As we start to get into the full swing of the season, we are all giving our early analysis of how each team has done in the first two games and how they will do in the remaining fourteen. In the betting world, nine teams remain perfect against the spread and look to keep that alive heading into Week 4. As for this week, below, I give you my three best bets for NFL Week 3.
Three Best Bets For NFL Week 3
3. Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Arizona (-6.5)
Starting off with a game in the second window, we have the Detroit Lions taking on the Arizona Cardinals. These two teams have had a completely different start to the season; one being very good, the other, not so much.
The “other” team that I was referring to just happens to be the Lions. It’s a new year, but it’s the same pain for Lions fans year in and year out. In Week 1, Detroit blew a 23-6 third-quarter lead to the Chicago Bears. To make matters worse, rookie running back D’Andre Swift dropped an easy catch in the endzone which would have practically secured the win. In Week 2, the fun kept going as they traveled to Green Bay to face the Packers. As you may know, the Lions have been known to make the Packers uncomfortable at times and sometimes even pull off the upset. Instead of another close game between the two, the Packers won in blowout fashion, 42-21. With Lions fans calling for his head, head coach Matt Patricia needs to come up with a strong gameplan to stop the red-hot Cardinals.
When it comes to the Cardinals, what is there not to love? They have a very exciting young quarterback-coach tandem in Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury. Those two have proved that their chemistry is strong and have also shut up the people who said Murray should choose baseball over football. With the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, that only strengthens to their already elite wide receiving core. On paper, this Lions-Cardinals matchup really shouldn’t be that close, especially with the game being in Arizona. If Murray and the offense can keep producing, this game should be a breeze for the Big Red.
I do believe the Cardinals will continue their early-season success while the opposite happens for the Lions. With that being said, I am swallowing the 6.5 points and taking the Cardinals in one of my three best bets for NFL Week 3.
2. Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints
Pick: Green Bay (+3)
Coming into this primetime Sunday Night Football game, both the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints look to establish an upper hand in the race for the one seed in the NFC. This game could prove to be very important come Week 17. If it weren’t for the Monday Night battle between the Chiefs and Ravens, this would be the clear-cut Game of the Week.
Looking at the Saints, they are coming off a tough loss in the first-ever home game for the Las Vegas Raiders. They started off looking good, and then Jon Gruden and his offense got to work and ended up winning 34-24. Drew Brees was without his star receiver in Michael Thomas and New Orleans just couldn’t get the job done without him. For this week, it’s looking like they are going to have to play again without Thomas in the lineup for the second straight week. Sean Payton is going to have to make some adjustments to the playbook if he wants things to look better against Green Bay on Sunday night.
For the Packers, they come in hot after winning their first two games while scoring over 40 points in both. The triple threat on offense in Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and Davante Adams may be down to two as Adams is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s bout. This would obviously be a big loss for the Pack, however, Michael Thomas is pretty much in the same boat. Outside of the run game, Rodgers will have to lean on Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard to produce some offense if they want to keep up with Brees and the Saints.
I believe Rodgers and Green Bay will outlast New Orleans in an empty Superdome on Sunday. I predict the Packers cover the +3 spread and win the game 34-28 in the second of my three best bets for NFL Week 3.
1. Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Over 54.5 points
Finally, a good (not good, amazing) Monday Night Football game! Here we have the game of the week between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. I’ve got a good feeling about this one. MVP vs. MVP. Super bowl-winning coaches on either side. What could get better than this? I can’t think of much.
Both teams are obvious Super Bowl LV contenders who have high-potent offenses that can strike on literally any play. We were robbed of this AFC title game last year as the Ravens lost a shocking Divisional Round matchup against the Tennesee Titans. Nonetheless, even though it’s only Week 3, we finally have our matchup. I think this will be an absolute shootout with Patrick Mahomes on one side and Lamar Jackson on the other. This game is bringing me deja vu to the Monday night game two years back between the Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams. That game just happened to turn into the third-highest scoring game in NFL history. Although the Ravens defense is arguably best in the league, I think there will be an abundance of points scored on Monday night between the two flashy offenses.
For the outcome of the game, I think the Chiefs remain the unbeaten team after this matchup of two heavyweights. Back to my original pick; how do you look at this game and not absolutely love the over? I mean come on, imagine yourself, who bet the under, sitting on your couch while both teams go up and down the field. Couldn’t be me, at least not for this game. That is why I am taking over 54.5 points for the Chiefs-Ravens Monday night showdown in my win the game 34-28 in the last of my three best bets for NFL Week 3.
Whether you choose to fade or follow my picks, let’s win some money and make our bookie’s hate us. That’s what sporting betting is all about, right?
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