NFL Odds: Predicting Lines for Week 2 Games

Two games remain in the opening week of the 2011 NFL regular season, and the sports betting world is already looking ahead.

Underdogs are currently 8-6 against the spread heading into ESPN's Monday Night Football doubleheader, while the "over" is 10-4.

Home underdogs were a story, capturing the cash in three of four opportunities, with the St. Louis Rams (+3.5) producing the only loss in a 13-31 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.

It's always important to create your own line when handicapping, and the linesmaker has made some serious adjustments based on public perception already.

Let's take an early look at nine games that are readily available in the betting market.

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints

The public perception of the New Orleans Saints is still going to be relatively high despite losing 34-42 to the Green Bay Packers on the road on opening night.

Professionals have circled the fact that the Saints out-gained the Packers by a 477-399 margin in the contest.

It's funny how shocked people were in Chicago's 30-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons as two-point home underdogs, as the team lost in the NFC Championship Game a year ago.

A big story in the opening week was turnovers—the Saints lost the battle in Week 1, while the Bears finished with a plus-two advantage.

Opening Line:  New Orleans (-6.5)

Handicapper Line:  New Orleans (-6)

Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions' value against the Las Vegas line is now swallowed up after a perfect preseason and Sunday's 27-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as one-point road underdogs.

It's not a shocking result that the Lions came out of the opener with a victory, as they did the same at Raymond James Stadium in 2010.  Additionally, the Buccaneers are much better underdogs than favorites.

Kansas City got burnt once again by placing a low priority in the preseason, but absolutely no one would have written down a 7-41 home loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. 

Public perception in my eyes has already moved this line a full field goal away from its true number.

Opening Line:  Detroit (-8.5)

Handicapper Line:  Detroit (-5.5)

Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins

A quarterback competition and a solid 28-14 win over one of your bigger rivals will have the locker room ready to roll into Week 2.

The Washington Redskins have been disrespected by Las Vegas since the preseason opener but no longer.

Starting quarterback Rex Grossman passed for 305 yards in the season-opening victory over the New York Giants and likely found that the Arizona Cardinals' pass defense was torched by Carolina Panthers rookie signal-caller Cam Newton.

Arizona used a 14-0 fourth quarter to secure yesterday's victory, as the team was out-gained by a 477-394 margin and held the ball nearly six minutes less than its opponent.

A slight difference in my line than the opening number in Las Vegas.

Opening Line:  Washington (-4.5)

Handicapper Line:  Washington (-3)

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans

Reaping the benefits of a 7-0 turnover differential will make any NFL team look good on Sunday, as the Baltimore Ravens tallied a resounding 35-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers as one-point home favorites.

Tennessee went off as a slight road favorite in Sunday's 14-16 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars and never really had the football—losing the time of possession battle by a full 19 minutes.

The late arrival of running back Chris Johnson is going to hurt the Titans for a couple more weeks, as he finished with nine carries for 24 yards in the opener.

Opening Line:  Baltimore (-5.5)

Handicapper Line:  Baltimore (-4)

Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers

The one place you don't want to be this week is on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice field with head coach Mike Tomlin.  Dropping a 7-35 contest to the Baltimore Ravens is an alarming result.

Tomlin voiced his displeasure after the team's 7-16 loss in a preseason opener against the Washington Redskins, and the locker room responded with a 24-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point home favorites the following week.

Seattle is a mess and much less offensively than Baltimore.

It's early for double-digit NFL spreads, but this one is certainly warranted.

Opening Line:  Pittsburgh (-13.5)

Handicapper Line:  Pittsburgh (-11)

Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers

I can't remember a recent Week 2 line that sent out a road team favored by a double-digit spread. 

Obviously, the linesmaker thinks that Green Bay is about 17 points better than the Arizona Cardinals, which spells bad news for the Carolina Panthers this week.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton impressed in the opener, but facing the Cardinals pass defense is far different than the Super Bowl champions' secondary.

It wouldn't shock me if the public flocks to the home underdog and the result ends up being a Packers' blowout victory.

Opening Line:  Green Bay (-10.5)

Handicapper Line:  Green Bay (-6.5)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb mustered up only 39 passing yards in a 17-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers as 8.5-point road underdogs.

Someone get on the phone with Brett Favre.

The linesmaker had to place the home team as a slight favorite in this contest due to Tampa Bay's loss to the Detroit Lions.  This line would have been sent out differently if that wasn't the case.

Opening Line:  Minnesota (-3)

Handicapper Line:  Minnesota (-1.5)

Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts

The Cleveland Browns are three-point road favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season contest. 

Let me repeat that.

Something tells me that a veteran-laden team will now be focused after the initial shock of not having No. 18 inside the huddle.

Smart money is likely going to think the same thing.

Opening Line:  Cleveland (-3)

Handicapper Line:  Indianapolis (-2.5)

Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons

It appears that the Atlanta Falcons are suffering a hangover after last year's early departure from the playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 seed.

The Falcons posted an 0-4 straight-up record in the preseason, and it carried over into Sunday's 12-30 loss to the Chicago Bears as slight two-point road favorites.

Philadelphia was on cruise control during its 31-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams as 3.5-point road favorites and really benefited from the opponent suffering key injuries.

The linesmaker had no choice but to send out the Eagles as road favorites for a second consecutive week.

Opening Line:  Philadelphia (-3)

Handicapper Line:  Atlanta (-1.5)