Along with the point spreads and over/under totals for each game this Sunday, here are a couple of odds that stand out to me for Week 3 in the NFL.
49ers –3 at Chiefs, 1:00PM ET
Why are the 49ers favored in this game? I realize that the public isn’t totally convinced that the Chiefs are a contender, but they’re the 2-0 team here – not the Niners. The line should probably be KC –1 or even –2, but San Francisco being favored makes me wonder what the lines makers are up to. That said, despite the records the 49ers are still the better team and I believe this is the week the Chiefs come back down to earth. Even though they picked up a road win last Sunday, they barely squeaked by the Browns and now they have a desperate San Francisco team coming in this week. Turnovers killed the Niners on Monday night or else they probably beat the Saints behind Alex Smith’s solid play.
THE LEAN: 49ERS –3
Falcons +4 at Saints, 1:00PM ET
I’ve had this game circled on my calenderer for months for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, Falcons-Saints games are always highly entertaining and when two playoff contenders get to lock horns it usually makes for good football. But one other reason is because Atlanta matches up well with New Orleans. The Falcons can run the ball and if there were a weakness on the Saints’ defense to attack, it would be their interior. The Falcons dominated the line of scrimmage last week in a blowout over the Cardinals and if they can do that again this week, then they’ll keep Drew Brees on the sidelines and New Orleans’ offense off the field. Atlanta’s defense has also played well two weeks in a row now and New Orleans just lost one of their explosive offensive playmakers in Reggie Bush (leg). This is a field goal game either way, which is why I like the Falcons getting the points.
THE LEAN: FALCONS +4
Cowboys +2.5 at Texans, 1:00PM ET
I believe. I believe that the Texans are legitimate playoff contenders this year and I believe that the Cowboys aren’t as bad as they’ve looked the past two weeks. Houston is coming off two emotional wins, one against their biggest rivals in the Colts, and the other in a dramatic come-from-behind-win over the Redskins last Sunday. They’re due for a letdown and with a desperate Dallas team coming to town, this could be the weekend they suffer their first loss. DeMarcus Ware could have a field day now that starting left tackle Duane Brown (suspended) is out for the Texans.
THE LEAN: COWBOYS +2.5
Raiders +4.5 at Cardinals, 4:00PM ET
Even though they’re playing the Raiders, the Cardinals shouldn’t be favored by 4.5 points over anybody right now. They have massive issues at quarterback and in their defensive front seven, and are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Falcons in Week 2. Bruce Gradkowski has proven to be a bit of a sparkplug for the Raiders’ offense and while the team’s offensive line is still a mess, Darren McFadden might be in store for another big day if Arizona’s run defense plays as poorly as it did last Sunday in Atlanta.
THE LEAN: RAIDERS +4.5
