Week 3 NFL Betting Lines
Five home favorites lost in Week 2 of the 2015 NFL season, including the Saints and Eagles, each of whom delivered downright ugly performances to fall to 0-2. Week 3 features 11 home faves led by the 0-2 Seahawks giving a whopping 14 points to the 0-2 Bears, who will be without quarterback Jay Cutler. Seattle isn’t the only heavy favorite as the undefeated Patriots and Panthers were also handed lopsided spreads, the latter due in large to Drew Brees’ shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him on Sunday. Other games of note, the abysmal Giants are giving 4 to the suddenly decent Redskins, and the 2-0 Jets are giving a curious 2.5 points at home against the dreadful Eagles. Here’s a peek at the early NFL lines for Week 3.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis +1 – The Steelers welcome back Le’Veon Bell following his two-game suspension, which is bad news for a Rams run defense that was shredded by the ‘Skins in Week 2 to the tune of 182 yards. They’ll also have to conjure a spell to stop Antonio Brown, who continues to play like the most dominant receiver in the league. The Rams are supposed to have an elite front seven, but they have looked like a JV squad thus far.
New Orleans at Carolina -7.5 – The Saints were playing like garbage with Drew Brees. Imagine how they will look with Luke McCown under center. McCown last started a game in 2011 and has a grand total of nine starts in 12 seasons. The ‘Cats are again solid on defense and should have little trouble harassing the journeyman signal-caller. Making matters worse for the Cajuns is a weak defense that had trouble slowing down Bucs rookie Jameis Winston.
Cincinnati at Baltimore -2.5 – The Ravens face a must-win in their first of two meetings with the rival Bengals. The Baltimore offense disappeared in Week 1, but it was the normally stout defense that vanished in Week 2 versus of all teams, the Raiders. Steve Smith and Justin Forsett are just too old to carry the load. As for Cincy, Jeremy Hill needs to stop fumbling.
Atlanta at Dallas +1.5 – This number is going to shift further to Atlanta’s side as the week progresses. No Tony Romo and Dez Bryant means the Cowboys are missing their two best players. The Dallas D has overachieved despite being undermanned, but stopping Matt Ryan and Julio Jones on an indoor surface will be a hefty task.
Buffalo at Miami -3 – The Dolphins are fortunate to be 1-1. If not for a Jarvis Landry return touchdown in Week 1, the Fish would be 0-2. They can’t run the ball, Ryan Tannehill looks painfully average, and the supposed elite defense was just picked apart by Blake Bortles. Rex Ryan’s defense will be frothing at the mouth to wreak havoc a week after Tom Brady carved them up like a Thanksgiving ham.
Denver at Detroit +3 – If Peyton Manning can repeat last Thursday’s effort, the cowardly 0-2 Lions are in trouble. Matt Stafford is banged up, and the rush attack is faceplanting. On the other side of the ball, the void left by the departed Ndamukong Suh is massive. Adrian Peterson ripped through the makeshift front four with ease in Week 2. The combo of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman will do the same.
