NFL Week 2 Pregame Pep Talk

With all the updates to the site, the NFL week 2 picks against the spread was pushed off the main page.  You can click the link to get an analysis on every game on tap.

My favorite games this week are: TITANS -6.5 over Texans, Vikings -10 over LIONS, and Steelers -3 over CHICAGO.  I would also give some consideration to the Redskins, who could easily blank the Rams again with their superb defense.

HOUSTON TEXANS @ TENNESSEE TITANS -6.5

UPDATE: It will be POURING in the Titans/Texans game and that will affect how this game plays out.  Expect more running and this game will be low scoring, which hurts the Titans chances of covering.  I still see a Titans cover in the area of a 17-9, 17-6, 20-10, 20-13 Titans win.  The Titans are the type of team built for playing in the elements, unlike the Texans.

I am pretty comfortable taking the Titans at home.  I would like them a lot more on a dry field though.  Their defense is superb, their running game is excellent, and Kerry Collins was looking like a legitimate fantasy quarterback last week against a tough Steelers defense.

The Titans have a ton of excellent TEs to work into the game with Bo Scaife (who is unfortunately doubtful this game due to a knee injury), Alge Crumpler, and Jarred Cook.  Justin Gage turned in an excellent performance last week and they have speedster Nate Washington, who they acquired from the Steelers, and rookie big-bodied WR Kenny Britt.  That’s all without mentioning the true star on this team: Chris Johnson.  Tennessee has the weapons to be a Super Bowl contender this season and I think they win big today at home.

88% of the money is on the Titans to cover and 8/13 experts are Covers.com like the pick.  The Titans are my pick of the week, but I don’t want to get too cocky here since Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton are always capable of tearing it up, but I just don’t see it happening on the road against this Titans defense.  Plus, the Titans like to win a lot of games in that 3-6 point range.  However, with defensive issues for the Texans, I see the Titans covering in this one.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS -10 @ DETROIT LIONS

My other big pick would be the Vikings -10 at the Lions.  We all know about the Lions horrible run defense, so I look for the Vikings to roll over them.  My only concern is that the Lions were able to cover the 10-point spread TWICE last season, but the Vikings didn’t have Brett Favre and Percy Harvin last year.  Look for the Vikings to dominate today.  I also expect DE Jared Allen to harass rookie Matthew Stafford all day today, making him nervous and forcing him to throw the ball sooner than he would like, which should lead to INTs. I say the Vikings cover in a good old fashioned beat down — just like they did to the Browns last week.

Picks of the Week: TITANS -6.5 over Texans, Vikings -10 over LIONS

Good luck to everyone this week.