In Week 1, Peyton Manning threw a buttload of touchdowns, the Lions committed dumb penalties, and the Chargers lost a game they led in the fourth quarter. The more things change…
Week 2 Picks
* I pick four “best bets” and make one of those a “lock” each week. Those are listed at the end.
New England (-12.5) vs. New York Jets
The Jets won their opening week game, so all NY-area fans are proclaiming that they are Super Bowl bound again. And the Pats struggled to beat a rookie quarterback in his first career start, and they’ve got numerous injuries. Which is why it seems a no-brainer to take the Jets here, and hope that their defense and offensive line can do enough to hold off the Pats and keep it close. Whenever Vegas is begging you to take a team, do yourself a favor and take the other one.
PICK: Patriots
Philadelphia (-7.5) vs. San Diego
Philadelphia looked exciting, to say the least. Their new offense is all the rage, and will revolutionize the NFL, and they can’t be stopped. Meanwhile, Norv Turner showed up at the Charger game last week wearing a Mike McCoy mask and led the team to yet another humiliating defeat. But what people forget is that the Eagles very nearly blew that game because they have no defense, and the Chargers had a very good Texans team on the ropes for over three quarters. Neither team should be thought of as an extreme in either direction here.
PICK: Chargers
Carolina (-3.5) at Buffalo
The Panthers are coming off a loss while the Bills took the Patriots to the brink, but make no mistake. These teams are not close in terms of talent level. This is still a rookie QB in his second career start, and the Carolina front seven looks nasty.
PICK: Panthers
Atlanta (-6.5) vs. Saint Louis
I don’t see the Falcons doing anything but putting up a rather large number at home against an overmatched Rams team this week. Sometimes, the odds just do you a solid. Cmon, think of the score of this game in your head. There’s no way you had the Falcons winning by less than a touchdown.
PICK: Falcons
Green Bay (-7.5) vs. Washington
Everyone who thought the sky was falling on Robert Griffin III at halftime of last week had to be relieved by what they saw in the second half. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he appeared to get more comfortable as the game went on. Or perhaps he just threw more touchdowns, and it made me think he was more comfortable. Whatever the case, the Redskins looked a bit shell-shocked by the Eagles last week but regrouped nicely and made it a game again. I don’t see them letting this one get away from them either, this one feels a point or two too high.
PICK: Redskins
Baltimore (-6.5) vs. Cleveland
The defending champs were absolutely embarrassed in just about every phase of the game. And now they’re playing Cleveland. I’m pretty sure that’s all that needs to be said.
PICK: Ravens
Indianapolis (-3.5) vs. Miami
The Dolphins played pretty poorly last week, but still managed to win rather easily. The Colts actually played pretty well in my opinion, but struggled to beat the undermanned Raiders. Andrew Luck aside, these teams are a lot closer than people think.
PICK: Dolphins
Houston (-8.5) vs. Tennessee
Week two is the perfect time to take advantage of some of these betting lines. The Texans are coming off an uninspiring performance against a team many expect to be one of the worst in the league. The Titans, meanwhile, are fresh off a victory over the Steelers (who are always good right? Right?!?). So this line seems crazy high, and of course that means you’ll take the Titans right? Wrong. Texans big. The Titans still need to find their way, and their win says a lot more about the state of the Steelers than it does about Tennessee. And Houston was actually pretty impressive once they realized the game had started.
PICK: Texans
Chicago (-6.5) vs. Minnesota
The Bears are right on the cusp of being an elite team this year. The Vikings are universally expected to take a step back, but nobody seems to have a specific reason. I don’t either, I just don’t have a great feeling is all.
PICK: Bears
Kansas City (-2.5) vs. Dallas
More exciting Week 1 development: the potential of the Kansas City offense, or the nationwide chick in the cat burglar outfit?
PICK: Chiefs
Detroit (-1.5) at Arizona
You know how Cris Carter used to just catch touchdowns? Calvin Johnson is the opposite of that. One of these weeks, it has to change. Let’s call it…this one. It almost doesn’t matter what Arizona does this week. I truly believe the Lions are better in every single critical aspect of football. This one might get ugly fast.
PICK: Lions
New Orleans (-3.5) at Tampa Bay
Um. Does anyone think the Bucs can possibly hang with the Saints in this game? I mean, it’s cool if you do…you’re just wrong. They couldn’t have looked worse last week, and the Saints are back. Do the math.
PICK: Saints
Oakland (-5.5) vs. Jacksonville
Ride him to fantasy glory. Terrelle Pryor is going to win your league for you.
PICK: Raiders
Denver (-5.5) at New York Giants
I realize the Broncos just looked like the best team in the world’s history of life last week while the Giants struggled against Dallas. But let’s consider for a moment that the game is at the Meadowlands. The Giants, for all their warts, are a good team with an explosive offense of their own. And they nearly beat a solid Dallas team despite turning it over an astounding 37 times. I think they at least keep it closer than this. Let someone else believe in Peyton Manning doing THAT again.
PICK: Giants
Seattle (-3.5) vs. San Francisco
Typically, three points will be awarded to the home team in a point spread. The theory is that being home is worth that extra field goal. So the fact that Seattle is a 3.5 point favorite against the Niners means that on a neutral field, the Seahawks should be a bit better. Interesting, because everybody saw the Niners blow up last week while Seattle squeaked by the Panthers. It’s probably because offense is sexy and defense is boring (that’s not to say the Niners don’t have an awesome defense or Seattle a bland offense, just pointing out what people saw). It’ll be hard for a lot of people to believe it then, when Seattle controls the pace of this game on both sides of the ball and comes away victorious.
PICK: Seahawks
Cincinnati (-7.5) at Pittsburgh
Listening to people talk about the Steelers is the same as listening to Dexter fans. They wax poetic about what it once was and talk about it like it’s still among the best, but all the while they’re just deluding themselves. PS - if you don’t watch Dexter, a comparison to Pamela Anderson also applies.
PICK: Bengals
BEST BETS: Panthers, Falcons, Ravens, Lions
LOCK: Lions
RECORD
Last Week Overall: 0-0
Last Week Best Bets: 2-2
Last Week Lock: 0-1
Year To Date Overall: 2-2
Year To Date Best Bets: 2-2
Year To Date Lock Of the Week: 0-1
Power Rankings
Team Name W/L (Prv)
1. Broncos 1-0 (1)
2. Seahawks 1-0 (2)
3. 49ers 1-0 (3)
4. Patriots 1-0 (4)
5. Packers 0-1 (5)
6. Bears 1-0 (8)
7. Bengals 0-1 (6)
8. Texans 1-0 (7)
9. Saints 1-0 (10)
10. Cowboys 1-0 (11)
11. Ravens 0-1 (9)
12. Falcons 0-1 (12)
13. Giants 0-1 (13)
14. Lions 1-0 (14)
15. Eagles 1-0 (18)
16. Dolphins 1-0 (15)
17. Colts 1-0 (16)
18. Redskins 0-1 (19)
19. Panthers 0-1 (20)
20. Rams 1-0 (23)
21. Chiefs 1-0 (24)
22. Steelers 0-1 (17)
23. Vikings 0-1 (22)
24. Jets 1-0 (25)
25. Chargers 0-1 (26)
26. Bucs 0-1 (21)
27. Titans 1-0 (28)
28. Bills 0-1 (29)
29. Raiders 0-1 (31)
30. Browns 0-1 (27)
31. Cardinals 0-1 (30)
32. Jaguars 0-1 (32)
