Early Look at Week 3 NFL Lines with Free Betting Picks

by Devon Rymarchuk - 9/20/2022

NFL Week 3 odds and picks Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings

As we approach Week 3, there are some things we have learned… no lead is too safe. Week 2 featured multiple games with dramatic comebacks, including the New York Jets having arguably one of their biggest victories in the past decade over the Cleveland Browns. The Jets came back from 13 points with only 2:02 to play. The Miami Dolphins came back from a 35-14 deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring four touchdowns in the last 15 minutes against the Baltimore Ravens. Lastly, we saw the Arizona Cardinals come back against the Las Vegas Raiders after trailing 23-7 heading into the remaining frame.

The new NFL is built for explosive offenses as officials are greatly favoring offensive players to build a more exciting, action-packed NFL.

Week 2 also featured the Jacksonville Jaguars demonstrating their stranglehold on the Indianapolis Colts in the state of Florida. Not only were they the cause of the Colts missing the playoffs last season, but they also left the AFC South favorites without a win heading into Week 3, which is very concerning for Colts fans but make them an enticing bet for Week 3.

Patrick Mahomes is just that great…without his favorite weapon in Tyreek Hill, Mahomes has been nothing short of magnificent over the first two weeks of the regular season, throwing for 595 yards, 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, Mahomes has made a statement across the NFL that he is the premier quarterback in the league despite the offensive depth chart for the Chiefs.

Week 2 had five favorites cover the spread and 10 underdogs covering their respective spread.

Let’s take a deeper look at the Week 3 lines as to where value can be had early and some of my favorite picks of the week.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

Detroit Lions +6.5 @ Minnesota Vikings -6.5

O/U: +- 52.5

2022 ATS Record: Lions 2-0, Vikings 1-1

It would be hard not to believe this spread is going to change quite quickly; the Detroit Lions look like a rejuvenated franchise with playmakers in their lineup that they have not had in years in Detroit. The Lions have put up 71 points in the last two weeks and gave the Philadelphia Eagles a ton of trouble in Week 1. The Eagles went on to beat the Vikings by 17 on Monday Night Football in Week 2, where the Vikings had no answer for Jalen Hurts and Kirk Cousins looked like a completely different quarterback. With Detroit still not being shown any respect, they have done an incredible job against the spread as of late. The Lions are 5-1 in their last 6 games ATS. Last season these two teams went 1-1 against each other, but Detroit covered both games ATS. Detroit has scored the second most points in the NFL over the first two weeks compared to the Vikings being ranked 25th.

I believe this game could be another shootout and the Lions will keep it close. I like the Lions to cover 6.5 points, and the offense of the Lions continues to forge into one of the more explosive in the NFL. I also like the over in this matchup as the Vikings with their talent on offense will bounce back from their embarrassing effort on Monday Night Football.

Baltimore Ravens -3 @ New England Patriots +3

O/U: +- 43.5

2022 ATS Record: Ravens 1-1, Patriots 0-1-1

Will Mac Jones ever turn into a real threat to defenses he faces? My bet is no. However, if there is a team that allows young quarterbacks to break out against them, it is the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have tarnished the reputation of being a feared aggressive defense and gave up the most passing yards in 2021 and have given up 150 yards more than the second worst passing defense in 2022 so far. Not only that, but the Ravens were the worst run defense in the NFL last season and have yet to really been tested in that category this year, facing the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, both of whom don’t have strong games on the ground. In stating this, I really have no faith in Jones keeping pace with Lamar Jackson and being able to expose a very poor defense. I love the Ravens at -3.

Las Vegas Raiders -2.5 @ Tennessee Titans +2.5

O/U: +- 45.5

2022 ATS Record: Raiders 0-2, Titans 0-2

Both teams were in the playoffs a year ago and are off to very tough starts. The loss of A.J Brown on the receiving corps of the Titans has proven to be significant, Derrick Henry hasn’t looked quite the same post injury, and some major holes have presented themselves on the Titans defense. The Raiders may be victim to the hardest division in football but nonetheless have lost two tightly contested games. They have shown flashes of being everything Vegas fans had hoped for, however. The Titans have two rookie cornerbacks, only one receiver with more than 100 yards through two games, and the 24th ranked rushing yards per game. That’s a huge contrast from a season ago. Based on the fact the Raiders have at least had flashes of looking like a playoff team compared to the Titans performing pathetically over the first two weeks, its time something gives for Raiders nation. Pick the Raiders at -2.5

It should be another great weekend in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills will be potentially seeing an offense as potent as their own when they travel to Miami. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are set to face off possibly for the last time in the regular season. The Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to rebound after a very tough start to the regular season with a post-Super Bowl appearance coma during the first two games. Good luck with your picks this week!

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Early Look at Week 3 NFL Lines with Free Betting Picks

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