NFL Week 2 Recap Season Gets Wilder

Sports betting enthusiasts have received more then they could have asked for during the first two weeks of the 2011 NFL season. From crazy blowouts in week one, to wild finishes in week two, save for five games going to overtime in week three, things simply can’t get any wilder. On the online sportsbooks lines, the twilight zone results have caused many bookmakers both online and in person to question if they know how to properly set a line. Despite the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants having yet to play, here is a recap of all the action that has gone down thus far in the NFL fishing games week two.

The Carolina Panthers almost cost several bookmakers to go bankrupt on Sunday, after they jumped out to a 13 to six lead over the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers heading into halftime. Entering the game, Aaron Rodgers and company were favored by eight points over Cam Newton’s Panthers. However, it was the rookie turning heads, as he would throw for over 430 passing yards for the second week in a row, even though he threw three interceptions. In the end the Packers would mount a historic comeback, winning the game outright 30 – 23. Nevertheless, the Panthers were still able to cover the college football betting line spread, which had moved up to eight and a half points to start the second half.

Another game that had fans and bookies alike scratching their heads featured the Buffalo Bills taking on the Oakland Raiders in Buffalo. On paper, regardless of each team winning their week one matchup, fans and handicappers alike expected this game to go under the total of 48 points. Both the Bills and Raiders had two of the top defenses in 2010, and that was expected to carry over in yesterday’s matchup. If you decided to be a wise guy and make an NFL picks on the over in this game, we salute you. What was believed to be a defensive gem, turned into a shootout at the Okay Corral. The Bills and Raiders combined for 73 points, as Ryan Fitzpatrick out dueled Jason Campbell and won the game in the final seconds of regulation on a game winning touchdown pass.

The most surprising win of week two, came in the afternoon affair between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions. A week after getting killed 41 to seven by the Buffalo Bills, many fans and analysts alike, we included, believed that the Kansas City Chiefs would have a bounce back game against the Detroit Lions. Instead, the Kansas City Chiefs continued to resemble the 2010 Cincinnati Bengals, as they were lit up by Matthew Stafford and Lions in a 48 to three blowout. To make matters worse, the Chiefs lost star running back Jamal Charles to a torn ACL during the first half of the game.

NFL Betting: Overview of Upcoming Sunday NFL Games

Few would have been bold enough to project before the NFL betting lines lockout came to an end that while the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers struggled out of the gate, it would be the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and new-look Cincinnati Bengals opening the year on a winning note. The fact remains however that it is just one week after all, and heading in to week two there is a lot that can change in the AFC. Here is a quick look at three AFC matchups for this weekend.

Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Bills came out and absolutely dominated the Kansas City Chiefs in hostile territory week one to the tune of a 41-7 final at Arrowhead, opening the game with 20 straight points before allowing the defending AFC West champions the chance to even get on the board. Buffalo will look to parlay those efforts against one of the Chiefs’ divisional rivals as they open the home portion of their schedule against the Oakland Raiders, who managed to knock off another AFC West team on the road with a 23-20 win at Mile High. One of the biggest keys to victory for the Bills in week one was their ability to stop the run while opening things up through the air, and those sports betting strengths match up well again this week against the Raiders.

NFL Betting Pick: Buffalo Bills – 3.5

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Ravens absolutely dominated from the outset against the Steelers, putting to rest any fishing talk about how they wouldn’t be able to beat their biggest rivals with Joe Flacco under center. All Flacco did was throw for 224 yards and three touchdowns while his opposing quarterback threw three interceptions and fumbled twice for five of Pittsburgh’s seven turnovers on the day. Baltimore was able to move the ball almost at will whether through the air or on the ground with running back Ray Rice, and that shouldn’t change against a Titans’ team that lost at Jacksonville week one. Tennessee is a team in transition, and why this spread is so low may be one of the biggest NFL mysteries heading in to week two.

NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore Ravens - 6

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

While the Colts were expected to falter against a tough division rival on the road week one with Peyton Manning out, much more was expected of the Browns. Cleveland spent too much time concentrating on being conservative on offense rather than taking their shots downfield, and the defense ended up making them pay for it when they allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to score 14 in the final frame to lose at home. It doesn’t get much worse than that for the Browns, and it’s hard to imagine them now going on the road and laying an NFL picks beat down on the Colts even without Manning.

NFL Betting Pick: Indianapolis Colts + 3.5

NFL Betting – The Top Five Matchups of Week 2

Even those who play fishing games had to be enthralled by an outstanding first week of regular-season action in the NFL, but it’s just getting started as Week 2 begins on Sunday (there are no Thursday night games until Week 10). Here is a look at the best sports betting matchups of Week 2.

Chiefs Lions Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Look for the Lions to be favored in Detroit as Kansas City looked downright awful against Buffalo, and they may be without safety Eric Berry. That doesn’t bode well for a secondary going up against the Lions’ Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson, a duo that might make Detroit one of the most popular darkhorse NFL picks of the season.

Bears Saints Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

In this clash of NFC contenders, the Saints should be favored at home despite losing in a shootout in Green Bay, while the Bears are coming off a manhandling of Atlanta in their opener. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees doesn’t have great numbers against the Bears in his career, but NFL fans still have to consider the Saints after what the offense did in Green Bay. The problem is, they should be without receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore because of injury.

Packers Panthers Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Packers should be favored on the road in Carolina, and the defense will be out to prove a point after they were lit up by the Saints. They’ll also be out to slow down the Panthers’ Cam Newton, who set a NFL record for passing yards in his debut in a loss against Arizona, and now he has to try and follow that up against a unit many feel is the best defense in the league.

Chargers Patriots Odds – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

NFL betting lines should favor the Patriots at home, but they may be at a slight disadvantage as they’re in Miami on Monday night. That should be negated by San Diego’s cross-country travel, and to be honest they didn’t look that great in a win over Minnesota that needed a fourth-quarter rally. If the Chargers are going to prove that they’re a threat in the AFC, a win in New England would help.

Eagles Falcons Odds – Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

Finally, the Falcons should be favored in Atlanta, where they were phenomenal last year until the playoffs, but they’ll be trying to recover from the 30-12 beating they took in Chicago. Philadelphia beat St. Louis 31-13 on the road, but they still have some things to work on after their busy offseason. This could end up being the best game of the weekend, and a win for either team would give online sports betting players some faith in their chances.