With some big names coming up short last week, the door has been left wide open for us in Week 2. Find out where we are planning on placing our NFL picks this weekend.
A week after some big favorites failed to cover – or even
win in Green Bay’s and New Orleans’ case – the appetite for big favorites will
be tested by the NFL odds makers in Week 2. Seven teams opened up favored by a touchdown
or more, and we are here to fill you in on where the best value lies.
Let’s see if we can find some value hiding in this weeks lines, and decide which of these games are worth adding to our NFL picks this weekend.
New Orleans Saints
vs. Carolina Panthers
Many people are going to assume a New Orleans Saints
bounce-back in this spot but why not bank on a Carolina Panthers rebound? New
Orleans is listed as a three-point favorite on the road, but that’s dicey given
how they played in Week 1.
The New Orleans Saints struggled last week, and it really
looked like they missed head coach Sean Payton. The team did a horrible job
with execution and they failed to make any halftime adjustments; those flaws
can be attested to poor coaching.
As for the Panthers, they rushed for a franchise-low 10
yards last week. They’re not going to struggle like that again this week –
especially now that they are playing at home.
Meanwhile, Carolina had a rough start and dug themselves
and early hole, but the defense allowed just 16 passing yards and three points
after halftime. Cam Newton threw a pair of interceptions, but given how good
rookie Robert Griffin III looked last week against a feeble Saints defense,
Newton should do much better this week.
Look for the Panthers to run all over the Saints, find
some balance on offense and get the win.
Pick: Panthers +3
Kansas City Chiefs
vs. Buffalo Bills
Who is crazy enough to lay more than a field goal with
the Buffalo Bills right now?
Yes, Kansas City struggled in Week 1, but they should
have a much easier time of things in Week 2. The Bills are a wreck right now
and given their high expectations in the preseason and their shoddy performance
in Week 1, the home-field advantage could become a disadvantage very quickly if
the Chiefs get an early lead.
The Bills offense is in shambles right now as quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick can’t stop throwing interceptions. On top of that, slot
wideout David Nelson is out and starting running back Fred Jackson is as well.
The Chiefs will come into town with a conservative game
plan and will focus on running the ball, avoiding mistakes and playing defense.
That should be good enough against a Bills team that has self-destructed almost
every week since Fitzpatrick signed his $59 million contract extension last
year. Take the Chiefs.
Pick: Chiefs +3.5
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers vs. New York Giants
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the more impressive
teams in Week 1 in my eyes, and seeing them getting nine points seems like
great value. Yes, the New York Giants might eventually be the better team but
is this really that big of a mismatch that the Giants should be favored by
nearly double-digits? No.
The Bucs defense was quite impressive in Week 1 as they
held the Carolina Panthers – one of the best rushing teams in the NFL – to just
10 yards on the ground. Former first-round pick Gerald McCoy was a monster and
made a living in the Panthers backfield. The Bucs had just 23 sacks last season
but collected three in Week 1.
Greg Schiano has made the Bucs a more disciplined team.
That may not be the case every week, but that’s what he’s preaching and that’s
the result he got in Week 1, with no penalties or turnovers in the first half.
The Giants have had ample time to prepare, but they’re
not going to run away with this game. This is a matchup of two even teams, and
while desperation and home-field advantage should key a win for New York, the
Bucs will keep it close as long as they are disciplined.
Pick: Bucs +9
Be sure to check out our 'Week 2 NFL Picks to Avoid' article to find out which games we are keeping away from at all cost.