NFL Week 2 Betting Preview – Odds, Tips and Picks for Every Game on Sunday and Monday
New England Patriots (0-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Steelers – 11/10 with bet365
Spread: Steelers +2.5 – 20/21 with BoyleSports
Over/Under: Under 40.5 – 10/11 with Betway
The Steelers defence sure lived up to those Black Air Force 1’s Coach Tomlin gifted them prior to the opener against the Bengals. QB Mitch Trubisky and that offence won’t be setting offensive records this year, but if the defence plays with the same intensity they did in Week 1 for the rest of the season, just enough from the offence will still win them games. The Patriots looked uninspiring in their opener at Miami and like a very un-Belichick coached team. I’m expecting another slug-fest with the Steelers D carrying them to the win again, even with TJ Watt out.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
It’s odd for a team to have seven sacks and five turnovers and leave the game feeling disappointed. But given how poor the Steelers offence was in week one with Mitch Trubisky at the helm, I wouldn’t be filled with excitement if I were a Steelers fan. As for the Patriots? Well, they couldn’t run the ball, and the pass game looked weak. With Mac Jones carrying an injury to his back I can only see this being a defensive slugfest and the Under hitting.
Under 40 Points – 22/25 with UniBet
Carolina Panthers (0-1) @ New York Giants (1-0)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Giants – 3/4 with PaddyPower
Spread: Giants -1.5 – 17/20 with BetUK.com
Over/Under: Over 43.5 – 10/11 with Unibet
Last week Saquon Barkley looked like the running back we thought he was when he first entered the league. Credit to QB Daniel Jones and the offence for overcoming a 13-0 halftime deficit, but the defence also needs its kudos too for containing Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill. It wasn’t to be for Baker Mayfield and the Panthers in his revenge game against the Browns, pipped by a winning 58-yard field goal from LSU legend and rookie kicker Cade York. I’m taking the Giants to edge it in a scoreline similar to Week 1 of the Browns Panthers game.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
There will be lots of talk heading into this game about the two quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Daniel Jones. They are arguably both playing for their futures as starters in the league this season, and while that makes for an interesting battle, the running backs are where this game will be won and lost. Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley are two of the most electric offensive weapons in the league when healthy, but staying healthy has been a huge issue for both. I fancy them both to get into the endzone in this game.
Saquon Barkley Any Time Touchdown Scorer AND Christian McCaffrey Any Time Touchdown Scorer – 2.21/1 with Paddy Power
New York Jets (0-1) @ Cleveland Browns (1-0)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Browns – 1/3 with PaddyPower
Spread: Browns -6.5 – 10/11 with BoyleSports
Over/Under: Under 39.5 – 10/11 with Unibet
Jacoby Brissett and the Browns will take this one against the Jets in what I’m expecting to be a low-scoring, low-quality affair. Until second-year QB Zach Wilson is healthy, Joe Flacco is standing in for the Jets and it’s tough to see where the points are coming from on a Flacco led offence.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
We don’t know how good Zach Wilson will be in this revamped Jets offence, and we’re going to have to wait a little longer to find out. We do however know how good Joe Flacco is in this offence, and the answer is: not very. The Browns have a good defence and I can see the Jets struggling for points again this weekend, leading to the Browns covering and the under hitting.
Cleveland Browns -6 AND Under 40 points – 13/5 with UniBet
Indianapolis Colts (0-0-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Jaguars – 33/20 with bet365
Spread: Jags +3.5 – 10/11 with 888Sport
Over/Under: Over 44.5 – 10/11 with PaddyPower
I’m backing Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to get their first win of the season this weekend. If not for a miraculous catch from Commander’s rookie wideout Jahan Dotson in the dying stages of the game, the Jags would’ve left the nation’s capital with the win. It was a frustrating start for the Colts, leaving Houston with a tie and their starting kicker released having failed to seal the win in overtime. RB James Robinson’s return from injury is a sign of promise for the Jags, and I’m backing him and Lawrence to pip Matt Ryan and Jonathan Taylor.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
How many games do we have to give ‘generational prospect’ Trevor Lawrence before he finally makes the step up? Well, once his receivers start actually catching passes we may have a better idea. The one player he did seem to like targeting in week one was Christian Kirk. The former Cardinal had six catches for 119 yards against the Commanders and looked like the Jags number one guy, going for the over on his receiving yards on this one.
Christian Kirk Over 57.5 Receiving Yards – 4/5 with 888Sport
Miami Dolphins (1-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Ravens – 1/2 with Unibet
Spread: Ravens -3.5 – 10/11 with bet365
Over/Under: Under 44.5 – Evens with SkyBet
I’m backing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in their home opener in Baltimore. The Dolphins were impressive in their home opener against the Patriots, but New England always struggle when heading down to South Florida. Lamar is a much bigger playmaker than Mac Jones and that’ll be displayed this weekend.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
For all the talk of new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel being an offensive mastermind, Miami beat the Patriots in week one on the back of their defence. The Fins offence did look good on the whole, and the speed they possess will scare any team. The Ravens lost CB Kyle Fuller to an ACL injury, and Marcus Peters remains sidelined – I think this Ravens defence will struggle to keep up with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. I’m taking Miami to win as underdogs.
Miami Dolphins Moneyline – 8/5 with Boyle Sports
Washington Commanders (1-0) @ Detroit Lions (0-1)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Lions – 4/5 with PaddyPower
Spread: Lions -1.5 – 10/11 with 888 Sport
Over/Under: Over 48.5 – 10/11 with Coral
The Lions did what they do best last week, which is to make a good go of it whilst still losing. The Eagles are far better than this week’s opponents however, the Carson Wentz-led Washington Commanders won’t be sporting the offensive weapons the Eagles brought to town. The Lions’ offence scored five touchdowns last week and are on a roll despite the loss – Ford Field will be bouncing and that should be enough to see Detriot cover a narrow spread.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Carson Wentz fairly has a lot of detractors, but this Washington offence looked really fun in week one. Terry Mclaurin, Jahan Dotson and Antonio Gibson are all explosive playmakers and will continue to impress. One thing I fail to understand is the fact that this Washington defensive line is stacked with talent, and yet they are outright bad against the run. The Lions will be looking to get the ball in D’Andre Swift’s hands early and often and I can see him having a big game. This is a big call and an outside bet, but I like him to score more than once.
D’Andre Swift to Score 2 or More Touchdowns – 27/4 with 10Bet
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) @ New Orleans Saints (1-0)
6:00PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Saints – 6/5 with 888 Sport
Spread: Saints +2.5 – Evens with BoyleSports
Over/Under: Over 44.5 – 10/11 with Betway
Whilst I don’t doubt the Buccaneers have the better roster and will be more of a threat come playoff time, Tom Brady and the Bucs have struggled in New Orleans, going 0-4 since Brady moved to Tampa Bay. The Superdome will be raucous as always and in true Jameis Winston fashion, I’m expecting him to haunt his former team with some inexplicable plays.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
The New Orleans Saints have been Tom Brady’s kryptonite since he got to Tampa Bay. I fancy the trend to continue here, and I’m expecting him to struggle through the air, especially with the over/under on his passing yards being so high, considering he’s only got past that mark once in the four games he’s had against New Orleans as a Buccaneer.
Tom Brady Under 277.5 Passing Yards – 4/5 with 888Sport
Atlanta Falcons (0-1) @ LA Rams (0-1)
9:05PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Rams – 2/11 with bet365
Spread: Falcons +10 – 10/11 with WilliamHill
Over/Under: Over 46.5 – 10/11 with Coral
The Rams looked a bit of a mess in the opening game of the season. Credit should go to the Bills, but the Rams didn’t do themselves any favours and did not look like a Sean McVay-coached team. Some of Matthew Stafford’s throws were also concerning and questions remain about the health of his elbow. That said, I expect them to bounce back against a Falcons side that showed promise in their narrow loss to the Saints, though I don’t think it’ll be a margin of victory as large as the spread suggests.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Ah the Falcons. The poor, poor Falcons. They are masters of the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and they will be wondering how they didn’t leave week one with a win. It doesn’t get any easier for them, as they travel to the reigning Super Bowl champions in week two. Despite taking the L, I was actually quite impressed with the Falcons last week, and while i expect them to lose, I think they’ll run it close.
Atlanta Falcons +10.5 – 17/20 with 888Sport
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (0-1)
9:05PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Seahawks – 3/1 SkyBet
Spread: Seahawks +8.5 – 10/11 with Unibet
Over/Under: Under 41.5 – Evens with BoyleSports
It’s looking like back-to-back weeks of bad-weather games for the 49ers as torrential rain is expected come kick off on Sunday. These are the types of games the Seahawks are built to win – run the ball, stingy defence and warring in the trenches. For Trey Lance and the 49ers, this season is definitely still a developmental one, and beginning your career as starter with two downpours in a row is not helpful – I’m expecting wiley Pete Carroll to get one over the young QB.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Is Geno Smith genuinely the better quarterback in this matchup? Bold call I know, and the weather certainly didn’t help Trey Lance against the Bears, but he struggled to pass the ball. He did however show some flashes in the running game, and my ‘pick of the week’ for week one was Trey Lance over 38.5 rushing yards, and the bookies have given it to me again, so I’m doubling down.
Trey Lance Over 38.5 Rushing Yards – 17/20 with BetVictor
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
9:25PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Bengals – 5/18 with bet365
Spread: Bengals -7 – 10/11 with WilliamHill
Over/Under: Under 41.5 – 10/11 with PaddyPower
The Bengals will feel they should’ve won last week’s divisional matchup with the Steelers on about five separate occasions. Meanwhile, the Cowboys season feels like it’s over before it barely began as QB Dak Prescott will miss an extended period of time after injuring his hand in Week 1’s disappointing loss to the Bucs. Cooper Rush steps in for Dak but it’s tough to see him keep up with Joe Burrow and Ja’marr Chase for 60 minutes.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Joe Burrow cannot play any worse than he did against the Steelers last week, and it’s only up from here. I’m expecting a huge bounce back game from the Bengals signal caller, with his favourite target Ja’marr Chase central to that. The last time Chase went up against Trevon Diggs was in 2019, when LSU beat Alabama. That day, Chase absolutely cooked Diggs for six catches, 140 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to go off in this one.
Ja’Marr Chase Over 100 Receiving Yards AND Touchdown Any Time – 10/3 with Skybet
Houston Texans (0-0-1) @ Denver Broncos (0-1)
9:25PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Broncos – 1/5 with PaddyPower
Spread: Texans +10 – 19/20 with 888 Sport
Over/Under: Over 45.5 – 10/11 with Coral
The Brock Osweiler Derby is back for another installment. Despite the loss to his former franchise, Russell Wilson had a decent game on his return to Seattle and looked pretty acclimated in the Broncos’ offence. They drove down the field well, and let’s just say the scoreline looks very different if the Broncos’ RB tandem knew how to hold a football at the goal-line and Nathaniel Hackett knew the basics of coaching. I see both teams scoring points this weekend, enough for the Broncos to get the win whilst the Texans cover.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
I think the Texans are often undervalued by the bookies, and the offence isn’t as bad as some may think. Davis Mills is proving to be a useful quarterback, and there’s some decent players in their skill positions. The Broncos look stacked on paper, but there’s still some obvious teething problems for Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett. I expect the Broncos to take this one at home, but for the Texans to keep it within the spread.
Houston Texans +10 – 10/11 with Unibet
Arizona Cardinals (0-1) @ Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
9:25PM – Sunday 18th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Raiders – 2/5 with BetVictor
Spread: Raiders -5.5 – 10/11 with 888Sport
Over/Under: Over 51.5 – 10/11 with PaddyPower
Whilst there were very promising signs at times against the Chargers, the Raiders offence also struggled to contain their monster pass rush. The Cardinals D is not close to that level. Carr and Davante Adams will be looking to emulate how the Chiefs shredded the Cardinals for 44 points, whilst Kyler Murray and the offence are hurting from the suspension of DeAndre Hopkins.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Anybody who has watched Patrick Mahomes play at all in the past few years should know that he is exceptional against the blitz. So why, oh why, did Vance Joseph decide to blitz Mahomes more than he had ever been blitzed in a game in his entire career? Guess who else is really good historically against the blitz – Derek Carr. If Joseph continues to commit to this bizarre strategy in week two, I can see Carr throwing for a whole bunch of yards.
Derek Carr Over 285.5 Passing Yards – 17/20 with Pari Match
Chicago Bears (1-0) @ Green Bay Packers (1-0)
1:20AM – Monday 19th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Packers – 1/5 with 888Sport
Spread: Packers -9.5 – 17/20 with Unibet
Over/Under: Over 41.5 – 4/5 with Coral
It’s a pissed-off Aaron Rodgers at home against the team he owns. Next pick.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
Some quick stats to throw at you here: In his career, Matt LaFleur is 9-0 in games after a loss., 5-0 against the Bears and 15-4 in divisional games. Aaron Rodgers is 22-5 all time against the Bears with 61 touchdown to 10 interceptions, at an average passer rating of 109.2. I can’t see anything other than a Packers win with Rodgers showing why he’s the two-time reigning MVP.
Aaron Rodgers 2+ Passing Touchdowns AND Green Bay Packers to Win – 8/13 with SkyBet
Tennessee Titans (0-1) @ Buffalo Bills (1-0)
12:15AM – Tuesday 20th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Bills – 1/5 with PaddyPower
Spread: Titans +9.5 – Evens with Ladbrokes
Over/Under: Under 48.5 – 10/11 with Boyle Sports
Even though the Titans were incredibly uninspiring in their loss to the Giants and the Bills steamrolled the defending Champs, I do think this one will be closer than it appears on paper. Derrick Henry and the Titans D will give the Bills a tougher time than the Rams did and will cover the spread, but the Bills still take the win.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
The Bills looked extremely good in week one, while the Titans did not. I can see the Ttians struggling for points in this game, and as the Bills start to pull away, the ball going out of Derrick Henry’s hands, and into the hands of Ryan Tannehill and the Titans’ young receiving corps, which is not part of their game plan. 48.5 points feels quite high for the over for me, and I expect the Bills to win comfortably.
Buffalo Bills -9.5 AND Under 48 Points – 2.51/1 with PaddyPower
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
1:30AM – Tuesday 20th September
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Vikings – 23/20 with bet365
Spread: Vikings +2 – 10/11 with Unibet
Over/Under: Over 50.5 – 10/11 with Coral
The Vikings get revenge in Philly for the 2017 NFC Championship game. Justin Jefferson looked like the Offensive Player of the Year in Week 1 and can’t be covered. Kirk Cousins is looking like a matured QB, whilst his counterpart Jalen Hurts still faces questions from sections of the media on if he is the guy. Pretty harsh on a dude and offence who put up 31 points in their season opener, but I still like the Vikings to edge this in a shootout.
Matt’s Pick of the Game:
This one is such a tough game to call. Both teams had really good performances in week one, led by great offensive performances on both sides which I think carries over to Monday Night Football. Let’s have a points fest at the Linc.
