The gulf between bookies and bettors widens with every slate, which means getting the best of the number is crucial to anyone looking to sustain success over the course of the NFL season.
I aim to do just that, highlighting spreads and totals to jump on now before the market moves, and also putting a pin in some odds to revisit later in the week.
Here are my “Bet Now, Bet Later” NFL picks for Week 3.
NFL predictions: Week 3 bet now, bet later picks
- Packers (-8) at Browns: Bet Now
- Rams (+4) at Eagles: Bet Later
- Cowboys at Bears (Over 48): Bet Now
- Colts at Titans (Under 43.5): Bet Later
Green Bay Packers (-8) at Cleveland Browns: Bet Now
The Green Bay Packers have put in work in the opening two weeks, scoring victories over fellow NFC contenders Detroit and Washington.
Green Bay now enters Week 3 off a mini-bye after blowing away the Commanders last Thursday. This look-ahead line was Packers -7.5, but official openers are at -8 and climbing with some shops already dealing -9.
The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 and just got chewed up by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Cleveland pulled veteran QB Joe Flacco and gave rookie Dillon Gabriel a go, which produced some positives. He could get the start next week against this nasty Cheesehead defense.
Take Green Bay now because I could see this closing -10 or higher by game day.
Best odds to bet Packers -8 right now
Los Angeles Rams (+4) at Philadelphia Eagles: Bet Later
The Los Angeles Rams come back to the City of Brotherly Love with revenge in mind after getting bounced in a hard-fought playoff matchup last January.
Los Angeles had a tight first half in Tennessee before busting the game open in the second on Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles, however, stormed Arrowhead Stadium and double-tapped the Chiefs in the Super Bowl LIX rematch.
The Eagles' stock is soaring, and so could this spread. Books opened Philly between -4 and -4.5, but sharper books are hanging -5, and the vig on that spread is climbing. If you do like the Rams to keep it close, make sure you’re on the happy side of the -4.
Four is an undervalued key number in football — behind the usual 3, 6, 7, 10 — so getting an L.A. +4.5 or +5 position is vital. See how far this runs before buying back the Rams.
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Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears (Over 48): Bet Now
The Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears allowed more than 1,000 combined yards for a collective 89 points against in Week 2.
Dallas counted with 40 points and 478 yards, while Chicago scored 21 points on 339 yards on offense. We have two capable QBs surrounded by solid skill players and two defenses with the structural integrity of a pillow fort.
Books opened this Over/Under as low as 48 points, but some shops are up to 48.5, and sharper books are juicing the high side of that number, foreshadowing a tick up to 49.5 or beyond.
The Cowboys are missing pieces in the secondary, and the Bears watched two defensive starters leave Sunday’s loss to Detroit. Grab the Over on the key number of 48 points. Should this continue to climb, books will quickly move to 50.5 O/U.
Best odds to bet Over 48 right now
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (Under 43.5): Bet Later
The undefeated Indianapolis Colts venture outside Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time, heading to Nashville for an AFC South showdown with the Tennessee Titans.
Indianapolis’ offense has been impressive, especially after putting 473 yards and 29 points on the Denver Broncos defense. In fact, the Colts left points on the table after going 2-for-6 in the red zone. That won’t fly under the radar of sharp players, who could push this total upward in the next 48 hours.
Tennessee averaged only 3.9 yards per play vs. the Rams, and seven of its 19 total points came on a lucky run-and-chuck across the field from Cam Ward — a play that wouldn’t result in the TD nine times out of 10.
The look-ahead total for this game was 45.5 points in the summer, and Indy’s offensive eruptions could drive the number back to that spot. I’m interested to see how the Colts do on the road and outdoors on grass, so if you wonder about the Under, let this total simmer for a bit.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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