It's time for NFL Week 2 predictions against the spread for Sunday afternoon's slate of games.
Our experts are on six spreads and one over/under for this week. While Week 2 is generally a good time to bet underdogs, Simon Hunter is betting two chalky favorites that made the playoffs last year and won their openers. Also, get ready to pinch your nose and bet on the Packers without Jordan Love.
Here are our NFL predictions for Week 2.
NFL Week 2 Predictions
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Simon Hunter's NFL Prediction for 49ers vs. Vikings
By Simon Hunter
This is one of two chalky favorites I'm on this week.
The 49ers are clearly the best team in the NFC. Whatever questions I had about them being rusty with their key holdouts during camp are gone. New defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen proved himself last week against the Jets, in my opinion.
This is the most complete team in the NFC, I have no doubts.
Normally, I'd want to fade a team on a short week on the road, but the line here has moved too much.
The Vikings are beloved by many professional bettors, who were rewarded last week. I think they'll get caught backing Minnesota this week, though.
In true road games, Kyle Shanahan is 8-2 against the spread as 49ers head coach, covering by 7.3 points per game. He always has his team prepared on short weeks and should thrive against a team like the Vikings that is a bottom-five squad in terms of total talent on the roster.
I envision Sam Darnold will come crashing down to earth against this defense. I also don't mind that Christian McCaffrey is out as long as Trent Williams is at left tackle.
Take the points and go against the pros' money this week by betting on San Francisco.
Pick: 49ers -5 (-110)
John LanFranca's Colts vs. Packers Pick
Only one quarterback in the NFL completed fewer than 10 passes and less than 50% of his attempts in Week 1: Anthony Richardson. His highlights were spectacular, but there is cause for concern when it comes to the Colts offense. Richardson threw to his first read a league-high 94.7% of his attempts but still had a 10.5% turnover-worthy throw rate, ranking him 29th in the NFL in Week 1.
The Colts offensive line didn't create much push in the running game either, ranking 26th in adjusted line yards per carry. Richardson had to make up most of the Colts rushing attacking himself, as Jonathan Taylor gained only three yards per carry on 16 rushes.
If the Colts cannot consistently create short distances on third down for their offense, it will only put them in more situations that will see them have to lean on Richardson's arm.
As for the Packers offense, they were sixth-best in the NFL in adjusted line yards per rush in Week 1. Malik Willis desperately needs the running game to lead the charge offensively if he does start, but this matchup is set up for success. The Colts front seven was gashed by Houston last week to the tune of 6.27 adjusted line yards against per rush, the worst mark in the NFL.
Richardson has not proven himself worthy of being favored on the road at this point in his career, and the Packers have the perfect matchup to steal a win at home with their backup QB.
Pick: Packers +3 (-110)
Kyle Murray's Colts-Packers Pick
By Kyle Murray
This line is quite confusing to me.
Sportsbooks know that Malik Willis is likely to start, right? I guess I would feel differently if Jordan Love is miraculously good to go and starts this game. Even if he plays, though, it's unlikely he'll be at 100%.
The Colts should be able to run the ball successfully on a Packers defense that was torched by Saquon Barkley in Brazil in Week 1. The Packers offense, meanwhile, should have very low expectations. If Indianapolis scores 14 points in this game, that could be enough to cover.
Pick: Colts -2.5 (-120)
Simon Hunter Bets the Saints-Cowboys Spread
By Simon Hunter
It's rare that I love Dallas coming home after a big road win, but this matchup is perfect.
Don't let Week 1 fool you — the Saints are a bad team. New Orleans has an old, aging roster that is being led by some coaching.
Historically, Saints head coach Dennis Allen struggles in this spot. Coming off a straight-up win, Allen is 7-16 straight-up and 5-16-2 against the spread (ATS). That ATS mark if the fifth worst over the last 20 years of 144 head coaches. Before the calendar turns to November, he's 1-13-2 ATS coming off of a straight-up win. That only cover came against Brady Quinn in 2012.
On the flip side, Mike McCarthy tends to have his teams ready to go in the first two weeks of the season. McCarthy is 21-13-1 ATS in the first two weeks of the regular season, which is the third-best mark of any coach in the last 20 years.
Derek Carr was the least-pressured quarterback in the NFL in Week 1. Dallas will be ready with a ton of exotic blitzes to make Carr feel as uncomfortable as Deshaun Watson was facing this defense last week.
I'd bet the Cowboys up to -7.
Pick: Cowboys -6 (-110)
Sam Farley's Chargers-Panthers Pick on Alt Spread
By Sam Farley
The Chargers meet the Panthers on Sunday as five point favorites, but Carolina was so bad last weekend in a 47-10 loss to the Saints that we're going to back Jim Harbaugh's team to win by double digits.
The Chargers showed promise in their opening Sunday win over the Raiders with the ground game looking particularly strong. The Chargers managed to sack Gardner Minshew four times and the defense will be licking their lips at facing Bryce Young and the offensive line protecting him.
I'm not sold that Carolina will bounce back here, so I'm betting Los Angeles to get a big win across the country.
Pick: Chargers -9.5 (+172)
Kyle Murray's Bets the Total for Chargers vs. Panthers
By Kyle Murray
The under in the Chargers game last week came through, and I'm going right back to it here.
The Chargers are going to play a ton of slow football as they showed last week with a run-first game plan against the Raiders. I also expect the Los Angeles defense to show up for a juicy matchup against the Panthers.
Carolina, meanwhile, is coming off one of the worst season openers in recent memories. I would be very surprised to see the Panthers offense bounce back here after such a brutal performance last week in New Orleans.
Pick: Under 39.5 (-115)
John LanFranca Picks Rams vs. Cardinals
Matthew Stafford has had to play the role of superman quite often throughout his career, but the injuries to his offensive supporting cast is simply too much to overcome this week.
The Rams are missing three starting offensive lineman, and Rob Havenstein will be playing at right tackle at less than 100% while dealing with foot and ankle issues. At left tackle, Warren McClendon will get the start, but he ranked 63rd out of 64 qualifying tackles in Week 1 according to Pro Football Focus. Of course, star receiver Puka Nacua will also miss this game for the Rams.
While the Cardinals defense didn't necessarily impress last week by giving up 6.1 yards per play to the Bills, that doesn't look quite so bad after seeing how Buffalo performed on Thursday Night Football against the Dolphins. Limiting Kyren Williams on the ground will be essential to Arizona's chances, and safety Budda Baker has already publicly stated that is a top priority for this defense. I like the Cardinals' chances given their matchup against the banged-up Rams O-line.
Offensively for the Cardinals, running back James Conner should play a huge role. The Rams defense ranked 31st in Rush DVOA last week, which means this Arizona offense should be able to stay on schedule throughout the game. This should only assist in maintaining the Cardinals' third-down conversion rate above 60%, as it was last week against Buffalo.
Grab Arizona at another -2 or lower, as I like the Cards to hold serve at home Sunday afternoon.
Pick: Cardinals -1 (-110)
