Ostrowski: Week 2 Vegas Perspective
By Joe Ostrowski-
(CBS) Vegas crushed everyone in sight in Week 1. We love to take the favorites. We know we shouldn't, but can't help it. We hate you Bears, Patriots and Broncos. I speak for the people.
Underdogs went 11-5 last week against the spread. Dogs barked all the way to a 10-3 record on Sunday alone. We're due, right?
Let's break down Week 2 from a Vegas perspective.
Sharp (expert) money
Arizona (-2.5) over the New York Giants
Minnesota (+3) over New England
Kansas City (+13) over Denver
Public money
Seattle (-5.5) over San Diego (90 percent)
New Orleans (-6.5) over Cleveland (86 percent)
Line moves
Arizona opened as a slight underdog to the Giants. So much wiseguy cash came in on the Cardinals that they now sit as 2.5- to 3-point favorites. That's a rare 4-point shift in a Giants visit.
Tampa Bay has climbed to be a 6- to 7-point favorites after opening at -3.5 against St Louis. You better have a piece of the action if you're watching Josh McCown and Shaun Hill.
My picks
Houston (-3) at Oakland
Jadeveon Clowney is out for at least a month, but Whitney Mercilus should fill in admirably after collecting 13 sacks in his first two seasons. The Bears passed on Mercilus in favor of Shea McClellin in Phil Emery's first draft. Clowney's absence isn't worrisome because of J.J. Watt. In Watt's first game since getting paid, he collected a sack, two tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, recovered a fumble and blocked an extra point. Arian Foster was out to prove he can still be the bell-cow back, with more than 100 yards on 27 carries in the opener.
Oakland's rookie quarterback, Derek Carr, doesn't have any offensive weapons to work with. Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew combined for 26 rushing yards last week, and MJD is expected to sit.
Pick: Texans -3
Arizona (-2.5) at New York Giants
Carson Palmer found 11 different receivers in Monday night's comeback victory. Larry Fitzgerald Sr. thought that was a bad thing because his son didn't get the ball enough. Andre Ellington provided 80 total yards in limited action. The Cardinals have won eight of their last 10.
New York's experience Monday was quite different. The new Eli Manning didn't show up, as he started 2014 with two interceptions. Manning's disastrous 2013 included 27 picks. The Giants were outgained by more than 200 yards. Going with the wiseguys.
Pick: Cardinals -2.5
Chicago (+7) at San Francisco
That 49ers defense didn't seem to be missing much against the Cowboys. They forced 4 turnovers, intercepting Tony Romo on three straight possessions. Rookie running back Carlos Hyde was thrown right into the mix. With less than half the carries of Frank Gore, Hyde had 50 yards on seven rushes.
If you're looking for a bad Bears stat in San Francisco, it won't take long. I'm calling BS on some of them. Sure, they're factual. The Bears have scored more than seven points once in their last seven trips to San Francisco. Their last win out west came from the '85 Bears.
However, Jay Cutler has started one game for the Bears there. Prior to Cutler's awful '09 visit, 2003 was the last time the Bears were there. Kordell Stewart threw for 95 yards. Warrick Holdman had 11 tackles. The early-2000s teams have nothing to do with this one. Do you really think Marc Trestman's offense will be held to single digits? I'd love another half point. Screw it.
Pick: Bears +7
Survivor picks
You should have the utmost confidence in these three...
1) Denver over Kansas City
2) Green Bay over NY Jets
3) San Francisco over Chicago (I never said the Bears were winning)
Joe Ostrowski is a host, producer and update anchor at 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @JoeO670 and feel free to ask him fantasy football questions.
