NFL Week 2 Picks: Final Predictions and over-Under Odds Before Thursday Night

The division rival Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens kick off Week 2 on Thursday night. It's already an important clash for Baltimore, which doesn't want to fall two games back in the AFC North race after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in its opener.

In the past, a contest between those two teams with their previously elite defenses would have been a solid pick to stay under the current line. But both sides, especially the Steelers, feature more offensive-minded game plans these days, making it a much trickier selection.

Elsewhere, it's another full slate with byes still a couple weeks away. So let's check out the complete set of over-under lines for Week 2 along with selections for each game. The table is followed by a breakdown of the best picks on the board.

Week 2 Over-Under Odds and Selections

Date	Road	Home	Line	Pick
Sept. 11	Steelers	Ravens	44.5	Under
Sept. 14	Dolphins	Bills	43	Over
Sept. 14	Jaguars	Redskins	43.5	Over
Sept. 14	Cowboys	Titans	49.5	Under
Sept. 14	Cardinals	Giants	43.5	Over
Sept. 14	Patriots	Vikings	49	Under
Sept. 14	Saints	Browns	47.5	Under
Sept. 14	Falcons	Bengals	48.5	Over
Sept. 14	Lions	Panthers	43.5	Under
Sept. 14	Rams	Buccaneers	37	Over
Sept. 14	Seahawks	Chargers	44.5	Under
Sept. 14	Texans	Raiders	39.5	Under
Sept. 14	Jets	Packers	45.5	Over
Sept. 14	Chiefs	Broncos	51	Over
Sept. 14	Bears	49ers	48.5	Under
Sept. 15	Eagles	Colts	53.5	Over

Top Picks

Over: St. Louis Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

This game sports the lowest line of the week, which isn't much of a surprise. The two teams combined to score just 20 points in losses to open their respective seasons. Yet, it's important to note neither defense dominated either, and it's a two-way street.

Both offenses should fare better this week. Zac Stacy will find more space against a Bucs group that allowed DeAngelo Williams to gain more than five yards per carry. Doug Martin should bounce back for Tampa Bay after a forgettable Week 1 as he'll face a defense that gave up 185 rushing yards.

Of course, being able to move the ball on the ground also helps open up passing lanes. Josh McCown, who threw two interceptions last week after just one in eight games for the Chicago Bears last year, needs that strong ground game to succeed.

Though this game won't be a shootout by any means, both offenses should have much stronger all-around performances in Week 2. That should be enough to push the game into the 40s, which will comfortably cover the line.

Under: Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

While neither of these defenses are as vaunted as they were in previous years, their decline isn't major.

The 49ers gave up a lot of yards last week because they built a huge lead, and the Dallas Cowboys had a lot of offensive time to attempt a comeback. The Bears only gave up 360 yards to the Buffalo Bills, and nearly a quarter of that production came on two runs by Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon.

One other point specific to this game is San Francisco's physical style of play. It worked well against the Cowboys en route to a 25-point lead, and Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News believes it will also be effective against Chicago:

As long as the 49ers can slow down the Bears' aerial attack early, they will be able to set the tone and force a slower pace upon the game. And the visitors don't have to force the pass because they have Matt Forte. Combine the two, and it points to a pretty low-scoring game.

Over: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

What fans will see in this game is two offenses with something to prove. The Broncos slowed down considerably after a red-hot start in Week 1, while the Chiefs struggled mightily to get anything going on that side of the ball against the Tennessee Titans.

The main reason for Kansas City's struggles was a lack of touches for Jamaal Charles. He wasn't putting up big numbers, but he must keep getting fed the ball because a big play is always on the horizon. Head coach Andy Reid seems to realize that, as noted by Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star:

Charles didn't get many opportunities for the Chiefs, and Demaryius Thomas—Denver's most explosive playmaker—only had four grabs. It would be a surprise if both players don't end up receiving a lot more looks in Week 2.

Defensively, the teams combined to give up 50 points last week. That suggests it will be a game with numerous big plays for both sides and plenty of points on the scoreboard. A lot like the second meeting last year, which had a total of 63.