NFL Week 2 is in the rearview mirror, NFL Week 3 odds are on the board, and several betting factors are already in play. That includes a flood of key injuries that will impact spreads and totals, particularly in the San Francisco 49ers-New York Giants clash.
This week’s NFL Cheat Sheet serves as one-stop shopping for all that information and more. Covers checks in on NFL Week 3 injuries, weather, consensus picks, Pros vs. Joes and more. Check back throughout the week for NFL injury updates, popular picks, and notable contrasts between sharp bets and public money.
Week 3 Injuries
San Francisco 49ers: Friday morning brought updates that QB Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) and wideout Tevin Coleman (knee) are out this week. In addition, George Kittle (MCL sprain) will sit for a second straight week. The SuperBook responded by dropping the line a full point, from -4.5 to -3.5 at the Giants. ... Star defensive end Nick Bosa tore an ACL and Garoppolo suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s road win against the Jets. “Those guys are worth a couple of points,” said John Murray, executive director of The SuperBook at Westgate.
Murray said The SuperBook had the Niners -6 against the Giants before those two injuries, among others. Running back Raheem Mostert (knee) was already ruled out for Week 3, and wideout Tevin Coleman has a knee sprain. Oh, and defensive end Solomon Thomas also has a season-ending ACL tear.
“They’re very banged up,” Murray said, noting The SuperBook opened the 49ers -4 and moved to -4.5 Monday.
New York Giants: Saquon Barkley also suffered a torn ACL Sunday in a road loss to the Bears, so he’s done for the year. “Barkley is worth a half-point to a point,” Murray said. The Giants are 4.5-point underdogs to the visiting 49ers. It’s also worth noting the 49ers-Giants total opened at just 41.5, quickly dropped to 40.5, then went to 41 Monday afternoon. The Giants also placed WR Sterling Shepard on the IR Wednesday, meaning he will miss at least the next three weeks.
Denver Broncos: QB Drew Lock separated his right (throwing) shoulder in a loss at Pittsburgh, and he’ll miss two to six weeks, while star wideout Courtland Sutton is done for the year with a torn ACL. On the look-ahead line last week, The SuperBook had the Broncos 3.5-point Week 3 home ‘dogs to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The line opened Sunday night with Denver as 5.5-point pups and stretched to +6.5, then went to +6.
Carolina Panthers: Stud running back Christian McCaffrey was another Week 2 victim of a high ankle sprain and could miss several weeks. So he’s certainly not playing Sunday as the Panthers make the cross-country trip to face a Los Angeles Chargers team that just took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime. Carolina is a 7-point underdog at The SuperBook.
Los Angeles Chargers: QB Tyrod Taylor was a late scratch Sunday against the Chiefs with complications from a rib injury, revealed Wednesday to be a punctured lung suffered from a botched pain-killing injection. It was announced Wednesday that Taylor has been advised to not play "indefinitely," and it seems that that rookie Justin Herbert will get the start. Herbert played reasonably well in a 23-20 overtime loss to Super Bowl champion Kansas City, and with the Panthers minus McCaffrey, the Chargers are still 6.5-point favorites this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Thursday brought more injury news for the Jaguars: wideout D.J. Chark Jr. is out tonight with back/chest issues. PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said the line and the total are steady, at Jags -3 and 49, but the moneyline shifted from Jags -165/Dolphins +140 to -160/+135. ... Place-kicker Josh Lambo (hip) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. The Jags promoted place-kicker Brandon Wright to the active roster, and he'll play Thursday night at Miami. The SuperBook remained at Jaguars -3.
Philadelphia Eagles: Rookie wideout Jalen Reagor has a ligament tear in his left thumb and is expected to miss several weeks. The SuperBook on Wednesday afternoon dropped the Eagles from -5.5 to -5 for Sunday's home game against Cincinnati.
Las Vegas Raiders: Wideout Henry Ruggs III (knee/hamstring) is out Sunday on the road against the Patriots. Running back Josh Jacobs (hip) and tight end Darren Waller (knee) are questionable, after being limited in Friday's practice. But none of that news negatively impacted the line, and in fact, the Raiders went from +5.5 to +5 for a few hours Friday at The SuperBook, before going back to +5.5.
Atlanta Falcons: Wideout Julio Jones (hamstsring) is out for Sunday's home game against the Bears. Atlanta was as big as -3.5 but has been bet down to -2.5.
Tennessee Titans: Wideout A.J. Brown (knee) won't play against the host Vikings on Sunday, but the Titans still moved from -2.5 to -3 Friday at The SuperBook.
Green Bay Packers: Wideout Davante Adams (hamstring) is doubtful against the Saints, but the Packers stuck as 3-point road underdogs Friday at The SuperBook.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints are down a star wideout, as well, with Michael Thomas (ankle) sitting for a second straight week.
Week 3 Weather
Washington Football Team at Cleveland Browns: Earlier in the week, the forecast was for a 50 percent chance of rain. Now, it appears it'll be clear and sunny, though with winds of 10-20 mph. The SuperBook opened the total at 44.5 and ticked down to 44 Monday, but it was up to 45 Friday.
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles: Friday's updated forecast showed just a 20 percent chance of rain. More likely, it'll just be overcast in Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills: Early in the week, it looked as if this game would see some rain showers. But by Friday, the forecast called for a sunny, 80-degree afternoon. The total dropped from a high of 48 down to 46.5, but certainly not due to the weather..
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants: The early forecast called for a 50 percent chance of rain, and that's diminished to 20 percent. The total ticked up from a low of 41 to 42 on Friday evening.
Week 3 Consensus
Week 3 Pros vs Joes
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins: PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said the public is definitely on Jacksonville early, with 76 percent of point-spread tickets going to the Jaguars in the Thursday night game. However, 70 percent of point-spread money is going to the Dolphins, with sharps taking Miami early, and PointsBet USA moved Miami from +3 to +2.5 a couple of times this week. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Dolphins were +3 (-115).
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles: In this case, it's the favorite Philadelphia getting the respected play at PointsBet USA, with 60 percent of early spread money on the Eagles (-5.5) and 62 percent of tickets on the Bengals.
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots: A couple of days ago at The SuperBook, this look liked it might be a game with sharps on the home favorite and the public on the road 'dog. By late Saturday night, it was indeed Pros vs Joes, but in the more typical fashion. "The public is all over the Patriots," SuperBook manager Reyna Hernandez said, noting the line reached -6.5 Saturday night. "Sharps like the Raiders."
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills: "The public is betting the Bills, and the sharps are betting Rams spread, moneyline and the Under," The SuperBook's Hernandez said.
Where can I bet on the NFL?
Many online books and casinos offer bets on football odds and props. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live.
