🏈 8 Noon Games, Picks, Props & Predictions
Eight games kick off at 12 PM CT, and this slate has a little bit of everything: weather concerns in Chicago and New York, extreme heat in Nashville, major quarterback changes and several favorites laying big numbers.
Rather than blindly laying every spread, the BuckBully approach is to use moneylines and alternate numbers where the matchup is strong — then attack player props where the expected game script creates volume.
Lines can move Sunday morning. Verify your sportsbook before placing anything.
🦅 Eagles @ Titans
Reference line: Eagles -7 | Total 39.5
This remains one of my favorite mismatches. Tennessee’s offense struggled badly in Week 1, while Philadelphia can attack a Titans defense that was vulnerable on the ground. NFL.com’s matchup analysis also highlights the advantage Philadelphia’s defense has against Tennessee’s offense.
Nashville could approach the upper 90s with a heat index around 100–105°F, but wind should be light.
BuckBully pick: Eagles -7
Safer play: Eagles ML
Player prop: Saquon Barkley 50+ rushing yards
Game prop: Titans team total Under 19.5
🐻 Vikings @ Bears
Reference line: Bears -4.5 | Total 47.5
I’m changing this from simply betting Chicago’s spread.
Minnesota will start Carson Wentz with Kyler Murray out, while Chicago gets a Vikings defense that blitzed at an extreme rate in Week 1. Caleb Williams was 9-of-14 for 142 yards and two touchdowns against the blitz in Chicago’s opener.
But weather is the deciding factor for my ticket. Rain and wind make an alternate Under more appealing than asking Chicago to cover 4.5.
BuckBully pick: Bears ML
Best game prop: Under 52.5 alternate
Player prop: D’Andre Swift 50+ rushing yards
Alternative: Caleb Williams Under passing yards
🟢 Packers @ Jets
Reference line: Packers -3.5 | Total 44.5
The Jets’ pass rush created problems in Week 1, and Green Bay just struggled against Minnesota pressure. NFL.com’s five-person panel was actually split on this matchup, with three picking New York outright.
MetLife is also expected to be wet, with rain likely during the game and relatively moderate wind.
Getting more than a field goal with the home team is more attractive to me than laying points with Green Bay.
BuckBully pick: Jets +3.5
Player prop: Breece Hall 50+ rushing yards
Game prop: Under 49.5 alternate
🐦 Saints @ Ravens
Reference line: Ravens -8.5 | Total 46.5
Baltimore scored 41 points and generated 506 yards in Week 1, including 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Derrick Henry.
I still don’t love laying 8.5 because New Orleans showed enough offensive life to threaten a backdoor cover.
BuckBully pick: Ravens ML
Better spread: Ravens -3.5 alternate
Player prop: Derrick Henry anytime TD
Alternative: Derrick Henry rushing attempts Over
🐅 Bengals @ Texans
Reference line: Texans -2.5 | Total 45.5
This one changed significantly with the injury news.
Joe Burrow practiced fully Friday and is set to start despite the back issue. Houston, meanwhile, has ruled Nico Collins out with a hamstring injury.
Houston also allowed 36 points in Week 1, while Cincinnati scored 33 despite Ja’Marr Chase finishing with only two catches for 12 yards.
I’ll take the points with Burrow.
BuckBully pick: Bengals +2.5
Safer alternate: Bengals +6.5
Player prop: Joe Burrow 225+ passing yards
Alternative: Dalton Schultz 4+ receptions
🏴☠️ Browns @ Buccaneers
Reference line: Buccaneers -8.5 | Total roughly 40.5–41.5
Tampa has the matchup advantage, but -8.5 is a lot to lay in a game with possible thunderstorms.
Cleveland lost its opener 34-10, and Deshaun Watson is expected to remain the starter. Tampa’s defense blitzed on 48.6% of its Week 1 defensive snaps, which could create problems for a Browns offense that struggled operationally in Jacksonville.
One correction from the earlier draft: remove the claim that Myles Garrett is on injured reserve. Garrett was traded by Cleveland during the offseason.
BuckBully pick: Buccaneers ML
Better spread: Buccaneers -3.5 alternate
Player prop: Harold Fannin 25+ receiving yards
🏈 Steelers @ Patriots
Reference line: Patriots -4.5 | Total 41.5
This is where I’d attack the total instead of forcing a side.
Drake Maye threw three interceptions in New England’s opener, while A.J. Brown landed on injured reserve. Pittsburgh’s offense isn’t one I necessarily trust to turn this into a shootout either.
Rain is possible in Foxborough, although the wind projection isn’t severe enough to make weather the entire handicap.
BuckBully pick: Under 45.5 alternate
Side: Steelers +6.5 alternate
Safer winner play: Patriots ML
🐆 Panthers @ Falcons
Reference line: Panthers -2.5 | Total 43.5
This is another pick I’m changing now that Atlanta’s quarterback situation is settled.
Cooper Rush will start. Michael Penix Jr. is officially out and Tua Tagovailoa is doubtful. Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in Atlanta’s opener.
The concern is Carolina’s run defense against Bijan Robinson, which keeps me away from making Panthers -2.5 one of the strongest bets.
BuckBully pick: Panthers ML
Player prop: Bijan Robinson 80+ scrimmage yards
Alternative: Bijan Robinson receptions Over
Game prop: Under 47.5 alternate
🐂 BUCKBULLY EARLY BIRD PICK 3
For the main ticket, I don’t want three standard spreads. I want three legs where we can remove as much unnecessary risk as possible.
🔥 EAGLES ML
Philadelphia has the clearest overall matchup advantage of the early slate.
🔥 BUCCANEERS ML
Instead of needing Tampa to cover 8.5, we’re simply asking the Bucs to beat Cleveland at home.
🔥 VIKINGS/BEARS UNDER 52.5
We’re buying roughly five points above the standard total and taking advantage of Chicago’s wet, windy conditions and Minnesota’s quarterback change.
🎟️ PICK 3
EAGLES ML + BUCCANEERS ML + VIKINGS/BEARS UNDER 52.5
🎰 BUCKBULLY 8-LEG LOTTERY TICKET
For the bigger ticket, I’d keep using alternate lines rather than turning every leg into a 50/50 proposition:
Eagles ML
Saquon Barkley 50+ rushing yards
Bears ML
Vikings/Bears Under 52.5
Ravens ML
Buccaneers ML
Breece Hall 50+ rushing yards
Steelers/Patriots Under 47.5
That’s a better construction to me than stacking eight standard spreads and yardage overs.
🐂 Final BuckBully Scorecard
| Game | Main Pick | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Eagles @ Titans | Eagles -7 | PHI 27-13 |
| Vikings @ Bears | Bears ML / U52.5 | CHI 24-20 |
| Packers @ Jets | Jets +3.5 | NYJ 23-21 |
| Saints @ Ravens | Ravens ML | BAL 27-20 |
| Bengals @ Texans | Bengals +2.5 | CIN 24-23 |
| Browns @ Buccaneers | Buccaneers ML | TB 27-13 |
| Steelers @ Patriots | Under 45.5 Alt | NE 21-17 |
| Panthers @ Falcons | Panthers ML | CAR 23-20 |
Strongest three overall: Eagles ML • Buccaneers ML • Bears/Vikings Under 52.5
Odds and props change quickly. Alternate thresholds listed above depend on sportsbook availability and price.