NFL Week 2: Picks, predictions, and betting lines across the league

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20: (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20: (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The second week of the NFL will be underway before you know it after an exciting first week of action. With another week of NFL games there come picks, predictions, and betting for each game across the league. 

Another week of the NFL means another week of picks, predictions, and for those sports gamblers out there to get their fix. This week has no shortage of interesting and fun matchups across the NFL.

Some of those notable games are the toilet bowl on Thursday Night, Bengals vs Browns. Other interesting matchups will be the Patriots vs Seahawks on Sunday Night, and Colts vs Vikings.

Picks

The Steelers are playing the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Heinz Field and many people, including the betters, are finding it a favorable game for Pittsburgh. NFL.com’s Greg Rosenthal picked the Steelers to defeat the incoming team at a score of 30-20.

Other outlets like Bleacher Report have a team of picks. That team has a mixed bag of picks for this Sunday game as some picked the Broncos while others chose the Steelers. Out of the six writers making picks, only two of them chose the Steelers to win, even though the final consensus score prediction is Steelers 24, Denver 10… CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco went with the Steelers over the Broncos in his weekly picks article by a score of 30-16.

Predictions

Prisco is a big fan of what he saw from the Steelers and has concern for the Broncos as they have to travel across the country on a short week. “The Broncos are banged up and playing on a short week with a long trip. Bad combination. The Steelers will also be playing on a short week, but they are at home. They looked like a Super Bowl contender against the Giants and they will have that same look here. Steelers big.” A very big endorsement here for the Steelers by one of the top writers for CBS Sports.

Going against the grain now and with one of the writers of Bleacher Report that chose the Broncos over the Steelers, Brad Gagnon. He chose the Broncos because, “The Steelers’ bread and butter are forcing turnovers, but rising Broncos quarterback Drew Lock hasn’t thrown an interception on any of his last 112 passes.” He later added that the Denver front seven is talented and it will be no surprise to him if the Steelers lose this game even though they are favored.

Rosenthal broke down how Denver has inconsistencies across the board with how they are handling things throughout a game. Coaching is still a major issue for the team and the youth and inexperience will play a part. There is still a lack of cohesion for this Denver team. “Broncos coach Vic Fangio remains one of the top three defensive minds in football and a problematic head coach because of his game management.”

Betting Lines

Action Sports Network is the place to go for looking up all betting lines/odds for that week in the NFL. This week the Steelers once again are favorites over their opponents. Their site has the Steelers listed as 5.5 point favorites over the Broncos on this early Sunday afternoon game. The Steelers home opener at Heinz Field seems to be a one the Steelers should win even if it might be closer then some expect it to be.

The Steelers have some more mixed picks across the spectrum this week when compared to last. It will be more competitive than the last game as this team is better than the New York Giants.