NFL Week 3 Picks 2025 (Thursday 18th September-Monday 22nd September)

This thread will be expanded upon over the next few hours, but for now the Thursday Night Football game has come around very quickly and there is a selection from that game in Week 1.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills Pick: Week 3 opens up with a Thursday Night Football offering from the AFC East and it already looks a challenge for three teams to catch the defending Champions Buffalo Bills (2-0). The personal feeling was the Bills could be potentially vulnerable in Week 2 having fought back to beat the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 thanks to an epic Fourth Quarter, but Buffalo crushed the New York Jets on the road and they can take a firm grip of this Division over the coming weeks.

They dropped the Jets to 0-2 and they face a Divisional opponent with the same record when the Miami Dolphins (0-2) head to town after losing to the New England Patriots.

About the only positive thing you can say about that is the Dolphins were a lot more competitive than in the opening game when blown out by the Indianapolis Colts, but falling to 0-2 has already placed the team in a desperate spot. A banner had been flown above the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday declaring that the General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel should be fired and there is a real sense that those supporters will get their wish at the end of this season.

That doesn't do much for the team now and the doom-mongers who suggested the Miami Dolphins could be the worst team in the NFL look to be on the right side of that discussion.

There really has not been much to be positive about and having to play on a short week at the home of a genuine Super Bowl contender, and one that will be keen to keep their foot on the throat of Divisional rivals, have left the layers with no choice but to ask the Bills to cover this big line.

With Mike McDaniel as Head Coach, there was a hope that the Dolphins Offensive performances would always be strong, but there has to be serious questions about Tua Tagovailoa's future at Quarter Back. Tyreek Hill looks desperate to get out of Miami and Jayden Waddle has not really kicked on, but the Quarter Back has had health issues and certainly looks weaker than some of his peers that came out in the same NFL Draft.

He did have 315 passing yards last week, but Tua Tagovailoa threw a late, back breaking Interception and then was also stopped on Downs as the Dolphins passed up the chance for the late victory. The Sacks have also been piling up and this Buffalo team have been getting some real pressure up front, so there may not be a lot of time for Tagovailoa if he is having to throw from behind the chains.

However, the Offensive Line have been able to open some solid running lanes and Miami will have noted the successes that the Ravens and Jets have had against the Buffalo Defensive Line. While this game is close, De'Von Achane can rip off some yards on the ground to put his team in the best position to have consistent Offensive success and he may also become a big factor in the passing game with Matt Milano set to miss out for the Buffalo Bills.

That should mean Miami arrive without all doom and gloom, but the pressure could be keeping up with the Buffalo Bills on the scoreboard and having to be forced to drift away from a running game-plan.

Josh Allen is Josh Allen, but it is a huge boost for the Buffalo Bills seeing James Cook producing as he has from Running Back, while the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends are looking like they have taken a step forward in their development.

It is all positive for the Bills right now and it may be tough for the Miami Dolphins to find a way to slow them down.

The Defensive Line has at least made some plays up front, but Buffalo are running out an Offensive Line that is experienced and feasting up front, which is making things very comfortable for James Cook. The Running Back has already produced three Touchdowns on the ground, while also having confident hands which makes Cook a secure safety blanket as far as his Quarter Back is concerned.

If the Bills are running the ball as expected, Josh Allen should be able to carve up a Secondary that has looked incredibly weak.

Josh Allen is not expected to be facing much pass rush pressure and the Buffalo fans arriving at the Stadium may be thinking about the way the Colts moved the ball against Miami and feeling that their team will be able to do whatever they like in this game.

The short week also gives the favourite a bit more of an advantage as Green Bay showed last week, although Buffalo have not always had success on Thursday Night Football with a 1-3 record against the spread when set as the home favourite. The Bills have tended to play in games that do not surpass the total in these Thursday Night affairs, especially at home, and that does make me a little wary about asking the team to cover a double digit spread.

Last season the Bills were 2-1 against the spread when set as favourites of at least 9.5 points, but this is a big mark and previously they had perhaps struggled to meet expectations considering how easily a backdoor cover can be achieved.

Miami certainly have the skill players to do that too, but Buffalo should be focused enough on a rival and this is a team that have dominated when facing winless opponents early in the season.

The Bills have tended to put the beatdown on the Miami Dolphins at least in one of the regular season games in recent years and everything is pointing to that more likely being the case in Week 3. In three of their last five home games against the Dolphins, Buffalo have been able to come through with a victory of at least a 15 point margin and the faster starting AFC East team can pull away in the second half and perhaps use a turnover or two to ensure they cover this line.

Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Most teams sitting at 2-0 would be pretty pleased with the start made to a season, but there are some concerns about this Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) team. They have beaten the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, but the Eagles have not been as dominant as they were closing out last season and some have criticised the early play-calling from new Offensive Co-Ordinator Sean Patullo.

The Super Bowl Champions crushed all that opposed them in the Playoff last season, but the one game that almost got away from the Philadelphia Eagles was against the Los Angeles Rams (2-0).

Matthew Stafford and company were driving with a chance to take the lead in that Playoff game, but the Eagles did enough to just edge over the line.

It does mean Philadelphia have won three in a row against the Rams, including beating them twice last season, and this is a chance to just remind the rest of the NFL that they remain the team to beat.

Saquon Barkley was a huge part of the successes that the Eagles had all season, but he had been particularly dominant against the Los Angeles Rams in the two meetings against them in the 2024 season. This has led to the Rams looking to make some changes on the Defensive Line to slow things down and they have made a positive start to the season, although it will be interesting to see how they deal with the Eagles on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Offensive Line continues to look very strong, but they have yet to really find the rhythm that saw them contribute to some huge numbers produced by Barkley at Running Back.

That is where the criticism of some of the play-calling has been raised with people believing the Eagles calls are predictable, and thus that much easier to defend.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni even suggested that there has to be something of a change, but the Eagles will still want to be a power running team and they will give Saquon Barkley plenty of touches. He ripped off some huge runs in the wins over the Los Angeles Rams last season and the Eagles will be hoping to see more of the same, while also making sure Jalen Hurts is in third and manageable spots on the field.

The Quarter Back has not put up the big passing numbers, but Jalen Hurts has been efficient when dropping back to throw and he has also been pretty well protection. We will see that protection tested by this Rams pass rush, but being in front of the chains means Hurts will not have to hold onto the ball for too long and he could have Dallas Goedert back at Tight End.

Los Angeles fans will point to some solid Defensive numbers, but those have come against Houston and Tennessee who have a combined 0-4 record. This time the test is much greater and the Philadelphia Eagles will be confident they can continue to move the ball against this Defensive unit.

Running the ball is also key for the Rams in this game and they will have noted that the closest of the last three losses to the Philadelphia Eagles was in the Playoff game when the team managed to reach triple digits on the ground. They had not done that in the previous two games and the early performances of this Los Angeles Offensive Line will offer plenty of encouragement ahead of this game.

Early performances have seen the Rams pile up some solid numbers on the ground and Philadelphia's Defensive Line may have some problems containing Kyren Williams. With an Offensive mind like Sean McVay as Head Coach, Los Angeles will have some sweeps and other misdirection plays to ensure they are not sitting too far behind the chains in this one and giving Matthew Stafford the best opportunity to set his team up for a victory.

The veteran Quarter Back has made a decent start to the season and there will be a real hope that he can lead the Rams to another Super Bowl success.

Matthew Stafford should have time in the pocket, as long as the Rams are finding a way to remain in third and manageable, but he will also be dealing with a young Philadelphia Secondary that have looked in good rhythm to start the year. He does have a couple of quality Receivers to make plays down the field and the Los Angeles Rams are expected to make this a contest, even if they do come up a little short.

Consecutive road games in the early 1pm Sunday slot is tough, but even more so when a team from the West Coast has to head out East.

Jalen Hurts has also had a positive record when set as the home favourite and this game will feel important to the Philadelphia Eagles. It should be a fun game, which goes all the way down to the final two minutes of the Fourth Quarter, but the Eagles have found a way to get the better of this opponent and they can do that again on their way to a 3-0 start.

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans Pick: They have missed the Playoffs in four straight seasons, but there is little doubt that the Indianapolis Colts (2-0) are heading into the 2025 season looking to put a big year together for former owner Jim Irsay.

The unexpected passing of Irsay in May will provide motivation for the team and fans and the Indianapolis Colts have looked good through the first two weeks of the season.

A mistake by the Denver Broncos allowed the Colts to re-kick a game winning Field Goal in Week 2 to remain perfect, but there is some caution to the start. Twelve months ago the New Orleans Saints looked pretty special through two games, but they did not make the post-season and the Colts have to remain focused as they begin Divisional play.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-1, but Indianapolis begin by facing the Tennessee Titans (0-2) who have shown some competitive spirit, but ended 2024 with a 3-14 record. They pushed the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, but the Titans have failed to put a full game together and Head Coach Brian Callahan will soon be under serious pressure.

Cam Ward is the Number 1 Overall Pick, but he is playing behind a banged up Offensive Line and the skill players around him have not been up to the standard that may have been expected.

The Quarter Back is not helped by the fact that the Offensive Line is missing key players that may have helped to establish the run and at least put him in a position to not have to hold the ball for too long. Instead Cam Ward needs routes to develop and he has been under siege behind Center, which is something that even this limited Indianapolis pass rush could exploit.

There has been some room to run against the Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line, but the game plan may be to lock down the Titans up front and dare Cam Ward and the Receivers to beat them. Some of what Cam Ward has thrown up has looked good, but the plays are not being made and the Colts Secondary have begun the season in good form.

Tennessee are sure they have a franchise Quarter Back, but Indianapolis surprisingly chose Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson as the starting Quarter Back.

Daniel Jones has made sure there has been no early regret about the decision and Anthony Richardson could potentially have to rebuild his career away from the Colts. The former has come out and led the Colts to two games without needing to Punt the ball away, although a huge helping hand has been given to Jones and the entire Offensive unit by Running Back Jonathan Taylor.

Credit should also be given to the Indianapolis Offensive Line that have opened up some big holes for Taylor to attack and they should be able to keep that positive start going when playing on the road for the first time in 2025.

Keeping Daniel Jones in front of the chains should make life pretty comfortable for the Indianapolis Colts and the Quarter Back should be able to make plays with his arm. He has been given time by the Offensive Line and Jones has eaten up the blitz, while playing out of third and manageable should mean the Colts are in a position to continue their fine start to the new season.

The Colts have won four in a row in this series with this AFC South rival and they have covered in all of those wins too, twice as the favourite.

The 2025 New Orleans Saints are a cautionary tale about fast starting teams, especially those that have been unexpected early successes, but this Indianapolis Colts team looks well balanced. They also do benefit from the schedule by playing in the AFC South, and the Indianapolis Colts can prove themselves as a genuine Playoff contender by producing better than their 0-3 record against the spread when set as the road favourite last season.

Indianapolis can change that narrative immediately by getting the better of a struggling rival and the Colts may have the Offensive power to come away with a strong win.

Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: There was every chance that the Detroit Lions (1-1) and Baltimore Ravens (1-1) could have met in the Super Bowl last season, but both suffered disappointing Playoff defeats.

Despite that, both teams will have entered 2025 with big ambitions and those will not have been dented over the first two weeks of the season. After both the Lions and Ravens were beaten in Week 1, the teams showed how much confidence they are still carrying by putting blowout wins on the board in Week 2.

Home wins over the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns respectively are one thing, but the Lions and Ravens meet in this very good looking Monday Night Football game.

It is Baltimore who will be hosting and they are led by Lamar Jackson on the Offensive side of the ball, a Quarter Back who has loved playing in this prime time spot. He has made another solid start to the 2025 season, although Jackson is well aware that most are going to be judging him on his ability to lead Baltimore to a deep Playoff run rather than the regular season successes.

The AFC North looks pretty weak after Joe Burrow went down with an injury, but this non-Conference game may still mean something to Baltimore to remind the rest of the NFL that they are a team that have to be taken very, very seriously. The capitulation at the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 will have been a little concerning, but overall the first two performances have been solid.

Baltimore will feel pretty confident when they have the ball in their own hands.

The team have been able to run very effectively behind this Offensive Line and with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry being a tandem that is hard to defend. The Lions Defensive Line can be pretty stout up front, but they will have to keep the eyes wide open to see how the Ravens are trying to establish the run and not many teams have found the right reads to stop them.

Lamar Jackson is without some key Receivers on this side of the ball, but he will have an easier time trying to convert out of third and manageable spots on the field.

The Quarter Back should be able to move the chains, but there are some questions about the Baltimore Defensive unit that will be without veteran leader Kyle Van Noy and Nnamdi Madubuike.

This could offer the Detroit Lions an opportunity to establish the run, which is hugely important to them on the Offensive side of the ball, even without Taylor Decker who looks to be downgraded and potentially having to sit out. Taylor Decker is a key part of the Offensive Line, but the Lions do have a couple of Running Backs that will feel they can hurt the Ravens on the ground.

Jared Goff will be a different test for the Ravens if he is playing in third and manageable and having the play-action open up for him. The Quarter Back will have noted some of the plays that this Baltimore Secondary have already allowed this season, and he has been well protected and will have some time to make the throws down the field.

It is a game where turnovers will be key, while home field could also be a determining factor in a game where the two Offenses could be moving the ball with a lot of consistency.

The Lions do have a very good record as the underdog since Head Coach Dan Campbell came in to reset the culture, while Lamar Jackson has not been the best home favourite to get behind.

However, those spots are 0-1 (Detroit) and 1-0 (Lamar Jackson and Baltimore) in the early stages of the 2025 season, while the Ravens are 9-5 against the spread when set as the home favourite on Monday Night Football.

This is a dangerous number, but the Baltimore Ravens can find a way to win this one by around a Touchdown margin to move above 0.500 for the first time this season.

MY PICKS: Buffalo Bills - 10.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Indianapolis Colts - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers - 2.5 Points @ 1.84 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 7 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 2 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2025- Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford (Saturday 13th September)

It has felt the Boxing world has been in something of a freeze in anticipation of the main event in Las Vegas this Saturday, although the summer months have been more active than previous years.

Canelo vs Bud is a Super Fight, even if the two combatants are past their prime- they are still considered amongst the best pound for pound fighters in the sport and the winner is going to be given some big opportunities over the next twelve months to further their legacy and increase the bank balance.

Even the losing fighter may be afforded some opportunities, but you have to imagine that said fighter could also consider retirement.

This is a big weekend in other parts of the world too- the main event may be in Las Vegas, but Naoya Inoue faces a real challenge on Sunday and the Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan rematch for a World Title in Belfast is going to provide an intense atmosphere on Saturday evening, UK time.

For Boxing fans, this is the kind of weekend that should be appreciated and enjoyed with some solid fights across several hours and it should be the beginning of some solid looking cards to take us through to the end of the calendar year.

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

When this fight was first rumoured, my feeling was that Terence Crawford would be ready to 'shock the world' by moving up a couple of weight classes to beat the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion.

However, the expectation was that this was not going to be a view shared by many.

To my surprise, the Terence Crawford bandwagon has been picking up steam ever since the fight was made official and there has been little reason to pull back on the selection.

You have to have a huge amount of respect for Canelo Alvarez and all that he has achieved in the sport- he is the naturally bigger man in terms of the weight class, and having just two defeats in a sixty-seven fight career against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol will give his fans plenty of belief that the Mexican is ready to beat another contender.

Carrying the extra weight is going to be an issue for Terence Crawford, but he physically matches up to Canelo Alvarez.

Bud is also the older fighter, even if he is less battle worn, and you cannot ignore what has looked obvious slippages in Canelo Alvarez' performances over the last couple of years. The win over William Scull was particularly poor viewing earlier this year, although Canelo can at least point to being more active than Terence Crawford who is having just his second fight since July 2023.

The last time we saw Crawford in the ring, he was not exactly lighting it up and that was at Light Middleweight, but his footwork is going to be an advantage in this fight.

It may all end up boiling down to a simple fact- can Crawford take the punches and power that Canelo Alvarez will deliver?

A couple of years ago it may have felt different, but there is little doubt that Canelo's activity has dipped within fights and that is where Terence Crawford can use his footwork and Boxing IQ and skills to do enough to put the Rounds in the bank.

Earning a Decision win over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas has always been an extra challenge- there are a number of fights where it has been almost unanimously felt that the Mexican King has been given a kind verdict, most notably in the Gennady Golovkin trilogy and the Erislandy Lara bouts.

Even Dmitry Bivol's win over Canelo looked much more comfortable than the final 115-113 scores handed in by all three judges and you do have to wonder if any close Rounds will automatically be handed to Alvarez.

That is not to say it is going to be a fix, but the old saying of a 'good big one beats a good little one' might be on the minds of the judges when there is little between the fighters and so leaning with the Boxer they expect to be dictating is almost human nature.

The more Terence Crawford pushes to make it clear he has won the Rounds, the more chance of Canelo Alvarez landing something big, but the unbeaten American is someone who seems to know when to turn it on and off within fights.

It would be a real surprise if either fighter is Stopped, but the feeling is that Terence Crawford will outwork Canelo Alvarez for long enough to be given the Decision. Both fighters are likely to come out with some caution and it could be a slow burner, but there is a pride about both Canelo and Bud and that should see them exchanging plenty of leather once they have worked out some of the movements of the other.

This has all of the hallmarks of being a brilliant fight, even if both are past their best, and it is hard to rule out Terence Crawford from earning the upset.

My gut feeling is that Terence Crawford will find a way, but inactivity is an issue and we won't really know how that, and the added weight has affected his preparation until the two fighters are in the ring.

Canelo Alvarez has tended to find a plan that has helped him come through close fights, but this is his toughest test since the loss to Dmitry Bivol.

It is a Super Fight and the best play may be going with the gut feeling that has been in place since it was first rumoured and that is Bud Crawford finding a way, most likely on the cards.

Instead of a three day build towards the main event in Las Vegas, as was touted by the promoters when the big fight was first announced, there is a decent enough undercard put together.

It features fighters that could potentially be pushed into main event or higher profile fights going forward, especially with the links to Riyadh Season, and so there are big opportunities at play.

Serhii Bohachuk has raised his profile over the last twelve months and is expected to earn revenge over Brandon Adams, the sole loss on his record. However, it is not easy to know how the fight will develop considering the toughness of the veteran, although ultimately you have to believe Bohachuk will have his hand raised.

The interest may be in a couple of the crossroads fights featuring unbeaten opponents who will be looking for a big opportunity for the winner.

Callum Walsh and Christian Mbili are the favourites against Fernando Vargas and Lester Martinez respectively and both could overpower the Boxer coming out of the other corner.

It just feels like Walsh and Mbili have been building their records in better company compared with the opponent they are facing and that could show up- both of these fighters have a real belief that they are set for some big opportunities over the next twelve to eighteen months and they can prove that by impressing some of the biggest financial backers in the sport.

Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan II

There was a huge amount of controversy attached to the first bout between these two rivals which was ended with a punch thrown by Paddy Donovan after the bell.

He was well on his way to winning the fight, but that late punch was deemed a Disqualification-worthy effort, and Lewis Crocker maintained his unbeaten record.

The fight now moves from The SSE Arena to Windsor Park and more has been put on the line with a World Title awarded to the winner in the Welterweight Division.

Lewis Crocker insists he will be better, but it is hard to imagine him closing what looked a considerable gap to Paddy Donovan in the original bout.

Some talk has been around that Crocker was having issues in the build up to that one, but Paddy Donovan looked stronger and the better Boxer and this time he will be looking to really make sure he leaves with the victory and the World Title. It should mean a cleaner fight from Donovan as he puts the pressure on Lewis Crocker and he should be fired up to make a statement.

Paddy Donovan can do that inside this Stadium in what should be a fiery atmosphere and the exclamation point will be securing a Stoppage, one that cannot be taken away this time.

The first fight between Crocker and Donovan was memorable, but there is a rematch on the undercard that will have fans salivating.

Tyrone McKenna Stopped Dylan Moran in two absorbing Rounds back in December and they will run it back.

Since that contest, McKenna has been through another tough fight when being Stopped by Harlem Eubank, but he will be very confident that he has too much for this rival having shown that in the first bout.

You have to believe Dylan Moran will take some confidence from the number of times McKenna was dropped in that defeat to Eubank, but his own chin has shown a 'weakness' which his rival was happy to point out BEFORE the first win.

Another firefight could be in store, but one that Tyrone McKenna can come out on top.

There is also a decent looking Super Middleweight fight on the undercard and there seems to be little love lost between Caoimhin Agyarko and Ishmael Davis.

However, it feels the layers have got it about right with Davis going in as a narrow favourite and he should do enough to beat the home fighter on the cards.

MY PICKS: Terence Crawford to Win @ 2.60 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Christian Mbili to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Callum Walsh to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Paddy Donovan to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Bet365 (2 Units)

Tyrone McKenna to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2025: 19-56, - 32.93 Units (94 Units Staked, - 35.03% Yield)

College Football Week 3 Picks 2025 (Saturday 13th September)

The expanded Playoff format in the world of College Football does offer some more room for error for the very best teams in the nation, but it still feels like some are teetering on the edge of a cliff if they are to lose a second game in Week 3.

Teams playing in the SEC know that non-Conference defeats could be tough to shake off if they were to lose to a couple of the top contenders within the Conference, while others, like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, will see their schedule as being too weak even if they make a run following a second defeat.

The Playoff Committee have made it clear that they like to see more competition and that will mean not punishing a team for a loss to another top team and so there are some bigger, more important non-Conference games scheduled than ever before.

Week 3 is also bringing together teams from within Conferences that are looking to make an early statement and the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville is going to be really fun to watch.

While we do have some very good looking games in Week 3, there are also some teams being asked to lay big spreads and that means there is a pressure to impress before moving into tougher parts of the schedule.

It all adds up to what should be another fun week around the nation with games being played across several time zones on Saturday.

Factors meant there were no College Football Picks in Week 2, but the idea is to bounce back in Week 3.

After a good start to the season, Week 1 proved to be something of a headache with some late plays moving against the selections.

Hopefully the upcoming slate of games can help turn things back around.

Oregon Ducks @ Northwestern Wildcats Pick: The first season in the Big Ten Conference went as well as the Oregon Ducks (2-0) would have hoped as they won the Championship with an unbeaten record. That included wins over the likes of the then defending National Champions Michigan Wolverines as well as Ohio State and Penn State, but the season might have felt underwhelming when beating in the College Football Playoff as the Number 1 Seed.

That defeat was against the aforementioned Buckeyes in a rematch, a team who would go on to win the National Championship, and so motivation is high within the Oregon camp.

They have reloaded effectively and new Quarter Back Dante Moore has shown the benefits of sitting behind Dillon Gabriel and learning the Offensive plan last year.

Oregon are clearly a team on a mission and the blowout win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys will have certainly gotten the attention of the rest of the loaded, competitive Big Ten, as well as the very best teams across the nation.

The Ducks do not have to face Michigan or Ohio State in the regular season this time around, but they will want to keep the momentum behind them ahead of a rivalry game against Oregon State next week before closing out September with a road game at the Penn State Nittany Lions, the team that came into the season as the third favourite to win the Conference.

These are big challenges for the Ducks, but they will not want to overlook Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) in what is a very early start for Oregon.

It is the first true road game of the season, even if Northwestern are currently playing in a couple of homes while renovations continue at their real Stadium, and the early start is expected to offer some challenges. Head Coach Dan Lanning is not looking for excuses though and he is going to be hugely encouraged by what he has seen from the Ducks early in the season.

The Wildcats finished last season with a 4-8 record having overachieved in Head Coach David Braun's first season in charge, and they have already been well beaten by the Tulane Green Wave. A tough schedule suggests the Wildcats will do well to surpass the two Conference wins earned last season and they have lost starting Running Back Cam Porter to a season-ending injury.

Trying to establish the run would have been a plan for the Wildcats if only to give the Defensive unit a chance to rest and recover, but that would have been challenging even if Porter had been able to suit up.

All of the pressure could be on Quarter Back Preston Stone, who threw 4 Interceptions in the loss to the Green Wave, and he is almost certainly going to be put under pressure by the Oregon pass rush when throwing in this good looking Secondary.

Stopping the Oregon Ducks is going to be hugely challenging judging by what this Offensive Line has been able to do and Northwestern's Defensive Line have not really been very stout up front. Dante Moore's main task early on will be to hand the ball off to any of a number of Running Backs and allow the Offensive Line to punish the Wildcats on the ground, which in turn will open up his passing lanes as the game develops.

The Offensive Line have not only opened up big holes for the rushing plays, but they have kept the pocket clean for the Quarter Back and the limited Wildcats pass rush is not expected to rattle Moore.

It should mean another big win for the Oregon Ducks, who have outscored the first two opponents by 46 and 66 points respectively.

Blowouts on the road are much tougher to achieve, but Oregon did win a couple of road games by 35 points last season and they may reach that kind of margin in this one against a Wildcats team expected to have another year of difficulties.

Last season Northwestern finished with a 1-3 record against the spread as the home underdog and only a sleepy performance from the Oregon Ducks is expected to allow this game to be close.

Wisconsin Badgers @ Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: This may only be the start of the second year in charge of the Alabama Crimson Tide (1-1), but Kalen DeBoer may struggle to hold onto his job if his team lose to another non-Conference opponent in Week 3. They bounced back from a really poor performance against the Florida State Seminoles to beat UL Monroe, but expectations are always huge around Alabama and missing out on another College Football Playoff will likely spell the end of DeBoer's time as Head Coach.

The chances of reaching the Playoff will depend on how Alabama go the rest of the way, although it is very difficult to see how they would recover from a second defeat this early in the season. In two weeks time they have to travel to Athens to play the Georgia Bulldogs and the likes of Tennessee, South Carolina and LSU are still on deck.

We are yet to see how the loss to the Seminoles will stack up, but losing to the Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) might be harder to explain away with the visiting team just 14-13 under the guidance of Head Coach Luke Fickell.

The Badgers have yet to be tested in the 2025 season, but are expected to be without starting Quarter Back Billy Edwards Jr, even if he is looking to travel with the team. Instead the focus will be on Danny O'Neil who has experience as a starter with the San Diego State Aztecs, but who will rarely have been up against anything that closely resembles the Alabama Defensive unit.

They shut out UL Monroe last week after underperforming against the Seminoles and the Crimson Tide Defensive Line will certainly feel they can win at the Line of Scrimmage against this Badgers Offensive Line. This time they are not facing a dual-threat Quarter Back and so Alabama can play the game with a bit more confidence up front and force Danny O'Neil to try and beat them through the air.

Wisconsin's Offensive Line may feel they can give O'Neil some time in the pocket, but he is going to be throwing from third and long at times and against an Alabama Secondary that is looking very strong.

It may be tough for the Badgers to move the ball with consistency, but they will be motivated for a big performance having been thumped by the Crimson Tide in Madison last season.

Much like Alabama, the Badgers will look to try and win on the Line of Scrimmage when they are on the Defensive side of the ball and try and force the pressure onto Quarter Back Ty Simpson of the home team. In recent years the Crimson Tide Offensive Line have been big and strong though and you have to believe that they can get something going on the ground.

Easing the burden on Ty Simpson is important, as is the fact that he will have one of his top Receivers back when Ryan Williams is expected to be have passed through the concussion protocol. He looked to be growing into the game against Florida State before putting in a big performance against ULM, and being in front of the chains should make the play-calling that much more comfortable for Simpson to execute.

You have to believe the Crimson Tide will show their qualities in this one, especially as the hosts, and they have been a decent home favourite to get behind.

This is a big spread, but with two weeks coming up to prepare for Georgia, the Crimson Tide can leave it all out on the field and they can put a thumping on Wisconsin for a second season in a row. A couple of turnovers will help, and the feeling is that the Defensive unit can make enough big plays to offer up some short field opportunities, which will ultimately allow the home team to pull clear of the spread set.

Central Michigan Chippewas @ Michigan Wolverines Pick: It was a really disappointing season as defending National Champions and the Michigan Wolverines (1-1) are trying to bounce back from a defeat at the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 2. They finished with an 8-5 record in 2024, but the Wolverines were the last team to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes and the fans will be demanding they find a way to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff this time around.

Losing to the Sooners stings, but the Michigan Wolverines do have a schedule that will give them a chance to prove they are worthy of having a spot in the twelve team Playoff later in the year.

Michigan have a big game coming up at the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but the defeat last week should have refocused the team, even if Head Coach Sherrone Moore is serving the first of a two game suspension. He will be watching on and looking for a reaction from his team.

The Wolverines look to be facing a good opponent in the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-1) who are in the first year under a new Head Coach having finished 4-8 last season. The blowout loss at the home of the Pittsburgh Panthers is a reminder that it will take time to learn the methods of Matt Drinkel, a Head Coach who wants his team to run the ball and set things up from there.

It was a real problem for the Chippewas in that defeat to the Panthers and they are not expected to have a lot of joy going up against this Michigan Defensive Line. Despite the defeat last week to the Sooners, Michigan played well on this side of the ball and they have the strength and power up front to close down the running lanes and force Central Michigan to take to the air.

Rod Moore could be back to play some snaps in the Secondary after a serious injury suffered last season and that is going to be a boost for the Wolverines. They are also facing a Central Michigan team giving all of their Quarter Backs a chance to impress and the Wolverines should be able to contain much of the Offensive threat over the course of the four Quarters to be played.

This game also gives the Wolverines a chance to open up the playbook Offensively as they look to find some rhythm on this side of the ball.

The Offensive Line should be able to have their way against the Chippewas Defensive Line and that is going to open things up for the Michigan Wolverines and their young Quarter Back. The likelihood is that Michigan will rip off some big gains on the ground and that should really give Bryce Underwood an opportunity to show why he was so heavily recruited ahead of his College career.

Bryce Underwood found it tough against the Sooners, but this is a much weaker Secondary and the Quarter Back should be playing from manageable field positions.

This is the biggest spread that Michigan will have faced since Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL, and they failed to cover as a 20+ favourite on two occasions last season. The Wolverines also failed to cover as a big home favourite in the win over New Mexico in Week 1, but the Chippewas were well beaten by the Panthers and could struggle to stick with the angry hosts in Week 3.

Western Michigan Broncos @ Illinois Fighting Illini Pick: Four teams made it to the College Football Playoff out of the Big Ten Conference last season and all won double digit games. The exception was the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0) who had a 10-3 record after winning the Bowl Game, but losses to Penn State, Oregon and Minnesota in the regular season meant missing out.

However, the Fighting Illini have moved into 2025 with a lot of confidence having returned so many starters from last season on both sides of the ball.

Two crushing wins to open this season has only built the confidence further and Illinois did impress in the victory over the Duke Blue Devils last week.

The biggest test for the Fighting Illini is not to overlook the Western Michigan Broncos (2-0) ahead of a big Conference opener against the Indiana Hoosiers.

For as long as the Illinois Offensive starters are playing, the Fighting Illini should be comfortable moving the chains. The Offensive Line is expected to set the table for the rest of the team by opening up some big lanes on the ground against what has been a struggling Western Michigan Defensive Line and this should also mean Quarter Back Luke Altmyer is able to build on what has been a very good start to the season.

The experienced Quarter Back had 22 Touchdown passes to go with 6 Interceptions last season and he has begun this year with 6 Touchdown passes without throwing a single pick. With the team expected to be moving the ball on the ground, Altmyer should be given a bit more protection and the Fighting Illini should have a comfortable day Offensively and keep the points ticking over as they have in the opening two games.

After struggling in the opening defeat to the Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan's Offensive performance was stronger in the Week 2 defeat.

However, this is another step up for the Broncos Offense which is not very experienced and it will be tough to pick up the yards on the ground as they were doing in the loss to North Texas. This week they are facing an Illinois Defensive Line that has been very strong in the opening couple of games and it will put pressure on Broc Lowry or Brady Jones when they are playing out of the Quarter Back position.

As teams have been chasing points against Illinois, there has been some successes had against this Secondary, which will also be happy to give up some yardage with big leads to protect. However, we have not seen much from the Broncos passing game to believe they can sustain drives and failing to run the ball efficiently will also mean having to face this Fighting Illini pass rush that has been very good.

Illinois are not a team that have been used to being favoured at home over the last twelve months, but they have a 2-1-1 record against the spread in that setting, including covering in Week 1. This is a big number, but the Offensive performances will certainly encourage Fighting Illini backers, as will the fact that the Broncos are just 2-4 against the spread as the road underdog since the beginning of the 2024 season.

MY PICKS: Oregon Ducks - 27 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 20.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 27.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Illinois Fighting Illini - 27.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Auburn Tigers - 24.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

USC Trojans - 20.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 23.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 21.5 Points @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 2 Picks 2025 (Thursday 11th September-Monday 15th September)

2024 finished with a winning record, and another Super Bowl successful Pick, and that keeps the positives going from this sport.

A look back twelve months also saw the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs identified very early on as potential Champions, and you have to believe both are going to be there or thereabouts even after contrasting fortunes from Week 1.

They meet in a Super Bowl rematch in Week 2, which could go a long way to telling us where each team stands in 2025.

As stated in the Week 2 thread from the 2024 season, overreactions and avoiding those after a single week of NFL action is so very important.

With that in mind, you do have to like the chances of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to have deep runs in the post-season, even after the Ravens had an epic collapse in the Week 1 meeting on Sunday Night Football. The Bills will believe there is much more to come from themselves too, but both teams are looking amongst the elite of the AFC along with the Kansas City Chiefs.

This time last year I did mention that the Los Angeles Chargers may need a season under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh before they were really ready to compete with the top teams in the Conference and the win over the Chiefs in Brazil will certainly have fans believing that this could be a special year.

Teams like the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals could be dangerous, although the latter still have significant problems Defensively and Bo Nix is yet to convince for the former at Quarter Back.

Over in the NFC, the Eagles looked solid enough and will only get better as the season moves forward.

They are expected to be challenged by the Washington Commanders within the NFC East, a Division that seemingly cannot find a repeat Champion, and the two teams that made the NFC Championship will feel disappointed if they are not to match that run at the very least.

You can only be impressed with the trade that the Green Bay Packers made to bring in Micah Parsons and this is a young roster with plenty of experience that may be ready to take the next step. Beating the Detroit Lions in Week 1 can only give them more confidence having struggled so much against the best teams in 2024, although the Packers have another significant test this Thursday that will offer more reasons to believe, or perhaps not.

Detroit will need to respond to what was a poor effort in Week 1, but this is still a roster filled with quality and they'll have plenty of motivation to get back into the Playoffs and try to attempt to reach the Super Bowl for the first time.

And you can never count out the Los Angeles Rams if they can keep Matthew Stafford healthy- this is a roster ready to win another Championship under Sean McVay and they were certainly the closest to upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles in the post-season last time around.

Both Conferences have a number of good looking teams, but the Eagles look like they are ready to repeat as long as they can keep the team healthy.

This time they may have to get through a different opponent though and the early lean is with the Baltimore Ravens, despite that disappointing defeat in Buffalo. The Fourth Quarter capitulation is a concern after Week 1, but that was the lean before the season began and the Ravens are still very capable.

Finally, before getting onto the NFL Week 2 Picks, a few words about the Miami Dolphins- in the lead up to the opener, this felt like a transitional season for the team and some even tabbed them up as being one of the worst teams in the NFL.

That wasn't really my thought, but the manner of the Week 1 loss to a pretty average Indianapolis Colts team is hugely concerning and there will be wholesale changes made it things do not improve, beginning with Week 2 and the home game against the New England Patriots.

It was a poor Week 1 for the NFL Picks with two selections made and both going down, but this is very early in the season and expect more selections to be made as we move into Week 2 and beyond.

Thursday Night Football looks a cracker this week and the first selection comes from that game with further Picks added in the coming days.

Washington Commanders @ Green Bay Packers Pick: You should never overreact to Week 1 of the NFL season, but there will be a few Green Bay Packers (1-0) fans feeling pretty good after the crushing win over NFC North rivals Detroit Lions last Sunday.

One of the big criticisms faced by this young Packers team in the 2024 season was an inability to beat the best teams in the NFL and so that opening win is going to feel pretty good.

They are facing another contender for a place in the Super Bowl, which is how Green Bay will feel about themselves, and Thursday Night Football sees the visit of the Washington Commanders (1-0). The 2024 season was one of the best in recent years as far as the Commanders were concerned, even if they were beaten pretty handily by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

Expectations have been raised and there is a feeling around Washington that the team have a window behind Quarter Back Jayden Daniels in which to win a Super Bowl. They have made decent moves in the off-season to strengthen the team and the Commanders will be very pleased with the way the Defensive unit operated in limiting the New York Giants to just 6 points in Week 1.

However, Head Coach Dan Quinn and the rest of those staff members will be aware that the Green Bay Packers are a much more significant test for all involved.

Last year, the Commanders disappointed when it came to defending the run, but they have looked to make sure that is not the case in 2025 and the Week 1 performance was encouraging. They will take some heart out of the fact that the Packers Offensive Line were not able to really establish the run in the win over the Detroit Lions and the Commanders will be keen to see if Quarter Back Jordan Love can put this Green Bay team on his back.

The Secondary didn't allow Russell Wilson to do much in the Week 1 win, but again this is going to be a much stiffer test with the Packers having a deep core of Receivers to call upon.

Stopping the Packers will be challenging throughout, especially on the road, but the Commanders impressed with their Offensive Line last week and that will give them some confidence heading into this early opportunity to make a statement around the League.

However, there will have been plenty of people taking note of the way the Packers Defensive Line were able to shut down the Detroit Lions in Week 1, although one nuance here is that Jayden Daniels is very capable of tucking the ball and picking up big yards with his legs from the Quarter Back position. Jared Goff isn't a slouch, but Washington can game-plan for Daniels to make running plays and that could keep the Commanders in front of the chains, which will be very important considering an 'old enemy' is now playing for the Green Bay Packers.

Micah Parsons might not be on a full snap count, but showed the impact he can have on a game last week and the Washington Offensive Line were not able to offer a lot of time for Jayden Daniels last season. There were signs that the improvements have yet to kick in for the Commanders in the win over the New York Giants in Week 1 and so you have to feel some drives could be stalled.

Both teams are playing after home wins over Divisional rivals, but there has to have been more intensity for the Green Bay Packers as they looked to show everyone that they can beat good teams.

That may leave them a little short of the energy needed on Thursday Night Football with this being a short week and getting the hook over a key number is important.

Green Bay will be expecting to win, but the Washington Commanders come into this contest with plenty of belief too and it could come down to a late Field Goal, either way, to decide the winner and so the points on offer for the road team look worth picking up.

Los Angeles Rams @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The first thing you have to say is that this feels like a very 'square' kind of pick in backing the Los Angeles Rams (1-0) to extend their unbeaten start to the season. This is a team that have made some slow starts to new campaigns in each of the last couple of years, and the scheduling spot sees the Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles following this non-Conference game.

However, the Rams should have the qualities needed to get the better of the Tennessee Titans (0-1) even in the early kick off time on Sunday.

Everything is not perfect- the Rams Offensive Line is a little banged up and they will need to make some adjustments up front with Steve Avila potentially missing out. They were not able to make consistent plays on the ground against the Houston Texans in Week 1, but the Titans Defensive Line may not be as strong as the one that their Divisional rivals are running out.

Denver were able to move the ball pretty well against the Titans on the ground and the Los Angeles Rams are expected to have more successes than last week, which can only be positive news for veteran Quarter Back Matthew Stafford.

He did enough to help the Rams win last week, but it is important for Los Angeles to keep Stafford upright and they can do that for a little longer if the team is playing in front of the chains. There are Receivers on this roster that can step up and make some big plays for Los Angeles and they can have more success than they did overall in the victory over the Texans.

The bigger question regarding this spread is whether the Tennessee Titans can be more efficient Offensively.

Cam Ward, the Number 1 Overall Pick in the last Draft, may not have had the best statistical game, but that was not down to poor Quarter Back play. Instead he was given very little consistent support by the players around him and Ward and the Titans will need to find a way to put him in a position to succeed.

Establishing the run against the Rams Defensive Line may be the plan, but Tennessee struggled against the Broncos and this Los Angeles team largely contained the Texans.

The bigger issue for Cam Ward was the lack of protection offered to him when he stepped back to throw and he could be under pressure from this Los Angeles pass rush. He will be throwing into a Secondary that just played CJ Stroud very effectively and it may be tough for Ward and his skill players to really get things going on this side of the ball.

Last season Tennessee were a really poor team to back against the spread, although they did cover in Week 1.

They are facing a Rams team that are 7-1 against the spread when set as the road favourite over the last three seasons and they were solid road winners in New England, New Orleans and New York last season.

As long as they are not thinking ahead to the revenge game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which does make this an obvious schedule spot, the Rams should be keen for a much stronger start to 2025 compared with twelve months ago and they can secure a victory here by around a Touchdown mark.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets Pick: These two teams were involved in the best two games in Week 1 of the NFL season, but with contrasting results.

Somehow, someway, the Buffalo Bills (1-0) were able to recover from a big Fourth Quarter deficit to edge past the Baltimore Ravens and ensure that the entire AFC East were not beaten in the opening week of the season.

Earlier in the day, the New York Jets (0-1) gave up a 60 yard Field Goal inside the final two minutes of the home game with the Pittsburgh Steelers and ultimately fell to a 2 point loss to former Quarter Back Aaron Rodgers.

Disappointment of losing aside, Head Coach Aaron Glenn will have been very happy with what he saw from his new team and especially Quarter Back Justin Fields. Doing the right things in one game is all well and good, but Glenn will be looking to see if that is the kind of standard the Jets will set for themselves all season.

They are back at home for the second week in a row and Justin Fields and the Jets Running Backs have to be pretty excited by what they may have seen on the film tape. The Jets Offensive Line ripped open some big holes against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they will have seen Derrick Henry doing the same for the Baltimore Ravens before his Fumble turned the game on its head.

Now the Jets don't have a Running Back as good as Henry, but Breece Hall is very effective and can have a big game, while Justin Fields offers plenty of threat with his legs too.

Most impressive from Fields was the fact he looked pretty confident as a passer last week and he does have a couple of weapons on the outside that can help expose a banged up Buffalo Secondary.

The Jets will feel they can have successes with the ball in hand, but slowing down Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will not be easy.

It had been a tough three Quarters for the Bills before Josh Allen and company found their feet, but this could be another test for them.

The Bills Offensive Line struggled to run the ball last week and the Jets opened the season looking pretty strong up front- James Cook could still be a big factor in the passing game, but he may not have a lot of room up front, although Buffalo will bring in the additional factor of having a Quarter Back that can move the ball with his legs.

Josh Allen was well protected in the win over Baltimore and he will need the Offensive Line to stand up to the pressure Aaron Glenn's New York Jets brought to Aaron Rodgers. If the team are struggling to establish the run, Josh Allen is still capable of throwing with success, but could be trying to do so under pressure even if he does seem to have a number of Receivers in which he keeps faith.

You do have to expect Buffalo to find a way to win this game, as they did in Week 1, but covering may be a different matter.

For starters the Bills are playing on a short week in Week 3 when opening up against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, while you cannot ignore the emotions they would have put into turning things around in the win over Baltimore. With a banged up Secondary, the New York Jets may have just enough from Justin Fields and his Offensive unit to keep up on the scoreboard and this looks a lot of points to be giving to the home underdog.

It may need a late Offensive score to get within the number, but the Jets showed enough last week to believe they can keep the scoreboard ticking for long enough to ensure they earn the cover even if they are not able to win the game.

San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints Pick: Injuries, off-field issues and other factors meant the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) finished with the fewest wins in the NFC West last season and never threatened to make the post-season.

The Super Bowl window feels like it is closing for this group of players, but finishing in 4th place in the NFC West means the 49ers have been 'rewarded' with a very manageable schedule. Once you get into the Playoffs, anything is possible, and so the ambition remains for the San Francisco 49ers to make use of the the drop in standards from last season.

However, they will certainly need more luck with injuries and losing Quarter Back Brock Purdy and Tight End George Kittle at the end of Week 1 is a serious blow.

The 49ers earned the win over the Seattle Seahawks on the road, despite the poor misses from Kicker Jake Moody.

He has since been cut, but San Francisco will need backup Quarter Back Mac Jones to guide through the next month and keep the team competitive. With that change at the most important position in sports, the advanced line has dropped significantly, but the 49ers will have faith in Jones and the system he will be working within.

It also feels like the 49ers are benefiting from having to travel to the New Orleans Saints (0-1) who were beaten by NFC West rivals Arizona last week and with the Saints looking like a team that will be picking pretty highly in the next NFL Draft.

Derek Carr had to make a snap retirement decision and that has left New Orleans looking very short in that department and they struggled to compete with the Cardinals in Week 1.

Spencer Rattler earned the start at Quarter Back last week, but he is going to need plenty of help if the New Orleans Saints are going to earn the upset.

It is clear that Alvin Kamara remains a key player for the team, but he may not find it as easy to run the ball against this San Francisco Defensive Line and that is going to put a lot more pressure on the young Quarter Back.

If Spencer Rattler is left in third and long spots, it will be tough for the Saints to keep the chains moving against a 49ers Secondary that played well last week. San Francisco clearly have something to prove after the 6-11 finish last season and this is a unit that will take it upon themselves to try and give their team the best chance to win without the starting Quarter Back.

Mac Jones may not have lived up to his First Round selection, but he is experienced enough to believe he can lead the San Francisco 49ers while they wait for Brock Purdy to return. Forty-nine NFL starts are not to be ignored, even if Jones has not managed to reach the level of his rookie season in New England, and the game plan that will be put together will look to make the best of the situation for Jones.

Losing George Kittle is a blow, but the 49ers may feel they can have more success handing the ball to Christian McCaffrey against a New Orleans Defensive Line allowing 5.4 yards per carry last week.

Being in front of the chains should make things more comfortable for Mac Jones and he should be afforded the protection to get the ball out quickly and into the hands of the playmakers that are still on the roster.

An early Sunday kick off for the San Francisco 49ers is going to make things tougher, but the line has dropped significantly and the road team are perhaps not given enough credit, even as the road favourite.

Both teams could have some issues scoring, but the feeling is that the 49ers can control the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and ultimately Mac Jones is surrounded by more help than Spencer Rattler. That should show up in this game and the 49ers can came through with a win and a cover of the shorter line following Brock Purdy's injury.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Pick: Two NFC North rivals will be looking to bounce back from opening defeats when the Detroit Lions (0-1) host the Chicago Bears (0-1). Making this game perhaps even more important is the fact that both the Lions and Bears were beaten by the other two teams that make up the Division and so there is a fear of falling considerably behind already.

0-2 is no longer fatal when it comes to teams making the Playoffs, but also being 0-2 within a Division would make things all the tougher.

The Lions looked really poor Offensively in the defeat to the Packers and they will be going up against former Offensive Co-Ordinator Ben Johnson, who will know what to expect from his former team. However, the Lions may also feel that they are not playing a Defensive unit nearly as good as Green Bay have looked through the first two games of the season.

Jared Goff will be hoping the Detroit Offensive Line can bounce back from what was a poor opening game.

Losing Frank Ragnow in the off-season is clearly a blow, but there is still a lot to like about this Detroit Offensive Line and they can bounce back after the last outing. Opening up the running lanes for two very good Running Backs will only help Jared Goff, while the Lions will have taken note of how effective JJ McCarthy was in the second half as he helped the Minnesota Vikings turn things around at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football.

Chicago struggled to contain the run last week and the Detroit Lions can show a lot more on this side of the ball in this game.

If they can get back to what they have done best under Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit should establish the run and that should only make things easier for Jared Goff. He was under immense pressure in the defeat to the Green Bay Packers, and the Bears showed they have a decent pass rush in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but Jared Goff will not have to hold onto the ball for too long if his team are in third and manageable spots as expected.

Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears will also be hoping for better having struggled to move the ball with consistency, despite having a lead against the Vikings.

The Head Coach will know that this Lions Defensive unit is expected to be better after injuries decimated them last season and Detroit played pretty well on this side of the ball in the defeat to the Packers.

Caleb Williams was given time to make plays, but his Offensive Line will have to try and help the team establish the run with more consistency than what was seen on Monday Night Football. If the Quarter Back is behind the chains, Williams will have to make the right decisions when throwing against this healthier Secondary and to avoid turnovers, which could be fatal.

The Bears do have a decent record when visiting the Detroit Lions in recent seasons, at least when it comes to the spread, but they are facing an angry host.

Dan Campbell's record against the spread following a defeat is very impressive in his time with Detroit and his team have covered in the next game after a defeat ten straight times. They do have a big game coming up against the Baltimore Ravens, but this is a much more important game for the Lions and they should be able to get the better of their former Offensive Co-Ordinator with a win and cover of the line set for this Week 2 game.

MY PICKS: Washington Commanders + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

New York Jets + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 5.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)