5 Biggest NFL Upsets For Week 2

5 Biggest NFL Upsets For Week 2

As the NFL hits Week 2, there were some surprisingly betting lines placed on the teams. Week 1 was an odd week for my picks, with just my top upset hitting in the Tennessee Titans beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I expect a much better go of things here in Week 2.

Looking at some of the lines, the first thing that struck me was how many road teams are favored this week. Home field advantage in the NFL is huge, and so it is entirely realistic to see double the upsets we saw in Week 1 just because so many underdogs are sitting at home. I also picked two pretty big road underdogs that you will see later, and while they are both considered to be pretty big longshots, I think there is a lot of value in them.

The key when looking at upsets in the NFL is to keep in mind things like home field, long flights or short weeks. My upsets have a little to do with each of those factors as well as just an eyeball test. I have 20/20 vision, so my eyes are pretty good to rely on, even though I don't think that is exactly how it works scientifically.

So here are my five biggest upsets that are going to occur in Week 2 of the NFL season. Feel free to disagree with me in the comment section below -- just keep my cat out of your arguments because that is personal and it really hurt my feelings last week, mom.

Brent Smith is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brentweets or add him to your network on Google

5. Arizona Cardinals Over Detroit Lions

The Arizona Cardinals looked impressive in a tight loss on the road against the in Week 1. Carson Palmer looked sharp and the offense seemed to be clicking well. The Detroit Lions going across the country to play against a traditionally good home team in the Cardinals has a good chance of spelling trouble for the Lions.

4. Buffalo Bills Over Carolina Panthers

The Buffalo Bills are 2-point underdogs at home against the Carolina Panthers, and while picking the Buffalo Bills to win a football game is mostly a proposition with diminishing returns, this is a "if not now, then when?" situation for the Bills as this is a perfectly winnable home game early in the season.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over New Orleans Saints

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers embarrassingly lost to the New York Jets in Week 1 while the New Orleans Saints got a huge win at home over the Atlanta Falcons. So why am I taking the 3.5 point underdog Bucs to beat them? Well, home field has been huge in the past as the Bucs have been a very difficult matchup in Tampa for the Saints, but secondly, when one football team is embarrassed while the other is fat and happy, the embarrassed team generally somehow finds a way to pull off the shocker. I look for a shocker Sunday. Or a paper bag to hide my face.

2. Minnesota Vikings Over Chicago Bears

The Minnesota Vikings, or as they are now being referred to as "the Adrian Petersons", hop into another road divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears knowing that they can not start the season going 0-2 against divisional foes. The Vikings are going to come in with a massive need for a W, and I think they will get it even as 5.5 point underdogs Sunday.

1. San Diego Chargers Over Philadelphia Eagles

Both teams played on Monday night, so no advantage there. The San Diego Chargers do have to fly cross country, though, so why would I ever pick them to beat the Philadelphia Eagles +7.5 on the road Sunday? Let's just say there's a reason Bradley Cooper portrayed a depressed Eagles fan. The Eagles have a history of getting peoples hopes up before stunningly dropping games that make no sense.