NFL Week 2 Odds: 5 best bets against the spread
By Brad Rowland
![Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick (7) shake hands after the game at Levi Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick (7) shake hands after the game at Levi](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9e93e7594fbfe38883d69f360f794a809acea0226883befb7d7038afe335cd1b.jpg)
Cleveland Browns (+1) over Tennessee Titans
Oh look, everyone loves the Titans now.
Tennessee was dominant in running Tampa Bay off the field in Week 1, but their runaway win had more to do with the ineptitude of their opponent than anything else. Make no mistake, Marcus Mariota has all the makings of a future stud, but I’m supposed to lay a point on the road with a rookie in his first NFL start?
No thanks.
Cleveland wasn’t exactly spectacular in a blowout loss to the Jets last week, but the Browns were a victim of horrible turnover luck and some near-misses offensively. It is no sure thing to assume that Johnny Manziel and company can clean that up in Week 2, but the “true” line here is probably the Browns being favored by 2 or 3 points, so I’ll take the extra juice with the home team.
Chicago Bears (+2) over Arizona Cardinals
No one likes the Bears here…. except us.
Chicago was quietly respectable in challenging Green Bay last week, while Arizona ran away from New Orleans thanks to some disastrous defense from the Saints. The two vastly different final results make this game an easy target for a bad line, and I think this is a spot where Arizona shouldn’t be favored on the road.
The Cardinals are the better team on a neutral field, but not by five points, and given that 87% of the action is on Arizona (via Vegas Insider), the line should be moving in their favor. It isn’t, which likely indicates that sharps believe in the short home underdog.
Backing Jay Cutler with a short number is never a pleasurable experience, but close your eyes and take the value.
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