Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
USA TODAY Sports Media Group
Best NFL underdog picks and predictions for Week 2
By Jess Root,
10 hours ago
The underdogs didn’t do so well in Week 1. Only 3 underdogs won their games outright (the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots), while 7 covered the spread. Can we find the underdog values this week?
Our 3 picks last week went 1-1-1. The Arizona Cardinals covered as 6.5-point underdogs in a 34-28 loss. The Indianapolis Colts covered as 3.5-point underdogs in a 29-27 setback, but did not cash our moneyline (ML) pick. The Denver Broncos lost 26-20, covering as 6.5-point underdogs on the closing line, but we bet them +6 Thursday, resulting in a push.
FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week:Get ESPN+
BILLS (+115) at Dolphins – Thursday, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
The Dolphins piled up 400 yards of offense and didn’t turn the ball over while holding the Jacksonville Jaguars to only 267 total yards in Week 1. Even then, it took a last-second field goal to win the game.
Bills QB Josh Allen had 2 TD passes and 2 rushing TDs and led a 14-point comeback against the Cardinals. Buffalo held Cardinals RB James Conner to 50 rushing yards, and Bills DE Greg Rousseau was AFC Defensive Player of the Week after 3 sacks in Week 1.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was sacked 3 times in the season opener. I like the Bills to win this outright.
BUCCANEERS +7.5 (-110) at Lions – 1 p.m. (FOX)
QB Baker Mayfield had 4 TD passes against the Washington Commanders, and the Bucs scored 37 in Week 1. The Lions shut down the LA Rams’ run game and harassed Rams QB Matthew Stafford, but still only managed to beat LA in overtime. The Bucs only allowed 50 rushing yards to Washington’s RBs, so this should be a close game.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line is in a better place than the Rams’, which had 2 backups at tackle and lost its left tackle to injury in Week 1.
It isn’t a confident enough pick to say the Bucs win outright at +290 on the ML, but this should be within a TD.
WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it’s your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Save 25% off the Internet’s best-kept secret. Subscribe now!
Seahawks at PATRIOTS +3.5 (-115) – 1 p.m. (FOX)
The Seahawks held the Broncos to only 231 yards of offense in Week 1.
But this game features teams that relied heavily on their run game and run defense in their openers. New England allowed 70 rushing yards while rushing for 170, and the Seahawks allowed 99 while going for 146.
Both starting QBs — Jacoby Brissett for the Pats and Geno Smith for Seattle — will be caretakers for the offense. With 2 methodical offenses and defenses that will limit the run, this should be a close game.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0