NFL Week 2 underdog plays: Giants, Falcons to bounce back
Week 1 was treacherous for favorites.
Underdogs went 10-6 against the spread, which included five outright wins and one tie. Lines will adjust as the season wears on, but until oddsmakers get a better grip on these teams, there will be value to be had on the board. Here's how to find it in Week 2:
Buffalo Bills at New York Giants
Line: Bills -2
The Bills have played more games at MetLife Stadium this season than the Giants have. There was a lot to like about the Bills' defense in their comeback win over the New York Jets, but there was also plenty to dislike about the offense. The Jets had that game in the bag before a defensive breakdown in the fourth quarter handed the Bills a big divisional win. While there's reason for optimism in Orchard Park, Josh Allen's inability to protect the football is cause for concern. In his last five road starts, he's turned the ball over 11 times, including four times in Week 1 against the Jets. He's an excellent athlete, but that's hardly a winning recipe. Allen ended a four-game losing skid on the road against the Jets, but it's never easy to open the season with consecutive games away from New Era Field.
In fact, teams beginning the season with back-to-back road games have gone 1-14 against the spread in Week 2 since the start of the 2015 season. Teams in this spot are also 2-11-1 as favorites since 2007. More good news for Giants backers: With Eli Manning under center, they're 8-4 ATS in home games when coming off a double-digit loss, like the one they suffered in Dallas in Week 1. Expect Manning to deny the Bills a MetLife sweep on Sunday.
Pick: Giants +2, Giants ML (+115)
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
Line: Chiefs -8
After backing poor Nick Foles and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, I'm going against the Chiefs again in Week 2. Clearly, I'm a glutton for punishment, but the trend we're using to fade the Bills also applies to Kansas City (see above). Simply put, teams that begin the season with back-to-back road games have struggled mightily in Week 2 (1-14 ATS record since 2015).
There's more to this trend. Road favorites coming off a road win are just 7-20-2 ATS (25.9%) since 2017. Even Andy Reid - who's historically been successful when he has extra time to prepare - took the Chiefs into Oakland last season following a bye week but could only manage a seven-point win, failing to cover the -14 spread.
It will also be interesting to see how Kansas City's offense responds after losing Tyreek Hill to injury. The Raiders, on the backs of Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller, looked like a competent team in their win over the Denver Broncos - something they struggled to resemble for most of last season. The Raiders have gone 5-0 ATS as home 'dogs when getting between seven and 10 points with Derek Carr as their starter, and they should make it 6-0 on Sunday.
Pick: Raiders +8
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons
Line: Eagles -1.5
I was most eager to see the line for this game. After the Eagles comfortably beat the Washington Redskins following an early scare - while the Falcons were dismantled by the Vikings - oddsmakers had little choice but to price the Eagles as small road faves. This isn't a game Atlanta can afford to lose. Opening the year with a pair of losses against likely NFC playoff teams would sewer its season.
Expect a strong response from the Falcons and Matt Ryan against an Eagles secondary that's prone to giving up chunk plays. In his career, Ryan is 7-1 ATS and 7-1 straight up as a home underdog of three points or less. He's also excelled at home in prime time, going 12-5 in those contests.
Pick: Falcons +1.5, Falcons ML (+105)
Alex is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.