The National Football League season is upon us, which means its time for us to dust off our old pal, NFL Week 2 strategy. As the regular season gets started, its important to identify the right lines for each game so that you can place your bets and bank the winnings. Since we’re huge fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, we decided to crunch the numbers and see who the sharps are betting in week two. Let’s take a look at the top contenders and see what the odds-makers have to say about them.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers
The first game of the season pits the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Seattle Seahawks, against their upstart NFC West rival, the Carolina Panthers. If you’ve always wanted to see a team of Pete Carroll’s rebuild the Northwest from the ground up, then this is the game for you. The Seahawks have a new head coach in new offensive coordinator, and they’re looking to prove to the world that its not a fluke. On the other hand, the Panthers are looking to make a splash in their first season under new head coach, Dave Gettleman. Both teams are 2-0 and appear to be hitting their stride, however, the season is still young.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The second game of the week pits the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers are coming off a rough outing in week one where they had to settle for a double-digit losing margin, and this game can’t come quick enough for them. The Steelers will be looking to prove that last years Super Bowl victory was no fluke, and they’ll be facing their bitter NFC North rival, the Bengals. The line for this game has the Steelers as 2.5 point favorites, which means you can bet $100 on them to win and still come out $120 ahead.
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Thursday night game of the week. This game is usually a shootout, and even more so this year as both teams are led by dynamic quarterbacks. We can’t forget about Tom Brady, who is coming off an MVP-type season, and the Eagles young phenom, Carson Wentz. This line is a true toss-up. The Patriots are 1-point favorites, but you could also make the case that the Eagles are -1.5 point favorites based on the betting lines. It comes down to which quarterback performs better under pressure: Brady or Wentz?
Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
The defending champs, the Chicago Bears, face off against the Arizona Cardinals in week three. The Bears are coming off a heartbreaking loss last year to the Eagles in the playoffs, and they’ll be looking to get back on track this season. This game is also significant because it marks the return of Jay Cutler to Chicago. Cutler was the hero in that 2013 playoff game, and the fans are hoping to see more of the same in 2018. The Bears are 3.5 point underdogs in this game, but they could also be in for a long day as the Cardinals are 5.5 point favorites. The Bears had a very quiet offseason, surprisingly so, and they’ll be looking to prove they’re still the same explosive offense they always were.
We’ll have more NFL week two strategy as the season goes on, so be sure to check back often!