NFL Weekly Predictions: Odds, Best Bets & Betting Preview

Week 2 of the NFL season begins with an epic interconference clash between Super Bowl hopefuls the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, setting the stage for an impactful Sunday slate that features five divisional confrontations. NFL predictions were turned upside down in the opening week with teams like Arizona, Las Vegas, and the Jets and Giants all winning. Super Bowl favorite the Los Angeles Rams were cooked in Australia and look to get in the win column with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Giants as an early 7-point favorite on the NFL betting line.

Featured NFL Games This Week

There is a mouth-watering slate of NFL football games this week in primetime starting with the Thursday night matchup between Detroit and Buffalo. Both teams secured narrow victories in their opener displaying the offensive firepower that makes them among the elite in the NFL. The schedule also includes crucial AFC battles and fierce divisional rivalries.

Patrick Mahomes was solid leading Kansas City to a win over Denver in Week 1. The Chiefs get the primetime stage once again taking on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. In his first game since a season-ending injury last year, Mahomes tossed two TD passes in KC’s 31-10 divisional romp. The Rams will be without prized offseason acquisition Myles Garrett as they look to rebound from a 27-7 loss to San Francisco by hosting the Giants on Monday night. LA remains the Super Bowl favorite despite the big setback.

Matchups With the Biggest Storylines

• It’s not do-or-die time yet, but another loss means an increased level of concern for the Los Angeles based teams, who were preseason Super Bowl favorites. Entering their opening games as favorites, both the Rams and Chargers were upset, setting the stage for a critical Week 2 NFL schedule. The Bolts host the 1-0 Raiders as a 7-point NFL betting line favorite in Sunday’s late window.
• There’s a big early-season contest in the NFC East with Dallas and Washington hooking up after both clubs suffered Week 1 setbacks to division rivals. The loser will sit alone in last place in the division while the victor will feel much better about their season chances. Dallas opened as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 50.5, the second-highest on the board.
• Two of the best teams in the NFL a season ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos meet in a big early-season AFC matchup that could impact playoff seedings later on. The Jags won last season’s matchup 34-20 scoring the most points against Denver’s stout defense.

Games That Could Impact the Playoff Picture

• It’s early to start talking about playoffs but a few matchups will help teams get an early jump in their division.
• Five NFL games this week feature division foes going head to head with each having an impact on the standings. After dropping 59 points in their opener, the Bears host Minnesota in a NFC North battle. 
• The only division that failed to produce a winner last week will all but guarantee a team gets in the win column when NFC South members Carolina and Atlanta square off. Arizona surprised the Chargers winning outright as a 9.5-point road dog. This week the Cards take on defending Super Bowl champion Seattle in an early-season battle for NFC West supremacy.

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NFL Picks & Predictions

We got some valuable insight into every team after their opening games, but there are still plenty of things hanging in the balance. The Rams aren’t going to go the entire season without winning a game and the Bears won’t average 59 points per contest. As things gravitate to the mean in Week 2 we’ll cautiously make our NFL predictions today. Offense was a theme in Week 1 with a record number of points scored. The team that led the NFL in scoring last season totaled the fewest points last week with the Rams losing 27-7. Look for LA to respond at home as a strong NFL pick to beat the Giants in Week 2.

Predicted Winners

• Back home after an exhausting trip to Australia, the Rams will go about their business and beat the Giants in a game they need to restore confidence. LA will be without Myles Garrett for a few weeks, but they are expected to have Aaron Donald in the lineup. And look for the offense to be more in tune after a sluggish opener.
• It looks like the same story in Cleveland after the Browns were routed in their opener. The QB situation remains a mystery and Deshaun Watson did little to solidify his role. The team totaled just 272 yards, turned the ball over twice and was 1 of 8 on third down. They weren’t much better defensively giving Tampa Bay an avenue for the cover win.
• The markets reacted to Arizona’s upset win, posting them as a mere 4.5-point dog for their matchup with Seattle. The Seahawks have won nine straight in the series with seven of those wins by at least eight points.

Potential Upsets to Watch

• The Jets are coming off a Week 1 win where the defense looked incredibly stout holding Tennessee to 195 total yards. Green Bay collapsed under intense pressure in the second half in their loss to Minnesota leaving the Pack ripe for an upset.
• Houston’s defense was sloppy in the loss to Buffalo and the Bengals behind the passing attack of Joe Burrow will look to exploit those deficiencies. The Bengals are more than capable of scoring an upset as a 2.5-point road dog.
• The Steelers’ strong defense will look to disrupt Drake Maye and the Patriots offense in their key AFC matchup. The Pats had time to correct the problems, but that still may not be enough.

Games That Could Be Closer Than Expected

• The Chargers are a 6.5-point home favorite on the NFL betting line to beat Las Vegas. Divisional road underdogs getting nearly a touchdown are historically strong against the spread early in the season.
• New Orleans lost a heartbreaker in Detroit flashing a dynamic offense that rallied from a 21-point deficit. Their ability to comeback and score points will likely keep them closer than the 8.5-point spread suggests.

NFL Odds & Betting Preview

The Week 2 NFL betting odds are set for a schedule full of premium matchups as teams look to either strengthen their 2-0 start or try desperately to avoid a 0-2 hole. The point spreads and game totals have been adjusted after a high-scoring first week that saw an average of nearly 50 points scored per game. As of this writing five games have a point spread of 7-points or higher with San Francisco the biggest favorite laying 13.5-points to Miami.

How the Betting Lines Compare

• The Week 2 NFL betting odds show a clear divide between a few heavy favorites and a pack of tight, single-possession lines.
• The scoring outburst from the opening week led to adjusted game totals. Four games have a total of more than 48 points with two of those games into the 50s.
• The shortest spread on the board is 2.5-points listed for three separate games, including two AFC heavyweight matchups and the NFC South contest between Carolina and Atlanta.

Factors That Could Move the Odds

• Week 2 NFL odds reacted to a small sample size from last week’s games with bettors watching shifting variables to find early value opportunities.
• Nothing moves a spread faster than an injury to a key player. Closely monitor injury reports to see who might miss time.
• Lines and totals for Week 2 games are historically famous for overreacting to Week 1 results.

Best Bets for This Week's NFL Games

As fans and bettors overreact to the Week 1 stat lines, windows of value have opened up for the Week 2 schedule. Based on betting volume, advanced statistics and schematic advantages, experts have identified a few NFL best bets for this week’s games. Dallas is predicted to easily cover the 4.5-point spread in its home opener against Washington.

Underdogs Worth Considering

• Houston’s defense looked average last week allowing Joe Burrow and his playmakers to take advantage of some holes. Backing the experienced QB and his talented receivers gives the Bengals positive expected value.
• Carolina became a short road favorite after their 37-point effort last week. However, the defense was rocked and the Falcons front held up well despite their loss. At home, Atlanta is poised for an upset.

Betting Markets With Potential Value

• With market overreactions to last week’s offensive outburst, game totals have drifted away from baseline projections.
• Week 2 NFL odds frequently provide value by pricing point spreads on a one-game statistical anomaly. Carolina falls into that category after scoring 37 points last week.

Final NFL Weekly Predictions & Key Takeaways

The final predictions and critical takeaways for Week 2 of the NFL season center on high-leverage bounce-back spots and crucial historical stats. Teams that start a season 0-2 have historically faced an uphill battle to the postseason, but the additional regular season game added a few years ago lightens the load.

Biggest Factors to Monitor

• Betting lines for several games are in a state of flux as teams determine the health of starting QBs. The status of Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray, and Tua Tagovailoa is unknown.
• Week 2 NFL odds are famous for overreacting to small sample sizes. The Bears are getting action after their 59-point explosion and Carolina opened as a road favorite for its divisional matchup with Atlanta.

Key Matchups to Monitor

• Oddsmakers set the total at a high 54 points in the Detroit at Buffalo game. Both teams played in a controlled environment in Week 1 and will shift to a night game outdoors in Buffalo’s new stadium.
• Closely monitor the identity shift of Baltimore. With injuries at the receiver spot, the Ravens are likely to lean on the ground attack led by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson while limiting downfield shots.