Early NFL Week 3 Odds, Best Bets, and Predictions
Our contributors have perused NFL Week 3 odds from top to bottom across online sportsbooks. Follow along as they deliver their best bets, predictions, and NFL betting tips for the upcoming slate of football
NFL Week 3 Odds and Best Bets
Tennessee Titans -5 (-115), PointsBet Sportsbook
Andy Means: Wentz sounds far closer to doubtful than questionable, and his backup, Jacob Eason, looked absolutely abysmal in his brief stint in Week 2. And while the Titans still have plenty of kinks to work out in their own right, at least their offense got clicking in Week 2 against Seattle. The bottom line here for me is that the Colts look a little outmatched, and I expect the Titans to win by at least a touchdown at home in this early-season AFC South showdown. – Andy Means
Bucs vs. Rams Over 55 (-110), BetMGM
Andy Means: With how good these offenses are, this game has shootout written all over it. The Bucs have been utterly ridiculous in their first two games, averaging 39.5 points per game against some inferior defenses. That being said, Tom Brady has these guys looking borderline matchup-proof. The Rams, on the other hand, have put up 34 points (against the Bears) and 27 points (against the Colts). What I like best about them though is that they are playing extremely fast too. Their 24.32 seconds/play (situation neutral) is the fastest pace in the league. So ultimately, assuming the Bucs keep up this torrid play, I think the Rams can do their part to get this one over the total. And for what it’s worth, the Bucs are playing at the seventh fastest pace (27.46 seconds/play) in the league through the first two weeks.
Saints/Patriots Under 49.5, Bengals/Steelers Under 50.5 (-113)
Nick Galaida: As a general rule, it is always best to place NFL wagers as early in the week as possible. Sometimes, even waiting until Tuesday significantly diminishes value on appealing plays. The market opened at over/under 47 between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots. Sharps have aggressively attacked both of these mispriced lines (rightfully so). As of this writing, the Bengals and Steelers total is as low as 44 at some sportsbooks, and the Saints and Patriots can be found at 41.5.
For bettors who have not placed their wagers on either of those games yet, the best option at this point is to tease the lines. Cincinnati’s offensive line is wholly incapable of protecting Joe Burrow, and figures to struggle mightily against a strong Pittsburgh defense. The Steelers are using a starting quarterback a year after his expiration date. The matchup between New Orleans and New England features two exceptional defenses and two offenses that have an inability to throw down-the-field with much success.
Bet on defense this weekend, but purchase a safety net if you, like many bettors, were slow to place your action ahead of Week 3.
Buffalo Bills -8.5, Caesars
Sloan Piva: Quite a few early lines stand out–Pittsburgh -4.5 vs. Cincy, Baltimore -8 at Detroit, Tennessee -4.5 vs. Indy—but my favorite of the Week 3 slate is Buffalo -8.5 at home against WFT. We just witnessed the Bills boat race the Dolphins 35-0 in Miami, a fantastic ‘get right’ game for Sean McDermott’s squad on both sides of the ball. Buffalo QB Josh Allen still looks like a shell of his 2020 MVP-contending self, but he’s got a myriad of weapons including All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs (13-129-1 on the young season) and journeyman playmaker Emmanuel Sanders. Devin Singletary is off to a superb start, too—the third-year back has 154 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries (6.41 yards per tote). But the best news for Buffalo? Leslie Frazier’s defense mounted the first shutout of the 2021 season, against a team that beat Bill Belichick’s Patriots one week prior. The Tua Tagovailoa injury—and backup Jacoby Brisett’s mediocrity—played big parts, but that’s still quite a rebound for the Bills, after a tough season-opening loss at home to Pittsburgh. Now Buffalo takes its Week 2 momentum into a home tilt against another backup QB. Taylor Heinicke may have led WFT to a comeback win over the Giants at home Thursday, but the Giants can’t hold a candle to the Bills offense. Last season, Buffalo ranked second in the NFL in points (501) and total yards (6,343), and finished tied with Kansas City for the third-most passing TDs (40). Washington’s supposedly-strong defense has allowed 49 points and 815 total yards through two games this season—this Sunday, I fully expect Allen to explode and Heinicke to implode. I’d probably still make the Bills my Pick of the Week if their line was -9.5. Lock it in!
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