NFL Week 2 Picks: Best Bets Against the Spread

Week 2 of the NFL campaign represents a chance for bettors coming off wins or losses to apply the lessons they learned in the season opener.

Whether you were burned by backing huge road favorites or scored big on the home ‘dogs, there is still plenty left to be won over the next 16 weeks.

If you need some advice on which way to lean during the upcoming slate of games, worry not, as we have you covered.

Let’s take a look at some of the top bets on the board in Week 2.

 

Oakland Raiders (-6) over Jacksonville Jaguars

The Raiders nearly joined the New York Jets in sabotaging suicide pools everywhere with an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts, but they were foiled by yet another Andrew Luck comeback.

Regardless, it was an impressive showing from a young team with almost no expectations.

Terrelle Pryor proved to be the real deal, connecting on 19 of 29 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 13 times for 112 yards, proving almost impossible for the Colts defense to take down.

While Darren McFadden had a pedestrian game on the ground—rushing for just 48 yards on 17 attempts—he showed a lot of skill in the aerial attack and should be a favorite target for Pryor going forward.

Contrast that with the Jags offense, which failed to put up any points in a 28-2 romp at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Blaine Gabbert confirmed that he’s not an NFL-caliber signal-caller, hitting on just 16 of 35 passes for 121 yards and two interceptions.

The defense couldn’t stop anyone either, allowing Alex Smith to carve it for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing. Jamaal Charles burned Jacksonville on the ground for 77 yards and a score on just 16 carries.

With a cross-country trip to “The Black Hole” coming up, there’s just no way Jacksonville will be able to rebound in time to keep this one close.

Expect the Raiders to move to .500 in a blowout after a solid all-around game against the lowly Jags.

 

New Orleans Saints (-4.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints welcomed Sean Payton back to the sidelines with a great performance against a tough rival.

Even though the 23-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons took place in the confines of the Superdome, there’s no reason to doubt this squad on the road.

The Saints offense looked as electrifying as ever, with superstar quarterback Drew Brees connecting on 26 of 35 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

Ben Watson and Kenny Stills proved to be solid additions to a team that has plenty of weapons in the receiving corps, although the rushing game could use a boost after mustering a paltry 78 yards on 29 carries.

However, it was the defense that shocked most viewers. New Orleans was historically bad on that side of the football in 2012 but managed to slap together a great Sunday.

This re-tooled unit forced two critical turnovers—recovering a fumble and intercepting Matt Ryan—and played great bend-but-don’t-break football. Even though they gave up nearly 400 yards of offense, the Saints will be able to win almost every football game if they only concede 17 points.

Their opponent in Week 2 will be the Buccaneers, coming off a brutal loss to the Jets that likely wouldn’t have happened without a stupid penalty. Unfortunately that seems to be the identity of this team, as the players are constantly shooting themselves in the foot at the most inopportune times.

Josh Freeman looked less than stellar in his debut during a make-or-break season, as the signal-caller connected on just 15 of 31 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Doug Martin may also be starting a sophomore slump, as the rusher went for just 65 yards on 24 carries.

It was a concerning performance, one that highlighted Tampa’s major flaws—a lack of discipline and an inability to win close games.

Even though the Saints are conceding points away from home, they are the smart play, as they should run away with a victory in this NFC South showdown. 

Betting information courtesy of ScoresAndOdds.com