Well, that didn’t go so hot.
After a profitable 2019 season, we were 0-for-3 here in our 2020 Week 1 underdog selections as the Carolina Panthers (by a point), Cleveland Browns (23.5 points) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7.5 points) all fell short of covering. And, yes, “falling short” hardly covers it with the Browns.
Cleveland will try to pick itself up off the mat this week and so will we. Here are your Week 2 NFL underdog bets, utilizing the early Thursday lines from BetMGM.
NFL underdog best bets: Week 2
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Philadelphia Eagles (+1.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams
Recency bias is evident here as a Philly team, coming off an ugly 27-17 road loss as a favorite in Washington, is a home dog against an LA squad coming off a hard-fought home win in primetime over the Dallas Cowboys.
Injuries have hit the Eagles hard so far, but things are looking up on that front with RB Miles Sanders and OT Lane Johnson appearing on track to return and play Sunday after missing the opener. Johnson’s presence is more important than you might think as Philly is 36-17 with the All-Pro left tackle in the lineup during head coach Doug Pederson’s tenure and 6-12 without him, including last week when Washington racked up eight sacks in the comeback win.
The Rams are anything but road slouches after going 6-2 against the spread away from home a year ago, but they’re traveling cross country to play an early game Sunday at 10 a.m. Pacific time against a smarting Eagles bunch in its home opener.
Go with Philly to cover (+1.5, -110) and win outright (+100).
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Detroit Lions (+6) at Green Bay Packers
The Lions opened in true Lions fashion last week as they blew a 23-6 fourth-quarter lead at home and saw rookie RB D’Andre Swift drop a potential winning touchdown reception late in a 27-23 defeat against the Chicago Bears.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, was carving up the host Minnesota Vikings in Week 1’s other NFC North head-to-head matchup, throwing for 364 yards and four TDs in a 43-34 victory.
A quick glance at the recent Packers-Lions series, though, shows Detroit surprisingly has had the upper hand, winning four of the last six meetings outright and going 6-0 ATS.
Green Bay squeaked out 23-22 and 23-20 wins a season ago, and we’re banking on a similar result Sunday at Lambeau Field (sadly) sans 81,000 cheese-headed fans.
Take the Lions and the 6 points (-110).
Las Vegas Raiders (+5.5) vs. New Orleans Saints
Going from Lambeau, the league’s second-oldest stadium, to one of the newest, the Silver & Black open Allegiant Stadium with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Saints.
The “Death Star” will be devoid of fans as well, but expect head coach Jon Gruden’s crew to be fired up nonetheless to christen its shiny new Sin City digs.
The Saints were tough on the road with 6-1 straight up and ATS marks a season ago, but it wouldn’t be a shocker to see a little bit of letdown following last Sunday’s big divisional home win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Go with the Raiders +5.5 (-110) to keep things within the number.
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