Another Manning vs Brees Thriller?
Best Bets
1.5 Pts New York Jets to Beat the Buffalo Bills (20/23 Coral)
1.5 Pts New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints – Over 52.5 Total Points (Evs Sky Bet)
1 Pt Cincinnati Bengals to Beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (8/5 Will Hill)
1.5 Pts Green Bay Packers to Beat Minnesota Vikings (4/5 Sky Bet)
We have a few fancies moving into week two of the NFL season. Let’s hope we can get our tipping campaign off to a solid start!
1.5 Pts New York Jets to Beat the Buffalo Bills (20/23 Coral)
Our first tip this week comes in the Thursday night Football game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. Both of these teams got off to a losing start in week one, but the Jets put up a better showing against a solid Bengals outfit. The Bills are the home team for this AFC East matchup, and after early losses a lot is at stake.
We favour the Jets in this one and think they can pick up a road win. Although they don’t have the best offensive unit, they are elite on the defensive end. They will likely blitz heavily against Tyrod Taylor, in the hope that they can contain him inside the pocket. Furthermore the Buffalo offensive line is currently a makeshift bunch which will allow the Jet’s elite pass rushers to pressure Taylor from both sides.
One of the main topics of debate this week which has featured on both ESPN First Take & the Skip Bayless new show ‘undisputed’ is whether Darrelle Revis is done after being humbled by AJ Green in week one. In our view Revis is far from done. We acknowledge that he is on the decline and he lost a matchup in week one against one of the best wideouts in the NFL, but expect him to do everything to shut out Buffalo in week two. Expect him to dominate Revis Island on Thursday night, and prove a point to the doubters.
Taking a look at Buffalo they were simply awful against Baltimore in week one. They were unable to produce any kind of offensive threat in what was a lacklustre display. We would expect them to carry more of a threat this week and if Sammy Watkins is fit, he will pose problems to the New York defence. He is listed as questionable for the game on Thursday however and his foot problems clearly are slowing him down. Buffalo might have to rely on their running game heavily which will serve to accelerate the clock and play into the defensively minded Jets hands.
Make a play on the Jets to take their first win of the season in what will likely be a low scoring affair.
1.5 Pts New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints – Over 52.5 Total Points (Evs Sky Bet)
Moving on to the Sunday games our first tip looks at the matchup between the Giants and the Saints. Last year these two teams set NFL records for points scored when they faced off against each other and we expect similar again this year.
The Saints were involved in a shoot-out last week against the Raiders and Drew Brees was in majestic form. The Saints QB passed for over 400 yards and four touchdowns as he led his team down the field at ease. The New York Giants aren’t renowned for their pass defence and expect Brees to get what he wants on Sunday.
On the other side of the field Eli Manning will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing the New Orleans pass defence who are simply terrible. With weapons such as Odell Beckham Jr and Victor Cruz who now looks fit again, expect Eli Manning to run rampage as well.
Make a play on the overs on the total points market, which looks to be excellent value.
1 Pt Cincinnati Bengals to Beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (8/5 Will Hill)
These two teams hate each other and tensions will be high in the early live Sunday matchup. Things usually end up getting out of control in this one and last year things took a massive turn for the ugly when Vontaze Burfict ended Antonio Brown’s season with an awful late hit.
Both teams are missing a few key players and both teams looked good in week one victories. The winner of this one will move into an early commanding position in the AFC North division so again there is a lot at stake. Although the Bengals have struggled in the playoffs in recent years they are specialists in the regular season and often get off to great starts.
This really is a close matchup and it would be fair for the bookmakers to marginally favour the Steelers due to their home-field advantage. They have Pittsburgh as clear favourites however and the 8/5 on offer at Will Hill on a Bengals win is too good to turn down. Make a small play on them to upset the odds.
1.5 Pts Green Bay Packers to Beat Minnesota Vikings (4/5 Sky Bet)
Finally to the Sunday night match which sees the Vikings host the Packers. Both of these teams got off to winning starts in week 1 and neither of them were at their very best. This hasn’t stopped the Packers moving to the number 1 spot in the ESPN power rankings. The Packers are heavily fancied this year and for good reason. Aaron Rodgers is generally believed to be the best quarterback in the NFL and he has his number 1 target Jordy Nelson back and fighting fit. On the other side of the ball the Packers defence is elite and although it perhaps can’t live up to the stellar Vikings defence it can hold its own.
The Vikings are having issues at Quarterback with Sam Bradford trying to learn his new playbook as quick as possible. Expect him to be play on Sunday night, but this is going to be a tough start for Bradford. The Green Bay secondary is strong and he will throw the ball down the field at his own peril. This leaves a huge task left to Adrian Peterson who failed to flatter in week 1. We just don’t see how the Vikings can put up enough points to compete with what Rodgers will do for the Packers.
This looks like a safe play on a heavily fancied Green Bay side.