NFL odds: Panthers host Lions, Pats hit the road in Week 2's key games
The New England Patriots are 10-0 straight up in their last 10 games against NFC North opponents. The Patriots will try to extend that winning streak to 11 on Sunday as a three-point road favorite over the Minnesota Vikings, according to sports books monitored by OddsShark.com.
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The Vikings are just 1-7 straight up and against the spread in their last eight games against AFC East opponents. This spread appears to be a bit of an overreaction to Week 1, in which Minnesota steamrolled St. Louis 34-6 as a 2.5-point underdog and New England lost to Miami 33-20 after entering as a 3.5-point favorite. Look for the Patriots to bounce back with a win and cover this week in Minnesota.
The Carolina Panthers are a 2.5-point favorite hosting the Detroit Lions this Sunday. Cam Newton is expected to start for the Panthers, who are 7-0 straight up and 6-0-1 against the spread in their last seven regular season home games. Detroit is 0-3 SU and ATS in its last three road games and 0-4 SU and ATS in its last four games against NFC South opponents.
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For those brave enough to bet against the defending champions in Sunday afternoon's Seahawks-Chargers matchup, San Diego could be a good value pick at plus-5.5 at home. The Chargers are 9-4 against the spread and 8-5 straight up in their last 13 games as home underdogs, and while Seattle is 6-1 straight up and 5-2 against the spread in its last seven games as a road favorite, the Seahawks have fared poorly in their last 13 road games against AFC opponents, with a 1-12 SU and a 2-10-1 ATS record.
The Atlanta Falcons are going off at plus-5 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Atlanta came up with a big home win over New Orleans last week but is 0-7 straight up and 2-5 against the spread in its last seven games as a road underdog. Cincinnati, on the other hand, is 7-0 straight up and against the spread in its last five games as a favorite of five points or more, making the Bengals look like a solid pick at home on Sunday.
