NFL Betting: Week 2 Recap and Wagering News

Week 2 of the NFL season was another wild one as we saw a number of dramatic finishes. From an overtime game between Houston and Tennessee, to last-second, game-winning touchdowns in Chicago and Buffalo, there were theatrics galore.

Here’s a look back at how the action played out on Sunday:

Touchdown Favorites Produce Mixed Results

The theme of Week 2 could have very well been the touchdown favorites. There were as many as seven teams at Bovada that were laying about a touchdown (some a bit more, some less) and they all produced mixed results.

The Green Bay Packers opened as an 8-point favorite on the NFL lines and while many people took the Washington Redskins with the points, assuming that they’d carry over their play from the second half of Monday Night Football, that proved to be a flawed strategy. In what was likely the easiest bet of the day, the Packers steamrolled the still rusty Redskins with a 38-20 win.

The biggest surprise of the day was the San Diego Chargers outright win in Philadelphia. Many expected the Eagles to crush the Chargers at home and hence laid anywhere from 7.5 to nine points with the Eagles. Unfortunately, they were never in position to cover – mostly in part to their horrendous defense – and the Chargers not only covered but won outright at +260.

The Chicago Bears were listed as a 6-point favorite at close as they hosted the Minnesota Vikings but they needed a miracle to even win the game. A last-second touchdown allowed them to sneak out the win. Minnesota fell to 0-2 straight up but covered the spread.

In Oakland, the Raiders were a speculative six-point favorite to start the week but were bet down to 4.5 at game time. However, they handled the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars with ease and covered with a 19-9 win.

Atlanta Falcons bettors had mixed results depending on where they got in. The Falcons closed as a 6-point favorite on the NFL odds but those who bet the St. Louis Rams early in the week could have gotten as many as seven points. The Rams scored a late touchdown to earn a backdoor push for some in a 31-24 result.

The Houston Texans were the biggest NFL point spread favorite on Sunday but never really looked like they’d be able to cover the 10 points. They found themselves down eight in the fourth quarter and for a second week in a row, needing to dig out of a big hole just to squeak out a win. This time, they needed overtime to outlast the Tennessee Titans 30-24.

Lastly, the Cleveland Browns were a steady 7-point underdog on the NFL betting odds all week at Bovada and lost 14-6 in Baltimore. There was some early hope as the Browns led 6-0 into the third quarter but their anemic offense couldn’t do anything else. The Ravens scored a touchdown in the third and fourth to get the job done straight up and on the spread.

Overs Rebound

On the first Sunday of the season, eight of the 13 games stayed under the number. In the second Sunday, the script was flipped. Eight overs cashed in while only five unders delivered. Over was a particularly strong bet in the morning games as NFL online betting handicappers saw seven of the nine early games go over the number.

Those giving out their NFL betting tips were a bit surprised by the lack of overs in the first week but now it looks like the offenses are getting a bit more comfortable.

Significant Injuries to Note

Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions

Bush took a helmet to the knee in the second quarter on Sunday and while he did return in the second half, he re-tweaked the knee. He says he’s fine but he’ll undergo a bunch of tests on Monday. Bush relies on his speed, so this could bite into his effectiveness even if he tries to play through it.

Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

The Texans were forced to finish up their Week 2 overtime win without Johnson, who suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter. Titans’ safety Bernard Pollard, who has a long history of dirty hits, left his feet to lay into Johnson and knocked him out. Those who bet on the NFL know he’ll have to pass some tests before he’s cleared to play next week.

Charles Godfrey, Carolina Panthers

Panthers free safety Charles Godfrey, the leader of the secondary, injured his Achilles on Sunday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. On top of being 0-2, this stings.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

MJD sprained his ankle on Sunday and is experiencing some looseness. It’s worth noting that this is the ankle on the same foot he had surgically repaired last year. An MRI is coming on Monday but it looks like he’ll be questionable – at best – for the Jags Week 3 content against Seattle.

Stinging NFL Point Spread Loss of the Week…

If you laid the points with the Carolina Panthers on the road in Buffalo this week (-1), you were probably reaching for the Pepto Bismol by Sunday afternoon. The Panthers had an up and down performance but held a 23-17 lead with just 1:38 remaining. The Bills had no timeouts and had to drive 79 yards down the field with a rookie quarterback. Surely, the Panthers could hold the lead, right?

Wrong. E.J. Manuel orchestrated a nine-play drive, which included a go-ahead touchdown with just two seconds remaining. Panthers backers were especially downtrodden after Colin Jones picked off Manuel only to have it called back because of a pass interference penalty on linebacker Luke Kuechly.