NFL Week 3 Betting Guide

Article ByKyle Garlett

September 21, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

Through two weeks of the NFL season, there are seven teams in the NFC that are 2-0, which is the most since the league went to four divisions in each conference in 2002. In the AFC, there are just two 2-0 teams, which is tied for the fewest since 2002.

So much for the AFC’s dominance and there being only a handful of good teams in the NFC.

On the other side of the ledger, there are nine teams that are 0-2, and in desperate need of a win. The battle of winless teams in Minnesota is where we begin this week’s NFL betting guide.

Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings (Over 54)

This game is a Pick’Em, which seems right, since these are the two most snakebitten franchises in the NFL. When it comes to stacking losses that should have been wins, the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings are the top of the league.

They are also, however, at the top of the league in quarterback play. Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins are playing really well to start the season, even though neither has won a game yet. So instead of trying to pick which one will emerge from this Sunday’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium victorious, we’re going to root for both.

The Chargers have lost 36-34, and 27-24, and in both games their offense played well. The Vikings lost 20-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but last week, against a really good Philadelphia Eagles defense, the offense was great in their 34-28 loss. And had they not been unlucky with the fumbles, they would have won.

Neither the Chargers or Vikings are good on the defensive side of the ball, and indoors and away from the elements, these offenses will light it up. The best bet for this game is to root for both offenses and play the over, which BetUS.com has at 54.

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (-2)

Through two weeks, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has two games of at least three touchdown passes. In all of last season, the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers had just one such game.

The Green Bay offense has not missed a beat with Love under center, and this has been done without wide receiver Christian Watson, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The team is expecting to miss left tackle David Bakhtiari for another week, which is not ideal against a push rush as good as the New Orleans Saints. But Love has shown excellent mobility and a quick release. The Packers have opened this season with new life, and it’s hard to picture them losing their first game this year in front of the Lambeau Field crowd.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara still has two more games to serve on his suspension, and until he comes back, this offense is going to struggle. The Packers are the better team right now, and they are a good bet to cover the two-point spread.

Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders (+6.5)

If not for a bouncy Hail Mary at the end of last week’s Washington Commanders win at the Denver Broncos, people would be higher on the Commanders going into this week. It was an impressive showing on the road against a good defense that was made to look closer than it was by a fluke play.

Running back Brian Robinson is the real deal. His rookie year got off to a slow start as he recovered from a gunshot wound that he suffered while being robbed. His second year, however, is reaching its full potential. He’s eighth in the NFL in rushing yards, and his 13 rushes for first downs leads the league.

The Buffalo Bills were very good last week in blowing out the Las Vegas Raiders at home. But on the road, against a good defense and a good running back – as they faced in Week 1 at the New York Jets – the Bills tend to struggle. The fearsome front-seven of the Commanders will force Josh Allen into a few mistakes, and Robinson will do the rest on the offensive side for Washington.

Buffalo may still win the game, but Washington has the players to keep this game closer than the point spread.

Other Bets to Consider

The Denver Broncos went over the point total last week by 29. The Miami Dolphins were over in Week 1 by 20. The total of 48.5 points for their meeting in Miami on Sunday feels like a solid pick to go over.

The BetUS.com line in the Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs line is 13, which is the highest of the week. The last time Patrick Mahomes played the Bears, the Chiefs won 26-3, and after each touchdown Mahomes reminded the Bears that they could have drafted him, but chose Mitchell Trubisky instead. That same Mahomes shows up for this game, and the Chiefs cover the spread.

The Los Angeles Rams are getting three points at the Cincinnati Bengals and the banged-up calf of quarterback Joe Burrow. If Burrow plays, his risk of reinjury is high. If Burrow doesn’t play, the Bengals start a quarterback who has never completed an NFL pass in Jake Browning.

Either way, the Rams are playing good football, and they are a good bet to cover the spread.