NFL Week 3 Picks: Early Predictions for Every Game

Posted by Michael Hunt on Wednesday,August 2, 2017 10:11, EDT in

The Baltimore Ravens likely wish the season would start as soon as possible because they keep losing guys to season-ending injuries before even taking the field against an opponent. The latest was tight end Crockett Gillmore, who hurt his knee over the weekend. Gillmore is the fourth Ravens player to suffer a season-ending injury over the last two months. He joins tight end Dennis Pitta (hip), cornerback Tavon Young (knee) and running back Kenneth Dixon (knee). Here’s a quick look at every NFL Week 3 game in 2017, with the latest NFL odds provided by MyBookie.

NFL Week 3 Picks: Early Predictions for Every Game

Thursday, September 21st

LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers (-2)

This might be the most unwatchable prime-time game of the 2017 season. It’s also likely the only game this year the Niners will be favored – although I’m not sure they will be by kickoff. San Francisco had two wins last year and both were vs. the Rams. ATS pick: Rams.

Sunday, September 24th

Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1.5)

This NFL Week 3 game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. in London as the Jaguars annually give up a home game there. That the majority of Jacksonville players are used to the time change, etc., should be an advantage. ATS pick: Jaguars

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (-1)

If you are going to play in Buffalo, you prefer it in September instead of November or December when there might be a blizzard. Will it be Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch at QB for Denver? ATS pick: Bills

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (-3)

Carolina’s secondary was a disaster last year and doesn’t look all that much better. That definitely could be a problem vs. Drew Brees. But he’s often not quite as good outdoors. The Saints lost 23-20 in Charlotte last year. ATS pick: Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears (+5.5)

The Bears haven’t been a good home bet in years and it’s a total mismatch here between Ben Roethlisberger and, presumably, Mike Glennon. ATS pick: Steelers

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions (+2.5)

The Lions often have an advantage playing in a dome, but that won’t intimidate the Falcons, who are used to it. This NFL Week 3 matchup screams potential trap game for the reigning NFC champions, though. ATS pick: Lions

Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts (TBA)

I feel confident saying the Browns will be 0-2 entering this game. So might the Colts if Andrew Luck isn’t ready to start the season off shoulder surgery. Cleveland
can win this game – it had been a 9.5-point spread – if Luck is out. ATS pick: Wait on Luck

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings (-3)

The Bucs have won their last three contests in Minnesota, but this is a Vikings squad that still managed to go 8-8 last year without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and (mostly) Adrian Peterson. Neither will play here, either, with Peterson now in New Orleans. ATS pick: Vikings

Houston Texans at New England Patriots (-9)

New England easily handled Houston last regular season and then did it again in the AFC’s divisional round. Any reason to think it will be different in 2017 just because Brock Osweiler is gone? ATS pick: Patriots

Are the Patriots a safe bet in NFL Week 2?

NFL Week 2 Picks Early Winning Predictions for Every Game

Miami Dolphins at NY Jets (+2)

Big break here for Miami in playing in cold-weather New Jersey but doing so in September when it’s still nice. Your guess is as good as mine as to who the Jets QB will be. ATS pick: Dolphins

NY Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-1)

Hmm, Giants won 11 games last year and made the playoffs, while Philly finished last in the NFC East and yet the Eagles are favored? ATS pick: Giants

Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans (+2)

Absolute trap game for the Seahawks having to travel across country and play out of conference against a rising AFC powerhouse. I don’t even consider this an upset for NFL Week 3. ATS pick: Titans

Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers (-7)

When the Packers lost in Cincinnati in 2013, the Bengals were in the midst of five straight playoff appearances. Last year, the Bengals missed out. ATS pick: Packers

Kansas City Chiefs at LA Chargers (+1.5)

For the first time, these AFC rivals play one another in Los Angeles. In 1960, the Chargers played the first game in franchise history against the Dallas Texans, who
moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs. That franchise never played the Chargers in Los Angeles as the Chiefs. ATS pick: Chargers

Oakland Raiders at Washington Redskins (+1)

Oakland caught a break here in that it’s a Sunday night game instead of a dreaded 1 p.m. ET kickoff for a Pacific Time Zone team. ATS pick: Raiders

Monday, September 25th

Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals (+2)

These two teams kick off the 2017 preseason schedule on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio. Check out my preview of that. In their last three trips to University of Phoenix Stadium, the Cowboys have lost in overtime twice and once on a missed point-after attempt. ATS pick: Cardinals