NFL Odds, Picks, Predictions: Our Staff’s Best Bets for Week 2

NFL bettors received a taste of action with Eagles vs. Vikings on Thursday night. Now, the 13-game Sunday entree has arrived. 

Countless NFL odds markets exist across these matchups, headlined by Jaguars vs. Chiefs, Bengals vs. Ravens and Cowboys vs. Jets. 

But which markets stand out to our Roar staff? Let’s dive into our best bets for the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET windows. 

NFL Week 1 Best Bets – 1 p.m. ET Window

Kansas City Chiefs Spread (-3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Ryan Hannable: Five dropped passes and a few questionable Andy Reid coaching decisions were the main reasons why the Chiefs fell to the Lions without Chris Jones and Travis Kelce last week at home. 

Meanwhile, the Jaguars allowed 21 points to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and the Colts in a win on the road. 

Expect the results to correct themselves this week and the Chiefs to pick up a win in Jacksonville. 

Cincinnati Bengals Spread (-3.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens

Chase Kiddy: Baltimore has all the institutional continuity in the world as an organization, yet the Texans outgained the Ravens in a game that was a lot closer than the final score indicates.

Baltimore already has injuries piling up for what feels like the third or fourth straight season. Lamar Jackson is an elite runner and average passer who is trying to run less and pass more. 

There are major offensive growing pains under Todd Monken’s new system. 

The Bengals were humiliated by a divisional rival last week, and I think they’re going to be highly motivated to not start 0-2 with losses to the Browns and Ravens. 

But most importantly, there’s this: if there was serious sharp appetite to buy the Ravens in this spot, this line would have moved to Bengals -3 days ago. Instead, we’re looking at Bengals -3.5. 

I’ll lay the points with the hosts..

Seattle Seahawks Spread (+4.5) vs. Detroit Lions

Nick Hennion: I bet the Seahawks +5.5 as part of my early Week 2 predictions, but still like them at +4.5. 

According to BetMGM insights, the Lions have received 55% of tickets and 51% of the money. However, the line has moved in the Seahawks’ direction. 

That strikes me as a bit odd. 

Plus, the Seahawks beat the Lions at Ford Field last year. Put simply, I don’t expect a weak Lions pass defense to contain a Seahawks team that loves to air it out. 

Back Seattle so long as they remain at +4.5 or better. 

Atlanta Falcons Spread (-1.5) vs. Green Bay Packers

Nick Hennion: Atlanta’s run-heavy offense presents a big problem for the Packers defense. Last season, Green Bay outpaced only one team in rush defense DVOA and five teams in rushing yards per game.

Conversely, Atlanta ranked second in rush offense DVOA last season, per ftnfantasy.com, and amassed the third-most yards per game on the ground. 

Back the Falcons to get a win at home, where they’ve won three straight and seven of the last 10. 

NFL Week 1 Best Bets – 4 p.m. ET Window

Los Angeles Rams Spread (+7.5) vs. San Francisco 49ers

Nick Hennion: I hate stepping in front of Kyle Shanahan, who has historically bossed the Rams. 

However, history says to take the underdog in this spot. Since 2005-06, home divisional underdogs are 59.4% ATS in the first six weeks of the season. 

Plus, Kyle Shanahan is only 18-20-1 ATS when he’s a favorite of 3.5 points or more. A week after virtually everything went right for San Francisco, back the Rams to keep this within a touchdown. 

Deebo Samuel Anytime Touchdown (+120) vs. Rams

Nick Hennion: Across the last seven head-to-head meetings between the 49ers and Rams, Samuel scored a touchdown in five of them. 

Plus, in their Week 4 meeting last season, Samuel posted his highest PFF grade of the season. In that contest, the South Carolina product caught six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. 

The Rams defense looked competent Week 1 in Seattle, but I don’t know how they contain the 49ers. 

Take Samuel to find the endzone.