NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds & Preview

NFL

The NFL preseason concludes this week with teams making their final preparations for the start of the regular season and games that matter. It’s hard to determine the motivation for each coach, but just about every club accomplished what it wanted to and it’s hard to imagine we’ll see many regulars play in Week 3. Getting a win could be an important factor with 10 clubs having yet to taste victory during the exhibition campaign.

I don’t think we have to be concerned about teams like Kansas City and Buffalo, who are among the favorites in the AFC. They are among the 10 teams that have yet to win this preseason and the Bills can erase memories of their 38-0 loss to the Bears with a matchup against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Buffalo opened as a 2-point favorite on the NFL betting line. Week 3 of the NFL preseason gets started with a pair of games on Thursday and concludes on Saturday with 10 more games.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview

Of the new head coaches in the NFL this season the most intriguing is likely Ben Johnson with the Chicago Bears. The former Lions offensive coordinator directed one of the most prolific units the past few years leading Detroit to the playoffs. He’s tasked with altering the Bears offense, which has been one of the most inept in the NFL.

Again, it’s only the preseason and the Bears played Buffalo backups on Sunday, but former No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams looked good directing a 92-yard touchdown drive in his first series of the preseason. The Bears won 38-0 scoring their most points in any game since Week 5 of the 2023 season.

Williams and Patrick Mahomes are likely to sit out the preseason encounter on Friday with Kansas City laying 4-points on the opening line. Joe Flacco isn’t the long-term answer at QB for the Browns, but he is the temporary solution. The veteran was named the starter last week with the competition now for his backup and the future of the franchise.

The battle between Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders is tight with both having impressive first outings. Gabriel was 13 of 18 for 143 yards and a TD in the 22-13 win over Philadelphia.

Point spread favorites covered in eight games with a push in Week 2. The Rams beat the Chargers outright, 23-22, as a 7-point dog, which was the biggest spread in Week 2. The Rams are also the biggest dog on the Week 3 opening board catching 6-points in their game at Cleveland. Check out all of the betting options in this football betting guide.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Schedule and Odds

Thursday, August 21

Pittsburgh Steelers (-5, 36.5) at Carolina Panthers
New England Patriots at New York Giants (-3.5, 38)

Friday, August 22

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (-2, 37)
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys (-4, 36.5)
Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans (-3, 38)
Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs (-4, 39)

Saturday, August 23

Baltimore Ravens (-2.5, 35.5) at Washington Commanders
Indianapolis Colts (-2.5, 39.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns (-6, 38.5)
Houston Texans at Detroit Lions (-1.5, 36)
Denver Broncos (-5, 38.5) at New Orleans Saints
Seattle Seahawks (-1, 38) at Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins (-3, 37.5)
Buffalo Bills (-2, 38) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers (-5, 37.5)
Las Vegas Raiders at Arizona Cardinals (1.5, 38)

NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview

One thing you can count on in the preseason is Baltimore winning a lot of games. And the success has carried over to the regular season with the Ravens one of the most successful teams. Since John Harbaugh took over the club is an astounding 46-17 in exhibition matchups covering the NFL betting line in 43 of those matchups.

The Ravens were at it again in Week 2 routing the Cowboys, 31-13, with Lamar Jackson and a number of regulars not playing. The Ravens are laying 2.5-point for their preseason finale Saturday at Washington.

The Denver Broncos have been the best team so far this preseason winning both games by a combined score of 57-16 with two payouts. On Saturday with mostly backups on the field, the Broncos routed Arizona 27-7 getting another productive outing from Jarrett Stidham, who was 16 of 23 for 240 yards and a pair of TDs.

The Broncos have shown tremendous depth this preseason leading coach Sean Payton to say roster decisions will be far more difficult this year. Denver closes the preseason Saturday against Payton’s former team the New Orleans Saints as a 5-point favorite on the early line.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Prime Free Picks

Choosing to sit starters and a majority of regulars the entire preseason, the Rams have had varying degrees of success. They won both games outright this year and head to Cleveland for the exhibition finale on Saturday.

With the uncertainty surrounding Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett has been a shining light, tossing a game-winning TD pass in the final seconds to beat the Chargers in Week 2. Not only have the Rams been able to rest starters during preseason, they’ve built depth across the roster with plenty of players getting snaps. Backing LA and the points is a good bet.