NFL Week 3 Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
It’s once again time to hand out some picks and predictions for NFL games this Sunday. Who are our top four picks for Week 3? Read on to find out.
After a rough 1-3 start to open the season, I rebounded in my picks and predictions last Sunday by going 2-1-1. Had the Redskins held onto their second half lead against the Texans, I would have had a complete reversal of fortune from Week 1 to Week 2.
But such as life, right?
This week, I focus mostly on the underdogs, as three of my four picks are teams getting points. While we make predictions for every NFL game here at theSpread.com, these picks that you see here are my top four selections for the week. Let’s cash ‘em and everyone have a great Sunday.
Here are my picks and predictions in Week 4:
San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00PM ET
If you think the Chiefs are legit playoff contenders and haven’t been playing over their heads, by all means – pick the home team getting the points. But the 49ers are the better team in this matchup and are desperate for a victory. Something doesn’t feel right with the line (why is a 0-2 49er team laying points against a 2-0 Chiefs team playing at home?), but I have no problem laying the points in this situation, although make sure you shop around. The line is being offered at 49ers –3 in some places and –1 in others. Don’t pick the 49ers and then lay a field goal on the road when you don’t have to.
2010 NFL Week 3 Free Pick: SAN FRANCISCO | -1 BroburySports.com
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00PM ET
There are a couple of reasons I like the Falcons here. One, they run the ball extremely well and are facing a team in the Saints whose biggest weakness is stopping opponents’ ground games. Also, New Orleans just played cross-country on Monday Night Football and are therefore working on one day less rest and preparation for a divisional foe. That’s a big advantage for an already good Atlanta team coming off a dominating win. The Falcons have played well defensively up to this point and don’t have to face Reggie Bush after he broke his leg on Monday night. Take the points in this game.
2010 NFL Week 3 Free Pick: ATLANTA | +4 BroburySports.com
Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans, 1:00PM ET
The Cowboys are too good to start the season 0-3 and while the Texans are legitimate playoff contenders, they weren’t sharp defensively last week and their offense is due to stall out. Last year the Saints started the season by scoring 45 and 48 points in their first two outings. In their next two games, they saw a drop-off in scoring despite playing the lowly Bills in Week 3 (they still scored 27 points but again, offenses tend to slow down when they’ve had big outputs two weeks in a row). The Cowboys are going to be motivated to prove themselves against their in-state rival and not start the season 0-3. Keep in mind that Houston also just lost their starting left tackle in Duane Brown, who was just suspended four games. DeMarcus Ware must be licking his chops.
2010 NFL Week 3 Free Pick: DALLAS | +3 BroburySports.com
Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos, 4:15PM ET
Fading Peyton Manning is never easy – in fact, it makes my stomach turn just to think about it. But one thing that factored into my prediction for this game is the natural letdown. The Colts are coming off a big win against the Giants (a win that they needed following an embarrassing loss to the Texans in Week 1) and now have to travel cross-country to take on a Broncos team that nobody is quite sure what to make of yet. If you pick the Colts, you’re going to lay 6 points with a road team coming off an emotional win on national television that now has to play in a hostile environment against a somewhat underrated and undervalued dog. The Broncos got a huge lift from rookie receiver Demaryius Thomas last Sunday and if he can produce again this week, Denver will keep the game close. Of course, the true key is running back Knowshon Moreno, who needs to step up against a pours Colts’ run defense.
2010 NFL Week 3 Free Pick: DENVER | +6 BroburySports.com