NFL Week 3 Betting Preview

There is another full slate of NFL action on tap for Week 3, and it’s been a strange start to the year. Betting favorites will be trying to stop all of the upsets in Week 3, and here is an outlook for each matchup. 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-5.0)

Time: 8:15 pm
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 123.328; Cleveland 133.774
Dunkel Line & Total: Cleveland by 10 1/2; 34
Vegas Line & Total: Cleveland by 5; 38
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-5); Under

AFC North rivals meet up on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 3. Both teams have new quarterbacks running the show, but it’s the Browns that have the better overall team.

Take Cleveland to win in Week 3 and cover the five-point spread. 

Kansas City Chiefs -6.5 at Indianapolis Colts

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 134.061; Indianapolis 130.842
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 3; 53
Vegas Line & Total: Kansas City by 6 ½; 50
Dunkel Pick: Indianapolis (+6 ½); Over

The Indianapolis Colts are still looking for their first win in Week 3, and they aren’t going to get it while hosting the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. Indianapolis will be able to cover the 6.5 points, but it’s still going to be a loss as the Chiefs move to 3-0. 

Baltimore Ravens -3.0 at New England Patriots

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore 130.018; New England 133.756
Dunkel Line & Total: New England by 3 ½; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 3; 43
Dunkel Pick: New England (+3); Under

After blowing a big lead in Week 2, Baltimore goes on the road to New England as favorites. The Ravens aren’t going to be able to turn things around, as it will be the Patriots that pick up a big win on Sunday. 

Houston Texans at Chicago Bears (-2.5)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 127.629; Chicago 126.716
Dunkel Line & Total: Houston by 1; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 2 ½; 40
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+2 ½); Over

A pair of bad teams meet up in Chicago as the 1-1 Bears host the 0-1-1 Texans. This game could end up featuring a ton of punts, but it will be the Texans that are able to pull off the upset and win this game outright. 

Las Vegas Raiders -2.0 at Tennessee Titans

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Las Vegas 130.936; Tennessee 126.058
Dunkel Line & Total: Las Vegas by 5; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 2; 46
Dunkel Pick: Las Vegas (-2); Under

The Tennessee Titans are an absolute mess, and facing the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 isn’t going to help. Las Vegas is a two-point favorite on the road, and the Raiders will win this game and cover the spread to push the Titans to 0-3.

Buffalo Bills -5.5 at Miami Dolphins

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 150.235; Miami 135.832
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 14 ½; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Buffalo by 5 ½; 52
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (-5 ½); Over

AFC East rivals meet in Miami when the Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills. Both teams might be 2-0 this season, but these teams are not equal. Buffalo will cruise to a double-digit win to move to 3-0 on the year. 

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (-5.5)

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 123.982; Minnesota 136.095
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 12; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 5 ½; 52
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-5 ½); Over

The Detroit Lions are much improved, but they face a tough matchup in Week 3 against the Vikings in Minnesota. Detroit is going to play hard, but the Vikings are too talented, and they win and cover the spread with a double-digit victory. 

Cincinnati Bengals -4.5 at New York Jets

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 128.324; NY Jets 129.643
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Jets by 1 ½; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Cincinnati by 4 ½; 45
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (+4 ½); Under

The Bengals are suffering through a Super Bowl hangover, and they have a tough challenge ahead in Week 3. New York has been better than expected this season, and that trend will continue in this game. Look for the Jets to stun the Bengals and win outright in Week 3.

Philadelphia Eagles -5.5 at Washington Commanders

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 136.746; Washington 124.195
Dunkel Line & Total: Philadelphia by 12 ½; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 5 ½; 50
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-5 ½); Under

The Eagles look like the clear class of the NFC East this season, and they will try to prove it once again in Week 3. Washington is good enough to provide a challenge, but the Eagles cruise to a double-digit win to cover the spread. 

New Orleans Saints -3.0 at Carolina Panthers

Time: 1:00 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 131.661; Carolina 119.537
Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 12; 36
Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 3; 40
Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-3); Under

NFC South Division rivals meet up in Carolina as the Saints try to get back on track against the winless Panthers. It’s been a rough start for Carolina, and that continues as the Saints win this game and cover the spread on the road. 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers (-7.0)

Time: 4:05 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jacksonville 129.793; LA Chargers 133.064
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Chargers by 3 ½; 51
Vegas Line & Total: LA Chargers by 7; 48
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (+7); Over

Jacksonville is a team on the rise after blasting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Facing the Chargers in Week 3 won’t be easy, but the Jaguars will be competitive. The Chargers win, but taking the seven points is the way to go. 

Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5)

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Green Bay 139.614; Tampa Bay 135.918
Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 3 ½; 36
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2 ½; 41
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (+2 ½); Under

Two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks square off when the Buccaneers host the Packers. Tom Brady is missing a key weapon for the Bucs, and that’s going to impact this game. Bet on the Packers to go into Tampa and pull off the upset win. 

Los Angeles Rams -4.0 at Arizona Cardinals

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: LA Rams 130.581; Arizona 134.728
Dunkel Line & Total: Arizona by 4; 54
Vegas Line & Total: LA Rams by 4; 50
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+4); Over

NFC West heavyweights battle when the Cardinals host the Rams. Los Angeles is a four-point favorite in Vegas, but they shouldn’t be. The Cardinals are the better team in 2022, and they win this game outright.

Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks (-2.0)

Time: 4:25 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 132.417; Seattle 124.635
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 8; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 2; 42
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+2); Under

The 0-2 Falcons take on the 1-1 Seahawks in Seattle in Week 3. This spread shows that the game is expected to be tight, and it will actually be Atlanta that picks up the victory. 

San Francisco 49ers -1.0 at Denver Broncos

Time: 8:20 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco 139.404; Denver 129.402
Dunkel Line & Total: San Francisco by 10; 50
Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 1; 46
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-1); Over

The San Francisco 49ers need a dominant win, and it should happen in Week 3. San Francisco will face a Broncos team that is struggling to score, and the 49ers cruise to a win.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (-2.5)

Time: 8:15 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 127.372; NY Giants 132.750
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Giants by 5 ½; 43
Vegas Line & Total: NY Giants by 2 ½; 40
Dunkel Pick: NY Giants (-2 ½); Over

NFC East rivals square off in Week 3, and the surprising Giants are the favorites. Dallas just has too many injury concerns, and taking the Giants -2.5 is the best way to go.

Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index.

All Media on this page by Associated Press.