Eagles +3' (that's 1/2 pt. dangling there): The Eagles adjusted power rating after Week 1 is 95 and the Patriots rating is 93, thus giving Philly a 2 pt. advantage SU. 3' added to the PR makes our line Eagles by 5'. We have the Eagles coming off of a loss and the Pat's are coming off of a win. HC Doug Peterson is going to want to eliminate any Super Bowl Hangover nonsense ASAP. Belichick, on the other hand, is notorious for not giving a damn about pre-season outcomes. The Eagles are 5 - 1 in Week 2 of pre- season. I'm not really concerned about QB issues with the Eagles. Wentz & Foles wouldn't play that much anyway. The strength of the Eagles defense in 2017 was depth, especially on the defensive line. Eagles 4%.
Redskins -2: We have the Jets coming off of a home win that they are absolutely giddy about and the 'Skins coming off of a road loss. PR numbers have Washington by +4 minus the PS leaves them at a 1 pt. advantage. This is below the minimum of 3 pts. difference that we traditionally look for, but I still like the Redskins in this situation. Redskins 2%.
Bills +3: I really like this match up. Buffalo finished the first half of last week's game up 17-7 with A. J. McCarron looking good. At the end of pre-season 2017 I felt the he was the best looking "back-up QB" in the pre-season. He filled in for Dalton for four games going 2-2 but very easily could have been 3-1. In Week 13 (I think) against Pittsburgh he led the Bengals to a late TD to take the lead only to see the defense throw it away (notice I didn't say pissed away) with a handful of penalties, two of which were Unnecessary Roughness.
Steelers closed it out with a game winning drive. Buffalo's success last season was rushing offense and defense. Nothing should change there, only that McCarron gives them a little more punch through the air. The line opened at -3 and is down to -2. Knee jerk reaction to last week's performance by the Jets. The team with the better defense covers the spread. Bills 4%.
Rams -2': The Rams are coming off of a loss by 26 pts. That will get the coach's attention. The Raiders got their inaugural win under John Gruden 2.0 and now go on the road, albeit a short trip, PR numbers have the Rams by 8, minus the 2 pt. spread leaves the Rams by +6. Raiders are 0-5 in Week 2 of PS over the last five years. Rams 4%.
Titans -3: Tampa Bay is playing its second consecutive road game, coming off of a 2 pt. victory at Miami while the Titans lost by 14 on the road. I like the Tennessee coach, Mike Vrable. Liked him as a player and liked his work as the Defense Coordinator at Houston which led the NFL in total defense the last two years. Last season, without their two best defensive players, Watt & Mercilius, they nearly made the playoffs, overcoming the abomination they have experienced at QB over the last two seasons. Had D. Watson not gotten injured they may well have made a run at it. Titans 2%.
Ravens +1: John Harbough & Mike Zimmer are the two veteran coach's that take PS seriously. Ravens have a rookie QB that shows promise and should get a fair amount of playing time. Baltimore will always give you good value defensively, and with all of the press following Lamar Jackson maybe Joe Flaco will get off his apathetic butt. Ravens PR is 92 & the Colts PR is 85. Figure in the PS and it's the Ravens by 7. Possible overreaction by both the public and the books to Luck being back. Ravens 4%. Colts 0-3 in Week 2 of PS.
Redskins -2: We have the Jets coming off of a home win that they are absolutely giddy about and the 'Skins coming off of a road loss. PR numbers have Washington by +4 minus the PS leaves them at a 1 pt. advantage. This is below the minimum of 3 pts. difference that we traditionally look for, but I still like the Redskins in this situation. Redskins 2%.
Bills +3: I really like this match up. Buffalo finished the first half of last week's game up 17-7 with A. J. McCarron looking good. At the end of pre-season 2017 I felt the he was the best looking "back-up QB" in the pre-season. He filled in for Dalton for four games going 2-2 but very easily could have been 3-1. In Week 13 (I think) against Pittsburgh he led the Bengals to a late TD to take the lead only to see the defense throw it away (notice I didn't say pissed away) with a handful of penalties, two of which were Unnecessary Roughness.
Steelers closed it out with a game winning drive. Buffalo's success last season was rushing offense and defense. Nothing should change there, only that McCarron gives them a little more punch through the air. The line opened at -3 and is down to -2. Knee jerk reaction to last week's performance by the Jets. The team with the better defense covers the spread. Bills 4%.
Rams -2': The Rams are coming off of a loss by 26 pts. That will get the coach's attention. The Raiders got their inaugural win under John Gruden 2.0 and now go on the road, albeit a short trip, PR numbers have the Rams by 8, minus the 2 pt. spread leaves the Rams by +6. Raiders are 0-5 in Week 2 of PS over the last five years. Rams 4%.
Titans -3: Tampa Bay is playing its second consecutive road game, coming off of a 2 pt. victory at Miami while the Titans lost by 14 on the road. I like the Tennessee coach, Mike Vrable. Liked him as a player and liked his work as the Defense Coordinator at Houston which led the NFL in total defense the last two years. Last season, without their two best defensive players, Watt & Mercilius, they nearly made the playoffs, overcoming the abomination they have experienced at QB over the last two seasons. Had D. Watson not gotten injured they may well have made a run at it. Titans 2%.
Ravens +1: John Harbough & Mike Zimmer are the two veteran coach's that take PS seriously. Ravens have a rookie QB that shows promise and should get a fair amount of playing time. Baltimore will always give you good value defensively, and with all of the press following Lamar Jackson maybe Joe Flaco will get off his apathetic butt. Ravens PR is 92 & the Colts PR is 85. Figure in the PS and it's the Ravens by 7. Possible overreaction by both the public and the books to Luck being back. Ravens 4%. Colts 0-3 in Week 2 of PS.
