Will NFL Dogs keep dominating?

ASAwins – Will NFL Dogs keep dominating this week?

By Cal Schultz

Last year NFL underdogs started the season dead even at 16-16 against the spread through the first 2 weeks. To start 2021 the road dogs have been impressive with a 12-5 record and have covered the spread by an average +12.3ppg. In total, dogs have dominated and are 21-11 ATS with 9 winning outright in week 1 and 5 in week 2. Odds makers have clearly undervalued underdogs so far this season but will the trend continue?

Five teams in the NFL have been perfect against the spread so far: Houston, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, and Las Vegas. Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas have been underdogs in both of their games this season but now two of those teams (LV & Dallas) are favorites this week.

The Texans have been a huge surprise so far by battering the Jags and then hanging tough with a good Browns team. They get the Panthers on a short week but Tyrod Taylor was just placed on IR, making Davis Mills the Thursday night starter. Odds makers have tabbed the Texans 8-point dogs which leaves plenty of room for Houston to cover if Mills can meet expectations. Carolina won by 5-points against the abysmal Jets in week 1 but pounded the Saints somehow last week by 19. The unsettled QB situation for the Texans makes this game a tough one to call but a short week, having to travel and lay over a TD is a tall task for this Panthers team.

The Cowboys will finally be favored this week when they host Philadelphia at AT&T Stadium. However, with 4 points being given to the Eagles, the Odds makers may not be buying into the America’s Team hype, yet. The Eagles have looked better than advertised and find themselves in the underdog role here on Monday night. Jaylen Hurts will need to pull his best Lamar Jackson impersonation for the Eagles to play spoiler. This NFC East rivalry has seen the favorite cover 8 of the last eleven.

Denver has looked great but consider who it has been against the 0-2 Giants and the 0-2 Jags. It may get easier this week with the 0-2 Jets coming to Mile High. This has a huge trap game feel with the Broncos laying -10.5 to the Jets, but New York has been abysmal offensively ranking near the bottom of the league in most key offensive categories. The oddsmakers are calling for an easy straight up Broncos win, but will it be closer than most anticipate? Last season the Broncos had +/- of minus -7.7PPG while the Jets average margin of victory was -13.4PPG.

Lastly, the Las Vegas Raiders have simply been outstanding to start the year with two outright wins as underdogs. Taking down two AFC North powerhouses has Derek Carr looking like a legit MVP candidate. He did get a bit banged up last week but has been confirmed good to go against the Dolphins on Sunday. Being favored for the first time this year (-4), Las Vegas will again be tested. Dolphins QB Jacoby Brissett, who has a career record of 12-20 as a starter replaces the injured Tagovailoa in this road tilt. The defense for the Raiders has looked much better to start the season but can they maintain that momentum here off two big dog wins and a much bigger game on deck with the Chargers? Las Vegas is 4-7 ATS as a favorite dating back to 2019.