We were 3-0 in last week’s betting guide for the NFL, with two favorites (Miami and Arizona), and one pick ’em game netting the undefeated week.

It’s week 2, so it’s still difficult to predict how each team will adjust to the second week of the season. The betting public and experts will overreact to week 1, so we’ll attempt to temper our reactions, considering the NFL season is 17 weeks long.

Here’s three games you should keep an eye on for this week.

The New York Giants should take care of business in week 2. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1HuvJv9/Mark Kortum
The New York Giants should take care of business in week 2. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1HuvJv9/Mark Kortum

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants (-2)

With less than week to prepare and having to travel, we’re not sure why the betting public has favored the Falcons during the week.

The opening line set this game at 2.5 points in favor of the Giants, but the line has moved during the week. Granted, the movement isn’t much, but the slight change may be due to the controversy surrounding New York’s decision to not score and then to throw away the game at the end of the loss against Dallas.

That ruined a straight up win for New York, but the Giants still covered on the road against the Cowboys. New York was the better team for most of that game, and we anticipate that will continue Sunday against the Falcons.

Atlanta played a good half against the Eagles, before allowing Philadelphia do whatever it wanted on offense in the second half. The Falcons escaped with a victory, but this week is ripe for a letdown.

New York will be happy to get back on the field and will beat the Falcons by more than field goal. — Go chalk with New York

Don't overlook the Washington Redskins this week. Flickr/Keith Allison
Don’t overlook the Washington Redskins this week. Flickr/Keith Allison

St. Louis at Washington (+3.5)

This should be an open and shut case. St. Louis beat the best team in the NFC last week and Washington looked unable to move the ball consistently last week at home.

But this is the NFL, where things just don’t make sense sometimes.

Oddsmakers set this line at 2.5 points to open, with the betting public pushing the Rams to over the field goal mark.

The Redskins ran the ball well last week against a good front seven of the Dolphins. Washington totaled the third-most rushing yards in the NFL last week with 161 yards. And it wasn’t as if Miami moved the ball up and down the field.

Miami attempted to pass often during week 1, and the Redskins held the Dolphins to 188 yards passing on 31 attempts. The Dolphins averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt, while the Rams were at 11 yards per pass attempt in week 1. That number won’t continue this week.

The Redskins should put up another fight and will keep this close. — Go against the chalk with Washington

San Diego at Cincinnati (-3.5)

We tend to refrain from overreacting after week 1, but we may be changing our tune on Cincinnati.

We didn’t expect the Bengals to be as good as they had been in the past. After week 1, we’re reconsidering that assumption we had based only on a gut feeling. The Bengals look as good as they have been in the past, and that should continue against San Diego.

The Chargers made a good comeback in week 1 at home against Detroit. The Lions were another one of those teams that we thought would take a step back this season, and we still believe that, especially after their week 1 defensive effort.

San Diego won’t face a similar defense this week and it’s always a good bet to go against the West Coast team traveling east for an early afternoon kickoff. It will take the Chargers another half to wake up on Sunday, but this week, it will be too late. — Go chalk with Cincinnati

Other NFL games

Odds provided by Oddsshark

New England (-2) at Buffalo

Arizona (-2.5) at Chicago (Opening line has moved 1 point in Arizona direction)

San Francisco at Pittsburgh (-6.5)

Tennessee (-2) at Cleveland (Opening line has moved 5.5 points in Tennessee direction)

Houston at Carolina (-3) (Opening line has moved 1.5 points in Houston direction)

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (-10)

Detroit at Minnesota (-3)

Miami (-6.5) at Jacksonville (Opening line has moved 2 points in Miami direction)

Baltimore (-7) at Oakland (Opening line has moved 1 point in Baltimore direction)

Dallas at Philadelphia (-5) (Opening line has moved 1 point in Philadelphia direction)

Seattle at Green Bay (-3.5)

New York Jets at Indianapolis (-7) (Opening line has moved 1.5 points in Indianapolis direction)

 

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