2022 Week 2 NFL Handicapping: All Picks ATS and Survivor Pool Pick
Wow, I’m shocked. I didn’t realize my traditional (no TNF) Blazing Five went (5-0) for Week 1. I’m so busy with tape and writing reports, I didn’t realize. Nice job by me…but nice job by Bet The Close Podcast’s Chris Bilello…12-4 ATS on all his picks!
Overall, a good week picking games. I’m satisfied, but I want to be Chris B. good…I want double-digit ATS picks!! Let’s gooooo!!!
Week 1 results…
All picks straight up: 9-6-1
ATS: 9-7
Best Bet: 1-0
Blazing Five (no TNF): 5-0
Calling a dog for an outright win: 1-0
Chris ATS: 12-4 (maybe you should listen to the expert!)
Ross ATS: 4-12
Chris Best Bet: 1-0
Ross Best Bet: 0-1
When All 3 analysts agree: 3-4
When both analysts disagree with my pick: 0-1, for me
FFM Survivor: BAL (W)
Chris Survivor: BAL (W)
Ross Survivor: DEN (L)
All Underdogs ATS = 9-7
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Week 2 picks…
HOU at DEN (-10.0)
The Computer says: DEN by 3.4 (a 6.6 spread differential)
The media is sure Houston is terrible…they aren’t. They handled the Colts and should be (1-0) right now.
The media is sure Denver is going to cook with Russ…I’m not so sure he can in that mess of a kitchen.
I’ll take the points, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Houston won this game outright. A lot of survivor pools could fall here.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: DEN
Ross Jacobs: HOU
TEN at BUF (-10.0)
The Computer says: BUF by 15.9 (a 5.9 spread differential)
Buffalo is so obvious here it scares me that this will go 180 of what I think. If Tennessee wasn’t (0-1) going in, I might have more confidence. But Buffalo is too good and Tennessee too young at WR and CB and are missing top defenders due to injury. I’ll take the layup here.
*FFM SURVIVOR PICK* I didn’t want to use Buffalo already, but I don’t like any of the picks this week…so, I’m going with the most obvious one…hopefully.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: BUF
Ross Jacobs: TEN
LAC at KC (-4.0) *OUTRIGHT UNDERDOG WIN*
The Computer says: LAC by 0.3 (a 4.3 spread differential)
Especially if J.C. Jackson is back.
The media LOVES Kansas City, so their ‘big’ win over sad Arizona was hailed as a monumental triumph. When the more impressive win was by LAC against a very, very good (better than I expected) Raiders team.
The world might find out that the LAC-DST is elite and might be FF-bulletproof on TNF.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: LAC
Ross Jacobs: KC
MIN at PHI (-2.0) *OUTRIGHT UNDERDOG WIN*
The Computer says: MIN by 1.8 (a 3.8 spread differential)
We might find out here that Minnesota really is the best team in the NFC. I think they might be, at this stage. At least, better than Philly.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: MIN
Ross Jacobs: PHI
ARI at LV (-5.5)
The Computer says: LV by 8.7 (a 3.2 spread differential)
Team I was most surprised by, in a good way, Week 1: The Raiders. A tough, gritty performance against LAC, who just had too much firepower on defense for them…but LV almost pulled it off.
Team I knew would stink, and they did Week 1: The Cardinals.
At Las Vegas, I’ll take LV…and it might be a blowout and sends the Cardinals reeling and looking for answers/turning on Kyler-Kliff.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: LV
Ross Jacobs: LV
ATL at LAR (-10.5)
The Computer says: LAR by 8.0 (a 2.5 spread differential)
The Falcons should’ve beaten the Saints by 2-3 scores, and were very close to doing so but they fumbled it away and then bent over in a prevent defense to let the Saints walk right back in. The Falcons aren’t bad…and the Rams aren’t great. This is way too many points to lay.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: LAR
Ross Jacobs: LAR
IND (-3.5) at JAX
The Computer says: IND by 5.8 (a 2.3 spread differential)
Some payback likely to happen here -- last season the Colts were on their way to the playoffs with a win Week 18, but then got whacked by the Jags. Emotion and (maybe) a returning Darius/Shaq Leonard help lead the way over the not-very-good Jaguars.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: IND
Ross Jacobs: IND
NYJ at CLE (-6.5)
The Computer says: CLE by 4.4 (a 2.1 spread differential)
This is a lot of points to give to a scrappy NYJ defense facing a bottom tier QB (Brissett). The Jets have their own bottom tier QB, but we just need them to stay within 6 points!
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: NYJ
Ross Jacobs: NYJ
CHI at GB (-10.0)
The Computer says: GB by 7.9 (a 2.1 spread differential)
It’s a lot of points to lay for a Green Bay offense that looks discombobulated and isn’t sure it’s two top OLs will be ready for this game. If Green Bay gets everyone back then they should beat this spread…but we won’t know that until Monday morning, probably. Chicago has a gritty, emerging defense that could keep this close if GB is still missing its key offensive players.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: GB *Survivor Pick* and *Best Bet*
Ross Jacobs: CHI
CAR at NYG (-2.0)
The Computer says: NYG by 0.2 (a 1.8 spread differential)
I cannot lay points with the Giants; I don’t care who they play. The Giants should’ve lost last week…the world may balance this week.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: CAR
Ross Jacobs: CAR
WSH at DET (-2.0)
The Computer says: DET by 1.1 (a 0.9 spread differential)
I go back-and-forth on this pick. I want to take the Lions here, but they have some injuries on the O-Line. If they lost two top OLs, then this is trouble for Detroit, perhaps. If both guys are good-to-go, then I want to go Detroit.
Having to make the early pick, I’ll go with the dog/points.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: DET
Ross Jacobs: DET
CIN (-7.5) at DAL
The Computer says: CIN by 8.2 (a 0.7 spread differential)
I can’t bet on Cooper Rush over Joe Burrow…with Cincy suddenly in a must-win-ish kinda game feel…and with Dallas knowing they’re already toast.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: CIN
Ross Jacobs: DAL
MIA at BAL (-3.5)
The Computer says: BAL by 3.1 (a 0.4 spread differential)
I don’t trust Baltimore, and all their injuries from last week. However, Miami is dealing with potentially serious OL injuries this week as well. A lot of confusion, so I’ll just take the points and move on.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: MIA
Ross Jacobs: MIA
NE (-2.0) at PIT
The Computer says: NE by 2.3 (a 0.3 spread differential)
Pittsburgh played their best game last week, and shoulda lost. The Patriots were terrible in a loss to Miami. The fortunes reverse, as they do in the NFL, the following week…New England grinds out a win here with the Steelers missing T.J. Watt.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: NE
Ross Jacobs: NE
SEA at SF (-9.0)
The Computer says: SF by 8.8 (a 0.2 spread differential)
Seattle is not good, but this is a lot of points for a jumbled-up SF offense. My gut says SF blows Seattle away, but The Computer says it’s just too many points.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: SF
Ross Jacobs: SF
TB (-2.5) at NO
The Computer says: TB by 2.6 (a 0.1 spread differential)
Winston may not be 100%. Kamara may not be 100%. The Saints shoulda got whacked by the Falcons, I mean like beat by 20+. I have to go Brady over Winston.
Chris ‘Bet The Close’ Podcast: TB
Ross Jacobs: NO
