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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cletis Cutts

The 5 best bets for NFL Week 3

We have a slew of different bets to consider among the best of Week 3.

There’s a Super Bowl contender as a road underdog one the moneyline, a Super Bowl contender laying a big number, a preseason Super Bowl contender going with Plan B at quarterback, the lowest Over/Under on the board hitting the Over, and the worst team in the NFL that go Under the point total.

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook

5
Take Philadelphia Eagles on the moneyline (+125) at New Orleans Saints

Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Eagles are a 3-point dog to a Saints team that has played as well as anyone. Derek Carr has enjoyed a clean pocket in his first two games and the Saints have scored at a relentless pace.

The NFL has a way of being a great equalizer and, even without A.J. Brown, Philly’s offense has more big-time weapons at every position. Take the 3 points if you want, but the return is better on the moneyline.

4
Take Miami Dolphins plus 4.5 points (-110) at Seattle Seahawks

Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A lot of people believe Miami is devastated with the loss of Tua Tagovailoa, but the Dolphins aren’t going to pack up their tents and call off the season.

While Skylar Thompson is clearly a step down from Tua, the Dolphins offense is scheme-specific and Thompson can step in and make many of the big plays Tagovailoa has made. Giving 4.5 points is too many until Thompson proves he can’t get the job done.

3
Carolina Panthers at Las Vegas Raiders: Take UNDER 40 points (-110)

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Imagesd

The Panthers made a change at quarterback, but against a defensive front as ferocious as the Raiders, Andy Dalton will be a stationary target defenders can bead in on and meet at the quarterback.

There is no reason to believe the Panthers are going to score more than 10 points, which means that Raiders would need to score 31 or more to hit the Over. If Las Vegas is up by double digits late, Antonio Pierce likely won’t pile on.

2
Take San Francisco 49ers and lay 6.5 points (-115) at Los Angeles Rams

Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The 49ers are coming off a humbling loss to the Vikings and will be without Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel. However, San Francisco has more weapons on the second line of the depth chart on both sides of the ball to make up for those injuries.

So much of the Rams offense has been tied to throwing timing passes to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Both of them are out, and the second line of the Rams depth chart can’t compete for 60 minutes.

1
Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Take OVER 35.5 points (-110)

Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Both teams are in flux offensively after cleaning house in the offseason, but Justin Herbert is one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and Justin Fields is one of the most dynamic.

Over/Under numbers almost never get this low in the NFL, and there’s a reason we have far more scenarios where the score is higher than this projection.


Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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