Gambling On The Games: NFL Week Two

Parity rules in the NFL. Parity makes proper prognosticating extremely hard. Bad QB play and dumb turnovers ruin the best-laid gameplans of bettors and coaches.

The injury to Tom Brady and the poor play of the other "super" favorites: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Diego Chargers, muddies the parity pool even more.

Last week was a small loss with some major misjudgments. The parity dance card this week screams for small plays, as we try to get a feel for the league.

Last Week

The Philadelphia Eagles destroyed the listless St Louis Rams, who are the worse team in the league. Eagles plus four units.

The Carolina Panthers won outright as Norv Turner continues his bumbling early-season ways. Panthers plus one unit.

The Chicago Bears surprised me with their defensive dominance and ability to run the ball against the Indianapolis Colts. Colts minus three units.

Jack Del Rio's Jacksonville Jaguars always play so conservatively that they lose many winnable games. Jeff Fisher coaches his Titans to a home win. Jags minus two units.

The Pittsburgh Steelers utterly dominated the Houston Texans, who always seem a year away from being contenders. Texans minus one unit.

Minus one unit for the week.

But we roll the money train onward into Week Two.

Buffalo Bills + 5.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars: The young Bills look good in every facet of the game against Seattle last week. The Jags offensive line is devastated by injuries, which will make Coach Del Rio crawl even further into his conservative shell.

Jags 23, Bills 21 for two units

Chicago Bears + 3 at Carolina Panthers: The Bears' defense looked like their Super Bowl selves. Rookie RB Matt Forte looks like a find. The game Carolina costs itself for suspending WR Steve Smith, who ate the Bears up in the playoffs three years ago.

Bears 22, Panthers 18 for one unit

New Orleans Saints pick at Washington Redskins: Redskins Coach Jim Zorn did a horrible job with club management in his opener. Going back to Auburn, QB Jason Campbell is playing in his seventh different offense in eight years, and it shows in his hesitant play. The Saints have holes, but their offense looks lively.

Saints 31, Redskin 19 for one unit

San Diego Chargers - 1.5 at Denver Broncos: The Broncos are just an average team. It's the Raiders who are a hopeless mess. Despite Coach Norv Turner's penchant for choking, look for the Chargers to not start 0-2.

Chargers 27, Broncos 19 for one unit

New York Giants - 8.5 at St Louis Rams: The angle is bet against the Rams every week until they prove different. 

Giants 39, Rams 9 for one unit 

Green Bay Packers -3 at Detroit Lions: Packers proved they are solid after losing Brett Favre. The Lions prove they are still the Lions, except they defense is weaker without DT Shaun Rogers.

Packers 27, Lions 22

The Can't Lose Teaser of the week: Colts + 5.5, Giants -1/2, and Chargers + 5.5

Last Man Standing: {Eagles last week, oh a Patriot loss would have been sweet} New York Giants. 

So roll dem bones to feed that jones and enjoy Week Deuce...This year, it's really anyone's game.