NFL Opening Line Report: Oddsmakers not sold on Niners in Week 2
Week 1 of the NFL season was quite the roller-coaster ride for fans – and surely for bettors, as well. The Week 2 lineup looks to bring more of the same, and it gets going in short order on Thursday night, when the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to face the archrival Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are at home for a second straight week, and could find themselves in a rough spot if they can’t get it done against Pittsburgh. They opened the season Sunday with a 23-16 loss as a 1-point chalk against Cincinnati, and two AFC North Division losses could be tough to recover from.
“They’re already a game behind both the Steelers and the Bengals, a loss here puts them two back of the Steelers and if the Bengals take care of business versus the Falcons, that’s two games behind them,” Michael Stewart, an oddsmakers for CarbonSports.ag tells Covers.
The Steelers, meanwhile, blew all of a 27-3 halftime lead at home against Cleveland, needing a field goal as time expired to take a 30-27 win while failing to cash as a 5.5-point favorite. Pittsburgh opened as a 2.5-point favorite against a Baltimore team that desperately needs the win.
“This has historically been a very competitive rivalry and this game should be no exception,” says Stewart. “So far, the early action is split and I believe we will see little to zero line movement in this game.”
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-12)
The defending AFC champion Broncos jump into AFC West Division play, after holding off Indianapolis 31-24 but falling short as 8-point favorites, relinquishing almost all of a 24-7 halftime lead. The Chiefs, a playoff team last year, looked dreadful at home against Tennessee, losing 26-10 as a 3-point fave.
CarbonSports.ag opened Kansas City as a 11.5-point underdog and took immediate action on the Broncos. Stewart has a feeling the sharp bettors are trying to push this number even higher, before coming back on the Chiefs.
“Personally, I think the wiseguys are looking to get out ahead on this game and will eventually play it back +13.5 or even 14 if it gets that high, which it won’t in my opinion,” says Stewart. “This is a Chiefs team that looked awful at home versus the Titans and now travels to take on one of the best teams in the NFL. They’re surely going to struggle in this game and unless the wiseguys get involved, I can see us closing Broncos -13.”
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-7)
The Bears already find themselves in a pinch after suffering the biggest upset of the day Sunday, dumping their home opener 23-20 in overtime to 7-point underdog Buffalo.
Meanwhile, San Francisco and its fans will likely be amped for the regular-season debut of the brand-spanking new Levi’s Stadium.
Not that the Niners need to be at home to draw fans. Anyone watching San Francisco’s 28-17 road trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys Sunday couldn’t help but notice the huge roars following all the big 49ers plays – particularly by the defense, which created four first-half turnovers as San Fran cashed laying 3.5 points.
However, that sloppy play from Dallas has clouded the bookmaker’s view of San Francisco, which may or may not be as good as advertised.
“Our wiseguys hammered the Cowboys in their game versus the 49ers because I believe they, like me, are convinced they’re not a good team and are an organization in turmoil,” says Stewart. “We opened this game 49ers -7 and as we expected, so far all the money is on the favorite and we’re fine with taking on that money at -7.”
Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts (-3)
Indianapolis, which rallied but fell just short at Denver as an 8-point underdog in a 31-24 loss, aims to get back on track against a Philadelphia squad that mounted a successful comeback in Week 1.
The Eagles, giving 10 points, found themselves in a 17-0 halftime hole at home to Jacksonville, then scored the game’s final 34 points in a 34-17 victory.
The Colts hit the board as low as -2.5 and climbed to -3 for the Monday Night Football Week 2 showcase. The total for this game opened at a lofty 52.5 points and jumped to 53 with early money taking the Over with these two sides loaded with offensive weapons.
w-thumbs!^
