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NFL Week 3 Preview: Predicting all games against the spread

Publish Date: 09/18/2024
Fact checked by: Simon Briffa

week one Against the spread: 9-7

Week Two Against the Spread 9-7

Overall 18-14

Week 3

New England Patriots at New York Jets

  • Point Spread: Jets -6.5
  • Moneyline Patriots +225
  • Moneyline Jets -275
  • Over/Under 38.5

On Thursday Night Football, another AFC East divisional rivalry will play out. The Jets are balanced offensively under Aaron Rodgers but struggle in run defense. To keep this matchup competitive, New England may opt for a run-heavy attack with Rhamondre Stevenson as its focal point, forcing Jacoby Brissett to take risks on the road and take chances against his old foes. It has been two years since New York won its home game against New England; perhaps Thursday will change that trend!

Prediction: Jets 27  Patriots 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Jets -6.5
  • Can the Jets stop the run
  • Rodgers to play well
  • Jets at home
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New York Giants at Cleveland Browns

  • Point Spread: Browns -6.5
  • Moneyline Giants +245
  • Moneyline Browns -275
  • Over/Under 38.5

Cleveland’s 6–1 record since last season as an underdog is impressive; Cleveland has not forced a turnover yet in two games but should do so with Daniel Jones under pressure and their run game to seal the victory. New York generates three sacks per game, which could prove decisive if Deshaun Watson can be brought down; otherwise, the Browns should keep pace at home as New York struggles on the road; their 2-8 S/U record since 2018 proves it.

Prediction: Browns 31  Giants 14

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Browns -6.5
  • Watson to play well
  • Jones to struggle
  • Browns at home
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Marshall at No. 3 Ohio State

  • Point Spread: Ohio State -39.5
  • Moneyline Marshall
  • Moneyline Ohio State
  • Over/Under 51.5

Ohio State had its bye week and has yet to allow an offensive touchdown this season, thanks to Will Howard’s efficient play and two running backs who average over 7.0 yards per carry (TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins) will prove difficult for opponents to stop. Marshall averages 6.6 yards per rush attempt but Ohio State is different from the other Marshall opponents.

Prediction: Ohio State 52  Marshall 10

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Ohio State -39.5
  • Buckeyes defense dominates
  • Marshall will struggle to throw
  • Ohio State at home
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Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans

  • Point Spread: Titans -2.5
  • Moneyline Packers +134
  • Moneyline Titans -158
  • Over/Under 36.5

Jordan Love (knee) remains uncertain for Sunday’s game against Tennessee, leaving Malik Willis an opportunity to face his former team and potential Packers opponent Josh Jacobs as potential match-ups. No matter which quarterback starts for Tennessee – with Will Levis having been sacked seven times, Packers turnovers should provide opportunities to cash in against Tennessee, with Green having gone 0-3 S/U all-time against them!

Prediction: Titans 17  Packers 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Titans -2.5
  • No Love, no win
  • Titans defense to play well
  • Titans at home
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Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts

  • Point Spread: Colts -1.5
  • Moneyline Bears +102
  • Moneyline Colts -120
  • Over/Under 43.5

Caleb Williams needs to be better protected. He has already taken nine sacks through two games and nine hits himself against an opposing defense that has allowed 237 yards per game through two weeks. While Anthony Richardson will provide some big plays at home to keep Indianapolis from starting 0-3, Williams can provide late-game heroics that might tilt this matchup, but we prefer taking home advantage.

Prediction: 

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Colts -1.5
  • Two bad QB’s
  • Defensive battle
  • Colts at home
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Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings

  • Point Spread: Houston -2.5
  • Moneyline Texans +460
  • Moneyline Vikings -650
  • Over/Under 45.5

The Vikings are off to an impressive 2-0 start, and Sam Darnold is producing with better protection and more consistent production – especially Justin Jefferson, who averages 24 yards per catch from 11 targets. C.J. Stroud has gone 4-4 S/U in four road starts and will establish Stefon Diggs as an option who caught 10 of 12 targets with two touchdown catches that averaged 8.08 yards per catch; helping cement Minnesota as a real threat in NFC North competition.

Prediction: Texans -2.5

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Texans -2.5
  • Stroud big game
  • Texans more complete team
  • Vikings at home
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Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

  • Point Spread: Saints -2.5
  • Moneyline Eagles +128
  • Moneyline Saints -152
  • Over/Under 49.5

The Eagles are coming off of an especially short week and take on one of the NFL’s most surprising teams: Derek Carr leads all NFL quarterbacks with a 142.4 passer rating under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at an impressive 11.4 yards per attempt average. On their side, Saquon Barkley’s addition has added balance to an already balanced squad and reduced pressure off Jalen Hurts; last season, they went 4-4 S/U and 3-4-5-1 against the spread as an away favourite.

Prediction: Saints 27  Eagles 24

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Saints -2.5
  • Carr to play big
  • Eagles are struggling
  • Saints at home
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Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Point Spread: Steelers -1.5
  • Moneyline Chargers +102
  • Moneyline Steelers -120
  • Over/Under 35.5

The Steelers defense has been dominant, but the offense has struggled. The Chargers should be able to dent the Steelers defense and win a close game late on the road. If the Steelers win this game and do it with good quarterback play, they will become a serious contender. I do not expect that to happen though.

Prediction: Chargers 24  Steelers 17

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Chargers +1.5
  • Herbert to play well
  • Steelers offense to struggle
  • Steelers at home
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Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Point Spread: Buccaneers -6.5
  • Moneyline Broncos +260
  • Moneyline Buccaneers -320
  • Over/Under 39.5

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers look like playoff teams, while the Broncos look like teams still a year or two away from contention. Bo Nix will someday be a good quarterback, and maybe that will happen sometime this year, but it won’t be this Sunday. Take the Buccaneers to win this game comfortably.

Prediction: Bucs 31  Broncos 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Bucs -6.5
  • Mayfield to roll
  • Nix to struggle
  • Bucs at home
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Carolina Panthers at Las Vegas Raiders

  • Point Spread: Raiders -5.5
  • Moneyline Panthers +215
  • Moneyline Raiders -260
  • Over/Under 40.5

The Panthers are a mess, and to prove it, they are resorting to Andy Dalton at quarterback to replace Bryce Young; it won’t matter. The Raiders are coming off a big win, and Gardner Mishew is known for getting it done late. He will need no late-game heroics in this one, though.

Prediction: Raiders 30  Panthers 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Raiders -5.5
  • Raiders to dominate
  • Panthers offense is bad
  • Raiders at home
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Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks

  • Point Spread: Seahawks -4.5
  • Moneyline Dolphins +188
  • Moneyline Seahawks -225
  • Over/Under 41.5

Skylar Thompson will start in place of Tua Tagovailoa after suffering another concussion in their Week 3 loss to Buffalo. Thompson can operate their offense more efficiently while Seattle struggled running without Kenneth Walker III last week. Geno Smith currently ranks fourth among NFL quarterbacks with a 73.9-percent completion percentage, so the Dolphins must disrupt that to have any chance on the road; under Mike McDaniel, they have gone 2-9 S/U as an away underdog but 5-6 against the spread (ATS).

Prediction: Seahawks 24  Dolphins 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Seahawks -4.5
  • Thompson will struggle
  • Miami will need to pass to win
  • Seahawks at home
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Baltimore Ravens (-1) at Dallas Cowboys

  • Point Spread: Ravens -1.5
  • Moneyline Ravens +550
  • Moneyline Cowboys -820
  • Over/Under 48.5

The Ravens lead the NFL with 417.5 yards per game but are at risk of falling to 0-3 with a loss at Dallas in a marquee afternoon matchup. What has gone wrong for Baltimore? They blew an 11-point lead against Oakland. Dallas allowed 190 rushing yards last week, which is not a good sign for a team getting ready to defend Jackson and Henry. Their pass rush, led by Micah Parsons, allowed even more. Will they lose consecutive home games against Lamar Jackson? Baltimore holds 5-1 all-time against Dallas, which is an entertaining matchup this week!

Prediction: Baltimore 34  Dallas 27

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Ravens -1.5
  • Prescott MUST play well
  • Ravens to control the game on the ground
  • Dallas at home
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San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams

  • Point Spread: 49ers -7.5
  • Moneyline 49ers -360
  • Moneyline Rams +290
  • Over/Under 43.5

The Rams are in trouble as they will be without their top two receivers, and they have no real run game. The 49ers fell apart against the Vikings last week, and I expect them to bounce back and easily defeat the Rams.

Prediction: 49ers 38  Rams 13

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet 49ers -7.5
  • Inuuries are killing the Rams
  • Stafford to struggle
  • Rams at home
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Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals

  • Point Spread: Lions -3
  • Moneyline Lions -152
  • Moneyline Cardinals +128
  • Over/Under 52.5

The Lions are coming off of an initial loss that displayed some old habits from last season; Dan Campbell took full responsibility for his clock-management error late in the first half. Amon-Ra St Brown avoided a severe leg injury, and Detroit must rely heavily on its running game against an improved Cardinals offense led by Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. Aidan Hutchinson’s 5.5 sacks will prove crucial as an X-factor; since last season, they have gone 5-1 against odds as an away favorite since then!

Prediction: Cardinals 27  Lions 24  

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Cardinals +3
  • Murray to have big game
  • Cardinals at home
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Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons

  • Point Spread: Chiefs -3.5
  • Moneyline Chiefs -180
  • Moneyline Falcons -152
  • Over/Under 46.5

What will the Chiefs do at running back without Isiah Pacheco, who broke his fibula against Cincinnati in Week 2? More pressure will fall upon Patrick Mahomes, but that should come as no surprise; Mahomes excels indoors – in 10 career dome starts, he is 10-0 with 23 touchdowns, two interceptions, and an impressive 105.4 passer rating!

Prediction: Chiefs 31  Falcons 24

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Chiefs -3.5
  • Can the Chiefs run
  • Cousins must play well
  • Falcons at home
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Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills

  • Point Spread: Bills -6
  • Moneyline Jags +198
  • Moneyline Bills -240
  • Over/Under 45.5

James Cook has been instrumental in their offense with 198 total yards and three touchdowns; Trevor Lawrence has only produced one TD pass through two close, one-score losses against Jacksonville last season, beating them 25-20. Josh Allen should deliver in crunch time during an exciting encounter that plays out higher than anticipated in terms of scoring total.

Prediction: Bills 31  Jaguars 27

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Jaguars +6
  • Allen to have a big game
  • Lawrence must play well
  • Bills at home
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Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals

  • Point Spread: Bengals -7.5
  • Moneyline Commanders +330
  • Moneyline Bengals -420
  • Over/Under 48.5

Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels should provide for an entertaining matchup Monday night, with Ja’Marr Chase holding ten receptions for 97 yards and Tee Higgins still recovering from injury. Meanwhile, Commanders have not committed any turnovers through two games – which will put Daniels’ maturity under test on the road.

Prediction: Bengals 30  Commanders 17

DraftKings
DraftKings
4.5/5
Tip: Bet Bengals -7.5
  • Burrow to have a big game
  • Daniels must play well
  • Bengals at home
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