NFL Best Bets for Week 3

Week 2 was one to forget for many teams, and that was no exception for our best bets. We had three favorites covering, two of them lost outright, with the Raiders upsetting the Ravens and the Browns beating the Jaguars. This week, we roll with three favorites again. However, they are for three very different reasons. With that said, let’s dive into the picks.

BUCS -6.5 vs Broncos

The first favorite in this week’s picks was selected because I believe this team is good. The pre-season talking heads were quick to hand the division over to the Atlanta Falcons, but both the Buccaneers and Saints have other plans. I know the Broncos are 0-2 and need a win. I know that half of Tampa’s secondary is shelved, and Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton will look to exploit that. I just don’t care. I am laying the 6.5 points and taking the Bucs to win this game comfortably. Todd Bowles should still be able to dial up some looks for rookie Bo Nix, who has struggled with moving the ball down the field. Nix is 11 of 36 with four interceptions on passes more than FIVE yards. Couple this with some injuries on the offensive line (including high-priced RT Mike McGlinchey), and I think it will be another rough outing for Nix to keep up with Baker and the Tampa Bay offense.

SEAHAWKS -4.5 vs Dolphins

The second favorite of this week’s picks is more about the opponent. The Dolphins suffered a dual defeat last week at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Not only did they lose the game, but they also lost their quarterback and team leader, Tua Tagovailoa, to another head injury. The team now turns to Skylar Thompson. The third-year player has appeared in 8 games, completed 57% of his passes, and boasts a 1:3 touchdown to interception ratio. Thompson may turn out to keep the Dolphins steady, but starting your first game of the season at Seattle against Mike McDonald is not the ideal way to kick it off. Listening to the Dolphin players (and coach) after last week’s loss, it feels like the air was released from the collective balloon.

BENGALS -7.5 vs Commanders

The last favorite of this week’s picks is about desperation. Cincinnati is a good team that hasn’t figured out its rhythm yet, but I think this week could be it. The Bengals know they cannot drop to 0-3 and so I think they will be ready and focused for this week’s game against the lowly Commanders. Burrow is 15-6-1 ATS after a loss, and he will look to finally have both his star receivers this week. Meanwhile, the Commanders have given up 30+ points per game, and there is no reason to think it stops this week. This will be a track meet of a game, and I don’t think the Commanders (who have yet to net a passing touchdown) can keep up with the Cincinnati firepower