Buccaneers @ Texans
0-1 Texans Favored at Home against Baker and 1-0 Bucs
The Texans had a poor offensive performance against the Rams to open the season and have not been firing on all cyclinders since CJ Stroud’s rookie season in 2023/24. The Texans have had a slew of injuries to key offensive players over the past year and the beginning of this season was no different with RB Joe Mixon placed on IR due to an ankle injury in the offseason. The Buccaneers rallied in the final minute a week ago with a 25 yard touchdown pass to rookie Emekah Egbuka to complete the comeback victory over the Falcons. The Buccaneers were 4th defensively against the run a year ago and in week 1 held a strong running team to just 69 yards on 24 carries as a team. Nick Chubb is the Texan’s starter in Mixon’s absence and will face a tough test against a stingy run defense led by NT Vita Vea. Star Texans receiver Nico Collins finished with just 3 receptions for 25 yards in the opener and Stroud will need to get him the ball more as Collins has posted back to back 1,000 yard seasons and 15 touchdowns, including 13 in home games, in 2 seasons for the Texans. The oddsmakers currently have the Bucs as a +2.5 point underdog and the point total set at 42.5. I think the Bucs strong run defense forces the Texans into obvious passing situations and the Texans protection struggles continue after the loss of center Jake Andrews to an ankle sprain in week 1. So I’ll be taking the Bucs ML in this one with a player prop on CJ Stroud rushing yards of over 12.5 which has hit in each of his last 3 games.
Best Bet: Buccaneers ML (+120)
Player Prop: CJ Stroud Over 12.5 Rushing Yards (-110)
Chargers @ Raiders
Undefeated AFC West Foes Face Off in Vegas
Justin Herbert and the Chargers got off to a dream start in week 1 downing the defending AFC champion Chiefs 27-21 in Brazil. Herbert threw for 318 yards and 3 passing touchdowns in that contest making a statement against a strong Chiefs defense. The Raiders took down the rebuilding Patriots last week 20-13 in a game where franchise TE Brock Bowers left with a knee injury. While Raiders fans can sleep easy knowing the injury was not a major one, Bowers’ status for his team’s MNF game is still uncertain. Debut QB Geno Smith looked solid last week with 362 passing yards in the win and will have to match Herbert throughout the game. The Raiders allowed Drake Maye to throw for 287 yards a week ago and must do better if they want to stop a talented Chargers receiving corps. The Raiders did finish with 4 sacks in their opener including one by star DE Maxx Crosby and the secondary will need Crosby to put pressure on Herbert often if they want to slow the Chargers down. I like the away team to cover the spread again on MNF as the high powered Chargers continue to roll past an improving Raiders team. I also like the player prop for Keenan Allen anytime touchdown scorer (+230) as he led the Chargers with 10 targets and 7 catches plus a touchdown in their opener.
The Bookie of Eli 
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