NFL odds: Bet on the Bills and other best Week 2 preseason wagers

By Geoff Schwartz
FOX Sports NFL Analyst            

NFL preseason Week 1 didn’t go as deliberate. 

And after I say “as deliberate,” after all which means as I predicted. Of the 16 video games, 13 went over the mixed level whole, and a few of the preseason teaching tendencies failed us. However, the best wager in all of sports activities — the Baltimore Ravens — continued to money in, so I’m betting on them to do the similar this week.

Other than the Ravens, who else do I love to do some harm in opposition to the unfold in Week 2 of the preseason? Let’s dive into my best bets for this second exhibition week of 2022. 

Thursday

Bears @ Seahawks (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Chicago Bears

CHI

+3.5

+140

o39.5

Seattle Seahawks

SEA

-3.5

-182

u39.5

Seattle coach Pete Carroll entered final weekend 36-20 in opposition to the unfold (ATS) in the preseason. However, the Seahawks didn’t cowl in the seven level loss to the Steelers final weekend. They allowed 32 factors, and if I do know something, I do know Carroll has been driving the protection arduous this week to enhance and play higher. 

I informed you final week that defensive coaches dominate the preseason, so I consider the Seahawks will play higher at dwelling and get again on observe with Pete Carroll’s preseason ATS tendencies. 

Ultimately, I’m basing this wager on that development alone.

PICK: Seahawks (-3.5 at FOX Bet) to win by more than 3.5 points

Saturday

Broncos @ Bills (1 p.m. ET, NFLN)

Denver Broncos

DEN

-0.5

+190

o39.5

Buffalo Bills

BUF

+0.5

-250

u39.5

Bills head coach Sean McDermott is now 11-5 ATS in the preseason after the Bills scored 17 factors in the fourth quarter to beat the Colts in week certainly one of the NFL preseason. There couldn’t be a greater instance of why defensive coaches are inclined to dominate protecting the unfold in the preseason. For no matter purpose, defensive-minded coaches appear far more fascinated with profitable preseason video games. Offensive coaches, on the other hand, are wired otherwise. They simply need to work out particular kinks of their offenses, and the precise outcomes of the sport are usually not as vital. 

So I’ll take the Bills for these causes. Buffalo has a coach that traditionally dominates throughout the preseason. So anticipate for Buffalo to play to the remaining whistle.

PICK: Bills (+0.5 at FOX Bet) to lose by fewer than 0.5 points (or win outright)

Commanders @ Chiefs (4 p.m. ET, NFLN)

Washington Commanders

WAS

+3.0

+175

o42.5

Kansas City Chiefs

KC

-3.0

-227

u42.5

I’m taking the Chiefs to cowl the first half of this sport. 

The final three preseason video games the place Patrick Mahomes has run the offense for not less than one drive, the Chiefs have managed the first half. Going again to Week 2 of the preseason final yr, the Chiefs have been up 10-0 in opposition to the Cardinals, with Mahomes having 18 move makes an attempt. The Chiefs adopted that up with a 14-point lead going into halftime in opposition to the Vikings of their remaining preseason sport of 2021, a sport the place Mahomes accomplished eight of 9 makes an attempt. Lastly, the Chiefs have been up 14-0 in opposition to the Bears final weekend and Showtime Mahomes had a full 12- play drive to begin the sport. 

Why is Mahomes taking part in vital? It alerts to the group that this sport is for actual. Also, if Mahomes is taking part in, so are the remainder of the starters. Andy Reid and employees will game-plan for the matchup as a result of they need their starters to have success. 

So I’ll take the Chiefs to cowl the first half in opposition to the Commanders, who regarded sluggish early of their first sport in opposition to the Panthers. Also, with Washington not protecting that sport, Ron Rivera’s report ATS in the preseason falls below that fifty% mark.

PICK: Chiefs to cover first half of the game

Sunday

Ravens @ Cardinals (8 p.m. ET, FOX)          

The Baltimore Ravens have gained an NFL-record 21 straight preseason video games, protecting 18 of these 21 wins. In Week 1, the Ravens quarterbacks have been dialed-in. Tyler Huntley went 16-of-18, Anthony Brown accomplished 10-of-15 and Brett Hundley completed 2-for-2. The simple clarification for Baltimore’s preseason success is that defenses wouldn’t have time to organize for the Ravens’ offense, and in the event that they aren’t seeing them in the common season, they’ve even much less incentive to trouble getting ready their protection for this sport.

The coaches have the defenders learn their keys and play quick, with little time in camp to game-plan this offense. The Ravens additionally play a clear type of ball below John Harbaugh. They not often flip it over in the preseason, and they don’t make particular groups errors like other squads may with their backups this time of the yr. 

I’m taking the Ravens on the cash line once more this weekend in opposition to the Cardinals. 

PICK: Ravens money line (bet $10 to win $13.60 at FOX Bet) to win outright

Geoff Schwartz performed eight seasons in the NFL for 5 completely different groups. He began at proper sort out for the University of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior yr. He is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.

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