THERE’s already been a season’s worth of storylines in the first two weeks and with just seven teams still holding perfect records, the NFL is remaining as unpredictable as ever. With that in mind, these five picks on the spread could well be worth your time… (2021 Predictions: 5/10 50%) Bears @ Browns (-7.5) – […]
THERE’s already been a season’s worth of storylines in the first two weeks and with just seven teams still holding perfect records, the NFL is remaining as unpredictable as ever.
With that in mind, these five picks on the spread could well be worth your time…
(2021 Predictions: 5/10 50%)
Bears @ Browns (-7.5) – 18:00
It’s a case of looking at the spread rather than the result here: Chicago played much better than their opener last week, albeit against a poorer side in the Bengals.
Cleveland went 6-2 at home last season but the last four home regular season games saw them fail to cover the spread.
The Bears have had a top 10 defence for a few years now and outside of a mad couple of minutes on Sunday, they were efficient in shutting down Joe Burrow.
Expect the Browns to lean on their run game as they do so often, but the Bears are currently 5th in rushing yards allowed per game.
It’s a trap game that I do expect Cleveland to win, but not by more than a touchdown.
Prediction: Bears 21 Browns 28 (Bears +7.5)
Chargers @ Chiefs (-6.5) – 18:00
How will the Chiefs respond to getting shocked by the Ravens? History suggests well, with it being almost two years since Kansas City suffered back to back losses.
But it’s fair to say that despite their incredible talent, they have ridden their luck a little at times: nine of their last 10 wins have been by one touchdown or less.
The Chargers should never have lost to the Cowboys on Sunday but snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has been an art form for this franchise in recent years.
And yet… Justin Herbert has won his last three road games, scoring regularly in the process.
It’s another big spread that I don’t fancy KC to cover, even if they do prevail in a shootout.
Prediction: Chargers 31 Chiefs 35 (Chargers +6.5)
Seahawks (-1.5) @ Vikings – 21:25
This is a surprise: The Hawks might have dropped the ball spectacularly by letting Tennessee steal the game late on but they haven’t turned into a bad football team overnight.
The Vikings meanwhile have all sorts of problems after falling to 0-2 already after two heartbreakers.
There are a lot of question marks on Minnesota: The run game has been lacking, the kicking woes stretch to about 47 years at this point, and can Danielle Hunter keep bailing out the defense for 17 games?
It’s a very short spread to cover for the Seahawks on the road: Look for them to get back to winning ways.
Prediction: Seahawks 27 Vikings 21 (Seahawks -1.5)
Buccaneers @ Rams (-1.5) – 21:25
The Rams beat the Super Bowl champions last year but it’s a different beast that will come into SoFi Stadium: The Bucs have won 10 straight (the last nine with 30+ points) and are marching on despite not playing anywhere near their best.
It sounds crazy to suggest that the offense can improve after putting 48 on the Falcons but it’s true. Tom Brady is on course to throw more TDs in his 40s than in his 20s (what?) and the fountain of youth he drinks from doesn’t look like drying up soon.
There was only one trip to the West Coast last year for the Bucs (a win, predictably) but the last time they played the Rams in LA they scored 55 points in a wild affair.
It could be wild again, and there will be no looking a gift horse in the mouth here: It’s not often you get to pick a Brady-led reigning champs team with a points head start.
Prediction: Buccaneers 38 Rams 34 (Buccaneers -1.5)
Packers @ 49ers (-3.5) – 01:20
It’s a slightly shortened week for Aaron Rodgers and co. but they got the offense purring against Detroit and it’s now onto San Fran and Jimmy Garoppolo, who is keeping Trey Lance at bay (for now).
There’s no doubt that the 49ers are a good football team, but explosive offense isn’t their MO: Only scoring 30 or more points twice in the last 11 games.
That could provide some welcome respite to a Packers defense that has been severely tested already by the Lions and Saints. Rodgers is 5-3 against the Niners in the regular season: It’s a cushy spread and I actually fancy the mild upset.
Prediction: Packers 24 49ers 21 (Packers -3.5)
Acca:
Bears +7.5
Chargers +6.5
Seahawks -1.5
Buccaneers +1.5
Packers +3.5
Pays 23.76/1 @ Paddy Power
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Paddy Power: £20 risk free bet – CLAIM HERE
£20 Risk Free: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Betfair: Bet £5 get £20 in free accas – CLAIM HERE
Min stake £5, min odds 2.0. Only deposits made using Cards or ApplePay will qualify. Free bets are awarded after the qualifying bet has settled, valid for 30 days, and must be used on multiples with 3+ legs. Max £20 in free bets. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.Org
William Hill: Bet 10 Get 40 – CLAIM HERE
18+. Play Safe. New customers using promo code M40 only. 1x per customer. Min £/€10 bet. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Free bets of 2 x £/€15 issued after first qualifying bet settles. Max £/€10 Bonus. 35x wagering requirement. Max redeemable bonus: £25. Casino bonus expires after 72 hours. UK & Eire only. Additional T&Cs, including free-bet, game, location, payment method and stake contributions apply. Begambleaware.org
BoyleSports: Bet £10 get £30 (Mobile only) – CLAIM HERE
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.Org
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £40 – CLAIM HERE
NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 4 X £10 BET TOKEN. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS FOR HORSE RACING & FOOTBALL ONLY. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORG.
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
