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[Udog]

Top Dogs - Week 2
September 12, 2018

By Kyle Markus

Top NFL Underdog Plays Of Week 2

The oddsmakers have created the lines for Week 2 of the NFL season, and the spreads are now laid out. Since parity is such a factor in the NFL, many of the lines are not very big. Even so, most games have a clear favorite and an underdog. The home teams are generally the favorites because they don’t have to travel and they get the crowd behind them, but that’s not always the case.

Here is a look at the top NFL underdog picks for Week 2. There is always unpredictability so it is smart to take some of these wagers because games can be much more than about only pure talent, and for those that pick underdogs on the moneyline, it pays off really nicely when they hit in NFL odds.

Odds Analysis - per BookMaker.eu

The Carolina Panthers handled the Cowboys in their opener but must now hit the road for a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s not a surprise that Carolina is the underdog, but it’s the fact that Atlanta is favored by 5.5 points. The Falcons are dealing this week with severe injuries to safety Keanu Neal and linebacker Deion Jones, two of the most important defenders on the team. Atlanta is likely to win this game, but this spread is too high. Take the Panthers to cover.

The Kansas City Chiefs looked dynamic in their opening-week win over the Chargers, but are still five-point underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. Pittsburgh tied on the road against the Browns and are still without running back Le’Veon Bell, but the oddsmakers don’t seem to be overreacting. The Chiefs are a great choice to cover the spread and there should be some serious thinking about Kansas City on the moneyline. Patrick Mahomes looked great at quarterback and the Chiefs have the ability to capture this one in a shootout.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are facing off against the New England Patriots, so it’s understandable that they are the underdogs. However, the Jags gave New England all it could handle in last season’s AFC Championship game and get this game at home. Jacksonville is going to be extremely amped up. It is only a two-point underdog so this wouldn’t be a huge upset, but the Jaguars are a good pick to pull out the win at home even if star running back Leonard Fournette is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Seattle Seahawks wouldn’t have been the underdogs on the road against the Bears in recent years but times are changing. Seattle lost a lot of talent off its defense this offseason and lost its opener to the Broncos. The Bears, meanwhile, gave the Packers everything they could handle before falling by a point late. Chicago looks to be improving but a three-point spread is high. The Seahawks have Russell Wilson and he should make enough plays to keep Seattle close. The Bears are the pick to win but Seattle is going to be able to cover this spread.

Free NFL ATS Picks

There are a lot of underdogs that will cover the spread this week, but it’s not often that more than a few actually come away with the upset win on the moneyline. The Jaguars are an easy choice to win their game, but they are only a small underdog against the Patriots so it won’t pay off huge. With that in mind, the Chiefs are the perfect underdog to back this week. They are playing a Steelers team dealing with a lot of strife and would pay off at +192 on the moneyline in NFL odds. Go with the Chiefs as they have the type of firepower to win this game on the road even against a talented Pittsburgh team. There are some good underdog picks in Week 2 but Kansas City is the best of the bunch.

NFL ATS Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 27

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TNF - Ravens at Bengals
September 13, 2018
By Tony Mejia

Baltimore at Cincinnati (PK, 44.5), 8:20 pm ET, NFLN

Since the Steelers and Browns delivered a Week 1 tie, the winner of Thursday’s contest will have a 2-0 record and sole possession of the AFC North lead. A leg up on everyone else doesn’t hurt, even this early in the game.

So, who do you like? Take your pick. The line is telling you to.

The Ravens are expected to do more this season after making it through the preseason healthier than they’ve entered a season in years, while the Bengals were identified as a team that would likely continue to take a step back after finishing under .500 in consecutive seasons for only the second time in Marvin Lewis’ 15-year tenure.

His 16th season opened with a victory in Indianapolis, so with a new defensive coordinator in the highly regarded Teryl Austin and Bill Lazor back for a second season to run the offense, there’s a sense of optimism in place entering a Thursday night home opener against a Baltimore team that it has enjoyed tremendous success against over the years, winning seven of the last eight meetings.

The Ravens led Buffalo 40-0 before finally surrendering a field goal in Week 1’s most lopsided contest, so if nothing else, the degree of difficulty increases here given the road atmosphere and the improved opposition. John Harbaugh is also working with a new defensive coordinator since Dean Pees elected to retire only to change his mind a few weeks later, joining Tennessee in the same capacity.

Linebackers coach Don Martindale was promoted after being on staff since 2012, so there’s plenty of continuity in place. Baltimore’s defense didn’t allow a single first down until the second half and gave up 10 all game, limiting the Bills to 153 yards and a 2-for-15 showing on third down. They picked off a pair of Nathan Peterman passes and sacked Buffalo’s quarterbacks six times. Any way you slice it, the Ravens benefited from facing the NFL’s worst offense, but they’ve been doing a lot of winning so far in 2018.

Ironically, the Ravens’ 2017 campaign ended on Dec. 31 at the hands of the Bengals, who played spoiler and dashed their rival’s playoff aspirations with a Week 17 upset. Andy Dalton hit Tyler Boyd for a 49-yard score in the final minute to produce a 31-27 upset after an Eric Weddle interception was called back due to defensive pass interference. After Joe Flacco failed to engineer a desperate comeback, fans in Baltimore watched their team walk off the field and into the offseason dejected and demoralized.

Baltimore went a perfect 5-0 in the preseason, winning the Hall of Fame game way back on Aug. 2 and defeating its opposition by a combined 55 points. While exhibition games are meaningless, winning them all suggests that they have superior depth, remained focused and practiced like pros.

To his credit, John Harbaugh saw the makings of this potential revival early, quickly stating that this group was putting together one of the most impressive training camps he’d ever seen. Combined with the fact they stayed healthy after seemingly being cursed with one season-ending injury after another before Week 1 over the past few years, the fact they looked so sharp in the 47-3 rout of Buffalo wasn’t entirely about how awful the Bills were.

Over nine months after last running into the Bengals, the Ravens visit them in Cincinnati and won’t have to deal with public enemy No. 1 in Vontaze Burfict. Cincy’s standout linebacker and defensive leader is serving the second of a four-game suspension for a PED violation, so while we may see a brawl or a late hit in what’s been a consistently emotional and nasty rivalry, one of the usual suspects won’t be the instigator.

Without Burfict, the Bengals were carved up in Indianapolis despite the fact that they put the game away by clamping down in the final quarter, scoring the last 17 points and putting the exclamation point on a comeback win by taking a Jack Doyle fumble 83 yards on a scoop-and-score from young safety Clayton Fejedelem. Cincinnati intercepted Andrew Luck once too but struggled to get off the field on third down, surrendering conversions on 11-of-17 chance to get off the field. If Flacco is able to replicate that on Thursday, it’s bound to be a long night for the home team, which sacked Luck only twice and gave up 380 yards of offense.

Austin should get better results as the season unfolds and Burfict returns, but he’s working with most of the same guys that have been on board with the Bengals over the past few years, losing only CB Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones and DT Chris Smith from last year’s group.

Flacco is working with a lot of new faces thanks to a revamped receiving corps and has immediately taken to the group, tossing touchdown passes to Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead against the Bills.

Cincinnati’s best offensive option remains All-Pro wideout A.J. Green, who was fed six times for 92 yards by Dalton against the Colts but fumbled twice, losing possession once. With last year’s No. 1 pick, John Ross, finally healthy and tight end Tyler Eifert having returned from a season-long back issue, Dalton has a lot of talented weapons to work with. Boyd is back too, while RB Joe Mixon looks stronger after an uneven rookie season and came up with a game-high 149 yards on 22 touches against the Colts, emerging as a valuable, productive threat with the second-most productive game of his young career. Former starter Giovanni Bernard only got one carry and one catch as a result but has plenty of experience going up against the Ravens over the years, owning two career touchdowns against them.

Baltimore is hoping for the type of defensive effort it got in its last visit to Paul Brown Stadium, where it pulled off a 20-0 shutout in the 2017 season opener. The Ravens turned Dalton over five times, intercepting him on four occasions in addition to forcing a fumble. Dalton rebounded and threw for 222 yards and three scores in Week 17 despite an off game from Green.

Flacco has a 19-to-23 touchdown-to-interception ration against the Bengals over his career, completing just 60 percent of his passes in contributing to his team’s recent struggles over a rival he originally won six of his first nine games against before this recent 3-8 run. He’s only won in two of his last nine visits to Paul Brown Stadium.

While the Ravens are hoping to start 2-0 for the third straight season, Cincinnati opened 0-3 last year and hasn’t opened with consecutive victories since 2015, part of an 8-0 run that helped yield its last division title.


Baltimore Ravens
Season win total: 8.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Odds to win AFC North: 3/1 to 9/4
Odds to win AFC: 20/1 to 20/1
Odds to win Super Bowl: 25/1 to 20/1

Cincinnati Bengals
Season win total: 7 (Over -135, Under +115)
Odds to win AFC North: 10/1 to 5/1
Odds to win AFC: 40/1 to 40/1
Odds to win Super Bowl: 80/1 to 40/1

LINE MOVEMENT

The Ravens beat up the Bills and Pittsburgh tied Cleveland as the Le'Veon Bell saga dragged on into another week, so the Westgate LV Superbook eased up on its stance on the AFC North favorite. Pittsburgh (4/5) is still favored to win the AFC North but the Ravens have moved all the way up from the 4/1 they opened at. Cincinnati also got a bump, moving up from the 10/1 to win the AFC North that they were at all offseason prior to Week 1

The Bengals were one of the four biggest longshots to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl when odds were released, right there with the Jets, Bills and Browns. After taking down the Colts in Indianapolis, they have now moved way up. New York (60/1) and Cleveland (80/1) also saw odds improve. Buffalo moved to 1,000/1.

As far as this matchup is concerned, the Ravens opened the week favored by one point at most shops (1.5 at the Wynn) but the Bengals moved to a 1-point chalk themselves in many places too. There are a lot of pick'ems out there (Westgate, Wynn) but William Hill has the Ravens favored by 1 while the Mirage and a few online books have Cincinnati laying a point. The total opened at 44, climbed to 44.5 at most places and now has 45 widely available at many shops.

Shop away for a point or take a stab at the money line since Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are at -105/-110 depending on where you look. Team totals for both are available in the 21.5/22 range.

INJURY CONCERNS

Burfict is suspended for Cincinnati, while Baltimore is without corner Jimmy Smith for the first four games and won't have Maurice Canady to help the cause since he's been ruled out with a thigh injury.

Baltimore will also be without DT Willie Henry (abdominal) and put veteran RB Kenneth Dixon on IR after he suffered a knee injury against the Bills. Alex Collins and Buck Allen should capably handle the workload to anchor the ground game.

The Bengals may be missing LB Preston Brown (ankle), who came up with the interception of Luck in Week 1 in his first game since signing a one-year deal after leaving Buffalo.

RECENT MEETINGS (Cincinnati 7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS last eight; UNDER 6-4)

12/31/17 Cincinnati 31-27 at Baltimore (CIN +8, 40)
9/10/17 Baltimore 20-0 at Cincinnati (BAL +2.5, 41.5)
1/1/17 Cincinnati 27-10 vs. Baltimore (CIN +2.5, 40.5)
11/27/16 Baltimore 19-14 vs. Cincinnati (BAL -3.5, 41.5)
1/3/16 Cincinnati 24-16 vs. Baltimore (BAL +9.5, 41.5)
9/27/15 Cincinnati 28-24 at Baltimore (CIN +2.5, 44.5)
10/26/14 Cincinnati 27-24 vs. Baltimore (CIN +3, 44.5)
9/7/14 Cincinnati 23-16 at Baltimore (CIN +2, 43)
12/29/13 Cincinnati 34-17 vs. Baltimore (CIN -7, 43)
11/10/13 Baltimore 20-17 (OT) vs. Cincinnati (BAL -2, 44)

NEXT WEEK'S NUMBERS POSTED

The Westgate opens its advance lines for the following week on Tuesdays and Week 3 currently has the Ravens as a 5.5-point road favorite against Denver. The Bengals will be on the road in Carolina and have been made a 4.5-point underdog.

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Ravens-Bengals Props
September 13, 2018

By Kyle Markus

NFL Game Props - Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens rolled to a victory last time out behind a dominant defense. They are a pick ‘em this week against the Cincinnati Bengals, but for those fretting whether or not Baltimore’s offense can be trusted, don’t worry about it. There isn’t a need to decide on which team will win this game and cover the spread because there are a bunch of prop bets available to wager on this contest in other ways.

The Bengals are 1-0 as well after winning on the road against the Colts, and have the home field advantage. Keep that in mind for the various prop bets that are available to be wagered on in NFL prop betting.

This NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals will be held at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio at 8:20 p.m ET on Thursday, September 13th, 2018. The contest will be nationally televised on NFL Network.

We'll have NFL football odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NFL season.

Odds Analysis

This game is a toss-up and so is the prop bet on which side will score first. The coin toss will be huge, as the team that receives and gets the first possession will be the team most likely to put points on the board first. The Ravens and Bengals can both be wagered on at -115.

The oddsmakers think it is less likely than not that there is a score in the first six-and-a-half minutes of this contest. The “no” vote has a vig of -125 while “yes” can be chosen at -105.

The Ravens’ defense has looked good for the past year-plus. The Bengals’ 22.5 point over/under seems a little high and the “under” can be bet on at -115. It is a good way to put faith in the Baltimore defense even if the offense doesn’t live up to its end of the bargain.

The length of the longest touchdown of the game is listed at a pretty short 40.5 yards. Even though the big plays on offense may not be there, a defensive touchdown could easily surpass this. The “over” and “under” of that yardage are each being wagered on at -115.

Justin Tucker is one of the best field goal kickers in the NFL. The longest field goal over/under is listed at 45.5 yards, and if Tucker gets a shot from further than that, he is likely to hit it. With Tucker in the fold, the “over” is the better play here.

This one could have a lot of punts, and amazingly, there is a prop bet for that. The over/under on total number of punts in this contest is listed at 10. While both teams put up points in the opener, don’t be fooled into thinking this one will be a shootout.

Even though this is a pick ‘em, it’s rare that a game goes to overtime. Therefore, “no” overtime is the favorite at -1500, while “yes” to overtime is listed at +700 and would pay off handsomely.

An interesting underdog choice is on the question, ‘Will the game be decided by exactly three points?’ A lot of NFL contests are, and a “yes” wager would pay out at +400. It is definitely worth considering.

Free NFL ATS Picks

There are plenty of prop bets to consider, but there is one that stands out among the others as likely to hit. The Bengals have some intriguing skill players but quarterback Andy Dalton could have some trouble against the talented Ravens defense. With that in mind, the “under” on the Bengals’ scoring total over/under of 22.5 points is the pick in NFL wagering.

NFL Prop Pick: Cincinnati Bengals “under” 22.5 points against the Baltimore Ravens

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More later

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NFL RECORD FOR SEPT......

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

09/09/2018 15-10-1 60.00% +20.00
09/06/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00

Totals...............17-10-1.....62.96%.....+30.00


NFL BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS..................U NITS....................O/U................UNITS..............TOTAL

09/09/2018.............4 - 4...................-2.00.....................8 - 3...............+23.50............+21.50
09/06/2018.............1 - 0..................+5.00.....................1 - 0...............+5.00..............+10.00

Totals......................5 - 4..................+3.00.....................9 - 3...............+28.50............+31.50


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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BAL at CIN 08:20 PM

BAL -1.0

U 43.0

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Dalton throws 4 TDs, Bengals beat Ravens
September 13, 2018

CINCINNATI (AP) Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes in the first half - three to A.J. Green - against a defense that has bedeviled him throughout his career, and the Cincinnati Bengals held on for a 34-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Dalton knocked the Ravens (1-1) out of playoff contention last season by throwing a 49-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the final game in Baltimore. On Thursday, he carved up a defense that has more often gotten the upper hand in their AFC North rivalry, leading Cincinnati (2-0) to an early 21-point lead .

''We came out hot,'' Dalton said. ''That's exactly how we wanted to start the game. That's a big one - puts us 2-0 to start the year and gives us a leg up in the division.''

Heading into the game, Dalton had thrown more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (15) against the Ravens, including a four-interception game at Paul Brown Stadium last season. Dalton finished 24 of 42 for 265 yards, throwing four touchdown passes for the fifth time in his career.

Green set the tone with touchdown catches of 4, 28 and 7 yards on consecutive possessions, a career high . Upset that he fumbled twice during a 34-23 win at Indianapolis on Sunday, he caught everything near him during the Bengals' early surge. Green finished with five catches for 69 yards.

''It just happened to fall that way,'' Green said. ''We were clicking on all cylinders. We were in a groove.''

Dalton's 14-yard touchdown throw to Tyler Boyd made it 28-7 late in the first half.

Joe Flacco was sharp in an opening 47-3 win over the Bills, but couldn't do anything against Cincinnati until the Bengals led by three touchdowns. Flacco threw a pair of touchdown passes , including a 21-yarder to John Brown that cut it to 28-23 with 9:35 left.

''You better bounce back quick on a Thursday night and we didn't do it quick enough tonight,'' Flacco said.

Flacco fumbled with 2:42 to go - Shawn Williams stripped the ball from behind - setting up a field goal by Randy Bullock that closed it out. Flacco finished 32 of 55 for 376 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and four sacks.

GLORY DAYS

The Bengals honored their 1988 Super Bowl team at halftime, their last team to go deep into the playoffs. They haven't won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the sixth-longest drought in NFL history.

PRIME-TIME PLAYERS

The Ravens had their streak of five straight Thursday night wins snapped. The Bengals are 6-14 in prime-time games since Dalton's rookie season of 2011 - 0-5 on Sunday night, 2-5 on Monday night, 4-3 on Thursday night and 0-1 on Saturday night.

SEEING GREEN

Green is the fourth Bengals receiver to catch three TD passes in a half, joining Marvin Jones (2013), Chad Johnson (2003) and Isaac Curtis (1973).

FAST START

The Bengals are 2-0 for the first time since 2015, when they won the division, and for only the fifth time during coach Marvin Lewis' 16 seasons. They're the first team to score at least 34 points in each of their first two games since the 2013 Broncos, who reached the Super Bowl, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

FAN ON FIELD

A young man in a black shirt ran onto the field in the closing minutes undetected until he got near Dalton. The fan was grabbed by security.

INJURIES

Ravens: LB C.J. Mosley left in the first quarter with a bruised knee.

Bengals: Preston Brown was inactive with an injured right ankle, leaving Cincinnati without two top linebackers. Vontaze Burfict is suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. ... DE Michael Johnson hurt his left knee in the first quarter and didn't return. ... Rookie C Billy Price hurt his right ankle in the first quarter and didn't return.

UP NEXT

Ravens host the Denver Broncos.

Bengals play at Carolina.

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NFL RECORD FOR SEPT......

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

09/13/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
09/09/2018 15-10-1 60.00% +20.00
09/06/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00

Totals...............17-12-1.....58.62%.....+19.00


NFL BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS..................U NITS....................O/U................UNITS..............TOTAL

09/13/2018.............0 - 1...................-5.50.....................0 - 1................-5.50...............-11.00
09/09/2018.............4 - 4...................-2.00.....................8 - 3...............+23.50............+21.50
09/06/2018.............1 - 0..................+5.00.....................1 - 0...............+5.00..............+10.00

Totals......................5 - 5..................-2.50......................9 - 4...............+23.00............+20.50

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Week 2 Best Bets - Sides
September 13, 2018
By Bookmaker

Week 2 NFL Best Bets – Sides

Last week's selections were able to split the board as the Minnesota Vikings did enough to defend their turf and cover the 6.5 points they were laying, while the Chargers continued to get plagued by self-inflicted mistakes and feeling like they are the visitors when they are at home. Until this Chargers team strings a few wins together, chances are that non-home field advantage that they have won't go away.

So it's on to Week 2 now and we've got quite a few interesting games on the board, especially division rivalries. The divisional rivalries we've got this week should be great as they include Minnesota/GB, Houston/Tennessee, Carolina/Atlanta, Miami/NY Jets, Arizona/LA Rams, Oakland/Denver, and NY Giants/Dallas all going head-to head.

One of those games I'll touch on a bit later, but for now it's all about getting a few ATS wins in our pocket this week and it begins with a team looking for their first SU win in years.

Odds per - Bookmaker.eu

Best Bet #1: Cleveland Browns +9

Hopefully like many of the readers at VegasInsider.com, I was able to catch this great Hot/Not piece by a colleague at the site this week, as they stated how bad of a situation this could be for Cleveland Browns fans this week. No road team coming off a rare tie game this century has gone on to cover the point spread (0-9 ATS) and usually it's the Cleveland Browns who are apart of streaks like that, not the ones trying to snap it.

Look, I get it, the Saints were embarrassed at home as a double-digit favorite and now they definitely want to take a big piece out of their next opponent because of it. But can you really trust a Saints defense that just spent weeks/months preparing for backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – they knew he'd be starting forever - and then let him light them up in the fashion he did? I just don't see how you can to be honest.

Furthermore, the Saints are in a tough spot themselves this week as teams that have scored 40+ one week and are at home the next are just 10-17 ATS the last three years. Make them a home favorite and you get that number squeezed down to 10-15 ATS for teams in that spot. Not exactly a huge percentage in favor of a Browns play here, but favor those home teams that scored 40+ by six or more points and you get a 2-7 ATS run over the past two seasons for these squads.

The Browns are going to be freewheeling and taking whatever shots they can this year – at least until they get a win – and New Orleans defense isn't going to provide much resistance in that regard. Whether or not there is a hangover effect for the Saints defense given how their season ended a year ago we will probably never know, but that's the side of the ball that's really going to hold Brees and the rest of the team back in 2018.

This game probably isn't the automatic double-digit win many believe it is with the lowly Browns coming to town, because a back door cover is always going to be available to Cleveland with how bad this Saints defense is, and until New Orleans shows me something this year on that side of the ball (and does so for multiple weeks), fading the Saints as sizable favorites is something I'm looking to do.

Odds per - Bookmaker.eu

Best Bet #1: Oakland Raiders +6

This is another line where I see this game as a battle of perception vs reality as the Oakland Raiders really did look bad on MNF in losing to the Rams. The entire Gruden Era – Part Deux has been quite a disaster overall for the Raiders and their stock is so low right now that bettors have been lining up all week to get a piece of Denver ATS this week.

Betting percentages at VegasInsider.com currently show about 80% of the bets made already on this game coming Denver's way. The Broncos did look solid in beating Seattle at home a week ago, but that game was close throughout and was decided by a FG. Seattle was not a team many thought highly of entering the year either, but are they really considered about a FG better than Oakland after just one week?

That's essentially the question you've got to ask yourself here as it was just a week ago that Seattle was in the same spot; on the road in Denver, and they were catching +3 to +3.5 points. Oakland, a division rival, now visits Denver after an opening week loss and are bet up to +6? I just don't see it as the -4/4.5 line oddsmakers opened up here was probably where it should have been and definitely should have stayed.

Oakland is not going to show themselves in as bad a light as they did in that 2nd half on MNF and I'll gladly take the few extra points of value here with the Raiders. This game is likely going to be decided by a FG (as the Seattle game was) as I'm not so sure Denver is that great of a team worthy of laying nearly a TD in Week 2.

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Teams to Watch - Week 2
September 12, 2018
By YouWager.eu

Week 2 Futures Forecast Predictions

Top picks, teams to avoid this weekend

We have barely had time to catch out breath after a hectic opening week in the NFL, but it’s already time to start looking ahead to Week 2 of what promises to be a very exciting season. The odds and lines have all been set, although there may still be some movement before we get to the action, so be sure to check in regularly to keep track of any potential odds shifts.

We have taken a look at the Week 2 match-ups in the NFL to see if we can come up with some teams to play, as well as a couple to avoid based on the current odds, so let’s get right to the picks and remember all betting odds, props and futures are available by YouWager.eu

LA Chargers (-7) at Buffalo Bills

Both of these teams will be looking for a win after losing their opening games, but I believe there is only one of them who has an actual shot at getting the W. The Chargers, who traditionally start the season slowly, were soundly beaten by the Chiefs in Week 1, but will have taken away a couple of positive from that game, most notably the play of QB Phillip Rivers. He was very good in the loss and is likely to feat on a Bills defense that was cruelly exposed by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. I am a little surprised that the spread is just 7 points here, so play the LA Chargers against the spread.

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-6)

There were a lot of Atlanta fans calling for the head of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian at the end of last season, as the production of the Falcons offense dropped off dramatically under his watch. The Falcons stuck with him, but it appears little has changed. Atlanta struggled in the red zone in an 18-12 loss to the Eagles in Week 1 and are now getting set to face a division rival in a crucial game. The Panthers opened their season with a win over Dallas, and even if they lose this one, I think they keep it very close. Avoid the Falcons ATS.

Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins (OVER 45 ½)

The Redskins saw their 2018 season get off to a positive start with a 24-6 win over the toothless Arizona Cardinals. They looked solid offensively, with new QB Alex Smith looking as though he is going to fit in with this team quite comfortably. The defense was not really tested against the Cardinals, but they will certainly need to be ready when they face Andrew Luck, who threw for over 300 yards in his return from injury. He is going to get more comfortable as the season progresses, which may mean more production. The last 4 meetings between these two teams have gone comfortably over this weekends marks, which is why I will play the OVER 45 ½.

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (UNDER 46)

With the hiring of Jon Gruden as the head coach, the Oakland Raiders signaled that they are ready to get back to playing an offensive-minded style of football. That didn’t play out too well in Week 1, as they managed just 13 points against a very good LA Rams team. This week, the Raiders will head to Denver to face a Broncos team that edged by the Seahawks in a 27-24 win. The Broncos still have some serious issues at the QB position, so I don’t expect them to score like that every week. The last 3 meetings between these teams have averaged just 30 PPG, so play the UNDER 46.

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Raiders at Broncos
September 13, 2018

By Tom Wilkinson

NFL Preview – Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

The Oakland Raiders visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday in an AFC West rivalry matchup that can be seen on CBS. The Raiders did not start off well in Jon Gruden’s return, as they were dominated by the Rams in Week 1, while the Broncos beat the Seahawks. The Raiders and Broncos split their two meetings last season, with each team winning at home. Let’s look at this Week 2 matchup and NFL picks.

Date and Time: Sunday, September 16, 2018, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Denver, CO
NFL Odds at BetDSI: Broncos -5.5, O/U 46
Raiders vs. Broncos TV Coverage: CBS

The Raiders are coming off a 33-13 loss to the Rams in Week 1. It was not a good opening for Gruden and Oakland. The offense gained plenty of yards, but quarterback Derek Carr threw three interceptions. Tight end Jared Cook who had nine catches for 180 yards. The Raiders under Gruden are going to try and play a smash mouth brand of football, but whether it will work in today’s NFL is in question. Running backs and tight ends caught 24 of Carr’s 29 completions.

The Oakland defense was gashed in the second half by the Los Angeles offense and it was obvious that the Raiders already miss Khalil Mack. They Raiders had just one sack against Jared Goff and only one other hit on him.

The Broncos are coming off a solid 27-24 home win against Seattle last week. Denver was able to overcome three interceptions by Case Keenum who was making his first start for the Broncos. Keenum did make some big plays and he also threw three TD passes. Emmanuel Sanders looks poised for a big season with Keenum throwing him the ball, as he had 135 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. The Denver defense harassed Russell Wilson last week, but the Broncos still gave up 24 points to Seattle.

Matchup to Watch

If the Raiders are going to have a chance to win on Sunday they have to get more out of their passing game. Carr threw for a lot of yards last week, but almost all of the passes were dump offs to the running backs or short passes to the tight end. The Raiders will need to open up their passing game and get Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson involved if they are to threaten the Broncos. It is already obvious that Oakland’s defense is going to struggle this season so the Raiders need to score a lot of points to win games.

Key Stats

The Raiders are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Denver. The Raiders are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. the AFC West. The Raiders are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 road games. The Broncos are 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 games in September. The Broncos are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games. The Broncos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. the AFC West.

Looking at the total, the Under is 8-0 in the Raiders last 8 games overall. The Under is 8-1 in the Raiders last 9 vs. the AFC West. The Under is 9-3 in the Raiders last 12 road games. The Over is 7-0 in the Broncos last 7 games in September. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in this series.

Raiders vs. Broncos Picks

Who do you trust in this game? Do you trust Gruden to figure things out or do you trust a Denver team with Lance Lynn as head coach? Trusting Gruden or Lynn doesn’t sound that appealing, although I would probably lean to taking the Raiders plus the points. I think the better choice is the total. The Raiders are simply not very good on defense and I expect Keenum to put up big numbers. Carr will have to match him if this game is going to be competitive. I will go over the total in this contest.

Raiders vs. Broncos Pick: Over 46
Raiders vs. Broncos Score Prediction: Broncos 30, Raiders 28

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Panthers at Falcons
September 13, 2018

By Tom Wilkinson

NFL Preview – Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are favored at home on Sunday afternoon, as they host the Carolina Panthers in a game that can be seen on FOX. The Panthers are coming off a low scoring win in Week 1 against Dallas, while the Falcons lost at Philadelphia. The Panthers are already banged up on offense, while the Falcons are banged up on defense. Let’s look at this Week 2 matchup and NFL picks.

Date and Time: Sunday, September 16, 2018, 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
NFL Odds at BetDSI: Falcons -6, O/U 44.5
Panthers vs. Falcons TV Coverage: FOX

The Panthers didn’t do much on offense last week, but their defense was impressive, as they held the Cowboys to just eight points. The Carolina offense suffered two major losses, as tight end Greg Olsen and right tackle Daryl Williams suffered injuries. Cam Newton carried the offense last week against Dallas and he may have to do so again this week in Atlanta.

The Falcons lost their opener against the Eagles, as once again the offense under coordinator Steve Sarkisian failed to deliver. The Falcons defense played well, but they lost a major piece, as safety Keanu Neal suffered a season-ending injury. The Falcons are now without two Pro Bowlers, in Neal and middle linebacker Deion Jones. Carolina has lost three of the last four games against the Falcons in the last two years and they are not getting much respect for this game, as they are listed as 6-point underdogs.

Matchup to Watch

This game comes down to how well Cam Newton and the Carolina offense does against the Atlanta defense. The Carolina offensive line is a mess right now. Dallas sacked Newton three times last week and they pressured him on 43% of his drop backs. The Panthers did little last week in the passing game, as Newton threw for just 161 yards. The Falcons will be without both Neal and Jones so they could have a difficult time containing Cam.

Keep in mind that Carolina has a new offensive coordinator this season in Norv Turner and he let Cam run in the opener. Cam had 13 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. “I am expecting that.” Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn said to the media, “When he gets out on the edge, he’s a running back and a big one. So, I anticipate that part of his game because that adds another element to their offense.” Newton has averaged 51.5 yards on the ground against the Falcons and last season he had 86 yards and a TD in a 20-17 win.

“He can run, and he’s hard to tackle,” said cornerback Desmond Trufant to the media, “He’s big. ... We’ve just got to be disciplined, run to him and swarm the ball and wrap him up. Just keep everything in front of us.”

Key Stats

The Panthers are 5-15-2 ATS in their last 22 meetings in Atlanta. The Panthers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games. The Panthers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 vs. the NFC South. The Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. The Falcons are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in September.

Looking at the total, the Under is 4-1 in the Panthers last 5 games in September. The Under is 4-0 in the Falcons last 4 vs. the NFC South. The Under is 6-1 in the Falcons last 7 home games. The Under is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings.

Panthers vs. Falcons Picks

On paper, the Falcons should win this game, as they have more talent than the Panthers, but how can you trust the Atlanta offense? If Cam can make some big plays on the ground he should keep the Panthers in this contest. I will take the points with Carolina in this game. I also can’t ignore the trends on the total, as 8 of the last 10 meetings have gone under, so I will also play the game under the total.

Panthers vs. Falcons Pick: Panthers +6 and Under 44.5
Panthers vs. Falcons Score Prediction: Panthers 20, Falcons 17

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Tech Trends - Week 2
September 11, 2018
By Bruce Marshall

SUNDAY, SEP. 16
NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
INDIANAPOLIS at WASHINGTON (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Colts were 10-5 as dog 2013-15 reg-season action before Luck’s various injuries past two years. Indy “over” 16-8 away in reg season since 2015. Jay Gruden “over” 24-13 since late in 2015.
Tech Edge: “Over” and slight to Colts, based on “totals” and team trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
CAROLINA at ATLANTA (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Falcs have won and covered 4 of last 5 meetings. Cam however is 11-4 as dog since 2015. “Unders” 9-1 last 10 meetings, and Falcs “under” 14-5 since last season.
Tech Edge: “Under,” based on “totals” trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
MINNESOTA at GREEN BAY (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Vikes have won and covered 4 of last 5 meetings, but Rodgers missed one and most of the other meeting last season. Note “unders” 6-1 last 7 meetings. Pack “over” 21-11 entering 2018. In case Zimmer a dog note he’s 18-9 in role in reg season with Vikings since 2014.
Tech Edge: “Under” and Vikings, especially if dog, based on “totals” and trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
L.A. CHARGERS at BUFFALO (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Bills only 4-6 as dog (1-2 in role at Orchard Park) for McDermott. Bolts rolled 54-24 LY. Bolts 8-3-1 vs. spread last 9 in 2017.
Tech Edge: Chargers, based on team trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
HOUSTON at TENNESSEE (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Watson 3-0 vs. line on road in games he started last season. Texans also “over” in 5 of Watson’s last 6 starts. Titans ”over” 24-12-1 regular season games since late in 2015 campaign.
Tech Edge: Texans and “over,” based on team and “totals” trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
KANSAS CITY at PITTSBURGH (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Tomlin 6-2 vs. line last eight years in Week 2. Tomlin also 8-3 vs. points in his 11 home openers at Heinz Field. Steel entered 2018 “under” 33-17-1 since late 2014.
Tech Edge: Slight to Steel, based on Tomlin marks.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
MIAMI at NY JETS (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Dolphins 1-7 vs. line last 8 in 2017 away from home. Jets 7-1-1 vs. spread last 9 as host.
Tech Edge: Jets, based on team trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
PHILADELPHIA at TAMPA BAY (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Birds 7-3 vs. spread last ten away from Linc. Also on 17-5-1 spread run since late 2016. Bucs, however, have covered last six as home dog. Bucs also “under” 9-2 last 11 at home.
Tech Edge: “Under,” based on team trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
CLEVELAND at NEW ORLEANS (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET)
Brownies 7-14 vs. line last 21 away, also “over” 8-3 last 11 away. Saints “over” 22-11 reg season Superdome since 2014.
Tech Edge: Saints and “over,” based on team and “totals” trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
ARIZONA at L.A. RAMS (FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Rams destroyed Cards both times LY combined 65-16 score. Though LA just 4-10-1 vs. spread at Coliseum since returning in 2016 (“home” game vs. Big Red LY in London). Rams “over” 13-6 last 19 reg season games Cards just 2-6 vs. line away in 2017.
Tech Edge: “Over” and Rams, based on “totals” and recent series trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
DETROIT at SAN FRANCISCO (FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Lions were just 11-21 as dog reg season 2014-17 for Caldwell. Detroit "over" 7-2 last nine away, 49ers “over” 9-5 last 14 at Levi’s.
Tech Edge: 49ers and “over,” based on team and “totals” trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
NEW ENGLAND at JACKSONVILLE (CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Belichick 11-4 as reg season road chalk past two seasons. Pats also “under” 12-4-1 reg season road since late 2015. Jags only 0-1 as home dog LY.
Tech Edge: Pats and “under,” based on Belichick trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
OAKLAND at DENVER (CBS, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Broncos have won and covered 5 of last 6 as host vs. Raiders. Oakland covered only 2 of last 15 since early 2017 (one of those Ws vs. Denver). “Unders” 5-1 last six in series.
Tech Edge: Broncos and “under,” based on series and “totals” trends.

NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
N.Y. GIANTS at DALLAS (NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Dallas 3-1-1 vs. line at home vs. NYG after struggling as series host prior. Last four “under” in series, and G-Men also “under” 23-10 reg season since 2016. Dallas 4-7-1 last line last 12 as reg season host.
Tech Edge: "Under,” based on “totals” trends.

MONDAY, SEPT. 17
NFL Matchups NFL Matchups
SEATTLE at CHICAGO (ESPN, 8:25 p.m. ET)
Pete just 8-14-1 as chalk since 2016. Bears 8-1-1 as Soldier Field dog since 2016.
Tech Edge: Bears, especially if dog, based on team trends.

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Vikings at Packers
September 14, 2018

By Kyle Markus

NFL Preview - Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers aren’t just the two best teams in the NFC North, but they are on the short list of Super Bowl contenders. Minnesota added quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency this offseason and may have the NFL’s most complete team on offense and defense. The Packers may not be as deep but they have Aaron Rodgers, arguably the best player in the league.

However, Rodgers injured his knee in a season-opening win over the Bears, and while he returned to the game, it’s unknown if he will be ready for this one. That could be a game-day decision and whether Rodgers plays or not will have a huge effect on the spread.

The Vikings have a good shot at grabbing a crucial early-season road win if Rodgers can’t play. If he does the Packers should be favored in NFL gambling.

This NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin at 1 p.m ET on Sunday, September 16th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.

We'll have NFL football odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NFL season.

Odds Analysis

The Packers-Vikings spread is currently off the board because of Rodgers’ injury. He is such a key player and the line is going to move so much depending on his availability. Inactives have to be announced 90 minutes before the game, and that might be the only time we have real clarity on the situation.

Check back before the game in order to bet on this contest. The scoring total in addition to the spread is going to be affected depending on Rodgers’ plans in NFL wagering.

Injury Update

Rodgers suffered a knee injury against the Bears in the first half and left the game. He came back in the second half to help the team to the win, but there was a lot of adrenaline running on that day. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and it doesn’t seem like a given that Rodgers will play in this one as the knee could have swelled up after the game.

The Vikings knocked Rodgers out for a significant portion of the season in 2017 with a broken collarbone and the last thing the Packers want to do is see him suffer a setback. It will be interesting to see what happens with this situation but it will make headlines whenever Green Bay decides.

Last Time Out

Rodgers returned to the game against the Bears in Week 1 with his team trailing 20-0 and led the Packers to a 21-20 victory. He ended up completing 20-of-30 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago had a chance to pick him late but Kyle Fuller dropped the pass and Rodgers made him pay by finding Randall Cobb for a long score. The Packers generally go as Rodgers does and they were lucky he returned to this one as they eked out the win.

The Vikings looked very good in a 24-16 win over the 49ers. Cousins was 20-of-36 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, doing his damage early as Minnesota jumped out to a lead. The Vikings registered three interceptions including a pick-six by rookie Mike Hughes. The Vikings looked strong on both sides of the ball as they announced themselves early on as one of the best teams in the NFC.

Free NFL ATS Picks

It’s tough to gauge this game until Rodgers’ availability becomes known, but the most likely scenario has him playing but at less than optimum capacity. With that in mind, the Vikings are too talented, even on the road. Take Minnesota to win this game as Rodgers will lack the mobility that makes him so tough for defenses to corral.

Keep an eye on the spread when it is announced in NFL odds.

NFL ATS Pick: Minnesota Vikings 27, Green Bay Packers 23

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Patriots at Jaguars
September 14, 2018

By Tom Wilkinson

NFL Preview – New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The best matchup in Week 2 in the NFL takes place on Sunday afternoon, as the New England Patriots visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that can be seen on CBS. It is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game that the Patriots won 24-20. It is a chance for Jacksonville to get the early edge on the Patriots in the AFC and also a chance to avenge last season’s loss. Let’s look at this Week 2 matchup and NFL picks.

Date and Time: Sunday, September 16, 2018, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
NFL Odds at BetDSI: Pick, O/U 45
Patriots vs. Jaguars TV Coverage: CBS

It is only Week 2 of the NFL season but this is a huge game for both teams. For the Patriots it is a chance to once again show the AFC that they are the best team, while the Jaguars have a chance to take away the top spot, at least for now. This game is an AFC title game rematch, but this time around the game is in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have been excellent at home, as they have won their last six home games, the third-longest in team history.

The Jaguars are coming off a tough road win over the Giants last week in what was a low scoring game, while the Patriots pulled out a seven-point home win against the Houston Texans. The Jaguars will have to find more offense this week if they are to beat the Patriots. Jacksonville’s defense did score last week in the win over the Giants, and the players realize they need to score defensive touchdowns. “We just play ball, and we play with each other and for each other. Whatever the situation, we don’t back down. We go out and attack.” linebacker Telvin Smith said to the media.

The Jaguars do have some concern on offense this week, as running back Leonard Fournette is dealing with a minor hamstring injury. He will test the hamstring on Friday to see if he can go on Sunday.

Key Factor

The Patriots don’t lose very often, but when they do it is because the other team wins the turnover battle. Teams that beat New England force Tom Brady into making mistakes. When the Patriots win the turnover battle they are 143-15 under head coach Bill Belichik. When they lose the turnover battle they are 37-42. When turnovers are even the Patriots are 35-17. If the Jaguars are to win this game they simply have to win the turnover battle. That means forcing Brady into mistakes and it also means running the ball and keeping Blake Bortles under wraps.

Key Stats

The Patriots are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games on grass. The Patriots are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 road games. The Patriots are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in September. The Jaguars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September. The Jaguars are 7-3 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Looking at the total, the Under is 4-0 in the Patriots last 4 road games. The Under is 11-5 in the Patriots last 16 games overall. The Under is 9-2 in the Jaguars last 11 vs. the AFC. The Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.

Patriots vs. Jaguars Picks

How much credence do we give to the revenge factor in this game? There is no question that the Jaguars really want to win this game after losing last year’s AFC Championship Game. The question is can they come up with enough offense to keep up with the Patriots. If the Jaguars are going to win this game they have to run the ball, take time of the clock and turn this into a defensive game. That should mean a low scoring game. I lean a little bit to the Jaguars in this contest, but I think the better choice is to play the game under the total.

Patriots vs. Jaguars Pick: Under 45
Patriots vs. Jaguars Score Prediction: Jaguars 23, Patriots 17

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Value Plays - Week 2
September 14, 2018
By YouWager.eu

NFL Week 2 Value Plays of the Week

Week 2 of the NFL season is already under way, with the Thursday night game in the books and the Cincinnati Bengals sitting at a rather surprising 2-0. The first value pick that I had for this week was actually made a good deal clearer given the nature of the Bengals win over the Ravens on Thursday night, and that is the first one we will get to in this piece.

We will have a few more plays that I think are very strong and where you have a real opportunity to add a little extra money to your bankroll, with all the betting odds, props and futures provided by YouWager.eu.

So let’s get right to it.

LA Chargers (-7 ½) at Buffalo Bills

The Bills were pounded 47-3 by the Ravens in the opening weekend of the season and managed only 153 yards of offense in the loss. They have already decided to bench QB Nathan Peterman in favor of rookie Josh Allen. While there are a lot of folks who believe that he will be a capable QB in this league, the general consensus is that he is not ready yet. The Ravens getting pounded by the Bengals may just have highlighted how bad this Buffalo team is, which makes the 7 ½ point spread here look like a bit of a gift. The Chargers have over 540 yards of offense in Week 1, so look for them to light up the scoreboard in the win at ATS odds of -105.

Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins (OVER 48)

The Redskins won in Week 1 while putting up 24 points against Arizona. The reality of that game was that they kept the Cardinals offense in check so that they did not really need to open things up when Alex Smith got the ball. They are likely going to need to be a little more attack-minded in Week 2 versus the Colts, as Andrew Luck is only going to get more comfortable the more he plays. The last 4 meetings between these two teams has yielded an average of 56 PPG, which I think puts the OVER on the table at odds of (-110).

New York Giants (+3) at Dallas Cowboys

Even this early in the season, this NFC East match-up is incredibly important, as the loser in this one will slip to an 0-2 start. You look at the Dallas Cowboys now and see nothing of the team that looked so good just a couple of seasons ago. Dak Prescott looks totally devoid of confidence, which is causing the offense to sputter in a big way. The Giants fell a little short against a very good Jacksonville Jaguars defense in their opener, but I think they will have some success this weekend, especially with Saquon Barkley running the football. I like the Giants to cover at odds of -115 and potentially even win SU at odds of +130.

Chicago Bears (-3 ½) vs. Seattle Seahawks

Bur for a magical finish by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears would be coming into this week on the heels of a win at Lambeau Field. While some may call their 4th quarter capitulation a collapse, I see it more as a very good team imposing their will at home. Despite that loss, there is a lot to like about this Bears team and I like them to win and cover at home against the 0-1 Seahawks. You can get that bet at very nice odds of +100.