It has been an unpredictable start to the NFL season, with the first two weeks proving brutal for many of the biggest favorites. Unexpected defeats have thinned out the number of fans making eliminator pool picks, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the season.
Early Surprises and Upsets
Week 1 set the tone with the Cincinnati Bengals, who were 8.5-point favorites, being upset by the New England Patriots. The New Orleans Saints made a statement with a resounding 37-point victory over the Carolina Panthers. Week 2 continued the trend of surprises as the Baltimore Ravens, also 8.5-point favorites, suffered a defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. Adding to the unpredictability, the Houston Texans emerged victorious over the Chicago Bears.
Current Landscape
As we head into Week 3, four teams are favored by at least 6.5 points. Leading the pack are the Cincinnati Bengals, who are the biggest favorites at -7.5. Despite their favorable odds, the Bengals' recent performance casts a shadow of doubt. Last season, they lost five of their final nine games and were also winless in their three preseason encounters this year. The trend has continued into the regular season, with the Bengals dropping their first two games, including a tough matchup against Kansas City. Their rushing attack has been lackluster, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
Buccaneers vs. Broncos
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are favored by 6.5 points against Denver and have shown early promise with victories over Washington and Detroit. Conversely, Denver has remained competitive, losing each game by just one score. Last week, they suffered a 13-6 loss against Pittsburgh. However, the Broncos' rookie quarterback Bo Nix is beginning to find his footing, which could make this an interesting contest.
Commanders and Giants
Another notable performance came from the Washington Commanders, who secured a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. Jayden Daniels put on an impressive display, throwing for 226 yards and rushing for an additional 44 yards, propelling the Commanders to a hard-fought win.
Expert Insights
Veteran NFL analyst White has weighed in on the early season chaos. White boasts a record of 643-543-34 against the spread since 2017 and has a 56.7% hit rate on his Vegas contest picks over the last nine seasons. In 2017, he achieved an impressive 18th place out of 2,748 entries. Reflecting on his recent success, the expert noted, "Anyone who followed his advice avoided two of the biggest NFL upsets of the season and advanced to Week 3." This statement highlights the importance of informed predictions in navigating an unpredictable season.
The early weeks of the NFL season have been nothing short of captivating. As we look forward to Week 3, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the trend of upsets continues or if the favorites can start to assert their dominance.