The thing to remember about week 2 of the NFL season is not to overcorrect. Yes, everyone was shocked by the Cowboys beating the Giants but don’t write off the Giants or anoint the Cowboys just yet. Plenty of good games this week to analyze and bet if you’re so inclined.

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NFL Week 2 2012 Picks

Straight Up

Against the Spread

Locks of the Week

Vegas Vinny: (1-0, Balance=$1,100) If you’re scratching your head about this line, you’re not alone. But there are two reasons for it. 1) The Ravens are coming off an emotional win due to the death of Art Modell and a short week 2) They are looking at a AFCCG rematch next week against New England. This game stinks of Trap Game if you’re a Ravens fan. But the problem here (or good news, depending on how you look at it) is that the Eagles looked absolutely dreadful against the lowly Browns last week and showed nothing that would point to a Ravens loss.

The Eagles and Ravens have the two best running backs in the league. The difference is that the Eagles refuse to use theirs. Expect to see a heavy dose of Ray Rice and the TEs as the Ravens exploit the soft middle of the Eagles defense. On the other side, expect Michael Vick to have his best game of the season and only turn the ball over 3 times. $55 to win $50 on the Ravens (+1)

BostonMac: (1-0, Balance=$1,050) Buffalo isn’t nearly as bad as they showed in Week 1. They were a chic pick last week, and I picked them, mostly because the Jets sucked so horrendously in the preseason. But Buffalo is going to bounce back, and they’ll even up their record this week against a painfully mediocre Chiefs team which is only getting 3 points as a visitor. The Bills will roll. $55 to win $50 on BUFFALO (-3).

RJ: (0-1, Balance=$945) $55 to win $50 on Texans (-7.5)

Burton: (0-1, Balance=$945) Honestly, there’s not much to say about this game. There really isn’t. Seattle is starting a rookie QB who doesn’t have many targets against a defense that shut down the Giants’ rushing attack pretty thoroughly last week. Sure, this game is in Seattle, and it’s a heck of a long journey, but what makes me think the Seahawks will have any more luck against the Cowboys than the Giants did? Remember, Seattle lost despite getting four time outs down the stretch last week, despite having the rules of the game altered for their benefit.

But really, it just comes down to this: Seattle is not good, and Dallas cannot afford a let-down. Let-downs happen when you’re coming off a big win and feel an unearned sense of security. Usually they’re the result of a short week, playing that Thursday night game after a come-from-behinder, or beating your rival on Monday night to lead into a 1pm kick-off the following week. They don’t happen when you haven’t played in 12 days. Dallas will be up and ready for this game, and the three points it’ll spot the Seahawks will evaporate quickly. I’m going $110 to win $100 on the Cowboys (-3) to wallop the second-worst team in the NFC West.

Mike: (0-1, Balance=$945) There are still a lot questions about the San Diego Chargers, but I think they’re an easy pick here. Let’s start with the Titans: they have absolutely no rushing attack whatsoever, a pitiful defense, and their lone bright spot from last week, Jake Locker, still isn’t guaranteed to start with a separated shoulder. Even if Locker does start, I can’t see good things happening for him if Chris Johnson can’t get things going on the ground. Not to mention the fact that the Chargers have beaten the Titans the last 7 times they’ve played. If Rivers can stay turnover-free again and Matthews improves, I think the Chargers will cruise to victory at home. $55 to win $50 on SAN DIEGO (-6).

Trevor: (0-0, Balance=$1,050) Bet the farm. No way we* don’t win by more than a td in the home opener. [*By “we”, Trevor means San Francisco.]