Week 2 of the NFL season is here, and SportsLine’s experts are dropping some serious knowledge for Sunday’s slate, especially for anyone eyeing a juicy payout. We’re talking a potential +608 return on a three-team parlay if you risk a hundred bucks, and that’s exactly what some of the sharpest minds are backing this weekend.
Houston’s Defense Has a Point to Prove
First up, we’ve got the Texans (-2.5) going up against the Bengals in a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, and one expert is all in on Houston to cover. Adam Thompson from SportsLine points out that Houston’s defense got absolutely gashed by Josh Allen and the Bills last week. But get this: he’s predicting a “renewed focus” from that unit against Joe Burrow, who’s apparently been limited in practice with a back issue. Thompson also isn’t fully sold on the Texans’ offense being as good as it looked against Buffalo, but he still sees Houston with the “best overall defense in the league.” Plus, let’s not forget Baker Mayfield basically handed the Bengals three fumbles, and they *still* almost lost at home. That tells you something.
Sean Payton Is Coming for Vengeance
Then there’s the Broncos (-2.5) facing off against the Jaguars, and SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein is putting his money on Denver. Jacksonville is riding high after a “dominant offensive performance” and has racked up an insane nine straight regular-season wins. But Hartstein remembers last season when these same Jaguars dropped 34 points in their win in Denver, which was the Broncos’ only regular-season home loss. He’s not forgetting that. Denver missed “a ton of tackles” in their Monday night loss to Kansas City, but Hartstein believes with their “elite personnel,” those are correctable. And let’s be real, Sean Payton is excellent when he’s coming off a loss. Historically, with a rest disadvantage during his Broncos tenure, Payton is 8-3 against the spread, winning those games by an average touchdown. You know Denver wants to bounce back at home and avenge that loss.
Cowboys Love Home Comfort
Finally, the Cowboys (-3.5) are squaring off against the Commanders, and Mike McClure from SportsLine likes Dallas to cover. He notes that the Giants came out swinging in the opener after significant time to prepare. But for the Cowboys, McClure sees a “significant gap” in their rating for home indoors games versus outdoor games. He’s hinting that the “comfortable conditions indoors are favorable” for their offense, and that could be the edge they need to lock this one down.
So, you’ve got Texans (-2.5), Broncos (-2.5), and Cowboys (-3.5) all backed by the experts. Week 2 promises some intense action, and with these picks, things are looking spicy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply