Harry gives his analysis and predictions for all 16 games on the Week 3 NFL board.
Titans vs Jaguars +2 | O/U 40
Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew was 22 of 25 in Week 1 vs the Chiefs and almost rallied the Jags to an upset of the Texans, however, they still are 0-2. The Titans rebound from a tough divisional home loss and running back Derrick Henry will be why. Henry will find pay dirt for the third straight week and Tennessee pulls out a close one.
Prediction: Titans 24, Jaguars 20
Bengals vs Bills -6 | O/U 44
Wide receivers John Ross and Tyler Boyd of the Bengals have combined for 29 catches and 450 yards in the first two weeks. Those types of numbers won’t happen in Buffalo as the Bills defense continues its impressive play. Speaking of impressive playing, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has played six solid quarters in a row in leading Buffalo to its first 2-0 start since 2014.
Prediction: Bills 31, Bengals 17
Dolphins vs Cowboys -21.5 | O/U 47.5
This Dallas offense is clicking on all cylinders right now. Wide receiver Michael Gallup has 13 catches, is averaging almost 18 yards a catch and has 83 YAC yards. I think I might be able to run faster than Jason Witten, yet in two weeks he has found the end zone twice. The Cowboys get the cover and the OVER by themselves, especially since the Dolphins are losing on “porpoise.” There are seven different species of porpoises in the world. Boy, I give great information and I’m funny.
Prediction: Cowboys 49, Dolphins 7
Broncos vs Packers -8 | O/U 43.5
What a crushing loss for the Broncos on Sunday vs the Bears and now they have to take their 0-2 start to Lambeau Field. Green Bay is 2-0 but has not looked great in doing so. The Broncos get a solid performance from their running backs by committee and cover the number.
Prediction: Packers 24, Broncos 20
Falcons vs Colts -2.5 | O/U 47.5
The Colts have had two tough emotional down-to-the-wire games to start the season, which equals a flat game from them in this spot. Matt Ryan of the Falcons struggled with three picks but got the job done when they needed him late in the fourth against Philadelphia. Ryan and the Falcons offense “find their wings” on the road and cruise to an easy win.
Prediction: Falcons 35, Colts 26
Ravens vs Chiefs -6.5 | O/U 54.5
Anyone out there actually betting the UNDER here … ANYONE !!?? Patrick Mahomes continues to amaze as he puts up video game-type numbers. He has a vast array of playmakers on offense to use. In Week 1, it was Sammy Watkins who had 198 yards and three touchdowns. In Week 2 (fantasy football waiver wire alert) it was wide receiver Demarcus Robinson going for 172 and two scores. Who will it be in Week 3?
Prediction: Chiefs 38, Ravens 28
Raiders vs Vikings -7.5 | O/U 42
Dalvin Cook has looked as good as any running back in the league so far. Quarterback Kirk Cousins choked away another possible win from a good team as he tossed an interception on first-and-goal late vs the Packers. Cousins only beats mediocre or bad teams. The Raiders would qualify as such.
Prediction: Vikings 27, Raiders 17
Jets vs Patriots -21.5 | O/U 47
Is it me or are you bored to death watching these Patriots games at this point? They beat the Rams in a snore-fest of a Super Bowl, then roll the Steelers in the season opener by 30 and then shut out Miami by 43 on the road. Plus, teams are not supposed to look that perfect doing it. The Jets, on the other hand, have numerous issues with linebacker CJ Mosley hurt and “The Mono Man” Sam Darnold on the shelf for weeks. Look for another snore-fest stomping by the Pats.
Prediction: Patriots 28, Jets 3
Lions vs Eagles -7 | O/U 48
The game on Sunday night between the Eagles and the Falcons was an extremely hard-hitting affair. Philadelphia’s star wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery paid the price in that game by getting hurt early and neither made a return to the game. Detroit is 1-0-1 and Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay continue their hot start and steal this one on the road to go to 2-0-1 against a depleted Eagles squad.
Prediction: Lions 19, Eagles 17
Panthers vs Cardinals +2.5 | O/U 46.5
Cam Newton and Kyler Murray face off in a matchup of the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to start their careers with 300-plus yards passing in their first two games in the league. Newton actually went for 400-plus yards passing in his first two career games and on Thursday night it seemed difficult for him to even complete a 10-yard out pattern. Newton and the Panthers stumble into Arizona as they look for their first win of the season. By game’s end, someone will be getting their first win and that’s new Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald get it done for Kliff and Kyler and general manager Steve Keim.
Prediction: Cardinals 26, Panthers 16
Giants vs Buccaneers -6.5 | O/U 48
I understand the Giants pass rush is bad, and their secondary is bad, and they have numerous injuries to their wide receiving corps, but correct me if I’m wrong but Tampa Bay should not be a 6.5-point favorite to anyone. It’s a tough game to figure out since Daniel Jones was named the starter and it seems the Eli era is now over in New York. We probably will see heavy doses of Saquon Barkley so I do recommend taking all OVERs for prop bets involving him. Barkley and Jones keep it close but I’ll take Bruce Arians over Pat Shurmur any day and twice on Sunday.
Prediction: Buccaneers 20, Giants 17
Texans vs Chargers -3 | O/U 47.5
Carlos Hyde has looked good filling in for Lamar Miller at running back, but Austin Ekeler has looked MVP-like “filling in” for Melvin Gordon. Ekeler does deserve to at least get some consideration for MVP with what he has done so far. In two contests he has 300 combined yards, five total touchdowns and an astounding 161 YAC yards.
Prediction: Chargers 31, Texans 24
Steelers vs 49ers -7 | O/U 44.5
Let me see a raise of hands who predicted the Niners would be a favorite vs Pittsburgh in Week 3, let alone a 7-point favorite. That’s right, I might not be able to see you, but I guarantee no hands are currently being raised. San Francisco has been fantastic going 2-0 in the eastern time zone and will continue to shine against the Steelers defense and put up points in the 30s for the third straight week.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Steelers 20
Saints vs Seahawks -4 | O/U 44.5
The Saints can’t catch a “break” on or off the field of play. Quarterback Drew Brees will be sidelined with a thumb injury for four to six weeks and the referees called a play dead vs the Rams that would have been a 75-yard defensive touchdown. After that non-TD, the Saints got rolled by the Rams and now have to tangle with a 2-0 Seahawks team that is getting great play out of Russell Wilson. Wilson is a tremendous 43 of 55, with 500 yards passing and five touchdowns. Wilson and his no-name receivers squash the Saints.
Prediction: Seahawks 37, Saints 17
Rams vs Browns +3 | O/U 51.5
The Rams opened with a win on the East Coast vs the Panthers and then went home to beat down the Saints. Now they travel back east to take on the Browns on Sunday Night Football. The Browns will be on national television for back-to-back weeks for the first time in at least … FOREVER!! Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. love the big stage and in a shootout send the Browns fans into a frenzy with a late field goal to shock Los Angeles.
Prediction: Browns 32, Rams 29
Bears vs Redskins +4 | O/U 41.5
Washington may be 0-2 but has played tough behind quarterback Case Keenum, who has 600 yards passing and five touchdowns in those games. Rookie wide receiver (fantasy waiver wire alert No. 2) Terry McLaurin from Ohio State has two of those five TDs tossed by Keenum. The Bears defense looks like it might even be better than last year’s, which will keep them in games like last week’s crazy win in Denver. I’ll roll with the hot hand here with Keenum over a very shaky Mitch Trubisky (only 120 yards last week for an average of just 4.4 yards per completion).
Prediction: Redskins 16, Bears 13
Some NFL News & Notes
- In Week 1, the late afternoon games were 4-1 for OVER.
- In Week 2, the late afternoon games were 3-0 for UNDER.
- In Week 2, the UNDER was 12-4.
- Through two weeks, six quarterbacks are out already for either significant time or the entire season, did I mention it’s only Week 3?
