NFL Week 3 Betting Preview
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RAVENS (+2.5) over Texans
The defending Super Bowl champions have not looked good to start off the season, and Ray Rice could potentially be out for the game this week. The Baltimore Ravens got killed against the Denver Broncos in Week 1, and scored just 14 points against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2.
Yet, I still think they are the top bet on the board this week.
The Houston Texans haven't been great in their two games either. In fact, they can easily be 0-2. All it took were collapses from the San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans. The defense as a whole has not looked nearly as effective as last year.
The Ravens have an incredible homefield advantage. Since 2010, they have won 24 out of their 27 home games. Two of the three losses over that span have come against their rival Pittsburgh Steelers, and the other one was by Peyton Manning's Broncos last season. Does Matt Schaub really have what it takes to win in Baltimore?
Additionally, it doesn't help that the Texans have to travel after playing an overtime game the previous week. Home underdogs this season have gone 6-3 against the spread, and in a game where I think the Ravens should be favored, betting on this home underdog this week is a no-brainer.
Giants (+1) over PANTHERS
Both of these teams are 0-2. I'm sorry, but isn't it much more likely that Ron Rivera starts off 0-3 than Tom Coughlin? Considering Rivera's Panthers have started off 1-5 and 1-6 in the 2011 and 2012 seasons respectively, the Giants will be the team that rises in this must-win game.
When people start to doubt the Giants, that's when Eli Manning and the G-Men strike. Since 2007, in the 40 games in which the Giants have been an underdog, they have beaten the spread in 26 of them.
Manning has struggled with turnovers this season, as he's already thrown seven interceptions. The Panthers, however, have a banged-up secondary, and they will have serious trouble covering Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and even tight end Brandon Myers.
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The Panthers haven't been great as a home team in the past ten years either. Since 2003, the Panthers are 32-47 against the spread when they've been at home.
In the end, there's something about trusting Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning in close games that I simply cannot do with Ron Rivera and Cam Newton. And if that wasn't enough, Coughlin's brother passed away this week, so the Giants will play extremely hard for their coach.
Other Picks:
Chiefs (+3.5) over EAGLES
Cardinals (+9) over SAINTS
COWBOYS (-3.5) over Rams
Lions (+1) over REDSKINS
VIKINGS (-6) over Browns
PATRIOTS (-7) over Buccaneers
Chargers (+3) over TITANS
BENGALS (+3) over Packers
DOLPHINS (-2.5) over Falcons
JETS (-1) over Bills
Colts (+10.5) over 49ERS
Jaguars (+19) over SEAHAWKS
STEELERS (+2.5) over Bears
BRONCOS (-14.5) over Raiders
LAST WEEK 9-7 || SEASON 9-7 || LAST WEEK'S BEST BETS 1-1
Reach Senior Sports Editor Max Meyer by email.