2024 NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds and Predictions

By:

Rick Rockwell

in

Last Updated on

At long last, we’ve made it to the third and final week of the 2024 NFL preseason. Before long, these meaningless games will be a thing of the past. For now, we’ve got just one more week to fight through before the games count for real.

As always, we’ve got you covered with NFL betting analysis for every game on the preseason Week 3 docket. Our NFL analysis will go a long way toward helping you win both preseason wagers and NFL futures bets.

Here’s how I’m approaching the final preseason slate from a betting standpoint. 

NFL Preseason Week 3 Schedule 

DateTime (ET)Road TeamHome Team
Thursday, August 22 8:00 PM Indianapolis Colts (-142) Cincinnati Bengals (+120) 
Thursday, August 22 8:20 PM Chicago Bears (-142) Kansas City Chiefs (+120) 
Friday, August 23 7:00 PM Jacksonville Jaguars (-218) Atlanta Falcons (+180)
Friday, August 23 7:30 PM Miami Dolphins (-135) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+114) 
Friday, August 23 10:00 PM San Francisco 49ers (+114) Las Vegas Raiders (-135) 
Saturday, August 24 1:00 PM Carolina Panthers (+180) Buffalo Bills (-218) 
Saturday, August 24 1:00 PM Pittsburgh Steelers (-166) Detroit Lions (+140)
Saturday, August 24 1:00 PM Baltimore Ravens (-125)  Green Bay Packers (+105) 
Saturday, August 24 1:00 PM Minnesota Vikings (+124) Philadelphia Eagles (-148) 
Saturday, August 24 1:00 PM Los Angeles Rams (+210)Houston Texans (-258) 
Saturday, August 24 4:00 PM Los Angeles Chargers (+154) Dallas Cowboys (-185)
Saturday, August 24 7:30 PM New York Giants (-125) New York Jets (+105)  
Saturday, August 24 10:00 PM Cleveland Browns (+105) Seattle Seahawks (-125)
Sunday, August 25 2:00 PM Tennessee Titans (-185) New Orleans Saints (+154) 
Sunday, August 25 4:30 PM Arizona Cardinals (+145)Denver Broncos (-175)
Sunday, August 25 8:00 PM New England Patriots (+120) Washington Commanders (-142)

NFL Preseason Week 3 Predictions 

With Week 3 of the NFL Preseason featuring all 32 NFL teams, there are a few key Week 3 Preseason games that stand out from the rest: 

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Indianapolis Colts-142-2 (-110)Over 36 (-110)
Cincinnati Bengals+120+2 (-110)Under 36 (-110)

The Colts bounced back from a loss to the Broncos in preseason Week 1 with a 21-13 triumph over the Cardinals last week. Indy relied on backups in this one, as stars like Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman, and Jonathan Taylor didn’t see the field. Rather than risking his starters, it looks like Shane Steichen will use the rest of the preseason to analyze positional battles for the final spots on the team’s 53-man roster.

The Bengals fell to 0-2 in the preseason with a 27-3 shellacking at the hands of the Bears last week. Logan Woodside got most of the work under center for Cincinnati as Joe Burrow and the rest of the starters got the week off. Cincy also got some rough news last week when backup running back Chris Evans went down with a season-ending knee injury, which will test the team’s depth in the backfield.

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals Predictions

At this point, the Colts-Bengals clash is difficult to break down. We have no idea whether either team will be letting any starters see the field. Indianapolis being a slight road favorite seems to indicate the Bengals aren’t too likely to risk Burrow with so little time left until the regular season gets underway.

If last week’s 3-point effort was any indication, the Bengals are going to have a difficult time putting points on the board if Woodside takes most of the snaps at QB. Burrow’s primary backup – Jake Browning – missed last week’s game with a rib injury. My favorite bet on the board here is the under on 36 points.

NFL Bet: Indianapolis Colts (-142), Colts -2.5 (-110), Under 36 points (-110)

Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Chicago Bears-142-2.5 (-110)Over 34.5 (-110)
Kansas City Chiefs+120+2.5 (-110)Under 34.5 (-110)

Bears-Chiefs would be a fun matchup if we knew both teams would be playing their starters. The Chiefs are home underdogs here, however, which means we’re unlikely to see much of Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce, if we see them at all.

Mahomes made headlines with a snazzy behind-the-back throw to Kelce in their Week 2 preseason loss to the Lions. Mahomes played the first 2 drives of the game before giving way to Carson Wentz. KC’s put 13 points on the board in the first quarter, but struggled to move the ball once the starters departed.

On the flip side, the Bears should be thrilled about what they’ve seen from rookie Caleb Williams, even in a small sample. Chicago improved to 3-0 this preseason with their aforementioned 27-3 destruction of the Bengals’ backups last week. Chicago has scored at least 21 points in each of their games to this point, too. 

Williams only finished 6-for-13 for 75 yards against the Bengals, but he impressed with several high-quality throws. Chicago should also be excited by what they’ve seen from backup Tyson Bagent, who continued his strong preseason play by going 7-for-8 for 87 yards with a couple of TDs last week.

Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs Predictions

With the Bears having an up-and-coming offense featuring several young players, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williams, Rome Odunze, and a few other projected starters in this game. The Chiefs, of course, are a largely finished product that has little use for another preseason outing.

Even if Williams sits out, the Bears appear to be in good hands with Bagent. I can’t say the same of the well-traveled Carson Wentz on the KC side, so I think Chicago is a worthy favorite in their preseason finale. The over looks like the play here, too, given how well the Bears have fared offensively thus far.

NFL Bet: Chicago Bears (-142), Bears -2.5 (-110), Over 34.5 (-110)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Jacksonville Jaguars-218-4.5 (-110)Over 35 (-110)
Atlanta Falcons+180+4.5 (-110)Under 35 (-110)

The Jags were one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments last season, as they failed to make the playoffs after pushing the Chiefs to the brink in the ‘22 postseason. Doug Pederson and co. are looking to put 2023 in the rearview mirror, and they’re off to a solid 2-0 start this preseason.

Jacksonville toppled Tampa Bay, 20-7, after a 26-13 triumph over Kansas City in their preseason opener. Mac Jones took the lion’s share of the snaps in Week 2 with Trevor Lawrence getting a breather. The former Alabama standout performed well, connecting on 16 of his 23 attempts for 210 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Most importantly, Jones didn’t turn the ball over. 

Pederson gave his starters a rest after they practiced against the Tampa Bay defense for most of last week. Lawrence and the rest of the starters are expected to play quite a bit on Friday against Atlanta, which explains why the Jags are listed as heavy -218 favorites on the moneyline.

The Falcons are off to an 0-2 start in their first preseason under head coach Raheem Morris. There’s no need for panic, of course, considering Kirk Cousins is still working his way back from last year’s Achilles injury. Cousins isn’t expected to play at all in the preseason, while rookie Michael Penix Jr. didn’t see the field, either. We could get another Taylor Heinicke start for Atlanta in this one as a result.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons Predictions

With Jacksonville expected to use this game as a dress rehearsal, they’re very justifiable road favorites against a Falcons team that appears to be taking the opposite approach. I think the over on 35 points (-110) is a good value in this one, too, as I’d expect the Jags to put points on the board in the dome against a largely unproven Falcons defense.

NFL Bet: Jacksonville Jaguars (-218), Jaguars -4.5 (-110), Over 35 (-110)

Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Miami Dolphins-135-1.5 (-110)Over 33.5 (-110)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers+114+1.5 (-110)Under 33.5 (-110)

Here we have a potentially fun matchup between a couple of teams with high hopes in 2024. The Dolphins are off to a 2-0 preseason start after toppling the Commanders, 13-6, at home last week. 

Tua Tagovailoa drew the start and completed all 5 of his throws with a touchdown before giving way to Skylar Thompson on the second drive. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane both saw some early action, but this is another team who doesn’t need to put a ton of effort into meaningless preseason games.

The Bucs fell to the Jags in preseason Week 2 with Kyle Trask and John Wolford taking all of the team’s snaps at QB. Tampa Bay took a similar approach last season, though Baker Mayfield and the rest of the starters did see action in the 2023 preseason finale. I think there’s a chance we see the regulars this week, though they’re unlikely to play more than a quarter of the game, at most.

Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions

This one looks like a legitimate toss-up, which is reflected by the tight 1.5-point spread here. Miami is the team I could see giving a bit more playing time to their starters, though I doubt we’re talking about a long leash for anybody.

In a likely battle of the backups, I like the idea of taking the extra value that comes with betting on the underdog. That would be Tampa Bay, who checks in at +114 on the moneyline.

NFL Bet: Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1.5 (-110), Buccaneers (+114), Under 33.5 (-110)

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders Odds

TeamMoneylineSpread Total
San Francisco 49ers+114+2.5 (-110)Over 36.5 (-110)
Las Vegas Raiders-135-2.5 (-110)Under 36.5 (-110)

The 49ers are a veteran team I can safely say isn’t taking the preseason too seriously. This team is gunning for the Super Bowl after falling just short of a title last season. We did see Brock Purdy make his preseason debut and play a series in Sunday’s win over the Saints, but he was the only offensive starter to see meaningful playing time. This was simply a tune-up, and it wouldn’t be at all shocking for Purdy to join the rest of the starters on the sidelines this weekend in Sin City.

Over the weekend, the Raiders officially tapped Gardner Minshew as the winner of the QB competition over Aidan O’Connell. Minshew didn’t even play particularly well against Dallas – completing 10 of 21 throws for 95 yards – but it was enough for him to win the starting job for Week 1. 

We’ll see what Antonio Pierce decides to do in this game. We could see plenty of O’Connell, who was the better of the 2 primary QBs in last week’s loss to the Cowboys. 

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders Predictions

It’s hard to have much faith in the Niners’ backups to win this game, even though they did pick up a victory over New Orleans on Sunday night. Unless we get the unexpected news that Purdy will see more snaps in a legitimate Week 1 tune-up, I think Vegas is a very justifiable home favorite.

NFL Bet: Las Vegas Raiders -195, Raiders -2.5 (-110), Over 36.5 (-110)

Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Carolina Panthers+180+4.5 (-110)Over 33.5 (-110)
Buffalo Bills-218-4.5 (-110)Under 33.5 (-110)

This game looks like one of the more potentially lopsided contests of the final week of the preseason. The rebuilding Panthers are off to an 0-2 start after defeats to the Patriots and Jets. The Bills, on the other hand, once again bring Super Bowl aspirations into the upcoming campaign. Carolina is a sizable +180 underdog as they head to Orchard Park.

Head coach Dave Canales has his work cut out for him. Bryce Young and Jonathan Brooks were among the likely regulars who didn’t see the field last week against the Jets, and Canales has already said Young won’t play at all during the preseason. That’s a bit of a surprise considering how overmatched Young looked for most of his rookie year, but the Panthers don’t want to run the risk of having his development derailed by a preseason injury. 

The Bills played a barnburner of a game last week against the Steelers. Buffalo emerged victorious, 9-3, but there were no winners here. People actually paid to watch this game that consisted of 4 successful field goals and a whole lot of nothing else. Mitchell Trubisky and Ben DiNucci combined to throw for just 106 yards. The Bills instead relied heavily on the running game, as they rushed 34 times for 167 yards. The weather was an issue in this game, but…yeesh.

Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills Predictions

The Bills held Josh Allen out of last week’s game as a precaution because of the questionable weather after he played a few snaps in the preseason opener. 

The moneyline seems to indicate there’s a pretty good chance for Allen and the rest of the starters to get back on the field in this one. That makes sense considering Buffalo is incorporating a few new faces on offense, and getting Allen on the same page with his new weapons should be a priority before the games start to count.

Give me Buffalo to mop the floor with the poor, no-good Panthers.

NFL Bet: Buffalo Bills (-218), Bills -4.5 (-110), Over 33.5 (-110)

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Pittsburgh Steelers-166-3 (-110)Over 35.5 (-110)
Detroit Lions+140+3 (-110)Under 35.5 (-110)

Mike Tomlin sure seems to have a predicament on his hands. We got our first glimpse at the Justin Fields/Russell Wilson QB competition in last week’s game against Buffalo. 

In the end, nobody won. Fields completed 11 of his 17 throws for 92 yards, while Wilson went 8-for-10 for 47 yards in his first game in black-and-yellow. Steelers QBs were sacked 4 times and hit 10 times in all in a very shaky all-around performance. The weather won’t be a concern this week when they head into the domed Ford Field for a date with the Lions.

Detroit got a scare last week when 2nd-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs was injured in practice, but he reportedly avoided a serious malady. Gibbs is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, which isn’t as scary as initially feared.

With Jared Goff watching from the sidelines, the Lions went into Kansas City and escaped with a 24-23 win over the reigning Super Bowl champs last week. Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker impressed, as the QBs combined to complete 26 of 42 throws for 342 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions Predictions

The Lions are gunning for their first-ever Super Bowl title. The Steelers would probably be thrilled to just make the playoffs. As a result, I’m expecting Dan Campbell to take a backups-heavy approach to this game. Perhaps we see Goff for a series, but I’d be shocked if he played much more than that. 

Tomlin can’t really afford to rely on backups considering he needs to figure out which of his QBs will be under center in Week 1. While playing Fields and Wilson more may or may not actually help Pittsburgh’s chances of winning, there’s a reason they’re still such heavy favorites on the moneyline (-166). 

NFL Bet: Pittsburgh Steelers (-166), Steelers -3 (-110), Under 35.5 (-110)

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Minnesota Vikings+124+2.5 (-110)Over 34.5 (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles-148-2.5 (-110)Under 34.5 (-110)

Who hurt you, Vikings fans? 

Minnesota’s bad-luck football franchise had a rough week. JJ McCarthy was lost for the season after tearing his meniscus, while star wideout Jordan Addison had an injury scare of his own in practice. The McCarthy news is particularly brutal, as it means Kevin O’Connell will have little choice but to trot Sam Darnold out there for 17 games this season.

Minnesota can’t risk an injury to Darnold, so I’d be stunned if he wound up playing much this week in Philadelphia. We’re likely to see a rotation of Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, and Matt Corral, just as we did in the Vikings’ 27-12 win over the Browns last week. Mullens is solid by backup standards, though he likely won’t have Addison, Justin Jefferson, or TJ Hockenson at his disposal in this one.

The Eagles are another team just biding their time during the long slog of the preseason. Philly is off to a 2-0 start with low-scoring triumphs over the Ravens and Patriots to this point. Steelers legend Kenny Pickett figures to draw another start at QB with Jalen Hurts and the rest of the primary offensive weapons likely to sit until Week 1. 

Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles Predictions

Considering Hurts hasn’t played in either preseason game thus far, it’s fair to assume he’ll again be sidelined this week. I actually like the Vikings as underdogs here as a result. 

The Eagles’ offensive line has had issues protecting Pickett, as the was sacked 4 times in last week’s narrow victory over New England. It’s also worth remembering that Pickett simply isn’t very good, so I’m not a fan of the idea of packing his team as a preseason betting favorite.

NFL Bet: Minnesota Vikings (+124), Vikings +2.5 (-110), Under 34.5 (-110)

Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Baltimore Ravens-125-1 (-110)Over 33.5 (-110)
Green Bay Packers+105+1 (-110)Under 33.5 (-110)

The Ravens finished last season with the NFL’s best regular-season record before their heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Baltimore is still seeking its first AFC title with Lamar Jackson in the fold, and he’ll understandably sit for the entirety of the preseason. 

The Ravens aren’t particularly deep at QB, which is why keeping the 2-time MVP healthy is of the utmost importance. Journeyman Josh Johnson is next on the depth chart, and he completed all 11 of his attempts for 120 yards and a score last week against Atlanta. Emory Jones and Devin Leary – 2 people you’ve never heard of – also saw action at quarterback for the Ravens.

The Packers went into Denver and lost, 27-2, over the weekend in their second preseason game. Yes, they scored 2 points. Jordan Love looked terrific in his lone series of the preseason 2 weeks ago against Cleveland, so Matt LaFleur was comfortable rolling out his backups for this game. 

Green Bay’s offense stunk it up as a result. They failed to top 100 yards passing or rushing, and their only points of the game came via a third-quarter safety.

Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers Predictions

I feel a little sorry for anybody who pays for tickets to attend this game. This one has the potential to be a real stinker. Maybe fans can take a tour of Lambeau Field to make the trip more worthwhile. 

I see why the Ravens are favored, but it sure is uncomfortable. I’d much rather roll the dice on the under, as I don’t think Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford are capable of putting on a high-scoring offensive showcase.

NFL Bet: Baltimore Ravens (-125), Ravens -1 (-110), Under 33.5 (-110)

Los Angeles Rams at Houston Texans Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Los Angeles Rams+210+6 (-110)Over 34.5 (-110)
Houston Texans-258-6 (-110)Under 34.5 (-110)

The lone highlight from the Rams’ 13-9 win over the Chargers in the Battle for LA was this fan having his in-game proposal heartily rejected. The entire thing was clearly staged, but I appreciate teams going the extra mile in order to try to keep fans engaged during an otherwise dreary preseason clash.

The Rams will head to Texas to take on the Texans in their preseason finale. With Matthew Stafford out, LA once again relied entirely on Stetson Bennett to take the snaps at QB. The former Georgia standout followed up his 4-interception outing the week prior by completing 17 of 31 throws for 213 yards. He also added a touchdown and one more INT to his ledger against the Chargers.

The Texans enter the season with higher hopes than ever, and they’ve looked the part over the past 2 preseason games. Houston walloped the Giants, 28-10, in their third preseason outing. CJ Stroud played a couple of series before giving way to Case Keenum, though we don’t yet know whether Stroud will suit up in the final game of the preseason.

Los Angeles Rams at Houston Texans Predictions

We’re presumably getting another heavy dosage of Bennett for the Rams this week. So, it comes as no surprise to see that they’re the biggest underdogs on the board at +6. I doubt the Texans will go all-out with their starters, though I could see them giving Stroud and the offense a quarter of work in preparation for the season.

I’m not thrilled about betting on such a heavy favorite considering how easily things can go awry in an unpredictable preseason environment, but Houston does feel like a fairly safe wager here.

NFL Bet: Houston Texans (-258), Texans -6 (-110), Over 34.5 (-110)

Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Los Angeles Chargers+154+3.5 (-110)Over 33.5 (-110)
Dallas Cowboys-185-3.5 (-110)Under 33.5 (-110)

The other LA team will also spend the weekend in the Lone Star State. The new-look Chargers will head to Arlington for a showdown against the Cowboys. Dallas is favored by a little more than a field goal here in a game with a low 33.5 over/under.

Justin Herbert is still on the mend after suffering a foot injury, though he’s on track to return by Week 1. The Bolts aren’t likely to trot him out there against Dallas, though they did release ex-TCU standout Max Duggan on Monday. Duggan was a DNP against the Rams over the weekend as Jim Harbaugh relied on Easton Stick and Luis Perez under center. Both will likely play a lot this week, as well. 

The Cowboys are one of those veteran-laden teams with little use for preseason football.  Dallas has used the preseason to get an extended look at former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance, who accounted for a couple of TDs in an impressive showing against the Raiders over the weekend. Dak Prescott won’t suit up in the preseason, while CeeDee Lamb remains away from the team in a contract holdout.

Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys Predictions

Dallas whooped the Raiders last weekend thanks to an outstanding showing from the defense. Defensive performance is hardly predictive, however, especially in the preseason when we don’t typically know who’s going to play or for how long. This looks like an ideal situation to be taking a flier on the underdog at plus-money odds.

NFL Bet: Los Angeles Chargers (+154), Chargers +3.5 (-110), Under 33.5 (-110)

New York Giants at New York Jets Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
New York Giants-125-1 (-110)Over 30.5 (-110)
New York Jets+105+1 (-110)Under 30.5 (-110)

What a slog this game is going to be. Giants-Jets features an over/under of 30.5 points, which is easily the lowest of the weekend. It’s also the lowest total I’ve ever seen for an NFL game, preseason or not.

Daniel Jones returned to action last week in Houston, and the results weren’t great. Either Jones was rusty after such a long layoff, or he’s simply terrible. I’m afraid the truth may be the latter, but let’s not beat him up too much after one shaky preseason showing. 

The Giants’ offense is likely to struggle this season, though, as they’re set to embark on a campaign without the departed Saquon Barkley there to carry the load. That puts a ton of responsibility on Jones’ shoulders, and I’m not at all convinced he’ll be up to the task.

The outlook for the Jets is a little rosier if they can stay healthy. That’s a big “if”  for a team with a 40-year-old QB, but Aaron Rodgers won’t be suiting up until the regular season begins. Gang Green are off to a solid 2-0 preseason start after low-scoring wins over the Commanders and Panthers.

New York Giants at New York Jets Predictions

Where do we even start here? The Giants are tentatively listed as 1-point favorites, and I’m guessing they’re favored because we’re likely to see Jones get another opportunity to start. The Jets are rolling with Adrian Martinez and Andrew Peasley, which explains why they decided to run the ball 28 times against Carolina.

Betting the under on a game with a 30.5 total sounds scary, but are these teams capable of scoring? The lack of faith from oddsmakers is completely justified, and that’s my favorite way to get action on this game…if you must.

NFL Bet: New York Jets (+105), Jets -1 (-110), Under 30.5 (-110)

Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Cleveland Browns+105+1 (-110)Over 35.5 (-110)
Seattle Seahawks-125-1 (-110)Under 35.5 (-110)

The Browns will make a trip to the Pacific Northwest to cap off their preseason against the Seahawks. Cleveland is winless through 2 games this summer, and they’ve mustered just 22 total points in losses to the Packers and Vikings.

We’re unlikely to see Deshaun Watson until Week 1, so prepare for another combination of Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Seattle. DTR saw most of the snaps last week, though Cleveland’s only TD game on a rushing score by running back Aidan Robbins.

The Seahawks will play in front of their home supporters for the first time after kicking off the preseason with clashes in Los Angeles and Tennessee. They’re 1-1 thus far after a narrow 1-point loss to the Titans last week. 

Seattle is expected to make defense a focal point this year under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Like most teams, the Seahawks opted to sit their starters last week in Nashville. Sam Howell again impressed after drawing the start in place of Geno Smith, as he connected on 11 of his 14 passes for 153 yards and a TD. Howell has the inside track to Seattle’s backup job after coming over from Washington earlier this offseason.

Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks Predictions

In another likely battle of the backups, I like what I’ve seen from Howell enough to back Seattle as a slight home favorite. This looks like another game with the potential to turn into a defensive slugfest, but there’s value to be had in the Seahawks’ moneyline.

NFL Bet: Seattle Seahawks (-125), Seahawks -1 (-110), Under 35.5 (-110)

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints Odds

TeamMoneylineSpread Total
Tennessee Titans-185-3.5 (-110)Over 34.5 (-110)
New Orleans Saints+154+3.5 (-110)Under 34.5 (-110)

The Saints are likely going to be a dreadful football team this season, though the first-teamers fared well enough in a cameo appearance in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. Derek Carr played the entire first quarter before ex-Oklahoma standout Spencer Rattler came in to replace him. New Orleans’ lone touchdown of the game was a Taysom Hill rushing score in the second quarter.

The Titans – another rebuilding squad – are 2-0 so far in the Brian Callahan era. They’ve beaten the Niners and Seahawks by a combined 5 points, but wins are wins. Malik Willis started in place of Will Levis last week, though it was Mason Rudolph who ultimately stole the show. The former Steeler went 10-for-17 for 125 yards with a score in Tennessee’s 16-15 win over Seattle.

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints Predictions

The Titans are heavily favored in this one with -185 moneyline odds on the road. I could see Tennessee using this game as a regular-season dress rehearsal with Will Levis preparing for his first season as the starter coming out of camp. The Titans will likely be without DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd once again, but Calvin Ridley and Treylon Burks could see the field, too. 

New Orleans has less to gain by giving time to veterans like Carr and Alvin Kamara. Tennessee looks like a good bet to cover the 3.5-point spread here, too.

NFL Bet: Tennessee Titans (-185), Titans -3.5 (-110), Under 34.5 (-110)

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Arizona Cardinals+145+3.5 (-110)Over 35.5 (-110)
Denver Broncos-175-3.5 (-110)Under 35.5 (-110)

Somebody break up the Broncos! We can’t glean too much from preseason results, but Denver looks impressive. They’re off to a 2-0 start after a 34-30 win over the Colts followed by a  27-2 trouncing of the Packers last week. 

Denver has gotten inconsistent play out of Jarrett Stidham, but first-round rookie Bo Nix looks like the real deal. The former Heisman Trophy runner-up went 8-for-9 against Green Bay for 80 yards and a touchdown. He also tucked it and ran 3 times for 12 yards, for good measure.

As of now, Nix looks like a real threat to begin the season as the QB1 over Stidham. The Broncos wouldn’t have risked the 12th overall pick on the Oregon product if they didn’t believe in his talent, and he’s looking like a wise selection through his first 2 games of NFL action.

The Broncos are solid 3.5-point home favorites as they prepare to welcome the Cardinals to town this week. Arizona appears destined for another last-place finish in the NFC West, and they’re 0-2 to begin preseason play. We’re unlikely to see Kyler Murray in this game, which likely means more action for Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder running the show.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos Predictions

I like what I’ve seen from the Broncos enough to have some faith in them to complete a perfect preseason this week. Assuming Sean Payton doesn’t name a starting QB for Week 1 before this game, we should get another look at all 3 of Nix, Stidham, and Zach Wilson.

With each QB motivated to prove they should be the rightful starter, I think the Broncos will put some points on the board once again in this one.

NFL Bet: Denver Broncos –175, Broncos -3.5 (-110), Over 35.5 (-110)

New England Patriots at Washington Commanders Odds

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
New England Patriots+120+2.5 (-110)Over 34.5 (-110)
Washington Commanders-142-2.5 (-110)Under 34.5 (-110)

At long last, we’ve made it to the end of the preseason. We’ll cap things off with a potential doozy between the Patriots and Commanders. No sarcasm detected.

On Monday, the Commanders officially named Jayden Daniels as the starter for Week 1. That was one of the league’s worst-kept secrets heading into the preseason considering the team’s other options were Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel. Daniels is off to an impressive start through his first 2 preseason games, though I could see Washington keeping him on a very short leash this week, if he even plays at all.  

The Pats have a QB competition of their own to sort out. It sounds as though Jerod Mayo plans to start veteran Jacoby Brissett in Week 1, though he hasn’t played all that well to this point. Brissett completed just 3 of his 7 throws with an interception in last week’s 1-point loss to the Eagles.

Drake Maye – the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft out of North Carolina – was far more impressive. He went 6-for-11 with 47 yards and supplied a rushing touchdown. We’re going to see Maye start for the Patriots at some point this season, though it’s still looking as though Brissett will get the nod once the regular season gets underway.

New England Patriots at Washington Commanders Predictions

New England may well be the worst team in the NFL this season, and I think they’ll be lucky to win 4 games. The preseason is a different animal entirely, though, and I don’t think Washington is going to put its best foot forward with the regular season looming on the horizon.

Even with the team’s unsettled QB situation, I think the Pats look like a good value at plus-money moneyline odds.

NFL Bet: New England Patriots (+120), Patriots +2.5 (-110), Under 34.5 (-110)

NFL Preseason Week 3 Best Bets

After looking over the entire week, the following wagers are our NFL Preseason Week 3 best bets:

  • Denver Broncos -3.5 (-110)
  • Seattle Seahawks -1 (-110)
  • New York Giants at New York Jets Under 30.5 points (-110)

Betting on these 3 individually offers a minimal payout, but you can parlay them for a bigger payday. Putting $100 down on these 3 wagers will pay out $595.79 if it hits