NFL week 3 tips, predictions, free bets and sign up offers: Five bets to look out for this week
THERE’s already been a season’s worth of storylines in the first two weeks and with just seven teams still holding perfect records, the NFL is remaining as unpredictable as ever. With that in mind, these five picks on the spread could well be worth your time… (2021 Predictions: 5/10 50%) Bears @ Browns (-7.5) – […]
THERE’s already been a season’s worth of storylines in the first two weeks and with just seven teams still holding perfect records, the NFL is remaining as unpredictable as ever.
With that in mind, these five picks on the spread could well be worth your time…
(2021 Predictions: 5/10 50%)
Bears @ Browns (-7.5) – 18:00
It’s a case of looking at the spread rather than the result here: Chicago played much better than their opener last week, albeit against a poorer side in the Bengals.
Cleveland went 6-2 at home last season but the last four home regular season games saw them fail to cover the spread.
The Bears have had a top 10 defence for a few years now and outside of a mad couple of minutes on Sunday, they were efficient in shutting down Joe Burrow.
Expect the Browns to lean on their run game as they do so often, but the Bears are currently 5th in rushing yards allowed per game.
It’s a trap game that I do expect Cleveland to win, but not by more than a touchdown.
Prediction: Bears 21 Browns 28 (Bears +7.5)
Chargers @ Chiefs (-6.5) – 18:00
How will the Chiefs respond to getting shocked by the Ravens? History suggests well, with it being almost two years since Kansas City suffered back to back losses.
But it’s fair to say that despite their incredible talent, they have ridden their luck a little at times: nine of their last 10 wins have been by one touchdown or less.
The Chargers should never have lost to the Cowboys on Sunday but snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has been an art form for this franchise in recent years.
And yet… Justin Herbert has won his last three road games, scoring regularly in the process.
It’s another big spread that I don’t fancy KC to cover, even if they do prevail in a shootout.
Prediction: Chargers 31 Chiefs 35 (Chargers +6.5)
Seahawks (-1.5) @ Vikings – 21:25
This is a surprise: The Hawks might have dropped the ball spectacularly by letting Tennessee steal the game late on but they haven’t turned into a bad football team overnight.
The Vikings meanwhile have all sorts of problems after falling to 0-2 already after two heartbreakers.
There are a lot of question marks on Minnesota: The run game has been lacking, the kicking woes stretch to about 47 years at this point, and can Danielle Hunter keep bailing out the defense for 17 games?
It’s a very short spread to cover for the Seahawks on the road: Look for them to get back to winning ways.
Prediction: Seahawks 27 Vikings 21 (Seahawks -1.5)
Buccaneers @ Rams (-1.5) – 21:25
The Rams beat the Super Bowl champions last year but it’s a different beast that will come into SoFi Stadium: The Bucs have won 10 straight (the last nine with 30+ points) and are marching on despite not playing anywhere near their best.
It sounds crazy to suggest that the offense can improve after putting 48 on the Falcons but it’s true. Tom Brady is on course to throw more TDs in his 40s than in his 20s (what?) and the fountain of youth he drinks from doesn’t look like drying up soon.
There was only one trip to the West Coast last year for the Bucs (a win, predictably) but the last time they played the Rams in LA they scored 55 points in a wild affair.
It could be wild again, and there will be no looking a gift horse in the mouth here: It’s not often you get to pick a Brady-led reigning champs team with a points head start.
Prediction: Buccaneers 38 Rams 34 (Buccaneers -1.5)
Packers @ 49ers (-3.5) – 01:20
It’s a slightly shortened week for Aaron Rodgers and co. but they got the offense purring against Detroit and it’s now onto San Fran and Jimmy Garoppolo, who is keeping Trey Lance at bay (for now).
There’s no doubt that the 49ers are a good football team, but explosive offense isn’t their MO: Only scoring 30 or more points twice in the last 11 games.
That could provide some welcome respite to a Packers defense that has been severely tested already by the Lions and Saints. Rodgers is 5-3 against the Niners in the regular season: It’s a cushy spread and I actually fancy the mild upset.
Prediction: Packers 24 49ers 21 (Packers -3.5)
Acca:
Bears +7.5
Chargers +6.5
Seahawks -1.5
Buccaneers +1.5
Packers +3.5
Pays 23.76/1 @ Paddy Power
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