Monday Night Football always brings extra intensity, and Week 2 is no different. With primetime eyes on the board, I’ve got two plays I like — one total and one side — with the side pick standing out as my Top Play of the Night.
Total Pick: Texans vs Buccaneers – Under 42.5
The total is set at 42.5, and I see this one leaning Under.
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Houston trends low: Under in 5 of their last 6 vs NFC South, and Under in 5 of their last 6 September games.
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Texans at home: 8-3 straight up in their last 11, with many of those games staying low-scoring.
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Tampa Bay’s offense is streaky and relies heavily on defensive stops and short fields.
This isn’t shaping up to be a shootout. Both defenses are stronger than the offenses, and unless a flurry of turnovers sets up easy scores, this should stay under the number.
Official Pick: Under 42.5 | Confidence: Medium-High
Side Pick: Chargers -3.5 vs Raiders
Now for my strongest play of the night.
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Chargers ATS strength: 4-1 ATS in last 5, 5-1 ATS in last 6 on the road.
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Raiders’ struggles: 1-5 SU in last 6 home games, 3-11 SU overall in last 14.
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Head-to-head: Chargers are 6-3 SU/ATS in last 9 vs Las Vegas.
Justin Herbert gives the Chargers a clear edge at quarterback, and their coaching staff has them better prepared for tight games than the Raiders. Las Vegas continues to look inconsistent offensively, and that makes it hard to trust them against a Chargers team that can score and defend.
Official Pick: Chargers -3.5 | Confidence: Medium-High (Top Play of the Night)
Recap:
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Texans/Buccaneers Under 42.5 (Confidence: Medium-High)
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Chargers -3.5 vs Raiders (Confidence: Medium-High, Top Play of the Night)
The Under is a solid play, but the Chargers are the pick I feel strongest about tonight.
