Betting Recap – Week 2

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College Football Recap - Week 3

Overall Notes

National Football League Week 2 Results
Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 8-7-1
Against the Spread 5-11
Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 11-4-1
Against the Spread 9-7
Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 8-8
National Football League Year-to-Date Results
Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 18-12-2
Against the Spread 13-18-1
Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 19-11-2
Against the Spread 16-15-1
Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 17-15

The largest underdogs to win straight up
Colts (+6, ML +210) at Redskins, 21-9
Chiefs (+4.5, ML +180) at Steelers, 42-37
Titans (+3.5, ML +165) vs. Texans, 20-17

The largest favorite to cover
Rams (-13) vs. Cardinals, 34-0
Chargers (-7.5) at Bills, 31-20
Falcons (-5.5) vs. Panthers, 31-24
Bears (-4.5) vs. Seahawks, 24-17

Chief Concerns

-- The Pittsburgh Steelers stumbled to a tie on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, but returned home to Heinz Field where all would be well, right? Well, the offense did come alive with 37 points, but the lack of defense for the Steelers was concerning. The Kansas City Chiefs fired out to a 2-0 SU/ATS record, both on the road, and they piled up 42 points thanks to six touchdown passes from QB Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are looking like one of the early Super Bowl favorites in the AFC, averaging 40.0 points per game (PPG) over their first two outings, as the 'over' has cashed in two games. The only problem is that defense wins championship, and Kansas City has yielded 32.5 PPG. As far as the Steelers are concerned, they are 0-1-1 SU/0-2 ATS and they have allowed 31.5 PPG, which is very un-Steeler-like.

Clipped Wings

-- While the Chiefs are looking like a Super Bowl contender, the Arizona Cardinals are the co-leaders in the clubhouse after two weeks for the No. 1 overall pick, along with the Buffalo Bills. The Cardinals scored just six points in Week 1 in a loss against the Washington Redskins, and they were blanked in Week 2 by the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona has opened 0-2 SU/ATS, as has Buffalo. At least the Bills have managed some semblance of offense. Unfortunately, the two teams will not meet during the 2018 season.

Total Recall

-- The lowest total on the board was for the Houston Texans-Tennessee Titans (41), driven down by the absence of QB Marcus Mariota (elbow) and TE Delanie Walker (leg). Vegas was on point, as the Titans scratched out a 20-17 victory despite the presence of QB Blaine Gabbert under center. The second-lowest game was in the Los Angeles Chargers-Buffalo Bills (41.5) game, a game which actually featured CB Vontae Davis retiring at halftime, that's how bad things are in Buffalo right now. The Sunday night game between the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys (42) was also expected to be a defensive slog, and that's exactly what we got.

-- The highest total on the board was in the Chiefs-Steelers (52.5) game, and both teams threatened to send it 'over' themselves. The Chiefs posted a 21-spot in the first quarter, while the Steelers had a 21-spot in the second. While Vegas was correct on that line, they were way off for the Cleveland Browns-New Orleans Saints battle (51). The Browns had six or fewer points in each of their four quarters, while the Saints had three points in the first and two goose eggs in the second and third before exploding for 18 points and snagging victory from the jaws of defeat.

-- The 'over' is 2-0 for all AFC North Division teams except for the Bills, while the Chargers and Chiefs have also posted an 'over' result in each of their two outings. In the NFC, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers have hit the 'over' in each of their two contests. The NFC East is the division of unders, as all teams except for the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0 on the 'under' so far.

-- There were three primetime games in Week 2, with two going under. Overall for the 2018 season the 'over' in primetime games is 3-4 (43.0%).

Officially, the 'over' finished 25-23-1 (52.1%) in 49 games under the lights in 2017.

In 2016, the 'over' in night games went (52.9%) through 51 games.

In 2015, the over finished 20-28-1 (41.7%) in 49 primetime games. 

In 2014, the over went 33-17 (66.0%) in primetime games, and the over was 28-22 (56.0%) in 2013.

Injury Report

-- Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) injured his hamstring in the second half of the blowout against the Rams and he was unable to return.

-- Eagles WR Mike Wallace (ankle) left the battle against the Buccaneers on the road due to an ankle injury and he was unable to return.

- Rams PK Greg Zuerlein (groin) was injured in pregame warmups and he was unable to kick in Sunday's game, as the team went for two-point conversions instead of PATs.

-- Redskins RB Rob Kelley (toe) was unable to return after leaving due to a toe injury.

Looking Ahead

-- The Saints and Falcons will do battle in Atlanta, as New Orleans hopes to find a little consistency away from home. They're 14-5 ATS across their past 19 games away from the Crescent City, but they're just 1-4 ATS in the past five inside the division. Atlanta has managed a 4-1 ATS in the past five home outings, while going 7-3 ATS in the past 10 games played in the month of September. The 'over' is 5-0 in the past five for the Saints against NFC opponents, while going 7-3 in their past 10 inside the division. On the flip side, the 'under' is 8-1 in the past nine against NFC foes for Atlanta, while going 4-1 in their past five inside the division. In this series, the under is 7-2 in the past nine in Atlanta, and 7-3-1 in the past 11 meetings overall.

-- The Titans hit the road to battle the Jaguars in 'Sacksonville'. The Titans haven't been very good inside the AFC South, going 18-36-3 ATS in their past 57 against division foes. They're also a dismal 9-22 ATS in their past 31 games away from the Music City, while going 4-11 ATS in the past 15 on the road against teams with a winning home mark. Meanwhile, the Jags are 7-2 ATS across their past nine inside the division, and they're 5-1-1 ATS in the past seven in 'Duuuval' against the Titans. The 'under' has also cashed in six of the past eight meetings in Northeast Florida.

-- The Patriots will head to the Motor City to battle former coordinat Matt Patricia and the Lions. The Patriots opened as a touchdown favorite, and they'll be angry after getting socked around by the Jaguars and their punishing defense on Sunday. New England is 8-1 ATS in their past nine against teams with a losing record, while going 7-2 ATS across the past nine on field turf. For the Lions, the 'over' has cashed in eight of their past 10 at Ford Field, while the 'under' is 4-1 over the past five road games for the Pats.

-- The Steelers and Buccaneers will meet on Monday night in Tampa. The Steelers are just 1-8 ATS in the past nine games dating back to last season, but they're 23-9-2 ATS in their past 34 road games against a team with a winning home record. The Bucs have cashed in five in a row, 2-0 ATS this season thanks to some 'Fitz-magic', but they are 12-25 ATS across the past 37 home games against a team with a losing road record.



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