We have a huge update in the New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers game. It has been reported that WR Hakeem Nicks, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Domenik Hixon, and OT David Diehl are all ruled out for Thursday’s game. This news moved the spread from Giants (-1.5) to Panthers (-2), a 3.5-point swing.
Read our full analysis of the game here. I was liking the Panthers pick before this news came out and now I like this pick even more. I am raising the confidence level of this pick from a 6/10 to an 8/10. Hakeem Nicks is the key injury for me here. With Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, and the Giants third receiver all sidelined, the Panthers are afforded the ability to keep a safety deep to prevent the deep ball to Victor Cruz.
I’m not too worried about Andre Brown and Reuben Randle stepping up for the injured Bradshaw and Nicks. The Panthers will just double cover Victor Cruz all game and they’ll be fine. The Giants have TE Martellus Bennet who will be targeted a lot in this game, but he’ll have his hands full with Jon Beason and Luke Kuechly on top of him throughout the game.
The Panthers offense that ranked 7th in total yards gained, 3rd in rushing yards, and 5th in points last year will be just fine against a defense that’s given up an average of 370 yards and 29 points per game so far this year. Who do you like in this one? Vote below!
Prediction: Panthers 31 – Giants 20
Pick Against the Spread: Panthers -2 (Confidence: 8/10)
I’m still working on my week 3 picks against the spread, which should hit the printing press tomorrow. This is a tough week since we have 9 teams going on the road who are favored over the home dogs who are 8-3 ATS on the year. After taking a look into CBS Sports picks against the spread, here is where we have the highest concentration of consensus:
Pittsburgh Steelers (-4) over OAKLAND RAIDERS – 8/8
Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) over WASHINGTON REDSKINS – 7/8
Detroit Lions (-3) over TENNESSEE TITANS – 7/8
ARIZONA CARDINALS (+4) over Philadelphia Eagles – 7/8
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-3) over Jacksonville Jaguars – 7/8
Buffalo Bills (-3) over CLEVELAND BROWNS – 7/8
St. Louis Rams (+7.5) over CHICAGO BEARS – 7/8
New England Patriots (+3) over BALTIMORE RAVENS – 7/8
The rest of the games have at least 3 writers on each side. Stay tuned for our week 3 picks against the spread. Let’s hear it from you, which game do you like best this week?
We escaped Monday Night with a win thanks to our Monday Night teaser special with the Broncos (+10) & Over 44. My initial gut feeling was to be all over the Falcons (-3), but there was lots of chatter of a Peyton Manning outright win, so I figured, there’s no way Peyton will lose by double digits on Monday Night, right? Well, he almost did, but we got the cover with our teaser thanks to an attempted 4th quarter comeback. We nailed our Sunday and Monday night picks to continue the momentum into week 3. We are now just three days away from a Thursday Night game between the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants.
NEW YORK GIANTS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS (+1.5)
Week 2 Recap
Both the Giants and the Panthers got their first win of the season last week. Eli Manning fueled a 2nd half comeback as he threw for over 500 yards and won 41-34. The Giants were down 24-13 at the half and I was delighted with my Bucs (+7.5) pick. The Giants were then down 27-16 going into the 4th until Eli Manning went H.A.M.on the Buccaneers defense posting 25 points in the 4th quarter to win 41-34. And I still got the cover by 1/2 point.
The Panthers took care of business at home against the Saints as I predicted. The final score 35-27. The Panthers put up 463 yards of offense, but also allowed 486 yards to the Saints. Drew Brees’ early pick-six was the difference in that one. The Panthers also put up over 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards. Cam Newton was extremely efficient 14/20, 253 yards, 12.7 YPA, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, 0 INT, 71 …
Our week 2 picks went 8-6-1 ATS and 3-2 ATS for the ones money was placed on. We nailed our two picks at 1:00, lost two at 4:00, and closed out Sunday of week 2 with a win thanks to the 49ers over the Lions. Our pick ’em league leader is a mere 15-14 ATS and it’s not too late to chase him for a chance to win an NFL Shop t-shirt. See details. Tonight, we’re given an outstanding Monday Night game between the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos. Is this one worth betting on? Let’s take a look.
DENVER BRONCOS @ ATLANTA FALCONS (-3)
The spread has not moved on this line at all, standing pat at Falcons (-3). I was expecting the majority of money to come in on the Falcons, but that just hasn’t been the case. The public loves Peyton Manning this week on the road and would rather take him with a field goal. We have a near 50-50 split on where the bets are being placed tonight. The public is actually favoring Denver (+3) with 53% of the bets coming in on Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
Both teams are coming off big week 1 wins. The Falcons went on the road to destroy the Kansas City Chiefs 40-24 and the Denver Broncos took care of business at home by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-19.
I’ve been liking the Falcons throughout the week as I see their offense likely ending the season in the top three in both points scored and yards gained. The Falcons have been dominant at home where Matt Ryan is 26-4 throughout his career. The Falcons are 9-5 ATS at home in the last three years and the Broncos …
You never make a living betting against home dogs in the NFL and this week proved that. It’s very tempting to take road favorites due to low spreads, but the home dogs dominated this week going 5-1 straight up and against the spread. The Texans were the only road favorite to come out with a win and the cover.
Texans @ Jaguars +7 — Texans win 27-7
Vikings @ Colts +2.5 — Colts win 23-20
Saints @ Panthers +3 — Panthers win 35-27
Raiders @ Dolphins +2.5 — Dolphins win 35-13
Cowboys @ Seahawks +3 — Seahawks win 27-7
Redskins @ Rams +3 — Rams win 31-28
Add Browns +7.5 and Cardinals +13.5 to the mix and it was a hell of a week for Vegas.
We ended up going even for the day by hitting our Texans/Bengals teaser and Bucs (+7.5), but gave that back on Cowboys (-3) and Redskins (-3). I went with Steelers (-6) and Chargers (-6) in the pick ’em league, but passed on them. Those were the picks to make at 4:00.…
We hit both our 1:00 picks with the Texans/Bengals teaser and Bucs (+7.5). We gave some of that back with Dallas. My warnings about Seattle’s home field and the Cowboys record following a division game came to fruition. Those two trends threw up a red flag that I should have listed to. I have another play on Washington. If they win, I’m up big for the day, and if they lose, then I’m even for the day. We have some room to make a play on tonight’s game, but is it worth taking?
DETROIT LIONS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-7)
The 49ers were absolutely dominant last week on the road against the Packers. Other than a punt rerun that they gave up, their defense was absolutely flawless and their offense imposed their will over the Packers defense by moving the chains running the ball and completing passes when Alex Smith dropped back. The Lions weren’t as impressive in week 1 due to Matthew Stafford turning the ball over several times and keeping the Rams in the game.
60% of the public is taking the 49ers against the spread and 55% like the over 46. I picked the 49ers earlier in the week with a 5/10 confidence pick. They should win this one at home, but the Lions should be able to keep this one within a touchdown throughout most of the game. I give the Lions a good chance of getting the cover, but I’ll give a slight lean to 49ers (-7).
When these teams faced each other last year in Detroit, the 49ers came out with a 25-19 win. I’m going to stick with the 49ers here. After last week’s performance, I put them #2 in my power rankings …
Question: Which player should I go with in week 2 at the flex?
Steve Smith @ CAR or Stevan Ridley vs. ARI
Answer:
I like Stevan Ridley. First, Steve Smith is listed as questionable with knee injury, but will be active. Although I expect the Saints vs. Panthers game to be a high-scoring shootout, Smith’s injury is still a concern for me. Steven Ridley, on the other hand, was spectacular in week 1 and will get the Pats goalline carries. Since the Pats are facing the Cardinals, that would lead to a lot of scoring opportunities for the Patriots. Ridley had 20 carries, 125 yards and 1 TD in week 1 against the Titans. Very impressive numbers.…
We have a huge update in the New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers game. It has been reported that WR Hakeem Nicks, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Domenik Hixon, and OT David Diehl are all ruled out for Thursday’s game. This news moved the spread from Giants (-1.5) to Panthers (-2), a 3.5-point swing.
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We escaped Monday Night with a win thanks to our Monday Night teaser special with the 
Our week 2 picks went 8-6-1 ATS and 3-2 ATS for the ones money was placed on. We nailed our two picks at 1:00, lost two at 4:00, and closed out Sunday of week 2 with a win thanks to the 49ers over the Lions. Our 
You never make a living betting against home dogs in the NFL and this week proved that. It’s very tempting to take road favorites due to low spreads, but the home dogs dominated this week going 5-1 straight up and against the spread. The Texans were the only road favorite to come out with a win and the cover.
We hit both our 1:00 picks with the Texans/Bengals teaser and Bucs (+7.5). We gave some of that back with Dallas. My warnings about Seattle’s home field and the Cowboys record following a division game came to fruition. Those two trends threw up a red flag that I should have listed to. I have another play on Washington. If they win, I’m up big for the day, and if they lose, then I’m even for the day. We have some room to make a play on tonight’s game, but is it worth taking?
