2024 Week 2 NFL odds, picks predictions: Keep calm and pick on

You’ve heard it a lot this week: Don’t overreact.

Week 1 of the NFL season was fun, but it can’t – and won’t – give you the whole story about how the rest of the year will play out. It’s a moment in time. A snapshot, if you will – and not a very clear one at that.

So whatever you do, fight the urge to base your Week 2 picks/bets based on what happened in the season’s opening week.

Even if you’ve already booked your ticket to New Orleans for Super Bowl 59 to support your team because they came out of the gate with a big win. Here’s looking at you, New England.

Here’s what we do know about Week 1:

• Favorites went 9-7 against the spread, which is the best Week 1 performance by favorites since 2020.
• Favorites also went 13-3 (81.3%) straight up, which tied the best week for favorites in all of 2023 and was the best opening week since 2012, according to SportsOddsHistory.com. In that 2012 season, favorites opened 32-14 (70.8%) straight up through the first three weeks.
• Yours truly went 11-5 ATS and 13-2 straight up last week, for my best start in FrontPageBets history. So there’s that.

Moving on to Week 2, there are some interesting matchups on the Sunday docket, highlighted by the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs.

Man, I want this one to be good. But after the Bengals’ opening-week, egg-laying loss against the Patriots, it’s hard to argue Cincinnati’s chances.

But … this is where we have to fight against the Week 1 overreaction tendency.

Consider this: Joe Burrow and Co., are notorious slow-starters. Since 2020 under Burrow, the Bengals have gone 1-3 in season openers and 2-8 in Week 1 and 2 games.

In that time frame, Cincinnati, however, is 3-2 ATS against the Chiefs. And with KC being 5.5-point favorites this Sunday, I wouldn’t count out Burrow. That’s why I like the Bengals +5.5.

Oh, and one more tidbit, just for funzies: In Week 2 games, favorites haven’t had a winning record against the spread since 2011. As a matter of fact, favorites ATS in Week 2 games over the past 12 seasons have only covered 44% of the time.

Now … onto the picks!

(All odds courtesy of BetMGM and are subject to change)

Sunday, Sept. 15

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens

• When: 1 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Ravens -8.5 (-110); Raiders +8.5 (-110)
• Money line: Ravens -450; Raiders +350
• Over/Under: 41.5 (-110)
• The pick: Ravens, 22-17

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers

• When: 1 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Chargers -6 (-110); Panthers +6 (-110)
• Money line: Chargers -250; Panthers +200
• Over/Under: 39 (-110)
• The pick: Chargers, 21-10

New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys

• When: 1 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Cowboys -6.5 (-110); Saints +6.5 (-110)
• Money line: Cowboys -300; Saints +240
• Over/Under: 46.5 (-110)
• The pick: Cowboys, 27-21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions

• When: 1 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Lions -7.5 (-110); Buccaneers +7.5 (-110)
• Money line: Lions -275; Buccaneers +225
• Over/Under: 51.5 (-110)
• The pick: Lions, 30-27

Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers

• When: 1 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Colts -2.5 (-110); Packers +2.5 (-110)
• Money line: Colts -175; Packers +145
• Over/Under: 41 (-110)
• The pick: Colts, 17-10

Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

• When: 1 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Jaguars -3 (-110); Browns +3 (-110)
• Money line: Jaguars -165; Browns +145
• Over/Under: 41.5 (-110)
• The pick: Browns, 20-17

San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings

• When: 1 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: 49ers -5.5 (-110); Vikings +5.5 (-110)
• Money line: 49ers -250; Vikings +200
• Over/Under: 45.5 (-110)
• The pick: 49ers, 24-21

Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

• When: 1 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Seahawks -3.5 (-110); Patriots +3.5 (-110)
• Money line: Seahawks -185; Patriots +150
• Over/Under: 38.5 (-110)
• The pick: Seahawks, 19-10

New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans

• When: 1 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Jets -4 (-110); Titans +4 (-110)
• Money line: Jets -200; Titans +165
• Over/Under: 41 (-110)
• The pick: Jets, 24-14

New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders

• When: 1 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Commanders -1.5 (-110); Giants +1.5 (-110)
• Money line: Commanders -145; Giants +120
• Over/Under: 43 (-110)
• The pick: Commanders, 33-24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

• When: 4 p.m.: FOX
• Spread: Cardinals -1 (-110); Rams +1 (-110)
• Money line: Rams -125; Cardinals +105
• Over/Under: 48 (-110)
• The pick: Rams, 28-21

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs

• When: 4:25 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Chiefs -5.5 (-110); Bengals +5.5 (-110)
• Money line: Chiefs -250; Bengals +200
• Over/Under: 48 (-110)
• The pick: Chiefs, 24-21

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

• When: 4:25 p.m.: CBS
• Spread: Steelers -2.5 (-110); Broncos +2.5 (-110)
• Money line: Steelers -145; Broncos +120
• Over/Under: 36.5 (-110)
• The pick: Steelers, 14-10

Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans

• When: 8:20 p.m.: NBC
• Spread: Texans -6.5 (-110); Bears +6.5 (-110)
• Money line: Texans -275; Bears +225
• Over/Under: 45.5 (-110)
• The pick: Texans, 30-20

Monday, Sept. 16

Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• When: 8:15 p.m.: ESPN
• Spread: Eagles -6.5 (-110); Falcons +6.5 (-110)
• Money line: Eagles -300; Falcons +240
• Over/Under: 47 (-110)
• The pick: Eagles, 35-12

Szvetitz 2024 record: 11-5 ATS; 13-2 SU

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