*By Michael Teich*
Sports gamblers are betting that rookie quarterback Sam Darnold is the real deal.
The public seems to be getting behind the Jets during the second week of the NFL season after the New York team trampled the Detroit Lions 48-17 as a 7-point underdog in week one, said The Action Network's senior editor Chris Raybon.
The surprising performance is causing sportsbooks to swing the line to Jets -3 against the Miami Dolphins after initially predicting the game would be a toss-up, adjusting for the betting market's shifting sentiment towards the Jets.
“That’s a situation you sometimes want to be wary of. But I actually think this is legit," Raybon said. "I would expect the Jets to take care of business at home.”
While Raybon is high on the Jets, he sees the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles as the safest pick of the week.
“I love the Eagles. They’re actually my favorite pick this week," Raybon said. "They’re a three-point favorite against Tampa Bay, but Tampa Bay’s defense was really bad as well last week ー 32nd, dead last, in success rate versus both the run and the pass. Eagles with 10 days to prepare will be all over that."
The NFL season is well-underway and is already causing a spike in betting.
During Sunday’s season-opening games, DraftKings' sportsbook accepted more than 100,000 bets.
DraftKings, known for its daily fantasy sports games, launched its online sportsbook in New Jersey on August 1, and has already processed over [1 million wagers](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-gambling-nfl/nfl-season-kicks-off-sports-betting-surge-for-draftkings-idUSKCN1LS33F?feedType=RSS&feedName=newsOne).
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/best-bets-for-nfl-week-2).
The NFL will spend up to $1 million funding up to five studies that will examine how to better help players ease their pain and find alternatives to opioids.
Simone Biles looks ready for the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old easily captured her record seventh U.S. national title, beating runner-up Sunisa Lee by nearly five points.
After teasing the Yurchenko double-pike for the better part of a year and then unveiling it during training on Friday — a move that caught the attention of people like NBA star LeBron James — Simone Biles made it official in front of the women trying to join her on the Olympic team this summer.
Blockfolio CEO Sam Bankman-Fried talked to Cheddar about garnering an endorsement deal with the Jacksonville Jaguar's first pick in the NFL Draft, QB Trevor Lawrence.
Catherine Carlson, a senior vice president with the Eagles, discussed the NFL team's partnership with LifeBrand, a brand protection firm specializing in social media health checks.
Justin and Taylor Norris, co-founders and CEOs of LIT Method, talked about the investment from Jay-Z in their fitness company.
As COVID vaccination numbers have increased in the U.S., Cheddar's Michelle Castillo visited the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, as it welcomed back fans earlier this month.
NYC officials are beginning to rethink the layout of city streets as biking ticks up in the city. Now, thousands of bike racks are being installed across the city. Cheddar's Chloe Aiello reports.
Along with other celebrities, Venus Williams is partnering with Delos' International WELL Building Institute in order to safely welcome back fans and attendees to live events.
Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings, talked to Cheddar about the online sportsbook's deal with the NFL and the future of legal sports gambling in the U.S.
