We’re still waiting for that first major upset in the NFL. Through two weeks, many of the favorites have won outright.
The Giants and Panthers were close to breaking through, but didn’t get the job done late. Will massive underdogs finally kick through in Week 3?
I’ve added NFL expert picks for Week 3 and discussed them below.
Major Injuries Are Key With This Week’s Picks
The Bengals lost Joe Burrow for most of the season. Ironically enough, the Bengals are set to face the Vikings, who also lost their starting quarterback for a few weeks in J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings will use Carson Wentz under center, while the Bengals will have Jake Browning. Call me crazy, but I’d prefer backing Browning and the Bengals in that one.
Additionally, the Commanders may be without Jayden Daniels this week. They’d have to settle with Marcus Mariota at home, against the Raiders.
I’ve got a bet in both games, along with one other game. Let’s see how important these NFL injuries really are to some of these teams.
Bengals vs. Vikings (-3.5)
The Vikings have struggled in seven of their first eight quarters with J.J. McCarthy under center. After last week’s loss to the Falcons, the Vikings announced McCarthy would be sidelined with an ankle injury. However, it seems like they’re ultimately benching him and that there’s no real injury.
The Vikings aren’t playing well and need to insert a veteran at quarterback before it’s too late.
That said, the Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a toe injury. He’s out for at least three months, but has been injured countless times in his career. Jake Browning is the backup and has a lot of experience as a starter from last season.
I’ll trust Browning and the Bengals on the road at +3.5.
Expert Pick: Bengals +3.5 (-130) at Caesars
Raiders vs. Commanders (-3.5)
Geno Smith has thrown one passing touchdown and four interceptions through two games this season. He can only go up from here. especially when facing a Commanders team that hasn’t looked good in coverage to begin with this season.
The Commanders have also looked weak in the tackling department on defense. There’s reason to believe in the Raiders’ offense on the road in this one.
On the other hand, it looks like Marcus Mariota will start for the Commanders. Without Jayden Daniels, Washington’s offense looks depleted. Take the Raiders at +3.5.
Expert Pick: Raiders +3.5 (-110) at Caesars
Cardinals vs. 49ers (-1.5)
The 49ers lost Brock Purdy a couple of weeks ago due to an injury. He’ll be back soon, but it won’t be this weekend. Mac Jones is San Francisco’s backup, and he played well last week, totaling nearly 300 yards passing and three touchdowns in a win over the Saints.
The 49ers looked like the defense of old with Robert Saleh. The run defense needs to improve, but it’s heading in the right direction.
Conversely, the Cardinals have played two games against the league’s weakest teams. I’m not sold on the Cardinals. The run block has not been good, and that’s one area where the 49ers can exploit.
While a quarterback injury will hurt the Commanders, I don’t think it’ll hurt nearly as much for the 49ers. Jones already looked good last week and now has more confidence heading into this divisional matchup.
Expert Pick: 49ers ML (-125) at Caesars
Tail Any of These Bets at The Top Sportsbooks
Above, I added three NFL expert picks for Week 3. I attacked three games where at least one starting quarterback is out of the game. Ultimately, that’s where I see the value this week.
If you agree, consider tailing any of these three bets with a sportsbook account at one of our top-rated betting sites. You can use any promotional offer that is connected to OddsTrader to earn even more benefits when you first sign up and place your bet!
So what are you waiting for? Hop in on the action and tail these bets!
Could OddsTrader Turbo Help You?
If you’re looking for even more help with sports betting, consider joining OddsTrader Turbo. OddsTrader Turbo has five-star picks with a 73% accuracy rating. It’s also added an exclusive BetStation chatbot for expert advice, betting tips, and AI-powered insights.
With OddsTrader Turbo, you can sync all your sportsbooks into one spot to better help you track all your bets. You’ll also get game alerts and real-time line movement updates sent right to you. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, consider joining OddsTrader Turbo!
More Expert Picks
Check out Jefe Picks’ deep dive into Week 3 of the NFL season below. And remember to visit our YouTube channel for more daily betting advice!
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
