The opening slate of games proved yet again that underdogs can be a path to profit, as about half of them covered and several won outright. Below are our Week 2 NFL underdog best bets against the spread.
There’s no shortage of interesting games, so let’s get to our NFL underdog best bets for Week 2.
The marquee matchup of course is Patrick Mahomes vs. Justin Herbert. They’ve faced off three times, with Mahomes’ Chiefs winning two of the three but Herbert’s Bolts covering in two of the three.
Give the defensive advantage to Khalil Mack and the Chargers. This group intercepted Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr three times in a 24-19 season-opening win while forcing three fumbles.
Herbert will be shorthanded with No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring) out, but we still expect visitors to at least keep it close and cover, even if Kansas City is likely to win the game.
Pick: Chargers +4
Sunday’s matchup, however, brings a changing of the series guard at quarterback with Niners second-year QB Trey Lance facing off against veteran Geno Smith.
Lance has the much better supporting cast but the Seahawks are plenty plucky, as they showed in upending former QB Russell Wilson and the Broncos last Monday night.
Seattle will be on Letdown Watch traveling on a short week after the emotional win. But bank on the visitors keeping things close with Lance very much still battling through growing pains as he prepares for only his fourth career start.
Pick: Seahawks +9.5
The defending Super Bowl champs have had 10 days to stew over their 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Stepping down from Josh Allen to Marcus Mariota and from Buffalo (25-9 in the regular season since the start of the 2020 season) to Atlanta (11-23), though, looks to be the perfect get-right recipe for Aaron Donald and the Rams.
That said, don’t overlook a Falcons team that outgained and led the favored New Orleans Saints for much of their heart-breaking 27-26 home loss in Week 1.
Mariota showed he’s still a dangerous dual-threat option with 215 passing yards and 72 rushing yards and a TD vs. the Saints.
Meanwhile, the Falcons bagged four sacks against the Saints and limited them to 94 rushing yards apart from a 57-yard Taysom Hill sprint.
That’s a concern for a shaky L.A. offensive line that surrendered seven sacks and paved the way for only 52 rushing yards on 18 attempts in the opener. The Rams should get the win Sunday, but figure on the Falcons getting the cover.
The opening weekend of the NFL season featured a split decision with eight favorites and eight underdogs covering.
Teams getting a field goal or more on the line went 7-3 against the spread, including three underdogs of 5.5-plus points winning outright. Our picks went 2-1, with the Giants and Lions both covering, while the Raiders narrowly missed a cover with a five-point loss to the Chargers.
NFL underdog picks: Chargers, Seahawks, and Falcons fit the bill in Week 2
There’s no shortage of interesting games, so let’s get to our NFL underdog best bets for Week 2.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs - Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
This is Game 2 of the 12-game 2022 AFC West Battle Royale slate, and it’s quite the catch for Amazon Prime kicking off its Thursday night schedule.The marquee matchup of course is Patrick Mahomes vs. Justin Herbert. They’ve faced off three times, with Mahomes’ Chiefs winning two of the three but Herbert’s Bolts covering in two of the three.
Give the defensive advantage to Khalil Mack and the Chargers. This group intercepted Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr three times in a 24-19 season-opening win while forcing three fumbles.
Herbert will be shorthanded with No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring) out, but we still expect visitors to at least keep it close and cover, even if Kansas City is likely to win the game.
Pick: Chargers +4
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers - Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Seahawks have owned this NFC West series over the last decade, winning 17 of the last 20 meetings and covering 15 of them. That includes the 2013 NFC Championship game won by host Seattle, 23-17.Sunday’s matchup, however, brings a changing of the series guard at quarterback with Niners second-year QB Trey Lance facing off against veteran Geno Smith.
Lance has the much better supporting cast but the Seahawks are plenty plucky, as they showed in upending former QB Russell Wilson and the Broncos last Monday night.
Seattle will be on Letdown Watch traveling on a short week after the emotional win. But bank on the visitors keeping things close with Lance very much still battling through growing pains as he prepares for only his fourth career start.
Pick: Seahawks +9.5
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams - Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
The defending Super Bowl champs have had 10 days to stew over their 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Stepping down from Josh Allen to Marcus Mariota and from Buffalo (25-9 in the regular season since the start of the 2020 season) to Atlanta (11-23), though, looks to be the perfect get-right recipe for Aaron Donald and the Rams.
That said, don’t overlook a Falcons team that outgained and led the favored New Orleans Saints for much of their heart-breaking 27-26 home loss in Week 1.
Mariota showed he’s still a dangerous dual-threat option with 215 passing yards and 72 rushing yards and a TD vs. the Saints.
Meanwhile, the Falcons bagged four sacks against the Saints and limited them to 94 rushing yards apart from a 57-yard Taysom Hill sprint.
That’s a concern for a shaky L.A. offensive line that surrendered seven sacks and paved the way for only 52 rushing yards on 18 attempts in the opener. The Rams should get the win Sunday, but figure on the Falcons getting the cover.
Pick: Falcons +10.5
NFL underdogs Week 2: Recapping last week’s action
The opening weekend of the NFL season featured a split decision with eight favorites and eight underdogs covering.
Teams getting a field goal or more on the line went 7-3 against the spread, including three underdogs of 5.5-plus points winning outright. Our picks went 2-1, with the Giants and Lions both covering, while the Raiders narrowly missed a cover with a five-point loss to the Chargers.
