NFL Picks Week 2: Stone-Cold Locks to Cover the Spread

Whether you cleaned up and took down the house in Week 1 or are hiding out trying not to get your kneecaps broken after going 0-16, it’s time to start looking ahead to Week 2.

This second weekend of NFL action represents a chance to increase your winnings or recoup all the money you lost betting that the Jacksonville Jaguars would score on offense.

Let’s take a look at some stone-cold, lead-pipe locks on which you cannot afford to miss out.

 

BUFFALO BILLS (+3) over Carolina Panthers

Anytime you can get your money in with a home underdog that is clearly capable of not only covering the spread but winning outright, you would be foolish not to do so.

Bookmakers are offering you that opportunity this week with the Buffalo Bills, an up-and-coming squad that nearly KO’d the vaunted New England Patriots in the opener.

With Carolina coming to town, you can expect the Bills to make a hard push to move to .500 and get the first win of 2013 under their belts.

As long as Buffalo follows the blueprint that the Seattle Seahawks utilized to hold the Panthers' “explosive” offense to just seven points, there should be no problem walking away with a “W” on Sunday.

Rookie signal-caller EJ Manuel will need to use his ability to escape the pocket and create to full effect, rendering the Carolina pass-rushers helpless as he scoots for annoying, drive-extending first downs.

On the other side of the ball, the Bills must hold the edge and create pressure by beating the centers and guards to get right at Cam Newton and the rushers coming out of the backfield.

Do that, and Buffalo not only covers the spread but pays some dividends for smart backers on the moneyline.

St. Louis Rams (+7) over ATLANTA FALCONS

The Rams may not have been that impressive in a narrow victory over the Arizona Cardinals, but Vegas seems to be forgetting that a trip to Atlanta isn’t so disadvantageous to this squad.

St. Louis thrives indoors at home and shouldn’t be hindered too much by the hostile crowd at the Georgia Dome. The turf is a familiar surface, one on which we just saw them put up nice numbers through the air.

Quarterback Sam Bradford has found an elite weapon in tight end Jared Cook, a criminally underutilized weapon who served as the game’s hero when he hauled in seven passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns (and nearly a third).

As long as the Rams minimize the turnovers and are able to create at least one critical one in their favor via the underrated defense, things should work out.

This looks to be a high-scoring, fast-paced game with each side going toe-to-toe until the fourth quarter. A push is about the worst outcome imaginable here.

 

OAKLAND RAIDERS (-6) over Jacksonville Jaguars

"Fade the Raiders" was a common preseason mantra for gamblers, many whom wish they could take it back after watching Terrelle Pryor in action against the Indianapolis Colts.

It would be downright foolish to avoid betting on the Raiders in Week 2, as they play host to the offensively anemic Jaguars—a team that failed to score a single point outside of a safety in the opener.

Although Chad Henne will be under center due to Blaine Gabbert’s injury, per Marc Sessler of NFL.com, there’s just no way that the Jags can manufacture enough scores to hang with Pryor and the rest of the dynamic playmakers installed in the Oakland offense.

It’s going to be a long flight back to Jacksonville after the Jags are torn apart in the “Black Hole” by a double-digit margin.