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NFL Week 3 Betting Preview

Max Meyer |
September 19, 2013 | 10:35 a.m. PDT

Senior Sports Editor

 

Can Eli Manning prevent the Giants from going 0-3? (Creative Commons)
Can Eli Manning prevent the Giants from going 0-3? (Creative Commons)
After a 9-7 record last week, there were certainly a few interesting lines for Week 3 of the NFL season. This may be the "Week of the Underdog", as 10 of my 16 picks, including both of my best bets, are teams that are not favored. 

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.

MORE: USC-Utah State Betting Preview 

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.

 



 

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