NFL FOOTBALL PICKS ATS - FREE WEEKLY EXPERT PREDICTIONS

Neither team can afford to fall into a 0-2 hole to start the season. However, neither side looked ready to start the season with their overall play last Sunday. I am not sure what to expect this Sunday night, but it could take a few more games for each of these offenses to get in gear. This could set the stage for a defensive battle between these two bitter rivals.

I would take the Giants and the points when it comes to picking a side, but when it comes to betting this game, I am going with the UNDER on the 42-point total line.

I would have to agree that Seattle due to take a step backward this season with a very questionable defense that use to be this team's strong suit. Chicago still has to learn how to close games out, but the addition of Mack adds some solid balance to each side of the ball.

I expect the Bears to quickly get past last week’s disappointing loss with a strong showing for all four quarters this Monday night. Lay the field goal and take Chicago to cover at home.

The Los Angeles victory against Oakland though impressive in form is a bit misleading. The Raiders were hanging with the Rams for the first three quarters and had a few bad breaks gone in Oakland's direction, the trajectory of the game would have gone in a different direction. Nevertheless, the spot as a whole sets up Los Angeles for a massive let-down after all they are playing a weaker team on paper but once again that overlooks the rivalry aspect of this contest. Look for Arizona to bring the fight to LA.

The discussion surrounding both these teams is their offensive prowess. We get it, San Francisco has Jimmy G at the helm, but Detroit has a man at quarterback by the name of Matthew Stafford. Last week against a superb New York Jets defense, Stafford looked pedestrian. Typically, we see Stafford throw for 4,000 yards on average every year, and he can easily explode for 500 yards through the air on any given day. Given the bounce-back potential here, the edge at quarterback in both experience and proficiency will lead Detroit to a likely upset win in the Bay City. But we’ll play it safe and take the points.

On paper, New York's win is bound to create more allure. After all, it was a blowout win against a team that just missed the playoffs. However, Tennessee did make the playoffs in 2017 and Miami had its way in the contest. Given the fact, this contest was a toss-up at its initial offering we are getting substantial value now on the Fins here by taking them outright. Look for the Jets to suffer a let-down here at home this week as it endures the highs and lows of a rookie quarterback leading the charge. Miami wins in the Meadowlands.

Carolina looked good beating Dallas in Week 1, but I believe it will be a different story in Week 2. The Cowboys are a run-first team, and you can stop them on the ground you can shut down the offense. The Falcons are a different story. While they were held to under 100 rushing yards last week in the loss, they did win three of the five games that rushed for fewer than100 yards last season including their home game against the Panthers last season. Also, Carolina will be without Pro Bowler LB Thomas Davis (suspension), and All-World LB Luke Kuechly is iffy with a hyperextended knee. The Panthers are also dealing with injuries to the offensive line that isn’t top flight with all hands on deck, so I don’t expect them to have the same success in the running game this week. It is a divisional game, but I think the Falcons can extend the margin and won’t have a problem keeping on the gas pedal.

Each of these division rivals played better than expected in Week 1 and they each have a chance for a fast start in the AFC North with a win on Thursday night. I would probably have to give the Ravens the overall edge in the matchup, but I was impressed with the way Dalton looked under center for Cincinnati last Sunday.

I am going with the Bengals’ defense to keep this game close enough to swing either way come the fourth quarter. If Cincinnati can get a few breaks to go its way, it should be able to walk away with the SU win on Thursday night in a game that has moved to a PICK after the Ravens opened as slight favorites on the road.

There are plenty of storylines to go around in this matchup. The Rams need a fast start to live up to their lofty expectations coming off last year's success. The Raiders will look to turn things around behind a head coach that knows how to get the most out of the talent on his roster.

This could be the best game on the Week 1 schedule that half the nation will not even see. If you do stay up late enough to watch, the offense will be the name of the game late Monday night into Tuesday morning with the total going OVER 47.5 points.

Chicago’s bandwagon is starting to get weighed down as a trendy pick to win the NFC North based on the various additions it has made to its roster. Trubisky should take a step forward, and the addition of Mack makes a solid Bears’ defense even better. Green Bay remains a trendy pick to win the division with Rodgers back under center.

When it comes to this Sunday night’s matchup, my lean is towards Green Bay SU at home. However, I love the extra half point on the touchdown spread in the Bears’ favor to make Chicago my top betting pick ATS.

The number on the board here is generally an underdog number. This is of course because the figure presented creates the illusion of an easy win if the favorite were to win by a touchdown. However, the market is adept at this and chances are the touchdown will never be on the table. This game has upset written all over it.

San Francisco knocked off three consecutive playoff-qualifying teams to conclude their 2017 season. You can rest assured that the Niners will look to continue their five-game winning streak and do so with style. Once again, the Niners will make a statement. This one could very well be a Money Line play on San Francisco, but the points offer incredible value.

It is quite tempting to play this one outright at +180 on the Money Line, albeit this is the kind of scenario where an upset seems imminent. With a new season comes new hope and you can expect that the Browns and their fan base will come out swinging. Against a team that has so many things up in the air like Pittsburgh, the Browns can open 2018 with a statement.

Each of these teams will be looking for a fast start out of the gate with Atlanta holding the edge in the passing game and Philadelphia turning to it running game to move the ball downfield and put points on the board. The difference in the outcome could hinge on just how well each opposing team's defense plays in Week 1.

With the spread dipping to 2.5 points after opening at three, I believe the Eagles have the overall edge to win and cover at home this Thursday night.