We are officially one week away from the start of the 2023 NFL Season. Every sportsbook has lines out for week 1, DraftKings was nice enough to post lines for every week 2 game as well. Looking at the lines there are certainly some opportunities to take early advantage of since these lines will obviously be adjusted after the week 1 games finish. There are a few that caught our eye that we will look to target here two weeks out from the start of Week 2.
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
The Minnesota Vikings kick off week 2 by traveling to Philadelphia for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. These teams met in week 2 in the 2022 season on Monday Night Football. The Eagles won a 24-7 game that wasn’t even that close. Kirk Cousins had his worst game of the season with three turnovers. Kirk Cousins has struggled in night games.
Kirk Cousins prime time record is on the rise 📈
with WAS ➡️ 3-10 record
with MIN ➡️ 6-8 record
with J. Jefferson ➡️ 3-2 record #SKOL pic.twitter.com/SvFlsvejpm— bet365 US (@bet365_us) September 19, 2022
The Vikings are expected to have some negative regression in 2023, they had the worst point differential for a 13-win team in NFL history. The Vikings open the season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the Vikings struggle or lose that game this line will possibly jump up past the current 7 it sits at now.
Best Bet: Eagles -7
Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills
In week 2 the Las Vegas Raiders will travel to Buffalo for a matchup against the Buffalo Bills. These are two teams going in two different directions. The Bills are once again one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl while the Raiders are poised to regress from their 6-11 season in 2022 and finish last in the AFC West. The Raiders open up the season on the road in Denver then have to travel cross country to Buffalo. Take the Bills in an easy win.
Best Bet: Bills -8
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals
In week 2 the New York Giants will travel to the desert for a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2023. Kyler Murray won’t be back for this matchup, as it stands right now the Cardinals don’t even know who will line up at quarterback in week 1.
“Everyday I step into the building, I put starter expectations on myself.”
Newly acquired Arizona Cardinals QB Joshua Dobbs says he always prepares to be the starting quarterback.#BirdGang pic.twitter.com/olTh4neDx3
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) August 30, 2023
They recently signed Josh Dobbs who may end up becoming the starter, take the Giants to cover this number.
Best Bet: Giants -4.5
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
This is a pretty easy matchup to handicap, the Rams are bad and the 49ers are really good. Not just that but the 49ers have history on their side.
Kyle Shanahan's 49ers are 6-3 against Sean McVay's Rams. This includes…
-5 straight wins for the 49ers, including one with Nick Mullens at QB
-A 5-0 record for SF when Jimmy Garoppolo starts vs LA
-Only one game in which LA has scored more than 20 points— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 3, 2022
The 49ers have dominated the Rams in the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay era, and that won’t change in 2023, take the 49ers.
Best Bet: 49ers -4.5
Washington Commanders at Denver Broncos
The Washington Commanders play at home against the Arizona Cardinals in week 1, in week 2 they will travel across the country to play the Denver Broncos. No matter how good or bad the team is the Broncos are historically dominant at home in September. The Broncos are 83-31-2 all-time at home in the month of September. Sam Howell is a young quarterback with very little experience, this is a tough spot for his first career road game.
Best Bet: Broncos -3.5
