It’s always difficult to make sense of the NFL in September. Teams that look incredible will stumble come Halloween and squads everyone counts out before the leaves change end up in the championship game. That’s why NFL underdog picks are so solid in the first month of the season.
In Week 2, coming into Monday night, dogs went 10-5. The oddsmakers are still flinging their arms here, which gives you plenty of opportunity to make some cash.
Here are four games I’ve chosen to submit for your underdog betting approval.
Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins (+2.5)
The Packers (1-0-1) and Redskins (1-1) were both favored to win in Week 2, and while Green Bay’s game with the Minnesota Vikings ended in a 29-29 tie, if you bet the Vikings as a dog, you pocketed some money.
Aaron Rodgers was great, finishing 30-for-42 for 281 yards and a touchdown, but his performance dipped as the game went on and, presumably, whatever painkilling shot he got before kickoff started wearing off.
https://twitter.com/JB_Long/status/1041527098853122049
Meanwhile the Redskins just couldn’t get the ball in the end zone. Alex Smith was 33-of-46 for 292 yards, but Washington was 0-for-2 in the red zone. If I was to pick this game today, I’d go with the Redskins to win outright.
Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers (-3)
Here’s a secret I just figured out, in spite of all common sense coming into this season; the Bengals are actually good. In their first two weeks, the Red Rocket Andy Dalton and his Bengals have come from behind to beat Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, then turned around on a short week and dominated the Baltimore Ravens from the opening snap.
What is with America and the Bengals? Everyone is acting like it's a miracle they're good. It's same core of team that started out 8-0 in 2015. That was just 3 seasons ago. Main reason they've had 2 tough seasons is injuries, losses on O-line.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) September 14, 2018
Carolina took far too long to get its offense going against Atlanta on Sunday and wasn’t nearly as close as the final score made it look. They trailed 31-17 until 2:20 to go in the game. Three weeks ago, I’d have picked the Panthers to win this one in a walk. Now, I’m not so sure.
Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
Speaking of the Ravens (1-1), this line makes absolutely no sense to me. Sure, the game is in Baltimore, but the Broncos pass rush will be the best the Ravens have faced this season, with elite corners and safeties on the back end.
The Broncos are tough to beat in the opening month of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/KvBwhHw41B
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 16, 2018
Case Keenum may not be lighting up the stat sheet for the Broncos (2-0), but in consecutive weeks he’s driven his team down for game winning scores in the fourth quarter. Baltimore’s defense looked completely overmatched against the Bengals last Thursday and quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked four times. Denver’s defense should present an even bigger problem and 5.5 points gives bettors plenty of wiggle room.
Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins (-4.5)
Like the Ravens and Broncos’ line, this one is just a tad too high to not consider jumping on before it drops. The Raiders were blown out in Week 1 by the Los Angeles Rams, but that was after going into halftime with a 13-10 lead. It took Keenum’s late game heroics to push the Broncos over Oakland on Sunday. Jon Gruden, in spite of all the personnel mistakes he’s made this offseason, has coached this team up well. They’ll be ready to play.
Raiders QB Derek Carr became the first player in NFL history to complete at least 90% of his passes in a game in which he had 30+ attempts. He was 29-of-32 today (90.6%).
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 17, 2018
Does that mean they’ll beat the Dolphins in Miami? It’s a long trip, so if I was picking the game today, I say no. What I do think is entirely possible is they keep it within three, which is all you need to win money by betting Oakland.
