Scully's "Five To Fade" - NFL Week 2 Betting Picks
September 12th, 2018
by James Scully
Handicapper James Scully returns in NFL Week 2 betting to offer up five teams to fade for this coming weekend! In his crosshairs this week are the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, who all showed poorly last week. But why would Scully take two teams coming off wins, like the NY Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars?Read on to see what Scully has to say about NFL Week 2 betting action on Sunday!
*ATS (Against the Spread) / SU (Straight Up) * PK indicates pick *home team in caps
L.A. Chargers -7.5 vs BUFFALO BILLS (Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET)
Past trends may favor Buffalo (9-0 ATS as dogs >1 vs opponent off SU fav loss) but with an awful offensive line and bad QB play, Bills don't appear competitive against good teams presently. They netted 70 yards passing and 83 yards rushing in opener, certifying themselves as one of the most anemic attacks in the league, and surrendered 47 points; it won’t be close against another viable playoff squad on Sunday. Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5) could not recover after giving up a pair of big plays in 1st quarter (including 91-yard punt return) but outgained Kansas City by 541-366 yards in opener – Philip Rivers orchestrates a prolific passing attack and Melvin Gordon remains a top RB. Playing in a temporary site while new stadium is being built, Chargers were better on road (4-2-2 ATS) than home last year. And while the defense struggled last week against high-scoring Chiefs, last year’s #1 ranked scoring unit should bounce back against a punchless opponent. Lightning Bolts get their mojo back versus bet-against Buffalo!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet Los Angeles Chargers -7.5 over Buffalo!
Miami Dolphins vs. NEW YORK JETS -3 (Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET) Game opened as a pick but bettors have hammered the Jets in wake of impressive Monday night showing against a poorly-coached Lions. Be careful leaning on the recency bias: Jets looked like an offensive and defensive dynamo against ineptly-prepared Lions, with their defensive players calling out Detroit’s plays prior to snap, but don’t expect them to sustain such prosperity all season. Reality check appears likely against well-coached Miami (+3), who made the 2016 postseason and were in playoff contention late last year despite terrible QB production. Ryan Tannehill is back after two-year absence and will continue to build upon an efficient 20-for-28 performance (230 yards passing) in opener. And unlike Detroit, Dolphins get after teams physically – their defense knocked four key players out of Tennessee game last week (QB Mariota, TE Walker, T Lewan and LB Woodyard). After holding Titans to only one TD offensively, Miami defense capable of giving Jets’ offensive line and two-pronged RB attack (Crowell and Powell) all they can handle. In their last nine divisional games versus teams with a winning record, Jets are 1-9 ATS as favorites. They’re not as good as they looked last week and Miami will take advantage as Jets regress return toward the mean!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet Miami +3 over New York Jets!
Arizona Cardinals vs L.A. RAMS-12.5 (Sunday 4:05 ET) Arizona’s offensive line in complete disarray entering week 2. They’ve have had injuries, draft picks who didn’t work out and disastrously signed RT Andre Smith from Bengals in offseason (Cincy had terrible offensive line in 2017 and got rid of four starters including Smith). David Johnson not getting run lanes or enough touches and Cardinals gained only 68 yards rushing last week. And their respected defense wasn’t much better, allowing 182 rushing yards to Washington. They won’t get things straightened out against the L.A. Rams (-12.5), who started slowly but flexed offensive and defensive muscle in 2nd half versus Raiders last week. Rams one of the most talented teams up front on both sides of the ball. Fans excited for home opener because they’re built to win now; it’s a Super Bowl or bust mentality for the defending NFC West division champs. RB Todd Gurley gained 108 yards on 20 carries last week and expect him to post gaudy numbers against overmatched foes as he makes a push to be the league’s leading rusher. Rams 3-1 ATS in last four meetings and 10-1 ATS off a double-digit SU non-division win vs opponent off a double-digit SU loss. Two offenses going different directions in this match-up!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet L.A. Rams -12.5 over Arizona!
New England Patriots -2.0 vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (Sunday 4:25 ET) Jacksonville possess top defense but often forced to win ugly in low-scoring games due to poor QB play. Jaguars got key 4th quarter interception TD return, denied a 2-point conversion and stopped a Giants drive with 1:55 left to prevail by five points in opener. And their biggest offensive weapon, RB Leonard Fournette, exited game with a hamstring injury. Give me AFC juggernaut New England (-2), who is 5-2 ATS in last seven meetings. Patriots a league-best 10-5-1 ATS in 2017 regular season and 3-0 in last three road openers; they tend to feast upon mediocre offense teams like Jacksonville and enter in good form after recording nearly 400 yards last week versus talented Houston defense (267 passing; 122 rushing). Blake Bortles a pedestrian 18-for-33 for 176 yards with an interception last week against Giants secondary that ranked 31st vs pass last season. He’s awful at times and looks to be hampered here with a questionable Fournette. Expect Bill Belichick to have Pats’ defense well-prepared after struggling in last year’s AFC championship game and Jags won’t be able to match points Sunday!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet New England -2 over Jacksonville!
New York Giants vs. DALLAS COWBOYS (Sunday 8:20 ET) With the off-season defections of WR Dez Bryant and TE Jason Whitten, Dallas lacks a passing attack. They don’t have any quality receivers and extreme pressure is applied to the running game as a result. And it’s not producing: Cowboys have failed to score a TD in first three quarters of last three games and their limited attack managed only eight points last week. They’ve failed to reach 10 points in five of the last nine games! New York Giants (+3) 5-2 ATS in last seven meetings vs division rival and are going to score a lot of points this season with return of WR Odell Beckham, who missed most of last year with an injury and had 11 catches for 111 yards last week; and new RB Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 106 yards against top-ranked Jacksonville run defense. Giants bring balanced attack and facing a Dallas defense that surrendered nearly 150 yards to running-back-by-committee Carolina last week. Strength of Giants’ defense is against the run (31st vs pass last year) and Cowboys too one-dimensional to exploit their questionable secondary.
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet New York Giants +3 over Dallas!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet Los Angeles Chargers -7.5 over Buffalo!
Miami Dolphins vs. NEW YORK JETS -3 (Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET) Game opened as a pick but bettors have hammered the Jets in wake of impressive Monday night showing against a poorly-coached Lions. Be careful leaning on the recency bias: Jets looked like an offensive and defensive dynamo against ineptly-prepared Lions, with their defensive players calling out Detroit’s plays prior to snap, but don’t expect them to sustain such prosperity all season. Reality check appears likely against well-coached Miami (+3), who made the 2016 postseason and were in playoff contention late last year despite terrible QB production. Ryan Tannehill is back after two-year absence and will continue to build upon an efficient 20-for-28 performance (230 yards passing) in opener. And unlike Detroit, Dolphins get after teams physically – their defense knocked four key players out of Tennessee game last week (QB Mariota, TE Walker, T Lewan and LB Woodyard). After holding Titans to only one TD offensively, Miami defense capable of giving Jets’ offensive line and two-pronged RB attack (Crowell and Powell) all they can handle. In their last nine divisional games versus teams with a winning record, Jets are 1-9 ATS as favorites. They’re not as good as they looked last week and Miami will take advantage as Jets regress return toward the mean!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet Miami +3 over New York Jets!
Arizona Cardinals vs L.A. RAMS-12.5 (Sunday 4:05 ET) Arizona’s offensive line in complete disarray entering week 2. They’ve have had injuries, draft picks who didn’t work out and disastrously signed RT Andre Smith from Bengals in offseason (Cincy had terrible offensive line in 2017 and got rid of four starters including Smith). David Johnson not getting run lanes or enough touches and Cardinals gained only 68 yards rushing last week. And their respected defense wasn’t much better, allowing 182 rushing yards to Washington. They won’t get things straightened out against the L.A. Rams (-12.5), who started slowly but flexed offensive and defensive muscle in 2nd half versus Raiders last week. Rams one of the most talented teams up front on both sides of the ball. Fans excited for home opener because they’re built to win now; it’s a Super Bowl or bust mentality for the defending NFC West division champs. RB Todd Gurley gained 108 yards on 20 carries last week and expect him to post gaudy numbers against overmatched foes as he makes a push to be the league’s leading rusher. Rams 3-1 ATS in last four meetings and 10-1 ATS off a double-digit SU non-division win vs opponent off a double-digit SU loss. Two offenses going different directions in this match-up!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet L.A. Rams -12.5 over Arizona!
New England Patriots -2.0 vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (Sunday 4:25 ET) Jacksonville possess top defense but often forced to win ugly in low-scoring games due to poor QB play. Jaguars got key 4th quarter interception TD return, denied a 2-point conversion and stopped a Giants drive with 1:55 left to prevail by five points in opener. And their biggest offensive weapon, RB Leonard Fournette, exited game with a hamstring injury. Give me AFC juggernaut New England (-2), who is 5-2 ATS in last seven meetings. Patriots a league-best 10-5-1 ATS in 2017 regular season and 3-0 in last three road openers; they tend to feast upon mediocre offense teams like Jacksonville and enter in good form after recording nearly 400 yards last week versus talented Houston defense (267 passing; 122 rushing). Blake Bortles a pedestrian 18-for-33 for 176 yards with an interception last week against Giants secondary that ranked 31st vs pass last season. He’s awful at times and looks to be hampered here with a questionable Fournette. Expect Bill Belichick to have Pats’ defense well-prepared after struggling in last year’s AFC championship game and Jags won’t be able to match points Sunday!
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet New England -2 over Jacksonville!
New York Giants vs. DALLAS COWBOYS (Sunday 8:20 ET) With the off-season defections of WR Dez Bryant and TE Jason Whitten, Dallas lacks a passing attack. They don’t have any quality receivers and extreme pressure is applied to the running game as a result. And it’s not producing: Cowboys have failed to score a TD in first three quarters of last three games and their limited attack managed only eight points last week. They’ve failed to reach 10 points in five of the last nine games! New York Giants (+3) 5-2 ATS in last seven meetings vs division rival and are going to score a lot of points this season with return of WR Odell Beckham, who missed most of last year with an injury and had 11 catches for 111 yards last week; and new RB Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 106 yards against top-ranked Jacksonville run defense. Giants bring balanced attack and facing a Dallas defense that surrendered nearly 150 yards to running-back-by-committee Carolina last week. Strength of Giants’ defense is against the run (31st vs pass last year) and Cowboys too one-dimensional to exploit their questionable secondary.
NFL Week 2 Betting Pick – Bet New York Giants +3 over Dallas!
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