Melvin Gordon and rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy in the fold.

Like we saw last season, the Broncos relied primarily on the run as Gordon and Phillip Lindsay combined for 23 attempts and 102 yards.

Jeudy also had himself a game reeling in four passes for 56 yards, only to be outdone by emerging tight end Noah Fant, who caught for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Broncos though, the Steelers look almost impossible to run against.

Saquon Barkley was on negative yardage through the first half as the Giants finished with only 29 rushing yards to their name.

Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster seemingly haven’t lost a beat, either.

The pair combined for 69 yards and two touchdowns last week in what was a firm reminder of how dangerous the Steelers still are.

The Broncos haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 2006, so it’s no surprise to find them at such long odds.

Unless Drew Lock can play the game of his life, it’s difficult to see the Broncos squeaking this out.

Tip: Back the Steelers to Win & Under 41.5 Total Points @ $2.32

The Vikings have opened the season 0-1 for the first time since 2015 after surrendering a  whopping 43 points to the Packers last week.

Minnesota found no answer to Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, but they do have a perfect opportunity to bounce-back against a Colts team that suffered one of the early upsets of the season against the Jaguars.

Indy led 17-14 at half time but managed only so much as a field goal in the second half on their way to a 27-20 loss.

Philip Rivers threw two picks in his Colts debut, but perhaps the biggest loss came after the game with star running back Marlon Mack now out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

The Vikings did plenty wrong last week, but they can at least take some positives away from the fourth quarter.

Minnesota scored three touchdowns and a field goal to bring the margin down to a respectable number, while Dalvin Cook found plenty of gaps in Green Bay’s elite interior defence.

The Vikings have been an outstanding betting play on the back of a previous loss going 5-2 straight-up and 6-1 against the spread.

If the Colts spend most of the day running the ball, this should play right into Minnesota’s hands.

Tip: Back the Vikings to Cover the Line (+3 Points) @ $1.90

The winless Panthers and Bucs meet this week in what should be a very telling showdown between two old NFC South foes.

Tom Brady’s highlights included a two yard rushing touchdown in his Bucs debut against the Saints, but the lowlights brought a pretty sudden end to the celebrations.

Brady threw a crucial pick six in the third quarter, while the offensive line gave up three sacks on the day.

Carolina also debuted a new face under centre in what was an equally frustrating day out for Teddy Bridgewater.

The former Saint finished with only 270 yards and a touchdown to his name as the Panthers fell to the Raiders 34-30.

Despite last weeks performance, Tampa Bay are being favoured by over a touchdown at the line as the Panthers try and avoid losing their 10th game in a row.

Carolina actually defeated the Bucs 37-26 when they met in Tampa last year, but after giving up over 100 yards on the ground to the Raiders last week, this time around things might turn out a little different.

The Bucs did show some positives at times against New Orleans, especially on defence.

Tampa Bay held Drew Brees to under 200 yards on the day, while the Bucs were also very efficient on third down.

With a game under his belt now, Brady should begin to click with the offence over the coming weeks, so go ahead and stick with the market.

Tip: Back the Bucs 1-13 @ $2.25

The Bills will be hoping to improve to 2-0 against another division opponent this week.

Buffalo made short work of the Jets in their home-opener thanks to a massive 300-yard, two touchdown day from Josh Allen, while the defence also came up big holding the Jets to less than 19 minutes of possession.

Miami showed plenty of fight in their 21-11 loss to the Patriots last week, although Ryan Fitzpatrick’s ‘risk vs reward’ strategy did result in three picks.

On the plus side, the Dolphins held New England scoreless through the air, which does pose an interesting matchup against Allen, Stefon Diggs and John Brown.

The Bills have won four of their last five games against the Dolphins and are also 3-1 as the away favourite in Miami.

Buffalo’s defence was one of the best in the league last year when it came to forcing turnovers, so there’s a good chance we see some more interceptions from Fitzpatrick and a fairly low-scoring Dolphins total.

Tip: Dolphins Under 23 Points @ $1.85

The Cowboys are still searching for their first win under new head coach Mike McCarthy after suffering a Week 1 loss to the Rams.

Dallas will need to put last week’s controversial pass interference call behind them as they now return home to face a frisky Falcons side also searching for their first win.

As expected, Atlanta looked much-improved in their 38-25 loss to the Seahawks.

The Falcons finished with 506 total yards to their name, although the defence does remain a concern after giving up nearly 300 yards through the air.

For the Cowboys, last week’s loss likely says more about the Rams than it does about Dallas’ overall chances in 2020.

The Cowboys still ran the ball extremely well against LA’s tough interior defence and, while it didn’t pay off, it was still nice to see Dallas going for it on fourth and short.

After fighting for his life against the Rams’ fierce pass rush last week, Dak Prescott should enjoy a much more comfortable day in the pocket.

Atlanta hasn’t won in Dallas since 2015, so take the Cowboys to get the job done.

Tip: Back the Cowboys to Cover the Line (-4 Points) @ $1.90

Washington and Arizona were two of the surprise stories to emerge from Week 1 and it is crazy to think that one of these teams will remain undefeated.

The Cardinals have been a popular smokey pick to win the NFC West this season and they certainly lived up to the hype with a come-from-behind win over the 49ers.

Kliff Kingsbury’s air-raid offence accounted for 404 total yards, 151 of which belonged to new recruit, DeAndre Hopkins.

Washington pulled off a similar upset in Philadelphia thanks to a very impressive defensive stand in the final quarter that held the Eagles scoreless.

Washington also intercepted Carson Wentz twice and recorded eight sacks, a slightly worrying sign for a Cardinals offensive line that showed some struggles last week against the Niners.

This game should be plenty of fun with two of the top quarterbacks from the 2019 draft class on the field.

Washington has won two straight over Arizona, but unfortunately, it is difficult to imagine Haskins matching the Cardinals offensively for four quarters.

Washington allowed the third-most touchdowns through the air last year, so while last weeks win over the Eagles was nice, this appears to be a much tougher test.

Tip: Back the Cardinals to Cover the Line (-6 Points) @ $1.90

The Ravens will be looking to build on last week’s massive win over the Browns when they travel to Houston to face a Texans team that hasn’t beaten them since 2014.

Bill O’Brien’s side came up short to the Chiefs in the season-opener last week in what was largely a very forgettable display.

Just like every other season, Houston’s offensive line struggled to cope with the pressure from the Chiefs as Deshan Watson suffered four sacks and an interception in the 34-20 loss.

The Ravens, meanwhile, held the Browns to a single touchdown in their blowout 38-6 win.

Lamar Jackson had himself a day throwing three touchdowns, while the defence looked scary good forcing three turnovers.

Despite the scoreboard, Will Fuller chipped in nicely for the Texans last week in their first game without DeAndre Hopkins, but it’s tough to bank on a repeat performance this week against a Ravens side that allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards last year.

The Ravens have covered in four of their last five games as the road favourite, and with the defence now looking equally as menacing as the offence, they should have no trouble tearing apart Houston’s shabby offensive line.

Tip: Back the Ravens to Cover the Line (-7 Points) @ $1.94

The Chiefs are well-rested heading into this week’s AFC West showdown and it appears they are well on their way to another perfect start to the season.

Kansas City made short work of the Texans in the season opener as Patrick Mahomes threw for three touchdowns alongside rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who rushed for over 100 yards on debut.

Los Angeles has also opened the season 1-0, but it’s tough to take too much away from their 16-13 win over the Bengals.

If it wasn’t for a last-second Ryan Succop miss, the Chargers could be winless heading into Week 2 after the offence struggled to put up points under new quarterback, Tyrod Taylor.

Defensively the Chargers look promising, but again, forcing two turnovers against the Bengals is hardly anything to get excited about.

Los Angeles also fell apart defensively on Cincinnati’s final drive of the game, which spells potential disaster this week against what is arguably the NFL’s best offence.

The Chiefs won both games over their division rivals last year and are have also covered in each of their last four games as the away favourite against the Chargers.

With rest on their side and the offence firing on all cylinders, this appears to be the safest bet of the week.

Tip: Back the Chiefs to Cover the Line (-8.5 Points) @ $1.90

The Seahawks and Patriots will meet for only the second time since Super Bowl XLIX after recording double-digit wins to open the season.

New England kicked off their new era in style with a 21-11 victory over the Dolphins as Cam Newton showcased his speed by rushing for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Seahawks were equally impressive in their 38-25 shootout win over the Falcons in Atlanta.

Russell Wilson threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, while the defence rewound the clock by forcing two turnovers.

Both teams were outstanding to start the season, but it’s difficult to read too much into a pair of victories over the Falcons and Dolphins respectively.

Despite the turnovers, the Seahawks struggled to stop the Falcons on third down and also came very close to blowing the game in the fourth quarter.

Likewise, the Patriots’ offence struggled through the air – a worrying sign against a Seattle defence that allowed only 72 yards on the ground last week.

We should learn plenty about these two sides this week, but until we see more from Newton, it’s hard to bet against the Seahawks at home early in the season.

Tip: Back the Seahawks to Cover the Line (-4 Points) @ $1.90

The Raiders will unveil their new home at Allegiant Stadium on Monday Night Football against the Saints, a side that hasn’t opened the season 2-0 since 2013.

Vegas have opened as +5.5 underdogs in the early market after surviving a scare last week in their 34-30 win over the Panthers.

Josh Jacobs carried the Raiders over the line with 93 yards and three touchdowns, while the defence gave up 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground to Christian McCaffrey.

The Saints opened with a big win over the Bucs at home, but they now face a tough stretch with star wide receiver Michael Thomas ruled out for the next few weeks due to an ankle injury.

Sean Payton has tremendous depth to fall back on, but after a very quiet game through the air last week, fans are beginning to wonder if we’re starting to see the demise of legendary quarterback, Drew Brees.

With that in mind, the Saints will likely try and run the ball down the Raiders’ throat.

Vegas were great against the run last year, but after McCaffrey’s success last week, it wouldn’t be surprising to watch Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray combine for over 30 touches in an attempt to take some of the pressure off Brees.

These two sides haven’t met since 2016, so there’s very little recent history to help us out when it comes to betting.

Stats wise, however, the Saints allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards to opponents last year, so the Raiders won’t have things all their own way on the ground this week.

Considering New Orleans also finished last season 7-1 on the road, it becomes increasingly difficult to bet against the Saints.

Tip: Back the Saints 1-13 @ $2.10

2019

Week 2 of the NFL kicks off on Friday with a handful of teams looking to reverse their luck after a horrendous Week 1.

Nine of the 16 favourites got up last week head-to-head, while nine of the line underdogs also came through to cover.

With 16 big games to choose from, building a multi is the most profitable way to bet on the NFL, and if you’re looking for tips, be sure to read our complete Week 2 Preview below.

https://youtu.be/EV0i6eZgeBY

The Panthers have opened as 6.5-point favourites ahead of Friday’s division rivalry game against Tampa Bay, which seems right when you factor in just how dangerous Carolina’s offence looked last week.

There’s no shame in losing to the Super Bowl runner-up’s, particularly when your running back peels off a huge 209-yard, two touchdown day. Christian McCaffrey torched a stout Rams defence, and while Cam Newton was far from his best, there’s no reason to back against the Panthers in this one.

Tampa Bay’s season already looks to be off on the wrong foot under new head coach Bruce Arians. Not much of it is his fault though, as quarterback Jameis Winston refuses to make the right decisions, let alone the right reads with the football.

The Bucs quarterback threw three picks during last week’s 31-17 loss to the 49ers. Tampa Bay’s offence is loaded with playmakers, and while they should receive a boost in the form of a healthy Mike Evans, the Total still looks a little generous in this one.

Tampa Bay’s defence wasn’t terrible last week, despite what many think. The Bucs held the Niners to 256 total yards and also forced a pair of turnovers.

Carolina’s defence also performed well, holding the Rams to 186 passing yards and 9/17 on third down. Seven of the last 10-games between these two teams have gone Under the Total, so back the double.

Tip: Back the Panthers to Cover the Line (-6.5) & Under 49.5 Total Points @ $3.80

Same Game Multi: Under 49.5 Total Points, Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown Scorer, Christian McCaffrey Anytime Touchdown Scorer, Mike Evans 80+ Receiving Yards @ $15.88

No surprise to find the Lions as outsiders this week following their meltdown in the desert.

Detroit found themselves up comfortably 24-6 on the Cardinals at the end of the third quarter, right before Matt Patricia called a timeout with less than a minute remaining to give Arizona one last chance.

In the end, the Lions played out an uninspiring overtime tie highlighted by plenty of coaching errors. Detroit hardly looked interested in winning, and with a dangerous Chargers side coming to town, things aren’t about to get any easier.

Plenty has been made of Los Angeles’ overtime win over the Colts last week. Philip Rivers had himself a game passing for 333-yards and three touchdowns, but plenty feel the Chargers were a little underwhelming.

On the flip side, last week was a huge momentum builder for Los Angeles. The Chargers are well known for their slow starts each season, while the Colts defence is capable of making life tough for even the most elite teams.

The odds look just about right this week, and if the Chargers can bring pressure early and force Matthew Stafford into some bad throws – much like the Cardinals did last week – LA should have this.

Tip: Back the Chargers to Cover the Line (-2.5 Points) @ $1.88

In the blink of an eye Jacksonville’s season turned upside down last week as the Jaguars lost starting quarterback Nick Foles to a collarbone injury.

Foles won’t return for at least eight weeks, which just about dooms the Jaguars on offence as they prepare for one of the most point-savvy teams in the league.

Houston lost a heartbreaker to the Saints last week on a last second field goal. It was a devastating loss after an extraordinary comeback drive from Deshaun Watson, but there’s still lots to like about the Texans this year.

Watson looked every bit an MVP contender last week as he put Houston in front with less than a minute to go. All it took was two simple deep passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills, highlighting just how quick and accurate the former Clemson product can be.

Jacksonville’s defence looks much improved, but without an offence to match Houston’s pace, it’s no surprise to find them at such a wide price.

The Jags have won only two of their last eight games against the Texans, while Houston holds a 4-1 record in their last five home games against Jacksonville.

It’s also worth noting the Jags defence gave up 342 total yards to the Texans in Week 17 last year, so it’s difficult to see this one working out in Jacksonville’s favour.

Tip: Jaguars Under 17.5 Total Points @ $1.88

For the second week in a row we’re treated to a good old-fashioned NFC North rivalry as the Packers host the Vikings from Lambeau Field.

Green Bay have enjoyed an extended break following their season opening win in Chicago against the Bears and have since opened as -3.0-point favourites at home. The offence was hardly what we’ve come to expect with Aaron Rodgers under center, but Mike Pettine’s defence put the whole league on notice as the Packers held Chicago to just three points on the road.

Minnesota also changed things up as they made easy work of the Falcons at home. The Vikings dropped back to pass only 10 times during the game, much to the delight of head coach Mike Zimmer.

Running back Dalvin Cook enjoyed a monster day against Atlanta running for 111-yards and two touchdowns, but the Vikings will need to get creative this week if they wish to penetrate Green Bay’s interior defence.

The Packers did a great job of dialing up pressure on Mitch Trubisky last week, particularly in the late stages. The secondary also played with real energy on the road, which should provide a big contest against Minnesota’s elite receivers.

There was nothing separating these two sides last year at Lambeau as a last-minute flag helped the Vikings to a game-tying field goal in the late stages.

Minnesota has a knack for bringing out the worst in Rodgers, and although a draw seems unlikely this time around, the Vikings’ 5-2 record against the spread looks to be the play.

Tip: Back the Vikings to Cover the Line (+3 Points) @ $1.88

Neither of these sides were particularly impressive last week.

Pittsburgh’s blowout loss to the Patriots in Foxboro was a grim indicator of what life is like without Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, while the Seahawks survived a late scare from the Bengals after mustering only 268 total yards on offence.

These two Super Bowl XL foes have met only three times since they played for the Lombardi Trophy back in 2006. The Steelers have won two of the three games, while the Seahawks gained the last laugh back in 2015.

Home field advantage counts for a lot, but the Steelers do look a little under the odds at their current price. Defensively, Pittsburgh were shredded by the Patriots last week as they gave up 472 yards to the Patriots.

Seattle also found themselves looking a little susceptible to the deep ball last week against Cincinnati. The Seahawks gave up three completions of 30 yards or more, which doesn’t bode well against Ben Roethlisberger and Juju Smith-Schuster.

You have to rewind a little, but the Steelers are 4-1 in their last five games at home against Seattle.

Perhaps a more impressive stat though, is Pittsburgh’s 12-2 record on the Unders during Week 2.

Tip: Under 46 Total Points @ $1.96

The bookies have bought into Cincinnati’s big performance last week in Seattle, listing the Bengals as favourites at home on Monday.

In his first game as head coach Zac Taylor took plenty of risks against a very talented Seahawks defence, which paid big dividends as Andy Dalton enjoyed a career-high 418-yard day.

Cincinnati also dialed up plenty of pressure defensively which resulted in four sacks on Russell Wilson and just 268 total yards against. Already the Bengals look to have taken a step in the right direction, and with plenty of big playmakers emerging, it’s difficult to look past the favourites this week.

San Francisco survived a scare last week against the Bucs going on to win comfortably 31-17. Likewise, the Niners’ defence was enormous forcing four turnovers, but it might be worth tempering your expectations considering the win came against one of the more dysfunctional teams in the league.

The 49ers had next to no offence last week as Jimmy Garoppolo threw for just 166-yards and one touchdown. The running game also struggled – and all of this came against one of 2018’s worst defensive teams.

Cincinnati should approach this game with a chip on their shoulder as they look to make up for last weeks loss. Interestingly enough, the Bengals are 5-2 in their Week 2 games across the last seven seasons, so it’s worth backing them outright at their current price.

Tip: Back the Bengals to Win @ $1.80

You hate to overreact too much to Week 1, but the Titans sure looked special on defence.

Tennessee held the Browns to just one third down conversion during their upset 43-13 win, while Marcus Mariota enjoyed a big day passing for 248-yards and a trio of touchdowns.

Consistency on offence has always eluded the Titans though, and that might be the case again this week against the Colts.

After their offseason ended with the retirement of Andrew Luck, it wasn’t the least bit surprising to see Indianapolis give the Chargers a real run for their money last week.

In the end, the Colts lost by six points in overtime, but Indy’s still performed exceptionally well sacking Philip Rivers four times. The Colts also held the Chargers to 125 rushing yards, which should instil confidence this week as they prepare to face Derrick Henry.

The Colts are 12-3 against the spread in their last 15 games against the Titans. Indianapolis have also won eight of their last 10-games against Tennessee, so it’s worth taking full advantage of the +3.0 line on offer.

Tip: Back the Colts to Cover the Line (+3.0 Points) @ $1.96

The Patriots are now -19-point favourites at time of writing after originally opening at -16.5.

New England’s beatdown over the hapless Steelers last week has played a large part in this week’s generous spread, while Miami’s failure to produce anything of note in their 59-10 loss to the Ravens has also contributed.

Despite what the odds suggest though, this has typically been a tough fixture for New England in recent years. Trips to Miami have often caused a few problems for Patriot line bettors, as New England holds a lousy 1-5 record in their last six visits to Hard Rock Stadium.

The Patriots grew even stronger last week through the addition of Antonio Brown, but a recent sexual assault case makes his status a massive question mark heading into Monday’s game.

Bill Belichick would love to have one of the games top receivers on the field, but Brown’s absence could do the team a favour as they won’t have to worry about feeding him the ball on the road.

Miami’s head-to-head odds say it all this week – bet at your own risk. That said, the Dolphins opened at a similar price during Week 14 last year, a game the Phins went on to win 34-33.

The line presents tremendous value this week if you can ignore Miami’s hopeless secondary. Don’t expect anything special from head coach Brian Flores, but if Miami’s top defensive stars, namely Minkah Fitzpatrick and Christian Wilkins, can step up, the Dolphins might keep this somewhat close.

Tip: Back the Dolphins to Cover the Line (+19 Points) @ $1.91

The Patriots might have been the biggest winners of Week 1, but the Cowboys were a close second.

In his first game as offensive coordinator, former quarterbacks coach Kellen Moore showed a glimpse of Dallas’ new and improved playbook, mixing in plenty of play action and run-pass options on the way to a 35-17 win over the Giants.

This week it’s another pivotal divisional game, and not surprisingly, the Cowboys are favoured to win by five.

There was a lot to take away from the Redskins’ defensive efforts last week, particularly in the late stages of the game. Washington allowed 436 total yards against the Eagles in their 32-27 loss, while on the other side of the ball, the Skins managed to rush the ball 13 times for only 28 yards.

Things aren’t about to get any easier on the ground for Washington as rookie running back Derrius Guice is reportedly dealing with a meniscus injury.

That should force Case Keenum into passing the ball more than he’d like, which obviously spells bad news against a fierce Cowboys pass rush. Dallas held the Giants to two third down conversions in 11 attempts last week, so back the Cowboys to bust this one wide open.

Tip: Back the Cowboys to Cover the Line (-5 Points) @ $1.92

The bookies seem to be having a tough time separating these two sides despite their win/loss records.

Buffalo was among the biggest upsets last week as they knocked off the Jets 17-16 on the road. Quarterback Josh Allen was far from special but running back Devin Singletary showed plenty of promise in his NFL debut averaging just over 17-yards per-carry.

The Giants weren’t quite as lucky last week as they were torn apart by the Cowboys 35-17. To his credit, Eli Manning played quite well throwing for 306-yards and a touchdown, but for whatever reason, the Giants opted to keep the ball out of Saquon Barkley’s hands.

There’s almost even money on offer in this one, but you might be better off playing it safe and sticking with the Points market.

The Bills and Giants haven’t met since 2015, so there’s no recent form to go on. And to make matters worse, neither side looks capable of defending the pass.

Buffalo was the third-best team to bet the Unders on last season in away games, saluting 75% of the time. With that in mind, plus two turnover prone quarterbacks, it’s worth backing this game to be low scoring.

Tip: Under 43.5 Total Points @ $1.92

It’s a battle between the birds on Monday morning as the Ravens hope to improve to 2-0.

Baltimore has opened as whopping 13.5-point favourites this week, which seems a little steep despite last week’s huge 59-10 win over Miami.

The Cardinals have won only two of their last six games against the Ravens, but if they play anything like they did during the second half last week, the Redbirds might be able to keep things close.

Kyler Murray turned his awful first half around into something special against the Lions to salvage a tie. In his rookie debut, the No. 1 overall pick finished with 308-yards and a pair of touchdowns to go along with a huge completion in overtime to Larry Fitzgerald.

Defensively the Cardinals were sliced apart against the Lions. T.J. Hockenson and Danny Amendola both caught for over 100-yards, which doesn’t exactly bode well against completion machine Lamar Jackson.

That said, the Cardinals are 4-2 against the spread in their last two games against the Ravens, and if they can establish the ground game early, there’s no reason why Kliff Kingsbury’s talented offence can’t cover a very generous looking line.

Tip: Back the Cardinals to Cover the Line (+13.5 Points) @ $1.92

The Chiefs didn’t have a single three and out during their win over the Jaguars last week leaving Kansas City as 7-point favourites on the road against the Raiders.

Oakland were one of the surprise packets in Week 1 storming a very stout Denver defence to win by eight points. Even without Antonio Brown, Oakland’s offence looked smooth and methodical as Derek Carr completed 22 of his 26 pass attempts, while rookie running back Josh Jacobs enjoyed a 85-yard, two touchdown debut.

Kansas City’s defence looked a little suspect in the late stages against the Jaguars last week, but with a 40-26 lead, maybe the Chiefs just took their foot off the gas.

Head coach Andy Reid has gained a reputation for devising genius game plans fresh from a bye, and with an entire offseason to prepare for Jacksonville, it was no surprise to see the Chiefs tally 491 yards of total offence as well as four touchdowns.

The Chiefs have won eight of their last nine games against the Raiders, including a Week 17 blowout 33-3-win last season.

You’d be mad to back against Kansas City, but there might be some value on the Raiders at the line.

Oakland can keep this game close if they establish Jacobs on the ground early and also challenge the Chiefs vertically. With a 4-2 record against the spread in their last six games dating back to last season – as well as an 8-4 record in their last 12 Week 2 games – back the Raiders to Cover.

Tip: Back the Raiders to Cover the Line (+7.0 Points) @ $1.92

This could turn out to be one of the most exciting games of Week 2 as both teams look to earn their first win of the season.

Denver’s defence was shredded by the Raiders last week as the Broncos went on to lose 24-16. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell failed to come up with an answer to Josh Jacobs, which came as a surprise considering the Broncos allowed the eighth-fewest rushing touchdowns last year.

Chicago’s defence played just okay against the Packers, but it was a far cry from the scary pass rush we’ve grown used to seeing. In what a fairly slow-moving game, the Bears managed only three points against Green Bay, largely due to quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s struggles in the pocket.

The Bears have opened as 2.5-point favourites this week on the road, which seems about right when you factor in how awful both offences looked last week.

Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco dropped back to pass 31 times against the Raiders, finishing with only 268-yards and a lone touchdown.

Whoever wins the third down battle this week will go a long way to earning their first victory of the season.

The Bears converted on three of their 15 attempts last week, while the Broncos converted on 6 of their 13.

Denver’s defence deserves a mulligan as they adjust to new head coach Vic Fangio. The new man in charge has 20 years’ worth of experience as a defensive coordinator, and with two wins in their last three games against the Bears, it’s worth backing the Broncos defence to pull off a big upset at home.

Tip: Back the Broncos to Win @ $2.25

The bookies haven’t held back setting a whopping 52-point total for this NFC Championship rematch.

The Rams looked a little underdone last week on the road in Carolina, but they still squeaked out a 30-27 victory over the Panthers thanks to a pair of touchdowns from Malcom Brown.

New Orleans also cut it fine at home to the Texans, requiring a last-minute Drew Brees drive to set up the game-winning field goal from Will Lutz.

The Saints will now be looking for revenge on the Rams for their overtime loss in last season’s NFC Championship Game. On paper, the Saints didn’t do a whole lot wrong, but they’ll certainly be hoping for a bigger effort on the ground after running for just 48-yards on the Rams’ defence.

Neither coach will read too much into their previous playoff meeting, but instead, both will be looking for weaknesses in their opponents’ defence – especially since each looked susceptible to the pass last week.

Everything points to a high-scoring game in this one, but the Total does seem a little high. The Total has gone Under in seven of the Saints’ last 10-games dating back to last season, while the Total has also gone Under in four of the Rams’ last five Week 2 games.

New Orleans may be without Ted Ginn Jr this week who is struggling through illness. The veteran isn’t a huge loss, but he’s typically been the kind of player who steps up to make a key catch or two in the dying stages for the Saints.

On the other side, Rams defensive end Eric Weddle looks likely to play this week, giving Los Angeles’ pass rush a big boost. With all that in mind, back the Unders.

Tip: Under 52.5 Total Points @ $1.92

These two sides met in Week 1 last year, a game the Falcons would probably rather forget.

A trip to the Linc resulted in an 18-12 loss, kick-starting a long run of defensive problems for Atlanta.

This time around the game is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but even with home-field advantage, the Falcons have still opened as narrow 1.5-point underdogs.

Atlanta opened their season with a loss on the road to the Vikings last week as the Falcons struggled to contain the run.

Dan Quinn’s defence gave up 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while the secondary also gave up 98-yards on just eight completions through the air.

The Eagles have plenty of question marks about them though, which explains the value on offer head-to-head.

Philadelphia won 32-27 against the Redskins last week, but the defence left a lot to be desired as they allowed a last second garbage touchdown with 12 seconds remaining.

The Eagles have won seven of their last 10-games against the Falcons, as well as the last three meetings dating back to 2016. Philly finished last season 5-4 against the spread on the road, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for a safer play.

The Total has gone Under in four of Atlanta’s last five games against the Eagles, and considering the last three games between the pair have seen an average of 31 points, it’s worth backing this one to be low scoring.

Tip: Under 51 Total Points @ $1.91

It might seem strange to call a Week 2 game must-win, but the result of this one could go a long way to shaping the rest of the season for either team.

The Browns and the Jets both opened with a loss in Week 1. Cleveland’s offensive line fell apart as Baker Mayfield struggled to make throws against the Titans, while the Jets blew a 16-0 lead against the Bills to go on and lose by a point.

New York holds home-field advantage for the second week in a row, but that hasn’t stopped the bookies from siding with the Browns.

Cleveland has opened as 2.5-point favourites ahead of Tuesday’s game, although it’s still worth backing this one to be close.

The general feeling is that the Browns were soft last week. Cleveland’s offensive line was manhandled, and their league-leading 18 penalties certainly didn’t help.

Cleveland has to win this game with the Rams, Ravens, 49ers and Seahawks all upcoming before the bye. A loss would be detrimental to their entire season, but with only four wins in their last 10 games against the Jets, this week is far from a certainty.

The Jets looked good on offence last week before their fourth quarter implosion. Sam Darnold attempted way too many passes, but running back Le’Veon Bell still put forward a noticeable 60-yard effort.

The last three games between these two teams have been decided by no more than three points, and although the Browns have a more talented roster, it’s worth backing the Jets to get things right in their second game under new head coach Adam Gase.

Tip: Back the Jets to Cover the Line (+2.5 Points) @ $2.00

2018

Five upsets and 11 games decided by 10-points or less – that was Week 1 of the NFL season in a nutshell.

It’s never wise to read too much into opening week, but with eight key divisional games ahead in Week 2, we’re really starting to head toward’s the meat of the season now.

So who’s the Super Bowl favourite? Your guess is as good as ours, but while we try to make sense of the contenders and the pretenders, hopefully our 2018 NFL Week 2 tips can find you a few winners.

Friday morning games have earned a reputation for being slow and painful, but if Week 1 was any indication, there’s every chance this classic AFC North rivalry turns into a good old fashioned shootout.

The Bengals weren’t the biggest Week 1 surprise, but they sure came close.

There were questions surrounding Cincinnati on both sides of the ball, but coach Marvin Lewis silenced his doubters, handing the Colts a convincing 34-23 loss.

Not to be outdone, the Ravens actually were the biggest surprise of last week.

It’s a small one-game sample size, and it did come against the lowly Buffalo Bills, but quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 236-yards and three touchdowns in Baltimore’s 47-3 blowout win.

Looking ahead, the bookies seem to be having a tough time separating these two teams.

The early odds have both the Ravens and the Bengals at $1.91 apiece, which comes as a surprise considering Cincinnati’s dominance in this fixture.

The Bengals have won two of their last three meetings against Baltimore, including last seasons narrow four-point win in Baltimore.

This week Cincy will host their first game of the season at Paul Brown Stadium, although the Bengals home record last year probably won’t fill punters with confidence.

Cincy won only four of their eight home games in 2017, including a brutal 20-0 loss to this same Ravens side.

So what does that say about Friday’s game?

While we can’t overreact too much to Week 1, the biggest takeaway from the Bengals win was the pass rush.

They consistently made life tough for Andrew Luck, sacking him twice and limiting the run game to just 76-yards.

The Ravens feature a fierce running attack led by Alex Collins, but if linebacker Nick Vigil can match his career-high 11 tackle effort from last week, Baltimore might be in for a tough day.

Speaking of running games, Bengals running back Joe Mixon looks to have switched things up a gear this season.

He ran for 95-yards and a score last week, a similar stat line to the one he put up during last years Week 17 win over Baltimore.

Tip: Back the Bengals 1-6 @ $3.80

It’s another huge division rivalry to kick-start Monday’s early slate, but this time it’s between two perennial NFC South Super Bowl favourites that always match up well.

Let’s start with the Panthers.

Carolina experimented last week, and boy did it work.

The Cowboys defence is tough to crack, but head coach Ron Rivera relied on the read-option a ton, while also mixing and matching running backs Christian McCaffrey and C.J. Anderson in the ground game.

The end result was not only a convincing 16-8 opening win, but also the blueprint of a Panthers team we haven’t seen for quite a while.

Quarterback Cam Newton was making plays with his feet, McCaffrey was lighting it up on screen-plays, but most importantly, the defence was electric.

As for the Falcons, there’s plenty Atlanta can take away from last week’s loss to the Eagles.

The good news is Matt Ryan looks like he’s locked and loaded, and so does wide receiver Julio Jones, but overall, the Falcons have a lot of work to do if they are to take down this stingy Carolina defence.

The odds might say the Falcons are favourite, and although they’ve won four of their last five games at home as the head-to-head favourite, don’t let the stats fool you, the Panthers can win this.

Carolina successfully held Ezekiel Elliott to 69-yards and one touchdown last week.

The game plan was to shut down the run game, and the Panthers will be looking to do the same against Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in Week 2.

Luke Kuechly was phenomenal last week notching 11 tackles, while defensive tackle Kawann Short’s two sacks were huge.

If the interior defence can slow the Falcons ground-game down, they’ll leave it all up to quarterback Matt Ryan, and as we saw last week, that doesn’t equal points in the red zone.

Tip: Back the Panthers To Win @ $3.00

Are you prepared for a complete repeat of Week 1?

The concerns surrounding the Redskins during the offseason went like this: quarterback Alex Smith is too old, the defence features zero playmakers, and running back Adrian Peterson is also old.

The Redskins Week 1 win went like this: Smith racked up 255-yards and a pair of touchdowns, the defence held the Cardinals offense to 221 total-yards, and Peterson rewound the clock.

Washington were always a dark horse entering the season, and even if it’s only one game, the Skins look super underrated.

Quarterback Andrew Luck looked sound for the Colts, but you can’t say the same for Indy’s defence.

It’s a familiar problem for Frank Reich’s team, one that is likely going to cost them this week away from home.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton carved the Colts secondary up for 8.7 yards-per-attempt, including a deep 38-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green.

The Redskins don’t feature a receiver quite like Green, but we know Smith likes his down-field targets, and he’s got one in wide receiver Paul Richardson.

To make matters worse, the Colts also struggled to defend the run last week, which doesn’t bode well with two spearhead running backs like Peterson and Chris Thompson in the Skins backfield.

Tip: Back the Redskins 7-12 @ $4.50

Week 1 was one to forget for both of these teams.

The Titans sustained a lengthy four-hour weather delay in Miami, eventually losing by a touchdown to the Dolphins on the back of an ugly performance from quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Likewise, the Texans showed up in New England, but they too failed to weather the storm.

The Patriots, mainly led by Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (surprise), made life tough for Houston’s defence, combining for 123-yards and a score.

Since this is an AFC South rivalry game, this game will help to decide the playoff picture down the track, but more importantly send one team to 0-2.

After a pretty ugly week, the Texans still have a few things to feel good about.

Rushing for 98-yards, running back Lamar Miller looked light on his feet, and despite the scoresheet, the defence allowed just four third down conversions of the Patriots 14 attempts.

Tennessee, well things aren’t quite so crystal clear.

This was meant to be the year for Mariota, but it remains to be seen if the Titans fourth-year starter will lace em’ up this week after sustaining an arm injury.

That’s only the beginning of the problems for new head coach Mike Vrabel, though.

The running game looked seriously dour last week, and for a defence that was labelled one of the best entering the season, Tennessee managed just one sack all day.

Still, there’s no denying the weather played a huge factor last week, and a delay like that can really disrupt a team.

This is a chance for Tennessee’s defence to show up big, and it’s unlikely the Texans get too creative with Watson outside of the pocket.

Shutdown DeAndre Hopkins, and the Titans probably win this.

Tip: Back the Titans To Back The Line

If you thought Carson Wentz was primed for a return to the field, think again.

The Eagles are staying pretty hush on the whole situation, but after NFL Network reported Wentz would be out until October, we have to assume Nick Foles is the starter again this week.

For the Bucs, that’s good news, especially after Foles’ so-so 117-yard performance against the Falcons last week.

The Bucs needn’t worry who’s at quarterback though, because they did just fine against one of the game’s best last week.

Sure, Drew Brees threw for 439-yards and a trio of touchdowns, but Tampa’s defence held running back Alvin Kamara to just 29-yards.

That was only a small victory compared to the Bucs 48-40 shootout win in the Superdome.

Is it possible we’ve overlooked this team entirely?

Again, small sample size, but there’s a lot to like.

Relying on Ryan Fitzpatrick looked dangerous entering the season, but his 417-yard, four touchdown performance last week was nothing short of marvellous.

Last week’s win alone was enough to dethrone suspended quarterback Jameis Winston from the starting role, a win this week though?

Safe to say he’ll be warming the pine once he returns.

So who’s winning this game?

It’s by far the most intriguing game of the week, especially with the Eagles on the road and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery still out.

Philly are 16-2 in their last 18 head-to-head games, however the Bucs are also 8-4 head-to-head in their last 12 games at home.

With the Eagles missing two key pieces and surviving by the skin of their teeth last week, you best believe in some FitzMagic and more importantly, the Bucs defence.

Tip: Back the Bucs To Win @ $2.45

Talk about polar opposites.

The Steelers played out a 21-21 draw with the Cleveland Browns at the Dawg Pound last week, a game they probably deserved to lose.

Kansas City welcomed in the Patrick Mahomes era nicely, proving the Brett Favre comparisons are well and truly worth their weight.

Just by looking at these two, it’s easy to say the Chiefs were the standout last week, especially on offense.

Mahomes played a fairly conservative game, mainly relying on dink-and-dunk handoffs and shovel passes to the likes of Tyreek Hill.

Overall, it worked though, and in case you missed it, Andy Reid’s offense looks legit.

As for the Steelers, it’s tough to say whether Pittsburgh were that bad, or the Browns were that good.

Le’Veon Bell’s absence wasn’t really felt as back up James Conner rushed for a pair of touchdowns, but the Steelers offensive line struggled to keep quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in check, giving up four sacks.

With the total having gone Under in six of the last seven games between these sides, it’s safe to say Monday’s game will be fairly low-scoring.

The Total Points line is set at 52.5, which unfortunately for the Steelers, spells bad news, because Big Ben’s three interceptions last week showed signs of concerns for Pittsburgh’s turnover-riddled offense.

Kansas City’s defence wasn’t any more impressive against the Chargers, but the Chiefs simply have the speed on offense to make life tough for the Steelers.

Keep relying on Tyreek Hill end-arounds and feed Kareem Hunt the ball on plenty of draws, that will be the Chiefs M-O.

Tip: Back the Chiefs 1-6 @ $3.80/Under 52.5 Total Points

The Dolphins survived last week, while the Jets hunted.

New York, led by Sam Darnold in his rookie debut, appear to be quite the sleeper this season following their convincing 48-17 win over Detroit.

It wasn’t just a case of the Lions defence looking awful, Darnold made some big-time throws.

Add in Isaiah Crowell’s lively run-game and a defence that looks like an interception machine, and suddenly you can build a case for the Jets.

Before we get too carried away though, Todd Bowles’ side need to win Monday’s key AFC East divisional game against the Dolphins.

In a game that was dominated by a lengthy weather delay, Miami held on for a seven-point win over the Titans last week on the back of a 230-yard, two touchdown performance from Ryan Tannehill.

Starting 1-0 was crucial for Miami, especially if they want to potentially clinch a Wild Card berth, but punters should be wary of the Jets now.

These two sides have won five games apiece over their last 10 meetings, and the Dolphins are an ugly 3-8 in their last 11 games head-to-head.

Trusting the Jets is never easy either, especially after so many seasons of irrelevance, yet we all know how amped the fanbase will be ahead of their first home game of the season.

Despite their win last week, Tannehill still threw two interceptions in the wet conditions.

Pressure and forcing Tannehill into bad throws will be key, and the Jets have the linebacker corps to do just that.

Tip: Back the Jets 7-12 @ $5.00

One of these teams will be 0-2 after this week, and although the Bills are a complete schmozzle, at least things can’t get any worse from here… can they?

The Josh Allen era looks to be underway in Buffalo, if that means anything at all.

Nathan Peterman nearly topped his five interception game last year with a pair of picks last Monday against Baltimore, a game that saw the second-year starter benched in favour of Allen.

Matching up with the Chargers elite defence is hardly a welcome to the NFL for the rookie.

Fortunately star defensive end Joey Bosa is unlikely to play this weekend with a foot injury, but there’s still a Pro Bowl corner in Casey Hayward to deal with.

The Bills were always destined for cellar dweller status this season, the Chargers though?

Let’s just say Los Angeles were a trendy Super Bowl pick.

Last week Anthony Lynn’s side were handed a harsh reality check from the Chiefs.

The Chargers under-manned defence was burned by the speedy Tyreek Hill, making it painfully clear that even when Phillip Rivers tosses for 424-yards and a trio of touchdowns, the Chargers are no guarantee.

You could make a small case for the Bills, but after allowing the Ravens to pile on 369-yards and 47-points, forget it.

More importantly, the Bills defence struggled with the tricks of Baltimore’s trade. The Ravens ran plenty of their newfound run/pass option, and with Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen up next, it’s hard to see Buffalo responding to the same kind of offensive skillsets this week.

Tip: Back the Chargers 1-6 @ $3.60

You should’ve had this fierce NFC North rivalry game circled on your calendar a long time ago, because even before Aaron Rodgers’ epic comeback last week, this was always a must-watch game against a team that basically ended his, and the Packers season, last year.

Aside from Rodgers’ heroics against the Bears, there was a lot to like from the Packers.

The defence stepped up when it mattered most, and it was nice to see Geronimo Allison and Randall Cobb explode with two big-time plays.

Speaking of big-time plays, the Vikings were all about that last week.

The Kirk Cousins era kicked off with a bang as Minnesota’s newest recruit found Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone midway through the second quarter, and the defence resumed where it left off last year intercepting Jimmy Garoppolo for a 28-yard touchdown return.

Last season these games were hardly close, mainly due to Rodgers being off the field.

That in turn allowed the Vikings to win both games in fairly convincing fashion, but as we saw last week, No.12 has always meant the difference between a 4-12 season and the playoffs in Green Bay.

The unknown nature of Rodgers’ mild knee-scare last week has some Packer fans on edge, but not the bookies.

The Vikings enter as the favourites, and with a 13-2 head-to-head record in their last 15 games, it’s not hard to see why.

Lambeau Field will play a factor for Green Bay, but this is really all about the defence.

The Packers looked flat-footed last week during the first half against the Bears, as rookie corner Jaire Alexander was exposed on a few different occasions down the sidelines.

Unfortunately for Green Bay, the Vikings pose an even tougher set of receivers.

Adam Thielen caught for 102-yards last week, and Diggs helped out on the scoreboard. But the Vikings showed they weren’t afraid to send running back Dalvin Cook out on screen routes.

That’s without even mentioning tight end Kyle Rudolph, who has become a key red zone threat. This game should be close, but overall, testing for the Packers defence.

Tip: Over 50 Total Points @ $1.95

The Browns ended their long and lengthy winless drought the only way they knew how: by drawing with the Steelers.

By all accounts, it was a game the Browns deserved to win and a game they should have won.

After so much offseason hype though, the positives were Tyrod Taylor’s strong performance in the air and on the ground, as well as Jarvis Landry playing as advertised.

On the same token, the Saints also should have won their game against the Bucs. It was a Superdome shootout against a team no one fancied to win, and after coming all the way back to trail by as little as touchdown in the final quarter, ultimately New Orleans’ defence wasn’t good enough for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

This week’s game is a chance at redemption for both sides, if you can call it that.

Home field advantage is again in the Saints favour, but so is their 8-1 head-to-head record in their last nine home games.

For the Browns to win, they’ll need to be prepared to take chances.

Fitzpatrick did that last week, so expect plenty of play-action passes involving Taylor and Landry on Monday.

For New Orleans, it’s simple, fire up the running game.

Last week Alvin Kamara was hardly used on the ground, receiving just eight handoffs good for 29-yards and a pair of scores.

Those touchdowns were no doubt valuable, and it was probably the Saints plan to avoid Gerald McCoy on the other side of the ball, but this week against Cleveland, expect the shackles to come off.

Tip: Back the Saints 13-18 @ $5.00

Neither of these teams can afford to slip to 0-2 after coming up short last week.

The 49ers put up a brave fight against the Vikings before quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a hat-trick of interceptions.

It was always a tough ask for the Niners to go into Minnesota and take care of one of the most talented offenses in the league, but there’s still plenty San Francisco can take away from the 24-16 loss.

Coming up short doesn’t even begin to describe the Lions’ woes.

They were just another of the many teams to suffer a loss with a new head coach at the helm, but to lose at home to the Jets?

No one saw that coming.

Similar to Garoppolo, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw four picks last week against New York.

Meanwhile, the defence coughed up large chunks of yards all game long, highlighting just how much work is ahead for former Patriots defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia.

Week 2 is a chance for a fresh slate, although it’s tough to separate these two sides when it comes to the roster.

San Francisco noticeably struggled on the ground against Minnesota, but they should dominate Detroit’s interior defence after Isaiah Crowell lashed the Lions for 102-yards and a pair of touchdowns last week.

It was clear George Kittle also figures as Garoppolo’s go-to target this season, catching five passes for 90-yards.

Likewise, the Lions also gave up 180-yards to the Jets in the air.

If Detroit are to turn things around though, they’ll rest easy knowing the Niners struggled at home last season, winning just two of their eight games at Levi’s Stadium.

Was Stafford’s game just a freak mishap last week?

Given his track record, he deserves a mulligan, and so do the Lions.

Tip: Back Detroit To Win @ $3.00

It took three quarters, but the Rams made short work of the Raiders to win comfortably last week.

Things weren’t quite so straight-forward for the Cardinals however, managing just one touchdown in garbage-time during a blowout loss to the Redskins at home.

When it comes to these two, season expectations were at complete opposite ends of the spectrum to begin the season.

This is still a key NFC West game though, one that could define Arizona’s season or further cement the Rams as the division favourite.

Los Angeles’ offense was on point last Tuesday, especially when it came to the ground game.

Todd Gurley was lethal running for 108-yards, but the addition of Brandin Cooks in the passing game also looks scary for opposing defences going forward.

Head-to-head, these teams have won five games apiece across their last 10 meetings, and this looks tailor-made for the Rams to break the stalemate.

Los Angeles’ offense got going when it mattered most last week against Oakland, but the Rams defence was crucial in forcing Derek Carr into simple mental errors in the fourth quarter.

With the Cardinals struggling to muster up not only points, but also contain an aged running back like Adrian Peterson last week, this one should be ugly.

Tip: Back the Rams To Beat The Line (-12 Points) @ $1.91

Easily game of the week, but most importantly, the long awaited rematch between last year’s AFC Championship finalists.

Week 1 went off without a hitch for both of these sides. Things played out just as we thought – the Jags defence is unbelievable, and Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski keep on keepin’ on.

It’s fair to say Monday morning’s meeting will resemble similar tendencies to last year’s evenly matched playoff encounter, but the Patriots may want to trust their running game a little more this week.

Just like last year, Jacksonville’s defence is stingy in the air, but the Jags allowed Giants first-round draft pick Saquon Barkley to rush for 106-yards and a score.

New England’s back-field doesn’t feature anyone of Barkley’s calibre, however Rex Burkhead is still a valuable running back worth trusting in red zone situations.

And what about Jacksonville, how can they win this?

Home-field advantage counts for a lot against the Patriots, and although their own run game took a hit with Leonard Fournette suffering a hamstring pull last week, the Jags simply need to pressure Brady early and often.

Two sacks against New York wasn’t what we’re used to seeing from this defence, but as we saw in the Championship Game, when you get in Brady’s face, the passing game suffers.

Despite signing Corey Coleman earlier in the week, this time around, Brady doesn’t have Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola or Dion Lewis to bail him out.

It’s one thing to win at home against the Texans with no receivers, but this is the real test.

Tip: Back the Jaguars To Win @ $2.05

This AFC West rivalry goes way back, and even though both sides have hardly been competitive recently, it’s always a fierce encounter whenever the Raiders travel to Denver.

The Broncos were sneaky underrated entering the season, and they proved their worth by beating the Seahawks last week.

It was a mixed bag for quarterback Case Keenum, who threw for 329-yards, three touchdowns but also three interceptions.

More importantly though, Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas combined for two of those touchdowns as well as 198-yards against what was formally one of the most feared defences in the league.

The Raiders, well let’s just say things fizzled out pretty quickly during Jon Gruden’s coaching debut.

Oakland got off to a fast start behind a rugby-like run from Marshawn Lynch, but it was all downhill after that as the Rams ran away on the scoreboard.

It’s a bit of a dart throw this week, especially with either side looking unpredictable with the ball in hand.

Home-field advantage for the second week in a row means the world to Denver though, and if the defence can limit the Raiders to just two third down conversions like they did last week against the Seahawks, the Broncos will be tough to stop.

Tip: Under 46.5 Points @ $1.91

Sunday Night Football gets underway from Jerry World this week in a game between two 0-1 teams that looked rather unconvincing last week.

Starting with the Cowboys, a tough road trip to Carolina is never easy, but what happened to Dallas’ run game?

The Panthers kept Ezekiel Elliott in check for most of the day, and the same can be said for quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw for a measly 170-yards.

Things weren’t quite as grim for the Giants against the Jaguars, if you discount Eli Manning’s so-so day.

Manning completed 23 of his 37 pass attempts, good for only 224-yards and a single interception. With so much talent around him, including Odell Beckham Jr. (who by the way, caught for 111-yards), New York need to find a way to make this offense click in a hurry.

Fans won’t like to hear it, but the last two encounters between these teams have hardly been close.

Dallas have won both games convincingly, and with a 4-2 head-to-head record in their last six games, it’s likely the Cowboys get back on track this week.

It’s safe to say, nothing will come easy though.

The lack of receivers was a huge concern entering the season, and unless the Tavon Austin experiment takes a remarkable turn, it’s a mystery as to who the Cowboys will throw the ball to this season.

For the time being, the plan seems to be to keep Prescott moving the chains with his feet. That should work well against a Giants defence that looked gassed by the fourth quarter last week.

Tip: Back the Cowboys 7-12 @ $5.00

How do you regroup from blowing a lead against your biggest division rival?

Even after the Aaron Rodgers miracle last week, you still have to like what you saw from the Bears.

Matt Nagy’s defence was electric in the first half, and defensive end Khalil Mack looks like he’s worth every pretty penny Chicago forked out for him.

At the same time, quarterback Mitch Trubisky also seems to have turned the corner.

He stepped up on numerous occasions to deliver balls down the field with linebackers in his face, and despite a quiet second half, newly acquired wide receiver Allen Robinson looks like he’ll be a major player down the sidelines this season.

For Seattle, last week was a close one, but this game might be a little beyond them.

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin is set to miss a “couple” of weeks with a knee injury, leaving quarterback Russell Wilson fourth round tight end Will Dissly and veteran receiver Tyler Lockett to throw to this week.

It’s not exactly a recipe for success, and neither is a second-straight road game, this time to Soldier Field.

The Bears did a lot wrong last week, but they also did a lot right. Most importantly, the running game looks in good hands, an area the Seahawks struggled to defend last week against the Broncos, allowing a combined 146-yards to Royce Freeman, Phillip Lindsay and Devontae Booker.

Tip: Back the Bears 13-18 @ $6.00

2017

There were plenty of upsets in the opening week of the 2017 NFL season and that makes for a number of interesting games this weekend.

The highlight of the week is on Monday morning when the Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers in a NFC Conference Championship rematch, but there is genuine betting interest in every single game.

We have closely analysed all 16 games set to take place over the weekend and our 2017 NFL Week 2 tips can be found below.

This is a big game for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans as they both made poor starts of the season.

The Bengals offence was nothing short of a disgrace against the Baltimore Ravens, but they will still go into this clash as clear favourites.

Cincinnati struggled at home last season and they have won only three of their past seven games as home favourites, while they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

Houston were poor on both sides of the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars and they are a team that are already at a crossroads after quarterback Tom Savage was replaced by DeShaun Watson last weekend and Watson now looks likely to start in this clash.

Winning away from home was a big issue for the Texans last season and they have won only two of their past nine games as away underdogs.

It is tough to trust either of these teams from a betting perspective, but there is still a betting play I like in this clash and that is the Under in Total Points betting.

Backing the Under in games involving either of these teams last season was a profitable betting play and based on their week one form that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.

Back Under 38.5 Points

This will be the first game of the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their season opener against the Miami Dolphins was postponed due to Hurricane Irma.

Tampa Bay will go into this clash as a clear favourite and they are a team that many experts believe will go to another level during the 2017 NFL season.

Raymond James Stadium has not been a fortress for the Buccaneers in recent seasons and they won only two of their four games as home favourites last season, while they were 1-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Chicago Bears almost produced an impressive comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener and there were plenty of positives to take out of that performance.

Chicago failed to win a single game away from home last season and they were a poor 2-4 against the line as away underdogs.

This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.

No Bet

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings both come into this clash on the back of week 1 victories.

Pittsburgh were not dominant against the Cleveland Browns, but they were still able to get the job done and they will start this clash at Heinz Field as dominant favourites.

Heinz Field has been a fortress for the Steelers for a number of seasons and they have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites, while they are 5-3 against the line in this scenario.

The Vikings offence showed signs of big improvement in their season opening win over the New Orleans Saints – Stefon Diggs was particularly impressive – but the Saints still have one of the worst defences in the NFL and this will be a much tougher test.

Minnesota have won only one of their past four games as away underdogs and their record against the line in this scenario is no better.

Pittsburgh are always very tough to beat in front of their home fans at Heinz Field and the line of six points should not be enough.

Back Pittsburgh To Beat The Line (-6 Points)

This looks set to be a shootout between Drew Brees and Tom Brady as both these defences struggled badly in the opening week of the NFL season.

The New England Patriots conceded 42 points in their season opening loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and they face the star-studded New Orleans Saints offence, but they will still go into this clash as the punter’s elect.

New England won all eight of their games on the road last season and more impressively they were 7-1 against the line in these games.

Adrian Peterson’s return to Minnesota did not go to plan – he was barely involved and the Saints suffered a disappointing defeat.

The Saints defence continues to be a big issue and that puts Brees and the rest of the offence under plenty of pressure in the early stages.

New Orleans did win their only game as home underdogs last season, but it is impossible to have any confidence in them against this Patriots side.

This is a game that New England really should win and win comfortably.

Back New England To Beat The Line (-6 Points)

The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the most impressive teams in the opening week of the NFL season and they will start this game as clear favourites.

Kareem Hunt was the obvious standout in Kansas City’s season opener against New England, but Alex Smith had one of the best performances of his career and Tyreek Hill continues to look extremely dangerous.

The Chiefs won five of their eight games as home favourites last season for a small loss and they were only 3-1-4 against the line in this scenario.

Philadelphia started the season with an impressive win over the Washington Redskins, but this will be a much tougher assignment and a real test of where they stand in the early stages of the season.

The Eagles really did struggle to win games away from home last season and they have won only one of their six games as away underdogs, while they are 2-4 against the line in this scenario.

This is another game that the market looks to have gotten just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

This is a crucial game in the battle for AFC South supremacy.

The Tennessee Titans were not disgraced in their week one loss at the hands of the Oakland Raiders and they will start this game as favourites, despite playing on the road.

Tennessee won only one of their two games as away favourites last season for a loss and the home team has won the past six games played between these two franchises.

It has been a tough off-season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they were very impressive in their season opener against the Houston Texans and have a genuine chance of starting the season with a 2-0 record.

It is still tough to trust this Jacksonville side – they won only two of their seven games at home last season – and I would like to see them produce a similar performance again before we can confirm that they have actually improved.

The one betting play I do like in this clash is the Over in Total Points betting markets.

The Over has saluted in five of the past seven home games played by the Jaguars and backing the Over in Titans games has also proven to be a profitable betting play.

Back Over 44 Points

The Indianapolis Colts were nothing short of disgraceful against the Los Angeles Rams in their season opener and they will start this clash as clear outsiders.

There is no doubt that Scott Tolzien is simply not up to the NFL standard and it would be something of a surprise if the Colts did not start Jacoby Brissett – who they acquired from the New England Patriots just before the start of the season.

The Colts failed to win either of their games as home underdogs last season and it is impossible to have any faith in them on the back of their season opener.

It was a tough start to the year for the Arizona Cardinals – not only did they lost to the Detroit Lions, but they lost star running back David Johnson to injury in the process.

Carson Palmer looked very shakey once again for Arizona and there are some alarm bells ringing about these sides once again.

The Cardinals only won two of their five games as away favourites last season and they are another team that is tough to trust.

This is a game that I want absolutely nothing to do with from a betting perspective.

No Bet

There is no love lost between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, but sadly for Browns fans this is a rivalry that has been dominated by the Ravens.

Baltimore could hardly have been more impressive in their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and they are clear favourites to start their season 2-0.

The Ravens have won nine of their past ten games against Cleveland as home favourites, but they have actually been a losing betting proposition against the line in front of their home fans.

Cleveland were far from disgraced in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers and this is a side that really does look like they will improve on their 1-15 record from last season.

It is still tough to have any faith in Cleveland from a betting perspective – they have lost their past seven games as away underdogs and they are 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

The market has got this clash spot-on and this is another game that I will be letting go through to the keeper.

No Bet

The Carolina Panthers made a pleasing start to the 2017 NFL season and they will start this clash with the Buffalo Bills as clear favourites.

Carolina produced a very professional effort on both sides of the ball against the San Francisco 49ers and a similar performance would be a enough to see-off the Bills.

The Panthers have won four of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are only 3-4 against the line and they have lost their past two games against the Bills.

Buffalo started their season with a win over the New York Jets and as long as running back LeSean McCoy remains fit they will be competitive this season – he was simply outstanding against the Jets.

This is obviously a tougher assignment, but the Bills won two of their four games as away underdogs last season and were a profitable betting play against the line in this scenario.

It would not surprise to see the Bills give the Panthers a scare in this clash and Buffalo are a nice bet to cover the line with a start of seven points.

Back Buffalo To Beat The Line (+7 Points)

The Oakland Raiders are the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend in the NFL.

Oakland started their season with a professional win over the Tennessee Titans and most pleasing for the Raiders was the successful return to football of running back Marshawn Lynch.

The Raiders are in the highly competitive AFC West and they can’t afford to drop games like this one if they are going to win this division.

There is no doubt that Oakland should win this clash and the real question is whether they can cover the big line of 13.5 points – they covered the line in only three of their six games as home favourites last season.

New York were not disgraced against the Buffalo Bills in their season opener, but they are a side that lack any real upside and there is no doubt that they already have their eyes on the future.

The Jets covered the line in only two of their eight games as away underdogs last season and it is incredibly tough to see them winning this clash.

Oakland are capable of scoring plenty of points in front of their home fans and even the big line of 13.5 points will not be enough.

Back Oakland To Beat The Line (-13.5 Points)

The Chargers will play their first game in Los Angeles when they host the Miami Dolphins at StubHub Center this weekend.

Los Angeles will start this clash as favourites, despite really not looking particularly impressive in their season opener against the Denver Broncos.

The Chargers had the chance to take the game to overtime before they had a field-goal blocked, but the closeness of the scoreline did not represent the game – they were not in the contest for over three quarters.

This is obviously a new stadium for the Chargers, but they struggled at home last season and they won only two of their five games as home favourites.

Miami’s season opener against Tampa Bay was postponed due to Hurricane Irma and this will be the be the first regular season clash for Jay Cutler in a Dolphins uniform.

The Dolphins were able to win three of their seven games as away underdogs last season for a profit and they really do look like excellent value.

There is nowhere near as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests and Miami are one of the best betting plays of the weekend.

Back Miami To Win $2.88

This is one of the biggest and most interesting games of the weekend.

The Dallas Cowboys were always in control of the season opener against the New York Giants, but they will face a tougher test against a Denver Broncos defence that was excellent in week 1.

Dallas have not beaten Denver since 1995 and haven’t beat them at Mile High since 1992, but they will still go into this clash as favourites.

The Cowboys won three of their four games as away favourites last season, but they were only 2-2 against the line in this scenario.

Denver almost blew a big lead against the Los Angeles Chargers, but their poor finish hid the fact that they actually played fairly well on both sides of the football.

Their record against the Cowboys is excellent, but there is no doubt that Dallas have improved since these teams played out a memorable shootout back in 2013.

Dallas can control this clash through the running game of Ezekiel Elliot and he could prove to be the difference between the two sides.

Back Dallas To Win @ $1.80

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the shortest-priced favourites in the NFL this weekend.

The Seahawks offence looked excellent in their season opener against the Green Bay Packers, but their offensive line was very poor and that put a great deal of pressure on Russell Wilson.

That should not be a particularly big problem for the Seahawks against the 49ers, but it is something of a concern going forward.

Seattle won seven of their eight games as home favourites last season and they have also won their past seven meetings against the San Francisco 49ers.

It looks set to be another season for San Francisco and they were simply no match for the Carolina Panthers in their opening game of the season.

The 49ers won only one of their seven games as away underdogs last season and they were 3-4 against the line in this scenario.

This is a game that Seattle really should win easily and the line of 13.5 points will not be enough.

Back Seattle To Beat The Line (-13.5 Points)

The Los Angeles Rams could not have asked for a better start to the season and they will start this clash with the Washington Redskins as clear favourites.

The Indianapolis Colts did them plenty of favours, but the Rams were still able to put on 46 points in a performance that was better than anything that they produced last season.

Los Angeles only started three games as home favourites last season and they won only one of them – they are very unlikely to meet another side as bad as the week 1 Colts again this season.

Washington were very disappointing in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kirk Cousins was nothing short of dreadful.

The Redskins are a better side than that performance suggests and I am willing to give them another chance against the Rams.

Washington won two of their five games as away underdogs last season for a profit and they were an impressive 4-1 against the line in this scenario.

Back Washington To Win @ $2.25

This is a rematch of the NFC Conference Championship from last season and there is no doubt this is the game of the weekend.

The Atlanta Falcons were far too good for the Green Bay Packers when they met in the NFL Playoffs last season and they will go into this clash as favourites.

Atlanta were not overly impressive in their season opener against Chicago and the Bears almost came from behind, but the Falcons were still able to come away with the victory.

The Falcons have won six of their past eight games at the Georgia Dome, but they are only 4-4 against the line in this scenario.

Green Bay eventually got their offence rolling against Seattle to come away with the victory and their defence showed plenty of improvement from last season.

The question is whether that had more to do with the Packers defence or the Seahawks offence and that will likely be answered in this clash.

Green Bay did win two of their five games as away underdogs last season for a clear profit and they were 3-2 against the line in this scenario.

I think that this will be one of the closest games of the weekend and I am keen to back Green Bay with the insurance of the start at the line.

Back Green Bay To Beat The Line (+2.5 Points)

The New York Giants made a slow start to the NFL season and they will go into this clash with the Detroit Lions as clear favourites.

New York could not get anything go on offence whatsoever in their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys and it is now clear that this team relies extremely heavily on star wideout Odell Beckham.

The Giants were a reliable betting proposition as favourites last season – they won six of their seven games as the punter’s elect and were 5-2 against the line when giving away a start.

Detroit beat Arizona to make a winning start to their season and their were positives on both sides of the ball for the Lions.

The Lions have definitely struggled against the Giants in recent years and they have not beaten them on the road since 2004 – when the Giants still played at the old Giants Stadium.

Detroit won only two of their past seven games as away underdogs for a clear loss and their record against the line in this scenario is no better.

New York can return to their best form with Beckham in the side and record their first win of the season.

Back The Giants To Beat The Line (-4 Points)

2016

There are 16 games in week 2 of the 2016 NFL season and the highlight is undoubtedly the Los Angeles Rams first home game since their relocation from St Louis.

The action gets underway with an AFC East clash between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets on Friday morning and there are plenty of crucial games between divisional rivals spread right across the weekend.

Chicago take on Philadelphia in the final game on Tuesday and you can find our tips for every single game below!

This is a key game for both the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets after they both made losing starts to the NFL season.

Buffalo were simply unable to get anything going on defence against the Baltimore Ravens and they face another tough assignment against the New York defence.

The Bills return home for this clash, but Ralph Wilson Stadium has been far from a fortress in recent seasons and they were 4-3 at the venue last season, while they have won five of their past ten games against the Jets in front of their home fans.

The Jets had their chances against the Cincinnati Bengals and were unable to come away with the victory, but there were still plenty of positives to take away from the performance.

New York have been more than credible away from home in the past 12 months, but they have struggled against Buffalo in recent seasons and have lost the past five games played between these two sides.

Based on their opening week performance, New York should be able to end their losing streak to the Buffalo and they are a good bet to get the job done.

Back New York Jets To Win @ $1.91

These two teams are expected to fight out the AFC North Division Title and the result of this clash could prove key at the business end of the season.

Pittsburgh were nothing short of outstanding in their season opener against the Washington Redskins – with Antonio Brown particularly impressive – and it is no surprise that the Steelers will go into this clash as clear favourites.

Home favoritism has been a position in which Pittsburgh have thrived in the past 12 months – they have won five of their past six games in this scenario and they are 3-3 against the line.

It wasn’t pretty at times, but Cincinnati eventually came away from their opening weekend clash against the New York Jets with a victory.

Despite claiming the AFC North title last season, the Bengals still lost to the Steelers twice and they still struggle at times against their divisional rivals.

In saying that, the Bengals have won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a tidy profit and they have covered the line in their past five games in this scenario.

This will be a fascinating clash and the Bengals are a better chance than the market suggests – I am keen to back them with a start of 3.5 points.

Back Cincinnati To Beat The Line (+3.5 Points)

The Detroit Lions started the NFL season with an upset victory over the Indianapolis Colts and they are clear favourites to make it two wins on the trot this weekend.

Detroit gave up a big lead in the second half of their season opener, but showed plenty of character and composure in their final drive to steal the victory.

The Lions have actually proven to be a safe betting play as home favourites in the past 12 months, but they are only 2-2 against the line in this scenario.

Tennessee started last season where they left off with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings and they have now won just one of their past eight games.

DeMarco Murray looked good for the Titans, but there are still issues on both sides of the football and it could prove to be another long season.

The Titans have won just one of their past seven games as away underdogs and they have an identical record against the line.

Detroit are clearly the team to beat in this clash, but the market has got this game just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.

No Bet

There is no love lost between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, which makes each meeting between the two sides extremely interesting.

Baltimore got their season off to a winning started with a typically strong defensive effort against the Buffalo Bills and it is no surprise that they will go into this clash as clear favourites.

The Ravens were actually a losing betting proposition as away favourites last season and failed to beat the line in any of their games in this scenario, but they have won six of their past eight games at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Cleveland started their campaign with a big loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and they lost new quarterback Robert Griffin III in the process.

It really is tough to find any positives on this Browns roster and they have lost their past four games as home underdogs, while they are just 1-3 against the line in this situation.

Baltimore really should win this game, but I can’t get them as short as their current quote and this is another fixture that I am happy to stay out of betting wise.

No Bet

This is a crucial game for these divisional rivals that are both coming off losses in the opening weekend.

Washington were no match for a firing Pittsburgh Steelers in Monday Night Football, but they will still go into this clash with the Dallas Cowboys as clear favourites.

The Redskins have actually struggled as home favourites in the past 12 months – they have won just one of their three games in this scenario and are 0-3 against the line.

The Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot era got off to a relatively positive start for the Cowboys, but a lack of composure at key moments cost them the opening weekend victory against the New York Giants.

Both Prescott and Elliot are sure to have benefited from their NFL debuts and the Cowboys will fancy their chances of recording an upset victory over their rivals.

I expect this to be another very close contest and the Cowboys are a good bet with a start of 2.5 points.

Back Dallas To Beat The Line (+2.5 Points)

This has every chance to be the highest-scoring game of the weekend.

New York kept their composure to claim their first win of the season against the Cowboys and they will go into this clash as very short-priced favourites.

The Giants still have room to improvement on that performance – Odell Beckham III was hardly involved – but they do seem extremely short at their current price.

New York have won three of their past five games as home favourites for a narrow loss, while they are 2-3 against the line in that scenario.

New Orleans scored 34 points in their opening game against the Oakland Raiders, but that still wasn’t enough to come away with the victory.

Defence continues to be a huge problem for New Orleans and it will be up to Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and their talented receiving group to score more than 30 points a game for the Saints to have any chance whatsoever.

They are more than capable of doing that against New York and the Saints have an excellent record as away underdogs – they have won three of their past six games in this scenario and they are 4-2 against the line.

New Orleans are a great bet to get the job done this weekend and the $2.70 currently on offer is well over the odds.

Back New Orleans To Win @ $2.70

Carolina missed out on a golden opportunity to start their season with a victory, while San Francisco made an emphatic start to the Chip Kelly-era.

The Panthers kicked away to an early lead against the Denver Broncos, but they threw the game away in the second half to suffer their second straight lost to their rivals.

Carolina will still go into this clash as dominant favourites and they have a simply outstanding record as home favourites in the past 12 months – they have won their past nine games in this scenario and have a record of 7-2 against the line.

It had been a rocky off-season for San Francisco, but they could hardly have made a more impressive start to the season with their shut-out victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

This is obviously a much tougher challenge for the 49ers and they have won just one of their past eight games as away underdogs, while they are 2-6 against the line in this scenario.

Carolina should be able to make a quick return to winning form and I expect them to do in emphatic fashion.

Back Carolina To Beat The Line (-13 Points)

The New England Patriots showed that they don’t need Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowski to win football games and they will start this clash with the Miami Dolphins as clear favourites.

Jimmy Garoppolo did all that he needed to do to lead the Patriots to an opening week victory over the Arizona Cardinals and a similar performance would likely be enough to see off the Dolphins.

New England have won seven of their past eight games as home favourites for a clear profit and they are an impressive 5-2-1 against the line in this scenario.

Miami were almost able to get their season off to the best possible start with an upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks, but just came up short.

The final scoreline probably flattered the Dolphins as they were not that impressive, with their offensive line struggling to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill upright.

Miami have been a poor betting team for a number of seasons and they have won just two of their past six games as away underdogs, while they are 3-3 against the line in this situation.

New England should be able to take their record to 2-0 and they can cover the line of 6.5 points while doing so.

Back New England To Beat The Line (-6.5 Points)

This should be one of the most hotly-contested games of the weekend between these two very evenly-matched teams.

Houston came from behind to record an opening week victory over the Chicago Bears and they will go into this meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs as narrow favourites.

The Texans have actually proven to be a safe betting proposition as home favourites in the past 12 months and they are 5-1 in both head-to-head and line betting markets over this period.

They did not do it easy, but Kansas City were also able to record a first week victory with an overtime win over an unlucky San Diego Chargers.

The Chiefs defence was uncharacteristically poor in this contest and they will need to improve against the new-look Houston offence that should have taken plenty of benefit from their first competitive fixture.

Kansas City are not a team that generally win when they are not expected to and they are 1-4 in both head-to-head and line betting markets as away underdogs.

Houston are a safe bet to get the job done in this game and they can cover the line of two points comfortably.

Back Houston To Beat The Line (-2 Points)

The Rams could not have made a worst start to their new life in Los Angeles and they face a much tougher assignment against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend.

Los Angeles were truly pathetic against San Francisco in their opening game of the season and things could really get ugly if they produce a similar effort in their first game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Rams only played two games as home underdogs last season and they finished with a victory and a loss.

Seattle were far from convincing in their week 1 victory over Miami and they will be hoping to produce an improved performance in this fixture.

The Rams actually beat Seattle twice last season and have a decent record against their rivals, but the Seahawks have won their past five games as away favourites and they are 3-2 against the line in this situation.

Seattle should prove far too strong for the hapless Los Angeles and they are a safe bet to cover the line.

Back Seattle To Cover The Line

The Arizona Cardinals will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start to the season following their loss to the New England Patriots.

Arizona will be ruing the fact that they failed to get the job done against an injury-plauged New England and their defence will need to improve after giving up a whopping ten third-down conversions.

The Cardinals will start this clash as clear favourites and they have been surprisingly shakey in this position over the past 12 months – they have won just six of their last nine games in this scenario for a loss, while they are 2-7 against the line.

Tampa Bay will head into their second game of the season with plenty of confidence after they out-scored divisional rivals Atlanta in an opening weekend shootout.

Jameis Winston was particularly impressive, but consistency has been the issue for the young Buccaneers in recent season and they have won just one of their past five games on the back of a win.

In saying that, the Buccaneers have proven to be an highly profitable betting play as away underdogs and they have won four of their past eight games in this situation.

Tampa Bay are well over the odds at their current quote and I am very keen to back them with the sizable start of 6.5 points.

Back Tampa Bay To Cover The Line (+6.5 Points)

Both San Diego and Jacksonville head into the second week of the 2016 NFL season on the back of heart-breaking week 1 defeats.

San Diego jumped out to a big lead against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they lost their momentum after Keenan Allen went down with a very serious knee injury and they lost the game in overtime.

The Chargers will still start this game as clear favourites, but they have proven to be a tough team to trust in this situation in the past 12 months – they are just 1-3 in head-to-head betting and 0-4 against the line.

Jacksonville narrowly went down to the Green Bay Packers in their season opener and there were plenty of positives to take away from the performance.

The issue for the Jaguars is that they have really struggled away from home in the past 12 months – they have won just one of their past eight games as away underdogs and they are 3-1-4 against the line in this scenario.

Both these teams are tough to trust from a betting standpoint and this is a contest that I am more than happy to let go through to the keeper.

No Bet

The Oakland Raiders started their 2016 NFL season with a narrow victory over the New Orleans Saints and they have an excellent chance to improve their record to 2-0.

Oakland’s offence was outstanding right across the board in week one and it is fair to say that they face another secondary defence that could struggle to keep the likes of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree under wraps.

Oakland will start this game as clear favourites and that is a position that they have not been in in recent seasons – they are 1-1 as home favourites and failed to cover the line in both of their games in this scenario.

Atlanta were upstaged by divisional rivals Tampa Bay and there are definitely some worrying signs for the Falcons going forward.

The one positive was the performance of quarterback Matt Ryan and he will need to play well again for Atlanta to win this contest.

Atlanta have actually won three of their past five games as away underdogs for a healthy profit and their current price of $2.70 is well over the odds.

Back Atlanta To Win @ $2.70

There will be no Peyton Manning on either side, but there will still be plenty of interest in this crucial AFC clash between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.

It was far from pretty at times, but the defending Super Bowl champions were still able to get their season off to a winning start against the Carolina Panthers and running back CJ Anderson was particularly impressive.

Denver will start this clash as clear favourites and their record as home favourites over the past 12 months has been mediocre – they are just 0-1-5 against the line in this scenario.

It was a truly bizarre game for the Colts in their season opener and they were arguably lucky to finish as close to the Detroit Lions as they did.

Andrew Luck was enormous for the Colts and he will need to produce a similar performance to have any chance whatsoever of upstaging the Broncos.

Indianapolis were actually a profitable betting play as away underdogs last season and they won three of their six games in that scenario, while they were 4-2 against the line.

The Colts have the upside to improve on their first week performance and they are a good bet to beat the line with a start of six points.

Back Indianapolis To Beat The Line (-6 Points)

These two teams are expected to fight out the NFC North and this will be a crucial clash.

Green Bay had some nervous moments in their season opener against Jacksonville, but they were still able to come away with the victory despite the average performance of quarter-back Aaron Rodger.

The Packers will likely need to improve on that performance to beat the Vikings, but they will still start this game as favourites and they are 5-2 in both head-to-head and line betting markets.

Minnesota beat the Tennessee Titans with Shaun Hill under centre and Sam Bradford will likely make his debut for his new side in this contest.

Bradford is an adequate game manager and the Vikings will be expecting more from Adrian Peterson this weekend after he was restricted to just 31 yards from 19 carries in the opening week of the season.

The Vikings lost all three of their games as home underdogs last season and it is tough to see that changing against the Packers this weekend.

Back Green Bay To Beat The Line (-2.5 Points)

This is an intriguing Monday Night Football clash between two sides that showed some promising signs in the first week of the season.

Chicago took the lead early before being run down by the Houston Texans and they are clear favourites to record their first victory of the season this weekend.

The Bears struggled badly at Soldier Field last season and they finished with just one win from their seven games in front of their home fans, while they are 0-2 as home favourites.

The Carson Wentz era got off to a very promising start in Philadelphia as the rookie quarter-back led his side to a very comfortable victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Wentz was not the only star performer in the contest and based on that performance Philadelphia could prove too be a stronger team than expected this season.

The Eagles actually won three of their five games as away underdogs last season and they are one of the best bets of the weekend to win again against the Bears.

Back Philadelphia To Win @ $2.45