After being selected with the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, young quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to be a franchise savior for the Arizona Cardinals, if not right from the outset, at some point in the near future. Halfway across the country, the Baltimore Ravens are similarly hoping for big things out of their own dual-threat signal-caller, Lamar Jackson following their surprising run to the playoffs last season. With the two teams and their young quarterbacks set to meet in Week 2, let’s get to my early Must Bet Games on the Week 2 docket!
2019 NFL Week 2 Must-Bet Games
Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens
- When: Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
- TV: FOX
- NFL Odds: Arizona +8.5
After watching Baltimore go 6-1 over their final seven games under rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to finish at 10-6 last season, I’m pretty fired up about the ravens as they get set for the upcoming 2019 regular season. While Baltimore also has an excellent defense that finished first overall and second in points allowed (17.9 ppg), I think the offseason changes to the offense to suit Jackson’s dual-threat style will be a work in progress for at least a few weeks into the 2019 regular season.
Conversely, I’m pretty much expecting Arizona to put their fair share of points on the board this coming season. If nothing else, first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury knows how to coach offense and I believe his system, combined with the athletic gifts of No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray will help Arizona score more than their fair share of points. While I’m certainly not predicting and outright win for Arizona against what will almost assuredly be a superior Baltimore Ravens team this season, I do like the Cardinals to cover what I believe is a high, 8.5-point spread, even at home.
Pick: Arizona +8.5
LA Chargers at Detroit Lions
- When: Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- TV: CBS
- NFL Odds: LA Chargers -4
While Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers fell short of their Super Bowl hopes – again – in 2018, the Bolts are still loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and looking to take that elusive ‘next step’ after going a stellar 12-4 while reaching the divisional round. The same certainly can’t be said of a Detroit Lions team that floundered in going an uninspiring 6-10 in Year 1 of the Matt Patricia era last season. The NFC North playoff hopefuls were mostly abysmal in ranking 25th in scoring (20.2 ppg) and 16th in points allowed (22.5 ppg). The Lions were awful at home last season (3-5 SU and ATS) while the Chargers went a near-perfect 7-1 ATS on the road. Simply put, the Bolts are the better team in all three phases of the game and that’s why they’ll win and cover the spread as a modest 4-point road favorite!
Pick: LA Chargers +4
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
- When: Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- TV: CBS
- NFL Odds: Miami +8.5
Forget covering the spread…including last season’s 34-33 ‘Miami Miracle’ win, the Dolphins have won five of six at home against New England dating back to 2013. I know the Patriots are perennial Super Bowl favorites while the Fins are in the beginning stages of their latest rebuild, but for whatever reason, New England just seems to relax when they hit sunny South Beach and I expect this week 2 matchup to be no different even if the Dolphins have undergone a massive rebuild this offseason that saw them finally part ways with underachieving quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Pick: Miami +8.5
