NFL – Week 2 – Sunday Games
Like last week I will be looking at three games on the Sunday schedule for betting. Last Sunday the Seahawks were the only one of my three tips to let me down. This week I’m hoping to nail all three bets.
Early Games – 1pm Eastern or 6pm kickoff in UK
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
In week one Baltimore won a game that was closer on the scoreboard than the play on the field would suggest. They beat the Bills 13-7 in a defensive style of game. The Ravens passing game was fairly efficient with QB Joe Flacco going 22-33-258 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. The running game struggled gaining only 83 yards but that was expected against a Bills defence that is great against the run. In contrast the Ravens defence held Buffalo to a measly 160 yards. On paper at least the Bills offence is superior to the Cleveland Browns offence that the Ravens face in week two.
The Browns were easily beaten in week one by a Philadelphia Eagles team starting a rookie QB – Carson Wentz. IN that game the score of 29-10 was reflective of the dominance the Eagles held. The Eagles outgained Cleveland 403-288 yards on offence. To compound the Browns fortunes QB Robert Griffin III has been placed on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury. The Browns in week two will be starting their second quarterback. The Browns do have a big play aspect with their WRs but I can see this Ravens defence clamping down on the big plays. I foresee a lot of 3 and outs for the Browns.
I really can only see one outcome in this game – a big double-digit points win for Baltimore. The bookies have priced the spread as Baltimore -7. I think the line should be closer to 10.5!
Late Games – 4pm Eastern or 9pm kickoff in UK
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers
The Jaguars go to San Diego woth each team coming off tough week one losses. The Jaguars stayed close to NFC East division favourites the Green Bay Packers. They lost 27-23 with Jacksonvilles final drive petering out inside the Green Bay half. They weren’t that far away from winning the game.
San Diego built a huge 24-3 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs before losing 27-33 in OT after a furious KC comeback. There might be some physhological shockwaves in the Chargers dressing room for week two.
The key matchup in my view is Jaguars QB Blake Bortles vs the San Diego pass defence. Chiefs QB Alex Smith, known more as a game manager threw for 363 yards against the Chargers in week one. Blake Bortles is more of a gun-slinger type and I would rate his WRs a notch above the Chiefs. This will also be the week that the Jaguars RB game gets in track with Chris Ivory being a significant factor.
True the Jaguars are a young team and they can sometimes struggle with inconsistency. I think they have enough to slow the Chargers running game forcing Chargers QB Phillip Rivers to throw a lot. The Chargers passing game will be hampered by the season ending injury to WR Keenan Allen. In fact the injury to Allen was the turning point in their loss to Kansas City in week one.
I see the Jaguars as great value to win the game outright at 2.42.
Atlanta Falcons vs Oakland Raiders
I won backing Oakland in the total points market last week and I return to the team I support in week 2.
Atlanta was competitive for a half against Tampa Bay in week 1 but the Bucs jumped to a 31-13 lead in the 3rd quarter. The Falcons rallied some but came up short 31-24. Tampa QB Jameis Winston threw 4 touchdown passes in the first 3 quarters. The Tampa defence did a decent job shutting down the Falcons running game. Falcons QB Matt Ryan did throw for 334 yards but much of that was against a Bucs defence playing prevent defence as they protected their lead.
The Raiders won a wild game in New Orleans 35-34. I predicted a high scoring game and got one! In that game neither team could stop the other passing game. Saints QB Drew Brees continued his torrid form against Oakland with over 400 yards passing including three plays over 50 yards. Raiders QB Derek Carr led Oakland to 3 4th quarter touchdowns and a game winning 2 point conversion inside the final minute.
In the matchup between these two teams I think Oakland wins again to go 2-0. They are at home. This is a distinct advantage as part of the field is baseball dirt (from the stadium share deal with the Oakland A’s). This is unique in the NFL and can cause visiting teams some problems. The Raiders CB’s are bigger types and they matchup better against the Falcons WR’s than the smaller, speedier, explosive players on the Saints roster. I think Julio Jones will get a 100 yards in the game but it won’t be enough.
The Raiders running game emerged in week one with 3 touchdowns including a 75 yarder from rookie RB Jalen Richards. Their OL excels in both run and pass blocking and I can see Derek Carr having time to dissect the Falcons pass defence. The Falcons CBs are better the Saints but I’m not convinced they can stop Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree especially if Oakland nullifies the Falcons pass rush. I also think Raiders DE Khalil Mack has a big game here.
This might be high scoring – say 38-24 so the points line of 49.5 comes into play. I prefer the spread here too with Oakland available at a very generous -4.5.
NFL – Week 2 – Sunday Games – Tips
Bet on the Baltimore Ravens -7.0 to beat the Cleveland Browns with a 3.0/10 stake at 2.05 with Ladbrokes.
Back them here:
Bet on the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the San Diego Chargers with a 2.0/10 stake at 2.50 with William Hill.
Back them here:
Bet on the Oakland Raiders -4.5 to beat the Atlanta Falcons with a 2.5/10 stake at 1.95 with Paddy Power.
Back them here:
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