NFL Betting: Week 3 Top Matchups
Football isn’t for the faint of heart. Dozens of players get hurt every week in the NFL, but Week 2 of the 2020 campaign was particularly brutal; multiple marquee players suffered torn ACLs, including Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas of the San Francisco 49ers. There go two of the best defenders on the reigning NFC champions for the rest of the season. Let’s see what impact these injuries have had on the Week 3 NFL odds board at Bovada Sportsbook, starting with the most important game on the schedule.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (–3)
Monday, September 28, 8:15 PM ET (ESPN)
This might be the most important game of the regular season: It’s the top two teams on Bovada’s Super Bowl odds board, both tied at +450 heading into Week 3. The Ravens (2-0 SU and ATS) should have the edge here after Kansas City (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) struggled to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-20 last Sunday as 9.5-point road favorites. However, after upgrading their defense during the offseason, Baltimore lost cornerback Tavon Young to a torn ACL during their 33-16 romp over the Houston Texans (+7.5 at home).
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints (–3)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Sunday, September 27, 8:20 PM ET (NBC)
The Saints (1-1 SU and ATS) escaped major injury last week, but they’ll be playing on short rest after dropping a 34-24 decision to the Las Vegas Raiders (+4 at home) on Monday Night Football. They’re still favored over the Packers (2-0 SU and ATS) despite Green Bay’s outstanding performance on offense thus far; that offense might be without WR Davante Adams for Week 3 after he tweaked his hamstring in their 42-21 mauling of the Detroit Lions (+7 away).
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (–6.5)
Sunday, September 27, 1 PM ET (CBS)
After winning their first game in Las Vegas, the Raiders (2-0 SU and ATS) look like a strong value pick on the NFL odds board – but their offensive line is already in tatters, with LG Richie Incognito (Achilles) joining the exodus on Monday. They’ll also have the short week to prepare for the Patriots (1-1 SU, 1-0-1 ATS), who lost 35-30 to the Seattle Seahawks (–5 at home) after getting stuffed at the goal line on the last play of the game.
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks (–5)
Sunday, September 27, 4:25 PM ET (FOX)
Sunday was a big win for the Seahawks (2-0 SU, 1-0-1 ATS), moving them all the way to third on the Super Bowl betting board at +900, but it cost them: LB Bruce Irvin is out for the year with a torn ACL. They’re still in good shape to face the Cowboys (1-1 SU and ATS), who needed a miracle comeback to beat the Atlanta Falcons 40-39 as 3-point home favorites.
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills (–2)
Sunday, September 27, 1 PM ET (FOX)
The Rams (2-0 SU and ATS) are for real. LA crushed the Philadelphia Eagles (–1.5 at home) 37-19 as 1.5-point road dogs, and once again, they’ll be small road dogs on the NFL Week 3 odds board – this time against the Bills (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS). Rain is in the forecast for Orchard Park, and Buffalo TE Dawson Knox is in concussion protocol after their 31-28 squeaker over the Miami Dolphins (+6 at home).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (–6) at Denver Broncos
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
Sunday, September 27, 4:25 PM ET (FOX)
They were disappointing in Week 1, but Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (1-1 SU and ATS) rebounded to beat the Carolina Panthers 31-17 in Week 2, cashing in as 7.5-point home favorites. They’ll face a Broncos team (0-2 SU, 2-0 ATS) that will be without QB Drew Lock for at least two weeks because of a strained rotator cuff – and WR Courtland Sutton for the rest of the season, thanks to the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Sunday’s 26-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (–7 at home).
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (–4)
Sunday, September 27, 1 PM ET (CBS)
They didn’t beat the NFL odds last week, but the Steelers (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) still look like one of the best teams in the league, especially on defense. They’re also relatively healthy, while the Texans (0-2 SU and ATS) are threatening to implode after back-to-back losses to the Chiefs and Ravens. FB Cullen Gillaspia is in concussion protocol; RB Duke Johnson (ankle) is iffy aft00er sitting out Week 2.
San Francisco 49ers (–4) at New York Giants
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Sunday, September 27, 1 PM ET (FOX)
As if losing Bosa and Thomas weren’t bad enough, the Niners (1-1 SU and ATS) also saw QB Jimmy Garoppolo go down with a high-ankle sprain in their 31-13 win over the New York Jets (+7.5 at home). All this happened on the questionable new turf in East Rutherford, which happens to be the location for this week’s game against the Giants (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS). Sadly, RB Saquon Barkley is out for the year after tearing his ACL during New York’s 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears (–4.5 at home).
Tennessee Titans (–2.5) at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, September 27, 1 PM ET (CBS)
Life is good for the Titans (2-0 SU, 0-2 ATS). They have yet to cash in after last week’s 33-30 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (+7 away), but at least they won. The Vikings (0-2 SU and ATS) are an absolute mess, generating very little offense in their 28-11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts (–3 at home). Now their defense is suspect with LB Anthony Barr tearing a pectoral muscle and going on injured reserve.