NFL Week 2 recap and Week 3 picks

Week 2 was a weird gambling week, as I went 3-2-3 with, that's right, three pushes, as the Vikings came back to lose by six at Philly on Thursday, the Rams kicked a late FG to lose to the 49ers by seven Sunday, and the Panthers came back to lose by three to New Orleans. If I'd gone to Indiana sooner, I could have gotten LOS ANGELES(+8) or (+8.5), or at least (+7.5). This would have been a back-door cover if I hadn't gotten the worst of the number.

In other games, The Lions failed to cover the spread, and lost outright in OT to Seattle, The Chargers found a way to lose to Tennessee in OT, and the Bucs handled the Bears, 27-17, so I won all of those. The Jags failed to convert what seemed like several trips to the red zone against the Chiefs, losing 17-9, and the Pats failed to defend their home field vs Miami, losing 24-17, so I lost those.

The one that got away was PITTSBURGH(+2.5) over cleveland. I waited, hoping the line would move to three, and it never did. I should have trusted the spot and took +2.5. 

When the Browns took the lead with a first half touchdown, they went for two and converted, taking an 11-7 lead, I was glad to have stayed away, as these extra points could swing a result away from me, but Pittsburgh came through in the end

This week's Thursday game opened at SAN FRANCISCO(-10) over nygiants, got up to 11, and came back to 10. The Giants came back from down about 28 vs. the Cardinals last Sunday. Did they turn a corner, or are they due for a letdown after an emotional victory? Factor in back-to-back road games, short rest, and Saquon Barkley's injury, and the Giants' inability to deal with a similarly dominant Cowboys defense, and I think we have enough reasons to take 49ers(-10).

San Diego  and Minnesota look like 0-2 mirror images of each other, high powered offenses who always find a way to choke. One of them has to win this week, so I took the home team, incongruous as it may seem for the Chargers to start 0-3. I got MINNESOTA(pk) over los angeles chargers, but I've since seen VIKINGS(+1), as well as (+1.5). These are dead numbers, so I don't think I'll bet it again.

Took tennesee(+3.5)over CLEVELAND, basically on the strength of Mike Vrabel's winning record as an underdog. Apparently the Browns have not allowed opposing teams into their red zone yet this year, as Monday night the Steelers did all their scoring on long plays in their 26-22 victory over the Browns. I could see this being a problem for the Titans' less-than-explosive offense. Taking the points.

The 2-0 Saints are visiting the 1-1 Packers this week, New Orleans having won their first two games by a combined four points, while Green Bay blew a 24-12 lead at Atlanta to lose by one, a result that could have got you a middle with the line moves from green bay(-1.5) to ATLANTA(-1.5) last week. This one opened at GREEN BAY(-1.5), and by the time I bet it I got GREEN BAY(-2)over new orleans.

I took atlanta(+4)over DETROIT. Apparently there are people out there who think the Lions' high powered offense means they should be favored by more than 2.5 or 3, but this has been bet down to DETROIT(-3), so I guess there are more people out there that don't think the Lions should be giving out many points.

Not sure what is going on with the colts at RAVENS line. It wasn't available on my underground book, "Jackpot Jesus," (no, really), until today, while on FanDuel the line moved from BALTIMORE(-8.5)over indianapolis down to (-7.5). Not sure if this line move is because the books trust backup QB Gardner Minshew more than concussed Anthony Richardson, or if people are just betting the Colts. I suspect Jackpot Jesus was waiting for Indy QB clarity to post a line, & since the Colts are the next closest team where I am after the Bengals, it is possible that local $$ has moved the line, though that doesn't explain why the FanDuel line came down as well. Between the Ravens' performance last week at Cincinnati, and their tendency to run up the score vs. weaker teams, I feel fine backing the Ravens.

Two years ago I got into a nice groove betting for & against the Raiders, as the books seemed to overreact to their previous week's results over and over again. I am hoping to get into a similar grove this year, betting on & against a similarly mediocre team. I have LAS VEGAS(-1) over pittsburgh, as the Steelers travel west on short rest after an emotional win Monday night. Apparently I'm not the only one fading the Steelers, as this line has moved to LAS VEGAS(-2.5). I'm not convinced that these teams don't like each other due to their rivalry back in the 70's, but the Raiders came through for me two years ago when the Steelers visited, so I'm throwing my $$ on them again.