NFL Spread Picks For Week 2: The Bucs Should Cover As Massive Favorites

We're less than 48 hours away from kickoff. Let's get into a trio of our staff's favorite NFL spread picks for Week 2, derived from their individual game-by-game betting write-ups (which you can expect every weekend leading up to kickoff on Sundays).

Week 2 NFL Spread Picks

Buccaneers -8.5 (-108, DraftKings)

Justin Carlucci: Eight and a half is a lot to lay in a game with a 41.5-point total. I get the hesitation.

If Mayfield is reckless again, if Cleveland creates a couple short fields, or if the Browns get a weird touchdown through defense or special teams, this number could become uncomfortable in a hurry. Tampa Bay does not need to be awful for Cleveland to cover.

But I still think the Buccaneers are just a much better team than the Browns right now.

Cleveland’s Week 1 issue was not just that it lost badly. It was that the Browns never settled into a game they could play on their terms. They fell behind, barely had any neutral snaps, and then had to operate in a more pass-heavy game script for most of the afternoon.

That could happen again here.

>> Full Browns vs. Buccaneers odds, picks, and predictions

Broncos -2.5 (-118, FanDuel)

Justin Carlucci: This line stinks.

Jacksonville looked great in Week 1. Denver looked terrible, and now they’re coming off a short week. The Jaguars finished second in EPA per play, while the Broncos were dead last offensively. If you are just comparing Week 1 results, the advanced analytics say this line should not be Denver -2.5, and the eye test definitely agreed.

But Vegas knows best.

Mile High remains one of the toughest places to play. Sean Payton, Vance Joseph, and the entire Broncos staff hold this group to a high standard. I would expect Denver to regroup, look itself in the mirror, and play with a little bit more pride at home.

That does not mean Bo Nix suddenly turns into an elite quarterback. It does not mean the Broncos solve every offensive issue in four days. But the effort should be better, the tackling almost has to be better, and Denver should be far more competitive than it was in Kansas City.

Jacksonville won in Denver last season, and the Jaguars clearly have the more encouraging offensive rhythm coming into this game. But that is almost why I am willing to hold my nose and take the Broncos.

This is one of those numbers where everything screams Jacksonville, and yet Denver is still favored.

It was just one game last week, right?...right?

Give me Broncos -2.5, painfully.

>> Full Jaguars vs. Broncos odds, picks, and predictions

Panthers -2.5 (-105; FanDuel)

I could see someone trying to talk themselves into the Falcons in this spot, especially if Penix suits up at quarterback. The general public wants very little to do with Atlanta at the moment (29% of the spread bets), making them an appealing contrarian target. In general, zigging when the public is zagging is a pretty sharp strategy early in the year.

Still, I can’t get there. The Falcons were a team I was extremely low on heading into the season, and I see no reason to change course now. Their offense has some talent, but none of that matters if the QB can’t get them the ball. Bijan Robinson still managed to get his in Week 1, but Drake London and Kyle Pitts combined for two catches and 29 yards. That’s simply not going to get the job done.

The Panthers’ numbers may have been boosted by facing a weak Bears’ defense in Week 1, but they at least showed signs of life. I see no reason why they can’t move the ball again vs. a Falcons’ defense that is missing James Pearce Jr.