One win and one push in our four NFL betting tips to open the season in Week 1 last weekend! Another great slate of games on this weekend getting underway with Baltimore and Cincinnati at 10.20am Friday morning (AEST). We take a look at some of the key games at watchable Australian times once again and provide our NFL Week 2 best bets below.
2018 NFL Week 2 Betting Tips
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (Friday 10.20am AEST)
Great matchup here between two divisional rivals in Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Bengals have dominanted the matchup of late, winning seven of the last nine games against the Ravens and five of the last six at home. They were good against the Colts on the weekend, picking up a 34-23 win as running back Joe Mixon compiled 149 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. QB Andy Dalton was also impressive in the win, clocking up 243 yards and two touchdowns.
It’ll be a much tougher test this weekend, however, as the Bengals face a Baltimore team that was on another level against the Buffalo Bills on the weekend. They claimed a 47-3 win as Joe Flacco passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The Baltimore receiving core was particularly impressive as a unit as six players racked up over 30 yards and nine players in total caught a pass.
The Bengals knocked Baltimore out of the playoff race with a four-point win in Week 17 last season and the Ravens don’t usually play well in Cincinnati. However, I think the Baltimore defence is loaded this year and they hardly got out of first gear against the Bills last weekend. The line currently sits at -1 in favour of the Ravens but I expect it to float towards 3. Take the Ravens here.
New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (Monday 6.25am AEST)
New England got their season off to a good start in Week one as they defeated Houston 27-20 at home. The Patriots had some issues, however, as their receiving core barring Rob Gronkowski really struggled to get into the game. They had to unleash Gronkowski much earlier than they would have liked to as the big tight end caught for 123 yards and a touchdown. New England will face their second AFC South team in a row this weekend as the rematch of last year’s conference title game against the Jaguars beckons.
The game will be on Jacksonville’s home turf this time though, where they were fantastic last season, winning six of eight games there and their last five in a row to storm into the playoffs. Their defence is one of the best in the league and held the Giants to just 15 points in New York last weekend, but their receiving core leaves a lot to be desired. Leonard Fournette will shoulder a heavy load along the ground for the Jags once again this year and defence will likely be the team’s mantra.
The two teams combined for 44 points in last season’s AFC title game and the line for this game stands at 45.0. Star Patriots receiver Julian Edleman remains on the sidelines through suspension and with both teams’ problems in the receiving department at the moment, I think it could be a low scoring game.
Total points UNDER 45
$1.91
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Monday 10.20am AEST)
What used to be the best offensive line in all of football is now a bit of a rabble for the Dallas Cowboys. They were disappointing against the Panthers on the weekend, going down 16-8 in Charlotte as they gave up five sacks on young QB Dak Prescott. RB Ezekiel Elliot was serviceable in the ground game but Prescott really lacked any weapons through the air.
The Giants were also disappointing in week one, going down 20-15 against the Jags at home. They were, however, up against one of the top defences in the league and their running game was above average as Saquon Barkley was one of only three running backs to rush for over 100 yards in Week 1.
The Giants both failed to win and cover in both of their games against the Cowboys last weekend, however, it’s hard to look past the problems Dallas are facing at the moment, particularly in their offensive line. The Giants played some great defence last weekend and should have what it takes to defeat an undermanned Cowboys team on Monday morning.
Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears (Tuesday 10.15am AEST)
If not for a last quarter resurgent comeback from arguably the best quarterback in the league in Aaron Rodgers, the Bears would have been the talking point of Week 1 in the NFL. Their defence was absolutely rampant in the game against the Packers, led by last minute off-season recruit Khalil Mack who racked up a forced fumble, interception and sack in the one-point loss. We tipped him to be the DPOY this year at $8 and he has started the season in terrific fashion.
It looks as if Seattle’s fantastic run that spanned around six years has now come to a close. The legion of boom is no longer and it showed in Week 1 as they allowed 27 points to a Denver with Case Keenum at the helm. QB Russel Wilson was fantastic in the loss, throwing 298 yards and three touchdowns, however, the defence just didn’t hold up.
Chicago just looked much better against much better opposition in Week 1 of the season and they also have the home field advantage here. I think they win this one comfortably.
