NFL preseason Week 2 best bets

How's that for an encore? After going 11-2 on our NFL preseason bets in 2019, we were perfect this past week to extend our record this year to 4-0. Using the tips from our preseason betting guide, here are my favorite plays for Week 2:

Chiefs (-3, 41) @ Cardinals
Aug. 20, 8 p.m. ET

There are very few signals during the preseason that make a team a "must-bet," but it's hard not to pounce when the Super Bowl favorites indicate they'll play their starters for an extended period. That's the case for the Chiefs, according to coach Andy Reid, who said his starters will "go a half" against the Cardinals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Even if that ends up being an overestimate, Kansas City only sat one starter last week, while Arizona benched nearly its entire starting unit. Expect the Chiefs to build an early lead with their elite offense and protect it with a surprisingly deep second unit.

Pick: Chiefs -3

Ravens (-3, 35) @ Panthers
Aug. 21, 7 p.m.

We bet the Ravens ahead of last week's win over the Saints, and we'll keep riding the NFL's preseason cash cow until they lose or oddsmakers take a stand against them. Baltimore has now won 18 consecutive exhibition games under coach John Harbaugh, whose 35-15 record against the spread in these contests speaks to how much he values exhibition success.

Sam Darnold is only expected to play one or two series for the Panthers on Saturday, according to The Athletic's Joe Person, putting the pressure on Phillip Walker and Will Grier to crack the Ravens' preseason code. Carolina's defense may be the larger issue after allowing 21 points to the Colts in Week 1 - the seventh-highest total by any team this preseason.

Pick: Ravens -3

Colts @ Vikings (-2.5, 38)
Aug. 21, 8 p.m.

The Vikings didn't play any of their starters last week, and they were promptly obliterated by a Broncos team in the thick of a tense quarterback competition. Now they're 2.5-point favorites against a Colts team that - wait for it - is in the thick of a tense quarterback competition and plans to play most of its starters Saturday.

The spotlight will be on Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger, who are battling to step in for starter Carson Wentz should he miss time following offseason foot surgery. Meanwhile, the Vikings will surely play their starters for a limited span in this one, and star receiver Justin Jefferson likely won't be among them. Indy should be favored, so take the free points with eyes on an outright win.

Pick: Colts +2.5

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.

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