We stride into NFL’s Week 2 where OddsShopper has you covered with the FREE industry-leading tools to provide the edge you’ll need to conquer the betting lines heading into the weekend. In this space each week we’ll continue to address the largest point spread movements from Monday to Friday so you can find leverage in the best value spots across the league before line movements diminish in value with the betting public flooding the market up until Sunday.
With such volatility between the betting lines, thankfully BetMGM is offering a RISK-FREE BET up to $1,000! If you haven’t already, signup and make your first deposit at BetMGM to designate your risk-free wager. If your selection happens to come up short of the cash line on Sunday, you’ll be matched dollar-for-dollar with an equal value wager of your choice at absolutely no further commitments. Let’s set our sights on the biggest spread movements in NFL Week 2 before the odds shift against our favor.
Weekly NFL Betting Line Movement Today: Expert Betting Picks 9/16
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders | RISK FREE BET from BetMGM
Game Time: Sunday 9/18, 4:25 pm ET, Allegiant Stadium
Opening Line: ARI +3.0 (-107)
Current Line: ARI +6.0 (-110)
Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals head to Sin City to face the Las Vegas Raiders with both teams coming off Week 1 losses seeking to even their records at 1-1. The matchup’s point spread opened with the Raiders as field goal favorites at home and has since drastically shifted an additional three points in their favor. The line movement likely stems in part to the injury question marks remaining with the Cardinals as Rondale Moore, J.J. Watt and Andy Isabella remain in doubt heading into Sunday. Another potential influence comes from how each team’s losses were earned in Week 1. The Raiders lost by just five points on the road to the Los Angeles Chargers with Justin Herbert slinging three touchdowns while the Cardinals were blown out by 23 points at home by Patrick Mahomes‘ new look Kansas City Chiefs offense.
The Raiders come into their 2022 home debut with no substantial injuries of note. While Derek Carr‘s three interceptions in Week 1 remain of mild concern, a 141 receiving yard performance including a touchdown by Davante Adams remains a positive takeaway from their Week 1 loss. It seems the public’s sentiments started the week as anything but static, with the point spread jumping up and down between a full 2.5 points on Monday alone before settling out early into Friday at an even three-point increase from its opening margin.
Though the Cardinals suffered a drubbing at home, their defense achieved three sacks of Mahomes while the Raiders managed none against Herbert. Murray had two passing touchdowns with no interceptions by contrast to Carr’s three interceptions, offering some road underdog hope to get six points as a buffer. Considering the added three points since the line opened at essentially the same house juice, it may be worth grabbing the points on the Cardinals to keep this one within a touchdown before reverse line movement comes into play over Saturday.
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys | RISK FREE BET from BetMGM
Game Time: Sunday 9/18, 4:25 pm ET, AT&T Stadium
Opening Line: CIN -8.5 (-107)
Current Line: CIN -7.0 (-107)
Joe Burrow takes his Cincinnati Bengals down to Texas to square off in Jerry’s World against the Dallas Cowboys, both suffering Week 1 losses as well. The point spread opened with the Bengals as -8.5 road favorites and has since dwindled 1.5 points to -7. Despite the considerable injury news heading into the week with Dak Prescott due to miss up to six weeks, the spread movement in favor of Dallas likely comes with hesitancy for the Bengals to cover more than nine points on the road against the Cowboys’ defense. Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins started the week as a question mark as well since entering concussion protocol, though he missed practice this week due to personal grievances unrelated to the injury.
The Cowboys will try to stave off two straight home losses to start the season with Cooper Rush getting the nod under center and Ezekiel Elliott likely in store for a heavier workload. Dallas is also suspected to be without receiver Michael Gallup one more week, limiting the established passing downs options for Rush to lean on. The betting line drifted down 1.5 points between Tuesday and Wednesday with minor half-point movement in that range until early Friday.
Though Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase reaffirmed their solid rapport on behalf of Chase’s 129-yard, 1-touchdown performance, the betting public isn’t easy to forget four interceptions by Burrow against what was expected to be an easier home matchup with the Steelers’ defense. As insult to injury would have it, the Bengals couldn’t buy a kick missing game-winning extra point and field goal attempts in the waning moments of the fourth quarter and overtime. However, it may be worth seizing the -7 on a healthier Bengals roster at minor house juice before it creeps back up above a touchdown, considering Dallas had Prescott for much of their 19-3 beatdown and come into this one with hands tied. If the -7 on Cincinnati is too steep for your risk tolerance, BetMGM is offering a RISK FREE BET up to $1,000! If Burrow and company can’t cover the touchdown spread on Sunday, you’ll be matched an equal value bet of your choice with no strings attached.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | RISK FREE BET from BetMGM
Game Time: Sunday 9/18, 8:20 pm ET, Lambeau Field
Opening Line: CHI +8.5 (-107)
Current Line: CHI +10.0 (-107)
Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears are a surprise 1-0 heading into Lambeau Field to face Aaron Rodgers‘ Green Bay Packers still seeking their identity in life since Davante Adams‘ departure. The betting line opened with the Bears as +8.5 point road underdogs as the Packers seek retribution following a 23-7 beatdown in Minnesota, while Chicago eked one out in a sloppy rain bout against the hobbled San Francisco 49ers. Since early Monday, the line leaped a full 1.5 points to +10, teetering a half-point beneath that line before settling back up on Wednesday.
The line movement likely involves the anticipated return of Rodgers’ top target Allen Lazard, who’s resumed practicing this week in hopes of his season debut at home. On the other hand, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari hasn’t practiced all week, not boding well for his chances to suit up on Sunday night. Though Chicago has no major injuries of note, Fields’ decent Week 1 performance (121 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception) hasn’t been enough to persuade the public betting interest to grab the points on the road in Packer territory.
While it’s difficult for many to conceive two straight losses for the reigning Most Valuable Player to open the season, the line movement pushing to double-digits for a team that managed seven points in Week 1 remains an aggressive stance despite Lazard’s suspected return. Including the Bears in a teaser parlay by tacking on an added six or seven points (depending on your risk tolerance) as +17 dogs may be worthwhile before the line potentially dips back to single digits leading up until Sunday night’s kickoff.
