Thursday Night Football odds, line, time, spread: Buffalo experts' picks for Bills vs. Dolphins with 40-27 shot

Two dangerous AFC teams meet when the Miami Dolphins (1-0) host the Buffalo Bills (1-0) in the first game of NFL Week 2 on Thursday night. Buffalo has dominated this series since 2017, winning 13 of the last 15 games. The Bills have won three of the last four games against Miami, scoring over 30 points. In the last meeting, Buffalo beat Miami 21-14. Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert is out with a chest injury, while fellow running back De'Von Achane will not play until later in the game with an ankle injury.

Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. Miami is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Bills vs. Dolphins odds, according to SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points is 48.5. Before you make your Dolphins vs. Bills pick, be sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting tips from SportsLine expert Mike Tierney.

Mike Tierney is a veteran sportswriter whose articles regularly appear in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He has covered the NFL for decades and has covered seven Super Bowls. Mike has a record of 154-124-9 over the last two seasons in the NFL, paying out $1,586 to $100 players. Tierney also has a strong feel for the Bills. In fact, in his last 71 NFL picks in games involving Buffalo, he has a record of 40-27-4 (+1062). Anyone who has followed him is way up there.

Now Tierney has committed to Bills vs. Dolphins and just announced his coveted NFL picks and sports betting predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for the spread, money line and over/under for Dolphins vs. Bills:

• Spread Bills vs. Dolphins: Miami -2.5
• Bills vs. Dolphins over/under: 48.5 points
• Bills vs. Dolphins Money Line: Dolphins -137, Bills +117
• BUF: Bills finished Week 1 with 352 total yards on offense
• MIA: Miami managed 8 of 16 third downs in Week 1
• Bills vs. Dolphins picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why can cover the bills

Buffalo has several playmakers that Josh Allen can throw the ball to. Tight end Dalton Kincaid is an athletic pass catcher. The Utah product runs crisp routes and can make plays despite physical contact. He is also a willing blocker in the run game. Last season, the 24-year-old was his team's second-best player in receptions (73) and third-best in receiving yards (673) with two touchdowns.

In Khalil Shakir, the Bills have a reliable receiver who can win at all three levels. Shakir can be a weapon in the open field and can leave defenders running into empty space. The Boise State product has been solid, making three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. In 32 games with the Bills, Shakir has 52 catches (68 attempts) for 814 yards, four touchdowns and 15.7 yards per catch. See who to bet on at SportsLine.

Why the Dolphins can cover

The Dolphins will be without running back Raheem Mostert (chest), but have running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to fill in for them. Wilson Jr. is a patient runner who takes his time finding the open field. In his NFL career, the North Texas product has 2,339 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also caught 71 receptions for 566 yards and five touchdowns.

The biggest weapon in Miami's offense is wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The eight-time Pro Bowl player is tough to beat because of his game-winning speed and sure hands when it comes to recovering the ball. Since joining Miami, he has received 1,700 yards in two straight seasons. In 2023, the 30-year-old recorded 119 receptions with a career-high 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. See who to bet on at SportsLine.

How to make your picks for the Bills vs. Dolphins game

Tierney is leaning towards the under-total. He's also found a key X-factor that he thinks will make the spread side hit hard. Find out at SportsLine.

So who will win Thursday night's Dolphins vs. Bills game and what crucial X-factor will make one side hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Dolphins vs. Bills game is backed, all from the expert who's on picks with Buffalo 40-27, and find out.