NFL Picks Week 2: 3 Home Teams Poised to Cover With Ease

Home teams are always given the built in three-point advantage before Vegas even factors anything else in…but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong bet to make.

Here are three home teams that hold more than just the advantage of playing in front of their fans:

(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)           

Washington Redskins -3.5 vs. Arizona Cardinals

QB Rex Grossman looked great in Week 1 and the offense in general looked surprisingly efficient. He has a great receiving core and a running back in Tim Hightower, who looks reborn in head coach Mike Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme.

The ‘Skins have a rock-solid defense that has a terrific blend of veterans and youth. The Cardinals have a banged up secondary that just got smoked by rookie Cam Newton in his first ever start. QB Kevin Kolb looked ok, but still has a ways to go to feel comfortable with his new team.

Trends:

Redskins are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games overall.

Redskins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four vs. NFC.

Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.

Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.

Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as a road underdog.

San Francisco 49ers +3 vs. Dallas Cowboys

The 49ers have an incredible defense that features as much depth as any in the league. Sure, you’re gambling on QB Alex Smith, but he did a great job of making the right throws and not trying to do too much in Week 1.

The Cowboys defense is horrendous and QB Tony Romo will be eager to make fans forget about his meltdown in Week 1. Expect him to force throws that turn into interceptions and a short field for the 49ers.

Trends:

Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a favorite of 0.5-3.0.

Cowboys are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a road favorite.

Cowboys are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite.

Home team is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four meetings.

Underdog is 3-1-1 ATS in their last five meetings.

New York Giants -5.5 vs. St. Louis Rams

QB Sam Bradford is banged up and he just lost his top target Danny Amendola for four to six weeks. Expect the dink-and-dunk offense to be in full force, and expect the disciplined Giants to minimize its impact.

QB Eli Manning had a rough first week but has historically shown a short-memory and is more than capable of throwing all over a weak Rams secondary.

Factor in a raucous Monday night crowd and the Giants shouldn’t have a problem winning by a TD.

Trends:

Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.

Rams are 0-5 ATS in their last five meetings.

Giants are 4-1 ATS in their last five Monday games.

Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.