Into Week 2 for the NFL season and time to make some more NFL picks and parlays.
Last week in these parlays we went 1-1 for +0.22 units.
This week the 49ers and Jets have a short week, while the Ravens, Chiefs, Packers and Eagles have a little extra rest having played last week on Thursday and Friday.
Last week, favorites went 9-7 ATS and 13-3 SU while Over/Unders went 9-7 to the Over.
Let’s get into it my NFL predictions for this weekend’s NFL Week 2 action and create two parlays mostly focused on alternate spreads and scoring props.
NFL Picks and Parlays #1
Raiders vs Ravens Prediction
Baltimore lost Week 1 but it was to the Chiefs and on the road. They’ll come in on extra rest having played last Thursday.
Lamar Jackson missed practice earlier in the week but is all good to go.
The Raiders were 2-6 on the road last year that poor road form continued in Week 1 where they lost 22-10 in LA vs the Chargers. They lost big but did contain Justin Herbert to just 144 yards and 1 TD. They also DE Malcolm Koonce get sent to the IR with a knee injury.
But then JK Dobbins gashed the Raiders for 135 yards on the ground and 1 TD.
The Ravens should pound the Raiders on the ground as well with Jackson and Derrick Henry and have a better running QB and passing game compared to the Chargers.
If you’re looking for other player props, while Mark Andrews is the still the clear #1 Baltimore TE, it was Isaiah Likely who exploded for 9 catches, 111 yards and 1 TD vs the the Chiefs.
I can’t see the Ravens losing here, and certainly see John Harbaugh out-coaching Antonio Pierce. They’ll bounce back with a win and possibly a cover.
- NFL Predictions: Ravens moneyline
Saints vs Cowboys Prediction
Both come off massive wins in Week 1.
The Saints blew away the Panthers 47-10. Derek Carr had 3 TDs to 3 different receivers, and they gashed Carolina on the ground for 180 yards.
Carolina had only 193 of total yards and just 11 first downs.
Then for Dallas, they went to Cleveland and held Deshaun Watson to only 169 yards, picked him off twice, and won 33-17.
It was a great win, and to score that much on the Browns’ defense is impressive. But Watson looked hopeless and Dak did only have 179 yards passing, Elliott led the Cowboys’ rushers with only 40 yards, Lamb led with only 61 receiving yards, and both teams had only 15 1st downs. The Browns actually had more plays 70-60.
It will be hard for either to replicate the performances of last week and both beat up on teams or QBs that looked real bad.
Dallas is out TE Jake Ferguson, but then the Saints’ OL sees LT Fuga and LG Patrick questionable, plus some more players questionable in the secondary in Mathieu and Lattimore.
I’d think Dallas wins. Dak as a fav of 6+ is 31-13-1 ats, 18-9 since 2021.
But I don’t want to overreact too much on Dallas.
- NFL Predictions: Cowboys alt spread +5.5
49ers vs Vikings Prediction
It’s short rest for the 49ers who could not have looked better in blowing out Aaron Rodgers and the Jets on MNF 32-19.
They held the Jets to just 266 yards of offense, 198 passing, 68 rushing, 14 1st downs and dominated time of possession at 38:40.
Despite missing CMC, backup Jordan Mason went off for 147 yards on 28 carries and a score. He’ll get another go this week with CMC still out injured.
On paper it’s very hard to bet the Vikings and Sam Darnold over Brock Purdy the 49ers and all the stars on the San Fran side.
But betting on a road favorite on the road after a MNF win also doesn’t always pan out the way it looks.
Also, the 49ers have several players out or questionable in CMC, WR Jennings, LG Banks and SS Hufanga.
But then Minnesota sees RB Addison out, RG Ingram, RT O’Neill and SS Smith questionable.
These teams also played last year and the Vikings won at home 22-17 and Purdy made it through the game but got concussed. Kirk Cousins had 378 yards passing and 2 TDs in that game. I don’t see Darnold duplicating that, despite his #1 PFF rating from Week 1, but just in case this is closer than it looks, let’s take the 49ers on the alt spread.
- NFL Predictions: 49ers alt spread +5.5
Buccaneers vs Lions Prediction
There are big expectations for the Lions this year and they came out strong winning 26-20 over the Rams last week.
There aren’t big expectations for the Bucs, but maybe there should be. They were a decent side last season, Baker Mayfield looked rejuvenated and they came out strong in Week 1 routing the Commanders 37-20. Both offenses put up over 400 yards of offense and averaged over 6.0 YPP.
These teams just met in the NFC Championship in January and the Lions won 34-31 in Detroit
Granted the Commanders aren’t good and were starting a rookie QB, but Mayfield threw all over them for 289 yards and 4 TDs and had the best success rate of any QB in Week 1.
I can see a shootout of some sort here. Both offenses look good, and for the Bucs, have 3/4 secondary members dealing with injuries. Antoine Winfield Jr is doubtful, Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith are questionable and even backup CB Josh Hayes is questionable too.
The Lions should win, maybe an Over, or a teaser Over, or BTTS 2+ TDs, or, keep with my theme of this parlay and take the Lions on the alt spread or basically in a big teaser.
- NFL Predictions: Lions alt spread +5.5
- Parlay Picks: BAL moneyline / DAL +5.5 / SF +5.5 / DET +5.5 (-117)
NFL Picks and Parlays #2
Rams vs Cardinals Prediction
The Rams have owned the Cards winning 13/15 recent games. Last year they won 37-14 in Arizona and 26-9 in LA.
This year, LA opened with a 26-20 loss in Detroit, despite Stafford throwing for 317 yards. The worse news is they lost Nacua to the IR. Their RG and RT are questionable, so too are 3 defensive starters.
The Cardinals defense got gashed vs the Bills Week 1 giving up 14 plays of 10+ yards, for a total of 352 yards and 6.1 YPP. They allowed 34 points to the Bills, but still scored 28 themselves and were leading 17-10 at halftime.
I see points in this game where both should score at least 2 TDs.
- NFL Predictions: Both Teams to Score 2+ TDs
Bengals vs Chiefs Prediction
When they met last year in December, they also played in KC and the Chiefs won 25-17. But that was with Jake Browning at QB who was just 19/33 for 197 yards.
The Bengals have won 8/10 recent meetings but we’re going back many years. The Chiefs have won each of the last two with the other being 23-20.
The Chiefs kicked off the season opener with a 27-20 win over the Ravens, but it came down to the end with Isaiah Likely a toenail away from pulling down a game-ending catch in the endzone that could’ve given the Ravens a chance to tie or win.
Mahomes threw for 291 yards and 1 TD, Rice had 103 receiving yards and Worthy had scores on the ground and air. A KC offense that dinked and dunked last year was more effective with 5 plays over 20 yards.
The Bengals were Week 1’s biggest favorite and one of the biggest flops losing 16-10 at home to the Patriots. Burrow managed only 164 yards, the Bengals had only 13 1st downs, they were sacked 3 times, “out-played” 64-48, lost 2 fumbles and had only 25:57 minutes of possession.
Tee Higgins is still doubtful for the Bengals and hasn’t practiced so looks to be out again in Week 2. Burrow usually plays well vs the Chiefs but he wasn’t throwing much downfield last week and doesn’t look right yet since his wrist injury. He’s also 2-7 ATS in the opening 2 weeks of a season so he and Cincy usually start slow and that looks like it could continue here.
Betting Mahomes at home still looks the better bet. As an underdog in the alt spread or teaser, much better.
- NFL Predictions: Chiefs alt spread +5.5
Bears vs Texans Prediction
No offensive TDs for Chicago last week still saw them win despite only putting up 148 of total offensive yards. Defensively they did hold the Titans to just 244.
The Titans took a 17-0 lead, but 6 straight Chicago scores, 4 FGs, a punt return TD and pick 6 saw them win 24-17 in rookie QB Caleb Williams’ first game, that saw him go 14/29 for only 93 yards passing.
That maybe could have been expected as 1st round picks, in their debuts are now 0-14-1 SU in their debits.
Poor trends for Williams continue here as rookie QBs in Primetime as #1 picks are 1-5 SU and 5-0-1 ATS.
The Bears themselves have struggled in primetime losing 7 straight and all by 10+ points.
The Texans make their first SNF appearance since 2019 and last week won their 9th straight road game, topping rivals Indy 29-27.
The Texans were the 13th-best offense in PPG last season and I just can’t see the Bears and Williams going toe-to-toe with CJ Stroud on the road here.
The Texans quickly took money this week moving from -3.5 to -6.5.
All I want is a Houston win.
- NFL Predictions: Texans moneyline
- Parlay Picks: LAR vs AZ btts 2+ tds / KC alt spread +5.5 / Texans win
*Currently the Team Touchdown prop at Bet365 is glitching and isn’t showing the odds, so will keep monitoring and update when it is.
Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
