The NFL season is back, and so are the betting guides. This week’s roundup promises previews, odds and promo codes for every game, but it is also a masterclass in self-promotion. The guide is a list of sportsbooks, each with its own bonus offer, and the games themselves are mostly excuses to direct you back to the same apps.
The Schedule Is Set
Week 2 starts Sunday, Sept. 20, with a full slate of games. The biggest matchups feature the Patriots hosting the Steelers, the Broncos taking on the Jaguars, and the Cowboys traveling to face the Commanders.
Here is the full list:
| Time | Game |
|---|---|
| 1 p.m. ET | Panthers vs. Falcons (+2.5, 43.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Vikings vs. Bears (-5.5, 47.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Eagles vs. Titans (+7, 39.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Packers vs. Jets (+4.5, 44.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Browns vs. Buccaneers (-8.5, 41.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Saints vs. Ravens (-7.5, 47.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Bengals vs. Texans (-3, 46.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Steelers vs. Patriots (-5.5, 41.5) |
| 1 p.m. ET | Jaguars vs. Broncos (-2.5, 45.5) |
| 4:05 p.m. ET | Raiders vs. Chargers (-6.5, 43.5) |
| 4:25 p.m. ET | Commanders vs. Cowboys (-4.5, 50.5) |
| 4:25 p.m. ET | Seahawks vs. Cardinals (+3.5, 40.5) |
| 4:25 p.m. ET | Dolphins vs. 49ers (-13.5, 45.5) |
| 8:20 p.m. ET | Colts vs. Chiefs (-6.5, 46.5) |
| Monday, Sept. 21 | Giants vs. Rams (-7, 47.5), 8:15 p.m. ET |
Odds For The Big Games
The betting lines for the featured matchups are already out. The Patriots are 5.5-point favorites over the Steelers with a total of 41.5 points. The Broncos host the Jaguars by 2.5 points with a total of 44.5, and the Cowboys are 4.5-point favorites over the Commanders with a total of 50.5.
Player props are also available, though the guide does not specify which individual wagers are on offer for each game. The focus is on the main betting markets: spreads, totals and game props.
Promo Codes Galore
The guide is built around promo codes. New users get $200 in bonus bets after a $5 wager on DraftKings, $350 in bonus bets on FanDuel, and up to $1,500 in bonus bets on BetMGM with the CBSSPORTS code. There is also a bet365 bonus code offering $365 in bonus bets after a $10 bet.
Each code directs you back to the same list of sportsbooks. The pattern is consistent across the whole guide: preview a game, drop the odds, and end with the promo code for the app that just previewed it.
What The Previews Actually Say
The game previews are thin. The Bengals-Texans preview notes that Houston had the league’s No. 2 scoring defense last season but faced Josh Allen last week and now faces Joe Burrow. Burrow threw for 254 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals’ 33-27 win over Tampa Bay.
The Packers-Jets preview covers the late-game collapse that cost Green Bay a win. The Vikings rallied to defeat Green Bay, 39-22, in Week 1 after outscoring the Packers 22-0 in the fourth quarter. Jordan Love threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had an interception and lost a fumble.
The Jets, meanwhile, won their home opener with a 23-10 victory over the Titans. Geno Smith threw for 215 yards in his return to New York, and the Jets held the Titans to 195 total yards.
The Saints-Ravens preview notes that New Orleans nearly came back from a 21-0 deficit against the Lions but fell 31-30 in overtime. Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions, and Chris Olave had 10 receptions for 182 yards.
The Ravens won their opener under head coach Jesse Minter with a 41-23 final against the Colts. Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards and a score, and Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
The Steelers-Patriots preview notes that New England has the rest advantage, having played in the NFL opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and falling to the Seahawks, 13-10, in a Super Bowl rematch. The Patriots play their home opener without A.J. Brown, who is out at least the next four weeks with an ankle injury.
The Rest Of The Slate
The other matchups are largely one-sided. The Falcons are underdogs against the Panthers, the Bears are favored over the Vikings, and the Eagles are underdogs against the Titans. The Jets are underdogs against the Packers, the Buccaneers are favored over the Browns, and the Ravens are favored over the Saints.
The Chargers are favored over the Raiders, the Seahawks are underdogs against the Cardinals, and the 49ers are heavy favorites over the Dolphins. The Colts are favored over the Chiefs, and the Rams are favored over the Giants.
Where To Place Your Wager
Online sports betting is now legal in more than 30 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The major apps — FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365, Hard Rock Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook and Caesars — all offer registration for new users.
The guide provides step-by-step instructions for claiming the promo codes. Each app has its own process, but the general flow is the same: create an account, enter the promo code, make a small initial wager, and collect the bonus bets.
What We Think Of It
The guide is useful as a directory. It lists every game, every line, and every promo code in one place. That is handy for someone who wants to see the full slate without visiting each sportsbook individually.
But the guide is also a marketing machine. The previews are thin, the odds are standard, and the promo codes are the point of the whole thing. A reader who clicks through to claim a bonus is likely to land on a page that offers another bonus, and the cycle continues.
There is nothing wrong with promotion, but calling this a betting guide is a stretch. It is a list of sportsbooks with odds attached, and the odds are the bait.
The Verdict On The Guide
The guide is functional but thin. It tells you what the lines are and where to find them, but it does not offer much in the way of analysis beyond the basics. The promo codes are the real story, and the games are just the excuse.
For a serious bettor, the guide is a starting point, not a destination. The odds are available elsewhere, and the previews are not deep enough to justify a separate visit.
For a casual fan, the guide is a convenient one-stop shop. The promo codes are real, the schedule is complete, and the odds are easy to read.
The guide is not a replacement for actual betting advice. It is a promotional tool dressed up as a betting guide, and the difference is visible in every section.
The paper’s view is simple: the guide is a useful directory, but it is also a thinly disguised list of sportsbook advertisements. The promo codes are the real product, and the games are the packaging.
Source material: “How to bet on 2026 NFL Week 2: Betting odds, trends, tips, game previews, schedule, sportsbook promos, offers,” CBS Sports.
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