NFL Picks Week 2: Examining Recent Odds and Expert Predictions

Other than the New England Patriots putting together successful season after successful season, nothing is certain in the NFL, and even fewer things tend to have any staying power. Several teams that got off to winning starts in Week 1 may soon find themselves back at .500 with tougher tests in Week 2. Take the San Francisco 49ers for example (but please, don’t take them in the betting sense of the word). They repeated their Monday night magic from a year ago with a 28-0 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. Is head coach Chip Kelly an improvement over Jim Tomsula? Probably, but even he can’t get this team past a Carolina Panthers team sharpening its fangs after losing to the Denver Broncos in the season opener. Or how about the Minnesota Vikings? Veteran quarterback Shaun Hill was good enough to get the team past the Tennessee Titans, but showing out against the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, even at home, is another task entirely. There are plenty of matchups that could swing either way, with the New York Jets-Buffalo Bills scrap and the always feisty duel between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals slated for Week 2.

For those seeking wisdom and guidance before making picks for Week 2, here are the latest odds and expert predictions (straight-up, not against the spread) from around the web.

Note: Odds are courtesy of Odds Shark and updated as of Thursday at 12 p.m. ET. Expert picks are from Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, SB Nation and FiveThirtyEight.

That Rams-Seahawks Spread Looks A Little Too Close

The Rams turned in easily the worst performance of Week 1, putting up a goose egg on the scoreboard and mustering as many first downs as they did punts (10).

The defense didn’t let the 49ers offense get away with too much, but Blaine Gabbert managed to look competent and avoid turning the ball over, while Carlos Hyde and Shaun Draughn combined for three rushing touchdowns. 

Seattle didn’t look good at all in a lethargic 12-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, but it is still only getting 3.5 points on the road against the Rams. 

Russell Wilson’s right ankle injury is one reason for the small spread. He was limping all over the field and lacked touch or accuracy on several throws against the Fins but still managed to lead the team on a 14-play, 75-yard, game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Per ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia, Wilson is in line to start against the Rams on Sunday.

“His attitude is as charged up as you can imagine, as always,” coach Pete Carroll said, per Kapadia. “But he’s excited to prove that he can make it back, get back and all that. He’s half-crazy about proving, so it’s good. His attitude’s great.”

Perhaps the oddsmakers believe the Rams will get a major boost from …

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