NFL Predictions Week 3: Best Picks Against the Spread (ATS)

Two weeks of NFL action have exposed the pretenders. Follow our NFL Week 3 predictions because these are the best picks against the spread.

Todd Salem took it on the chin in Week 2 picks against the spread, but at least he can take solace in the fact that even the best handicappers in the world did so as well. Dan Salem had a better time of things, missing one pick by just half a point and nailing another. A half-point from a perfect record! NFL Week 3 is the time when teams begin to reveal their actual selves. Todd plans to do the same.

Super Bowl 51: How Each Team Can Still Go On to Win

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the best picks against the spread in Wednesday’s NFL Sports Debate.

2016 Record Against the Spread:

Dan Salem: 3-1
Todd Salem: 1-3

Let’s keep the party rolling into NFL week 3, because we now know who can score points and who simply enjoys punting until mistakes are made. Punting is a losers mentality.

Todd Salem’s Week 3 Picks ATS

Washington Redskins +4.5 at New York Giants

I have fallen into a pattern of selecting road teams, which isn’t ideal. But this one jumps out as the Redskins being undervalued. The Giants may be in first place at 2-0, but they also have scored four total points more than their competition across those two wins. The team’s offense has been poor in both games. They are also set to face something they simply cannot cover: a dominating tight end.

New York’s best safety is a run stopper and their linebackers are inexperienced. Kirk Cousins has struggled but he should have Jordan Reed as an outlet all game long in this one. Washington has obviously looked worse than NY thus far on the year, but it’s not by as much as the diametrically opposed records would indicate.

San Francisco 49ers +10.5 at Seattle Seahawks

This line is as high as 10.5 points in some locations and it makes no sense. I realize no one likes the 49ers this season, myself included. But has anyone watched the Seahawks play football? Their offensive line is a mess at worst and a work-in-progress at best. They have very few reliable skill players—and Russell Wilson is banged up to boot.

Not only would it be a long shot to see Seattle cover a 10.5-point spread, but it has barely reached that threshold in total points in either game this season! Seattle is averaging exactly 10.5 points per contest, having already played two probably below average foes in Miami and Los Angeles. San Francisco may be worse, but Seattle’s offense isn’t good enough for it to matter.

Dan Salem’s Week 3 Picks ATS

Arizona Cardinals -4.5 at Buffalo Bills

I prefer to pick either the home team or the team getting points, but this week that all goes out the window. Did you see how bad Buffalo looked at home in Week 2? They needed three big plays to keep the game close, and even then they lost by six points. The Cardinals will not allow themselves to get beat over the top like the Jets did.

Arizona is a very good football team. They destroyed their opponent last week and lost on a missed field goal against New England to open the season. They will easily win by a touchdown against a Bills team struggling to keep it together. I’ve never known firing someone to spark improvement in an offense, especially not so early in the year. Rex Ryan fired his offensive coordinator. Enough said.

Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 at Philadelphia Eagles

Another game that’s too good to pass up. The Eagles may have looked good against the likes of Cleveland and Chicago, but those are two of the worst teams in the NFL. Pittsburgh is going to eat up and spit out Carson Wentz and I see no way that Philadelphia stops the Steelers’ prolific offense.

Vegas is giving too much credit towards home field advantage in this game. Both teams are from Pennsylvania and only one of them is really good. Give the measly 3.5 points and ride the Steelers to victory in Week 3.

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