NFL Week 2 Picks: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and More Teams to Bet Against the Spread

With Sunday just around the corner, it’s time to start making your Week 2 NFL wagers.

There are a number of solid teams that are still underrated by the public and lines that should easily be covered by good teams, which means you can capitalize early in the season and get your bankroll up.

Let’s take a look at some of the best games to play against the spread in the second week of professional football.

*Home team in CAPS, point spreads via ScoresAndOdds.com 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-14) over Arizona Cardinals

The Patriots are spotting two touchdowns to the Cardinals, but the Birds backers will wish they had one more when the final whistle blows.

New England dominated the Cards 47-7 last time they came to Foxborough and have covered the spread in the last five outings.

Kevin Kolb will be making his 2012 debut under center, and this isn’t the team to shake the rust off against. After a disastrous defensive season in 2011, the Pats seem to have got things going on that side of the ball, and their rookies are already making an impact.

Expect the NE offense to be as explosive as always, and they will easily blow Arizona out of the water. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7) over NEW YORK GIANTS

For those who didn’t believe in TB before the season, an opening win against the Carolina Panthers should help you to start seeing things more clearly.

This is going to be a good team and a legit contender in the NFC South.

They are also a perfect matchup against the Giants, who are built on pressuring the QB and forcing the opposition into short drives and turnovers.

That may work against most of the other teams in the league that rely on a passing offense, but the Bucs are a ground-and-pound team under new head coach Greg Schiano.

The former Rutgers man allowed rookie Doug Martin to rack up 24 carries and the rest of the team totaled up 12 more. Tampa only threw for 16 yards in the second half and still managed to hold on for a win.

Give credit to the defensive front, which yielded just 10 rushing yards to a team that is built around a wishbone-style attack.

Don’t be surprised when the Bucs lock the Giants down and keep things close with a power-running game. 

Houston Texans (-7.5) over JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

While Jacksonville looked somewhat impressive to open the season, it played a mediocre Minnesota Vikings squad. This week, the Jaguars will face a real Super Bowl contender in the Texans.

Houston struggled to get things going offensively early against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, but it created enough turnovers against an inexperienced QB to capitalize with a major scoring outburst.

Expect the same when Blaine Gabbert takes the field against this monstrous pass rush and interception-hungry secondary.

The Texans will win this by at least 10.