The NFL season has kicked off with a level of unpredictability that has left fans on the edge of their seats. The opening weeks have been brutal for the league's biggest favorites, causing a wave of eliminator pool picks to be wiped out early.
Early Season Surprises
The trend of unexpected defeats was evident right from the start. In Week 1, the Cincinnati Bengals suffered a surprising loss to the New England Patriots, despite being 8.5-point favorites. The New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, delivered a resounding victory, thrashing the Carolina Panthers by 37 points. Week 2 continued the pattern of upsets, with the Baltimore Ravens losing as 8.5-point favorites to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Houston Texans also pulled off a win against the Chicago Bears.
Week 3 sees four teams favored by at least 6.5 points, with the Cincinnati Bengals leading as the biggest favorites at -7.5. However, given their recent form, there is some skepticism surrounding their chances.
Bengals' Struggles
The Bengals have had a rocky start to the season. They have lost five of their final nine games last season and have not fared well this year either. The team dropped all three of their preseason games and has stumbled in the first two regular-season games, including a recent defeat to Kansas City. Their rushing attack has been particularly underwhelming, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
Buccaneers Show Early Promise
Conversely, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown glimpses of promise in the early stages of the season. Favored by 6.5 points against Denver, the Buccaneers have secured victories over Washington and Detroit. Their performance has given fans a reason to be optimistic.
Denver, however, has proven to be a competitive team, losing each game by just one score. Last week, they narrowly lost 13-6 against Pittsburgh. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has started to find his footing in the league, which could pose a challenge for the Buccaneers.
Commanders' Narrow Victory
The Washington Commanders also had a notable performance in Week 2, securing a 21-18 win over the New York Giants. Jayden Daniels played a pivotal role in this victory, throwing for 226 yards and rushing for another 44.
Expert Insights
Veteran sports analyst White has provided some valuable insights for bettors and fans alike. With a record of 643-543-34 against the spread since 2017 and a 56.7% hit rate on his Vegas contest picks over the last nine seasons, White's advice is highly regarded. In 2017, he achieved an impressive 18th place out of 2,748 entries.
"Anyone who followed his advice avoided two of the biggest NFL upsets of the season and advanced to Week 3," notes an article referencing White's predictions. His track record adds a layer of credibility that fans might find reassuring in these uncertain times.
As the NFL season progresses, the early unpredictability suggests that fans can expect more twists and turns. Teams impressed in the opening weeks must maintain their form, while others will be eager to rebound from early setbacks. The excitement and drama of football are in full swing, and only time will tell which teams will emerge as the true contenders.