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NFL Week 2 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Underdog Bets (2023)

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After a wild Week 1, we saw eight Underdogs win outright! This will be a common theme throughout the season. It started with the Lions beating the defending champs on Thursday night and ended with the Jets taking down Josh Allen and the Bills despite losing Aaron Rodgers for the season. As good and bad as some teams looked, it’s important to expect some opposite outcomes for Week 2, as teams will bounce back after ugly week 1 games. Let’s dive into our best Week 2 Underdog bets!

NFL Week 2: Top Underdog Bets

Chicago Bears (+2.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Maybe people were too high on the Bears to begin the season, but I’m not giving up on this team and Justin Fields just yet. The Packers seem to have their number, and maybe there were some nerves in front of the home crowd, as there are some bigger expectations for Chicago this year.

I like Chicago better as an Underdog with fewer expectations. Now they’re on the road, and it gives Justin Fields and Co. an opportunity to clear their heads and go into week 2 playing looser. This isn’t an intimidating Bucs team with Baker Mayfield at QB, and the defense has taken a step back from what we’ve seen over the past 3-4 years. The Bucs played a good Week 1 game, but I’m putting more of the blame on the Vikings for that result.

Justin Fields will need to improve his passing this week, and I feel like the Bucs’ secondary is a step down from the Packers and Jaire Alexander. Fields will have a tough task breaking loose on runs against the speedy Devin White and Lavonte David, so I expect DJ Moore to play a big role in this game.

If you can get Bears +3 between now and Sunday, that would be ideal. But I like the Bears to win this game outright in Tampa Bay.

Bet: Bears +2.5 vs. Buccaneers (-102)

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5)

The Chiefs will travel to Jacksonville and face the Jags after a crushing Week 1 loss to the Lions. Remember when the Chiefs started slowly last year, and everyone thought they were going downhill without Tyreek Hill? I think there’s a real chance this will happen again, especially due to Travis Kelce and Chris Jones missing Week 1. This team plays in a lot of close games to begin the year. I think they are fine and will still win the division, but there are some kinks that they still need to work out, and this Jaguars team is no slouch. I expect Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley to give this Chiefs defense a lot of problems on Sunday at home. Much like last year’s playoff game, this one could be closer than people expect.

I’m looking for the energy to be high in Jacksonville, as this team looks primed to win the division this year. The Jags should be hungry to get some revenge from last season’s losses, and teams usually get extra motivated to take down the defending champs.

Look for Doug Pederson to get these guys ready for the Chiefs and come in with a good offensive game plan. I like the Jags to keep it within a field goal.

Bet: Jaguars +3.5 vs. Chiefs (-110)

Los Angeles Rams (+8) vs. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams in a week 2 divisional rivalry. These teams do not like each other and typically play a violent game in the trenches. The Rams scored 30 points in a big week 1 win, yet they come into a Week 2 home game as 8-point underdogs. Everyone is ready to crown the 49ers as NFC champs after one week, but I’m not there yet. Yes, they played a great game, but they will not go undefeated this season and will have some struggles, like every other team.

The Rams’ offensive line improved greatly in Week 1 compared to last season, as they didn’t give up a single sack against the Seahawks. This will be the matchup of the day, as the 49ers have a formidable defensive line with the great Nick Bosa and Co. The Rams will need to be disciplined here to keep this game close.

The Rams young Wide Receiver core will need to replicate their week 1 performance in order for Stafford to have some success. I believe this 49er secondary is one of their weakest units on the team and could be enough for guys like Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee to find some holes in this defense that lost Demeco Ryans as their Defensive Coordinator. The battle in the trenches will define this game.

I like the Rams to play tough and take the 49ers to the wire in a close game.

Bet: Rams +8 vs. 49ers (-118)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:


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