Week one of the NFL is in the books and it’s on to week two. The NFL week two betting lines are in. Time for us here at Vendetta to give our predictions and make you, the reader, rich. We have a new face joining the picks this week. Fellow Vendetta writer and editor Andrew Zucker gives his first picks of the season. Though Adam did not do picks this week, I’ll still count him towards the season total.
Results through week one
Jackson: 9-7
Adam: 7-9
Jackson
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
CIN +6
I’m not saying the Browns don’t win this game, but Burrow did a decent job in his first start. He struggled for sure, but in the end, he put his team in a position to win. Burrow can’t help kick the ball in. Browns may win, but the Bengals keep it close.
San Francisco @ New York Jets
SF -7
San Francisco looked pretty good last week despite a loss. The only competition the Jets can win this year is who has the worst roster. Another tough week for Jets fans.
New York Giants @ Chicago
CHI -5.5
The other New York team is also exceedingly awful. Chicago had a good comeback win against a not so great Lions team, but they’re still better than the Giants.
Atlanta @ Dallas
ATL +4.5
Dallas’ defensive side is in taters. Calvin Ridley exploded in Week 1, and Matt Ryan did Matt Ryan things. The Falcons overall looked good against the Seahawks and will pull out a win against the Cowboys.
Detroit @ Green Bay
GB -6
Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay looked awesome in Week 1. They should easily win and cover.
Minnesota @ Indianapolis
MIN +3
The Colts got hit with some injuries in Week 1, and that defense looked awful. At least the Vikings have the excuse of going up against the Packers. Indy lost to the Jaguars.
Jacksonville @ Tennessee
JAX +9
I don’t believe Jacksonville will win this game, but they’ll keep it close. Tennessee had horrible kicking troubles and have a shorter week.
Buffalo @ Miami
BUF -5.5
Buffalo may be the best team in the AFC East. Josh Allen has turned into a good quarterback, and Miami is still rebuilding, not looking forward to this one.
Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia
LAR -1
I am legitimately scared for Carson Wentz this week. Washington Football Team sacked Wentz eight times last week, and now he goes up against Aaron Donald. I’ll pray for you, Wentz.
Denver @ Pittsburgh
PIT -7.5
Pittsburgh looked excellent in Week 1. Is Big Ben back? Denver has found it’s QB of the future, but they just need more time. This week goes to the Steelers.
Carolina @ Tampa
CAR +9.5
I know Carolina’s defense isn’t great, but 9.5 seems high. Brady and Tampa did not have a good first game, and I think that carries over. Tampa will probably win, but Carolina cover.
Washington @ Arizona
ARI -6.5
Arizona looked fantastic in Week 1. Murray and Hopkins are a duo made in heaven and will make for a great show this year. Washington pulled off a surprise last week, but the magic stops for now.
Kansas City @ Los Angeles Chargers
KC -8.5
Kansas City put the hurt on Houston last week and still left many points on the table. The rust will be shaken off, and they’ll hammer a Chargers team that barely beat a rookie.
Baltimore @ Houston
BAL -7
I won’t go as far as Cowherd in saying that Baltimore will go undefeated this season. They’ll lose at some point, but it’s not this week. I am just hoping for a good showing by Watson for the sake of my fantasy team.
New England @ Seattle
SEA -4
I said last week that I don’t like betting against Belichick. But Seattle may be the best team in football behind the Chiefs. Wilson has been unleashed, and the Patriots are missing tons of starters on defense. Seattle covers the spread.
New Orleans @ Las Vegas
NO -6
The Raiders are in a weird spot. I’m still not sure what to do with them. I know what I’m getting with New Orleans, so I’ll bet with what I know.
Andrew
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
CLE -6
It’s hard to bet with the Browns because they’re the Browns, but they have too much talent to drop a game to the Bengals. A rookie QB with short prep time will spell doom for Cincy.
San Francisco @ New York Jets
SF -7
I have never in my career as a journalist let my fandom out into the world, but: I’m a big Jets fan. But they break my heart every time, and it’ll happen again on Sunday. No way they cover the spread—49ers in a landslide.
New York Giants @ Chicago
NYG +5.5
Chicago got lucky. They pulled off a remarkable comeback against the Lions but nearly lost it on a last-second touchdown pass. Lucky for them, the rookie running back had butterfingers. As for the Giants, while Saquan could not get anything going rushing wise, he and Darius Slayton looked great catching the ball. New York wins if Daniel Jones doesn’t fumble.
Atlanta @ Dallas
DAL -4.5
America’s team had a chance against the Rams, but couldn’t finish. Meanwhile, Atlanta fell flat on their face. I think the Cowboys have a statement worthy win on Sunday.
Detroit @ Green Bay
GB -6
Aaron Rodgers is a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad man. That’s the tweet.
Minnesota @ Indianapolis
MIN +3
Indy opened the season -8.5 against the Jaguars and lost! Minnesota fell in a shootout to Rodgers, and the Packers, showing their offense is still potent, even without Stephon Diggs. MIN at +3 is a bet I’d take any day.
Buffalo @ Miami
BUF -5.5
Buffalo is going to have a good year, even with Josh Allen fumbling the ball a lot. Miami won’t have a good year, not one bit. I’d be willing to take BUF -14; I’m that confident.
Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia
PHI +1
Carson Wentz led a tremendous first half for the Eagles, but something happened during halftime, where the entire offensive line turned on him. Eight sacks. Ouch. If he didn’t sustain any injuries from that game, and his offensive line holds up, Philly should bounce back.
Denver @ Pittsburgh
Denver +7
Von Miller is out for the year, but that didn’t stop Denver from almost beating the Titans on MNF. I’m not super confident about the Steelers at -7.5 unless Juju goes off again. Pitt sustained a lot of injuries in Week 1, which has me leaning towards Denver.
Carolina @ Tampa
CAR +9.5
This one’s tricky. On the one hand, the Bucs didn’t look too hot in their loss to the Saints, but we’re talking about Tom Brady, and he has a ton of weapons. While the Panthers lost last week, they come in at +9.5, and Christian McCaffrey is always a threat to score. Carolina covers the spread in a loss.
Washington @ Arizona
ARI -6.5
Washington got super lucky. Won’t happen twice. Kyle Murray and DeAndre Hopkins are the QB-WR pairing 2020 wished we didn’t have. Arizona with the spread.
Kansas City @ Los Angeles Chargers
KC -8.5
Chiefs at -8.5 against a Chargers team with a journeyman QB? Say less. Spread, and then some.
Baltimore @ Houston
BAL -7
Not only do I think the Ravens win with the -7.0 spread, but I’d also take Draft Kings over 14.5 points at the half. Double down, and take the cash. Sorry, Deshaun.
New England @ Seattle
SEA -4
A rematch of Super Bowl 49. But not exactly. I think Seattle easily covers the -4.0 spread; Russell Wilson was near perfect in Week 1.
New Orleans @ Las Vegas
NO -6
I don’t trust Derek Carr, not one bit. But man Josh Jacobs had an insane Week 1, rushing for three TD’s. Can Jacobs go for that again, this time against a better Saints defense? I don’t think so—Saints with the spread.
