NFL Week 2, 2018: Best picks against the spread (ATS)

Do you buy the hype or ignore the noise? That is the question we aim to answer with our NFL Week 2 best picks against the spread. Keep the wins coming!

What’s real and what’s phony from Week 1 in the NFL season? Determining that is key to wagering in the first month. Some folks like to stick to their preseason guns and assume regression will work positively. In this sport, though, waiting even one week too long could set you back behind all the curves.

Ignore the noise and believe your eyes. The great bets showed themselves and the bad teams were obvious. That is where our best picks fall for NFL Week 2. These are your best picks against the spread. All lines via Odds Shark.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the NFL Week 2 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Dan Salem’s 2018 record ATS: 2-0
Todd Salem’s 2018 record ATS: 1-1

Todd Salem’s Best Picks ATS:

I’m already moving off my belief that Arizona might be solid this year. Not sticking to my guns. I need more time on some other things, though. I don’t yet believe the Buccaneers or Jets are really good, for example. Nor am I all aboard the Chiefs’ or Bengals’ trains. It is a balancing act. We will surely look back in six weeks and be flummoxed by what we refused to believe early on. That’s always the way in this league. Onto NFL Week 2.

Philadelphia Eagles -3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This feels exactly like my grab of Los Angeles at Oakland in Week 1. The road team is an elite contender expected to challenge for a berth in the Super Bowl; the host is questionably talented and appears closer to last place in its division than first. This works all the better in terms of value that the Eagles looked sloppy offensively in Week 1, and Tampa Bay came out like gangbusters. As stated a moment ago, I especially don’t expect the latter to continue.

All it will take is a field goal for this premiere Philly defense to cover on the road. As long as the absence of Carson Wentz continues to depress Eagles’ lines and the defense is good enough to win on its own, Philadelphia is a quality bet.

Denver Broncos -4 vs. Oakland Raiders

In Week 1, the Raiders’ receivers couldn’t find any space. Derek Carr threw the ball all over the field, including to the opponent numerous times. Now they face Chris Harris and Bradley Roby in Week 2 and a Denver front that already has six sacks.

Oakland also allowed Todd Gurley to run anywhere he wanted. Now it faces the two-headed backfield of Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay, who each averaged 4.7 yards per carry on 15 carries on Sunday. One of my preseason beliefs was that Denver would be one of the better AFC West teams, and I see nothing yet to dissuade me from that.

Dan Salem’s Best Picks ATS:

Carolina Panthers +6 at Atlanta Falcons

Only one line seems completely off base in NFL week 2, so I’m jumping all over it. The Falcons did nothing to inspire confidence in me, getting shut down by the stout Eagles’ defense. Sure, they will be playing at home in this game. But Carolina just shut down the Cowboys, and now they are getting six points! I believe in the Panthers this season and their defense. This will be a close football game, so take the points.

Los Angeles Chargers -7 at Buffalo Bills

I still believe in the Chargers, despite their less than stellar performance against Kansas City. Giving points on the road is often risky, but did you see the Bills play football, if you can call it that? Los Angeles has a solid offense, much like Baltimore does. They play pretty good defense, much like Baltimore. I’m not saying this will be another blowout, but Buffalo is either starting Nathan Peterman or rookie Josh Allen at quarterback. Enough said.

Are you picking games each week? How did you fare in week 1? Let us know your best picks for NFL Week 2 in the comments below and compete with us all season long. Just pick two games and no cheating. Game on!