• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Why A Former NFL Kicker Called Me An Idiot, Plus Week 2 NFL Picks

Josh Allen, the Cleveland Browns, Mike Evans, and more, including the fact the kicker was right

Jeff Edelstein by Jeff Edelstein
September 17, 2021
in Opinion, Sports
dak prescott

Jeremy Reper/USA TODAY

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I drafted Tony Franklin in the first round of my inaugural fantasy football league draft. For those of you whose memories don’t go back to 1986, let me be clear: Tony Franklin was a kicker. A barefoot one, no less.

Why did I take a kicker with the No. 5 pick? Because I had no idea what I was doing.

Of course, today I would never take a kicker until the very last round. You live, you learn, you move on.Β 

It’s a lesson worth remembering as we enter the second week of the NFL season, especially after a first week that was … well, β€œunexpected” comes to mind.

How unexpected?

Underdogs went 11-4 against the spread on Sunday, and the Las Vegas Raiders made it a dozen on Monday night.

Underdogs were 11-4 against the spread on Sunday 🐢 pic.twitter.com/JyKsdRk0Kt

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) September 13, 2021

Even more unexpected? Nine of the dogs won outright, and five of them won on the road, which is the first time that’s happened in Week 1 since Ronald Reagan was president.

Despite full crowds being back around the league, eight underdogs won outright today, including five on the road, the most in the opening week of the season in over 35 years, per ESPN research producer @EpKap.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2021

12 underdogs covered the spread, the most in Week 1 in the Super Bowl era.

9 underdogs pulled outright upsets in Week 1, the most in any week in the past four seasons and tied for the most in any opening week in the Super Bowl era, per @ESPNStatsInfo.https://t.co/5xqVhpj3p3

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) September 14, 2021

Of course, if you read this space last week, this unexpectedness wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Here’s what I had to say about that …

β€œAnd there’s nothing quite like Week 1 of the NFL season, when we’ve done all the research and we all think we know everything. That is quickly followed by realizing we know nothing, which usually occurs no later than the end of the first quarter of the East Coast games.”

I wasn’t wrong, either. By the end of the first quarter of the 1 p.m. games, it was clear the Buffalo Bills were sputtering, the Cincinnati Bengals were going to hang with the Minnesota Vikings, the Tennessee Titans were troubled, and the Jacksonville Jaguars still suck, even when playing the Houston Texans (who would destroy the University of Alabama, just stop it).

And then looking at the whole of the week — I mean, golly. The Green Bay Packers apparently forgot there was a game, the San Francisco 49ers somehow almost lost due to a furious Detroit Lions comeback, and the Atlanta Falcons were flatter than Kyrie Irving’s Earth.

I love Kyrie, but the β€œI like my water like Kyrie Irving likes his Earth” line in this weeks Ted Lasso proper sent me pic.twitter.com/itLiiMQapi

— Dan (@DanielJRourke_) September 10, 2021

Bottom line? While it’s true we still don’t know anything, once again we’re going to think we do as we head into Week 2. In short: Let’s not overreact — or, for that matter, underreact — to some of the stuff that happened last week.Β 

Speaking of overreacting …

β€œOnly an idiot would draft a kicker in the 1st round,” is how Tony Franklin signed his autograph to me, after he was tracked down a few years ago by one of my fantasy league mates.

tony franklin

Settle down, Tony.Β 

On to Week 2 …

The +1000 or more parlay of the week

I placed this one Wednesday:

  • Cleveland Browns giving 12.5 points at home to the Texans (-110)
  • Carolina Panthers getting 4 points at home against the New Orleans Saints (-110)
  • New York Jets winning outright at home against the New England Patriots

Taken together, that’s a +1084 ticket over there at DraftKings.

Rationale? The Browns are good, the Texans … well, not sure if beating the Ohio State Jaguars counts. So Cleveland should roll.Β 

As for the Panthers? Two very good defenses in a division game, two great coaching staffs, I like the idea of this game staying close.

And the Jets? Well, why not. On paper, the Patriots really don’t seem to be that much better — if at all — than the Jets. So, you know, #analysis and all. (Last week: Nope. Had the Panthers -5.5, the WFT winning, and the Browns winning.)

The no-doubt, three-team teaser bound to lose

FanDuel is the place for easy-to-build teasers, and how easy is this one, taking 6 points a side:

  • The aforementioned Browns down to -6.5
  • The Denver Broncos pick β€˜em over the Jags
  • Over 49.5 in the Dallas Cowboys-Los Angeles Chargers tilt

Again: The Browns are good, the Jags are bad, and Cowboys and Chargers are going to throw the ball 90 times. Teaser comes in at +140. (Last week? Uh, no. The Buffalo Bills torpedoed me, though I did have the Chiefs and 49ers covering their miniscule spreads.)

Did I win the DraftKings Milly Maker?

No, but I only lost $143 in my attempt, so silver linings(?).

DraftKings DFS play(s) of the week

First of all, why not FanDuel? Because you can build any lineup you want over there. DraftKings — making up for last week’s silly soft pricing — is a little tougher this week. But for my plays of the week, I’m going to take a walk down narrative street with a pair of wide receivers: Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and K.J. Hamler of the Denver Broncos.

For Evans ($6100), he was quiet in the week one shootout with the Cowboys, and I like the idea this week of Tom Brady — who knows a thing or two about quarterbacking — finding his theoretical No. 1 wideout to get him a score.Β 

Hamler ($3,800) has developed a strong rapport with Teddy Bridgewater — Bridgewater even asked for Hamler’s locker to be moved next to his. Also, this: With Jerry Jeudy on the shelf, Hamler will become the Broncos’ top slot option. Also, this: Hamler dropped a 51-yard touchdown last week, and if he had caught it, he’d be 50% owned at $3,800. Add it all up, and the stars align for Hamler this week.

KJ Hamler said Teddy Bridgewater asked the equipment staff to move Hamler’s locker next to his.

Hamler said he’s never had a QB serve as a mentor like that.

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 15, 2021

Survivor pick of the week

Hey! I picked the Los Angeles Rams last week! Survive and advance, baby!

Sorry for hollering, but this was apparently the first thing I got right last week, so there is some buzz here. I may be the nation’s top Survivor pool maven. So if I have to eliminate the Rams, I’ll take the layup this week with the Browns. Easy-peasy Nick Chubb squeezy.Β 

Best odds boost of the week

Far as I can tell, DraftKings is owning it this week, giving 20% boosts across the board on each game. You can use it for whatever you want. Hard to pass that up.

Also notable: PointsBet has no-juice spread bets for every game and FanDuel has its no-risk single game parlay (up to $10).

Trap game of the week

Going to Caesars for this one, the Sunday night tilt between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. The visiting Chiefs are 3.5-point favorites, after opening the week as 2.5-point favorites. I hate playing the β€œwhy did the line move through three points” game, but the fact of the matter is it did move. I guess β€œsharps” hammered the Chiefs at -2.5, which makes a ton of sense, as the Chiefs are the Chiefs and the Ravens A) lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in a game where their defense was abused and B) have more injuries than day one at trapeze camp for nihilists.Β 

Point being: Obviously the Chiefs are going to win this game bigly. Obviously.Β 

Feels too easy to me. (Last week my Cincinnati Bengals gut call paid off, so again: I’m clearly the nation’s trap game expert.)

Player props I like

I got destroyed last week on props, taking running back receiving overs at alarming rates. This week, I’m going to reel it back in and keep it simple:

  • Dak Prescott, over 39.5 pass attempts, -110 at BetMGM.

In the five full games he’s played under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the fewest pass attempts Prescott has attempted has been … 39. The next lowest is 47. Load β€˜er up.

My mortal lock five-star only for my best customers can’t-lose guaranteed best bet of the week

Obviously you’re doubling down after I gave you the over 48 in the Philadelphia Eagles-Atlanta Falcons tilt, and since you’re my VIP customer, I’m going to give you the one pick this week for which I would normally charge $500,000. For one week only, I’m going to provide it for free: The over in the Miami Dolphins-Buffalo Bills game.

Either take the over 47 at -115 at BetMGM, or over 47.5 at -110 anywhere else. This one actually came down from a 48.5 total to start the week, and if you can find it anywhere at 46.5, fire away. Again, remember: This is a guaranteed game for me, so there’s no way it can lose. I’m a football genius and I can see the future. It’s quite a combination, truly. Just ask Tony Franklin (please don’t).

ShareTweetShare
Jeff Edelstein

Jeff Edelstein

Jeff is a veteran journalist, working as a columnist for The Trentonian newspaper in Trenton, NJ for a number of years. He's also an avid sports bettor and DFS player. He can be reached at [email protected]

Related Posts

whats on tap
Industry

What’s On Tap: Elite Eight, WBC Finals, And Texas Sports Betting Hearing

March 20, 2023
Illinois January 2023 revenue report
Industry

Illinois Inches Its Sports Wagering Handle Record Higher To $1.07 Billion

March 14, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

taylor mathis

Taylor Mathis Got Sacrificed At The Altar Of Responsible Gambling

March 20, 2023
fanduel baseball wall

Premade Same Game Parlays Are Sucker Bets

March 13, 2023
maginfier-over-small-print

Read The Fine Print: A Proposed Federal Rule Could Change Everything For Indian Gaming

March 6, 2023
roman reigns wwe

Colorado Denies Report Stating That It’s Considering WWE Wagering

March 8, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – Where To Play, Bonus Offers And Promo Codes

by Brian Pempus
March 23, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 23, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
January 17, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 22, 2023

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
October 6, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright Β© 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News

loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...