NFL Week 2 is here, and we try to balance the fine line between overreaction and trusting our beliefs from the preseason.
Are the Ravens for real, or was it just because they were playing the worst team in the league? Will the Vikings throw the ball more than 10 times in a game? Will the Cowboys offense continue the way they started? We’ve probably all got our ideas of what’s true or not, but one thing is for sure — the Dolphins "organically tanking" is definitely happening.
For NFL picks this week, Sportsbook Review looks at the anytime scorer odds — one short odds (minus money), one middling (+150 or so) and one longshot for the weekend.
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The Shortie: Ravens over-run their opponent
Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens game odds
Yes, I’m buying in on the Ravens and what they might be able to achieve this season. They ran all over the Dolphins last week, putting up 42 points by halftime. Their offensive line opened holes and gave Lamar Jackson all the time in the world to make some huge downfield throws last week. They return home this week to welcome the Arizona Cardinals, who came back well last week to grab a tie against the Lions.
They’ve got a plethora of options in the run game and mixed all of them in on the opening few drives against Miami, but they paid Mark Ingram to be the main man there and he showed up big in that opener. Fourteen carries, 107 yards and two TDs is enough for me to be looking at him going in again at home this week.
The speed of the Arizona offense means that games involving them this year will be some of the highest in terms of plays from scrimmage. Against a solid Ravens D, that means the Arizona defense will get tired and, facing constant run plays, they’ll get worn down by the offense.
Mark Ingram anytime @ -125
MORE WEEK 2 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
The Mid-Range: Smokey to burn the Giants
Buffalo Bills at New York Giants game odds
The Bills reinforced my belief that they could well be a legit team in the league this year. They’ve got possibly a top-five defense, which is stacked in all aspects. They’ve got an exciting, young, mobile quarterback who can create something out of nothing on any play, and they brought in some explosive playmakers on offense as well.
I don’t think it was a one-off that John "Smokey" Brown was the main man in the offense last week. They signed him to get open downfield and catch bombs from Josh Allen's cannon arm, and he did precisely that with 123 yards from seven receptions, culminating in the game winning touchdown after breaking free down the left side of the field.
Brown led the team in targets with 10, one ahead of Cole Beasley, who plays in the slot and is officially questionable for this week with an illness. If he misses, I’d imagine it will mean more for Zay Jones, but Brown will keep his role.
John Brown anytime @ +175
The Longshot: DJ Chark hits the right note
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans game odds
After the Colts lost Andrew Luck through retirement, the rest of the AFC South would have thought the division was wide open. The Texans became the immediate favorites with a solid roster and now the best QB in the division. The Titans would have thought they had a chance of going 9-7 again, and things were looking better for the Jaguars as well with a new QB in Nick Foles who could actually throw the ball to his players rather than two yards away from each of them.
Foles lasted less than a quarter before breaking his collarbone and is now expected to miss at least six weeks of the season. So for this week at least, the ball will be in the hands of rookie sixth-round pick Garnder Minshew II. Minshew is out of Washington State, where he led the team to an 11-2 record with 4,700 yards and 38 TDs with a passer rating of 147. He finished last week with 22 of 25 for 275 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.
After being thrust into the team without any real preparation, they were great figures. This week, the Jags face a soft Texans defense and while I think they’ll try and rely on Leonard Fournette as much as possible, the likes of Chris Conley and DJ Chark should be well priced and would have had a lot of practice sessions with Minshew over the summer.
DJ Chark anytime @ +300