NFL Tipsheet: Mini previews and recommended bets for all Week 3 fixtures

Luca Bercelli
19 September 2014

Paul Kruger enjoys the moment as Cleveland beat New Orleans in week two

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After a stonking week two with 12 out of 15 correct predictions, Luca Bercelli provides a tipsheet for all this weekend's games

"The Ravens won handily last week, but let's not forget that they were extra-motivated after the Ray Rice scandal, and that the Steelers are average at best. Another overreaction sees the Browns as underdogs...I'll take the +1.5pts all day long."

Back the Cleveland Browns +1.5pts @ 2.01/1

San Diego Chargers @ Buffalo Bills
Sunday, 18:00

The Chargers kicked some serious butt last week, treating the reigning Superbowl champs to an Antonio Gates masterclass. In reality, both of these teams have rediscovered their mojo, but in a tight game I just side with the Chargers, who are surprisingly underdogs after last week's heroics.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 18:00

The Ravens won handily last week, but let's not forget that they were extra-motivated after the Ray Rice scandal, and that the Steelers are average at best. Another overreaction sees the Browns as underdogs...I'll take the +1.5pts all day long.

Recommended Bet
Back the Cleveland Browns +1.5pts @ 2.01/1

Dallas Cowboys @ St Louis Rams
Sunday, 18:00

Dallas QB Tony Romo can get up off the prayer mat now that his Cowboys have engineered a potent running game. Rather than starring in a human pinball highlights show as he usually does, he should be able to orchestrate a balanced attack, taking full advantage of a shaky run defence. Waking up on Monday morning without a raging headache, arm ache, leg ache, chest ache (you get the picture), but with one more W under his belt will be sweet.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
Sunday, 18:00
TV: Sky Sports 2

Watch out for the first instance of quadruple coverage on Megatron. It could happen! One of the trickiest games to predict, it seems that whichever team gets a running back to come to the party will have the edge. Reggie Bush has been quiet so far, but this is his big chance to shine before the jelly and pass the parcel. I think he will.

Houston Texans @ New York Giants
Sunday, 18:00

JJ Watt on offence? Are you kidding me! As if the Giants didn't have enough on their plate after their awful start to the season; now they have to contend with a 6ft 7in freak roaming around in the endzone, sniffing out touchdown passes. The price for a Houston win is huge @ 2.01/1

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 18:00

The Colts will win this but the Jags are not totally impotent (note their fast start against the Eagles in week one) so, with skinny win odds and a sizeable handicap this is time to get the beer and popcorn in and cheer on the scoreboard.

Recommended Bet
Back over 45.5 pts @ 2.111/10

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 18:00

The Vikings minus Adrian Peterson are like tea without three sugars...dire! Still, the Saints haven't exactly set the league on fire, spluttering as they have to a 0 - 2 record. Their close loss to the Hawks in week one looks better after Thursday night, so they should win. But giving away 9.5pts? Nah, I don't think so. This is one to swerve for win purposes and, as with the last match, have some fun and cheer on every offensive play.

Recommended Bet
Back over 49pts @ 1.9520/21

Oakland Raiders @ New England Patriots
Sunday, 18:00

The only question here is; how low can they go? Unfortunately for Oakland Raiders' fans, the answer is very low indeed. Tom Brady doesn't strike me as the most sympathetic human being so I'm guessing he'd like nothing more than to humiliate the jokers in black and white. After a sluggish start last week the Pats will be keen to get off to a flyer so back them on the first half handicap.

Recommended Bet
Back the New England Patriots -6.5pts in the first half @ 2.01/1

Tennessee Titans @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 18:00

No longer the bungles, these Bengals are for real, and with tip top receiver AJ Green reportedly over his slight injury, Titans beware. I expect the Bengals D to dominate this one so the handicap of -6.5pts looks ripe for the plucking.

Recommended Bet
Back the Cincinnati Bengals -6.5pts @ 1.910/11

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, 18:00

RG who? That's what the kiddies are saying...don't shoot the messenger. Now that the golden child is out of the picture, (at least for the next couple of months), Kirk Cousins might actually turn this shambolic franchise into a force. Not a Tsunami-type force, more of a Severn Bore kind of deal. Not earth shattering, but definitely not to be trifled with. This one could be closer than the odds suggest and I'm going out on a juicy 3.412/5 limb.

Recommended Bet
Back the Washington Redskins @ 3.412/5

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 21:05

49ers' QB Colin Kaepernick got so rattled last week while losing to the Bears that he ended up receiving an $11k fine for 'inappropriate language'. That's a helluva lot to pay for uttering the word 'fiddlesticks', but worse than that is the damage to his swagger. Don't get me wrong, he's a phenom, but this might be just the best week for the Cards to face him. I like their chances with the points.

Recommended Bet
Back the Arizona Cardinals +2.5pts @ 2.26/5

Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 21:25
TV: Sky Sports 2

Peyton Manning is going to have less friends in Seattle on Sunday than Alex Salmond will likely get at his own leaving party. Not that he'll be too bothered; what will annoy him is the distant memory of a nightmare Superbowl shellacking. He'll be happy to have Wes Welker back but I just think that the Hawks have his number and he'll be as fidgety in the pocket as Linford Christie with a dose of crabs. Get with Seattle any which way you like.

Recommended Bet
Back the Seattle Seahawks -4.5pts @ 2.01/1

Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 21:25

Waterboard me for 10 minutes straight and then ask me to pick a winner. I still wouldn't have a clue. Two up and down, but ultimately average QBs leading two squads that would bite your hand off now for an 8-8 record. One ray of light is Chiefs' running back Jamaal Charles. If he makes it to the field on Sunday, and he should, he gives Kansas the edge.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Carolina Panthers
Monday, 01:30
TV: Channel 4

Big Ben Roethlisberger passed his audition as a crash test dummy with (literally) flying colours last week after a monstrous hit by third year man Courtney Upshaw. That lowlight was pretty much also Pittsburgh's only highlight in a 26-6 loss to the 'not very good' Ravens. I expect much of the same courtesy of the Panthers' defence and Ben might as well take a comfy seat with him and stick it in midfield. He'll be watching most of this one horizontally.

Recommended Bet
Back the Carolina Panthers -2.5pts @ 1.84/5 (Best Bet)

Chicago Bears @ New York Jets
Tuesday, 01:30
TV: Eurosport

Geno gets better each week for the Jets, and the defence (cornerbacks aside) is formidable. Head coach Rex Ryan is still struggling to shake off his joker image and for that reason they don't get the credit they deserve. Maybe the pundits will wake up after they pound the Bears and wipe the snarl off of Jay Cutler's face.

Recommended Bet
Back the New York Jets to win @ 1.758/11