NFL Week 2 Odds: 5 best bets against the spread

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won the game 35-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Denver won the game 35-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left) listens to offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels (right) during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left) listens to offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels (right) during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots (-6) over Minnesota Vikings

This line is all over the place, and with good reason. Given the tenor of this column, I won’t be diving in on the Adrian Peterson situation, but his absence is enough to have several books simply remove this line from their board, and those that are still posting lines have shifted the number from New England being favored in the 2.5-to-3 point range to a near-touchdown spread at the time of this post.

To be fair, I absolutely loved the Patriots with Peterson on the field at the field goal number, and there are several reasons for that sentiment. First, the Belichick-Brady duo virtually never loses back to back games (New England lost their opener), and in a battle against a first year coach and former Pats QB Matt Cassel, it is pretty tough to fade the Hall of Fame pairing.

Secondly, this is yet another spot where Week 1 results have largely skewed the line. The Patriots utterly collapsed in the second half, while Minnesota posted arguably the best performance of the weekend in routing St. Louis. Without the best running back in football available, there is no reason that the Patriots should not be a double-digit favorite (even on the road), and I’ll gladly take the number at less than a touchdown.