Scully’s NFL Week 3 Selections

by James Scully

James Scully returns with his best bets for NFL Week 3. Find out why Scully prefers Luck over Wentz, and the Chargers to overcome the Rams! Find out more about how to bet on football at BetAmerica here!

*ATS (Against the Spread) / SU (Straight Up) * PK indicates pick *home team in caps

Denver Broncos +5.5 vs BALTIMORE RAVENS (Sunday 1:00 ET) Both teams feature stout defenses but fading Denver attack that has needed fourth-quarter comebacks to win first two games as home favorites. After tossing three interceptions in opener, Case Keenum went 19-for-35 with no TDs and an interception against Raiders defense last week. He’s now facing the #3 ranked pass defense and points will be hard to come by against motivated Baltimore (-5.5) that wasn’t ready for start of last week’s Bengals game. Ravens are 5-1 ATS in last six home games versus Denver. Joe Flacco looks rejuvenated (won Super Bowl last time he was in a contract year), throwing for more than 600 yards and five TDs from a pair of games, and RB Collins developing into a quality player. Ravens have better overall team presently and 7-1 ATS versus non-divisional foes following a SU double-digit loss. Baltimore rebounds with convincing home win!

NFL Week 3 Betting Pick – Bet Baltimore -5.5 over Denver!

Indianapolis Colts +6 vs PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (Sunday 1:00 ET) Philadelphia gets Carson Wentz back but anybody expecting him to return the same is kidding themselves; QB still favoring surgically repaired knee a couple of weeks ago and similar to Houston’s Deshawn Watson (who also tore his ACL last fall and has been limited as a pocket passer the last two weeks), Wentz won’t be completely comfortable and needs time to get back to full-speed. He lacks weapons presently with both starting WRs sidelined by injury. And the Eagles held to less than 100 yards rushing last week on 24 carries in loss to Tampa. Indianapolis (+6) brings a defense on the rise and features Rookie of Year candidate LB Leonard (18 tackles last week) -- Colts went to Washington and held the Skins, who were leading the NFL in rushing after scoring 3 TDs in week 1, to 65 yards rushing and no TDs last week. And they’ll continue to gain momentum against limited Eagles attack. QB Luck playing with confidence and look for plenty of completions to WR Hilton and TE Doyle against Eagles pass defense that’s surrendered more than 600 passing yards. We’ll take the points as Colts give slumping Eagles all they can handle!

NFL Week 3 Betting Pick – Bet Indianapolis +6 over Philadelphia!

Oakland Raiders +3 vs MIAMI DOLPHINS (Sunday 1:00 ET) Oakland facing tough cross-country road trip for 1 p.m. game and a stingy defense. Raiders haven’t rushed for 100 yards in a game yet and surrendered more than 300 combined rushing yards in a pair of games (140 and 168). And they’ve failed to reach 20 points in both, posting only seven total points after halftime. Miami (-3) is 4-0-1 ATS in last five meetings and underrated defensively; Fish can impose their will upon teams like Oakland. Dolphins have proven opportunistic this season with a +2 turnover margin (Raiders -2) and held a Jets offense that put up 48 points in the opener scoreless in the first half last week. Adam Gase one of the best coaches in football and Miami has outperformed the past two seasons with QB Tannehill sidelined. After a sloppy opener with two interceptions, Tannehill showed nice improvement in week 2 against a good defensive unit (17-for-23, 2 TDs, 0 int) and is poised to keep moving forward with WR Stills playing the best ball of his career and RB Gore still going strong. Miami pulls away for easy cover!

NFL Week 3 Betting Pick – Bet Miami -3 over Oakland!

San Francisco 49ers + 6.5 vs KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (Sunday 1:00 ET) Kansas City has been an offensive juggernaut, scoring 80 points as QB Mahones has tossed 10 TDs and no interceptions in the first two games, and they’ve been able to mask defensive woes as Chiefs dead-last in overall and pass defense. It’s the third-most penalized defense in the NFL and KC has surrendered 12 more first-downs (66 total) than the 31^st worse team. These issues will catch up to them against SAN FRANCISCO (+6.5), who held their own at Minnesota in opener and exit confidence-building win in which they accumulated 190 rushing yards. QB Jimmy Garoppolo set to go off against Swiss-cheese secondary and talented defense will receive a boost as LB Reuben Foster returns from suspension. KC yet to face any adversity with a new QB and well-coached Niners are 6-3 ATS in road games under Shanahan. San Fran keeps this one close!

NFL Week 3 Betting Pick – Bet San Francisco +6.5 over Kansas City!

Los Angeles Chargers +7 vs LOS ANGELES RAMS (Sunday 4:05 ET) Rams lost three starting LBs from last year’s 28^th ranked run defense and benefitted from opening season against a pair of bad teams. They still had to rally to win opener against suspect Raiders offense that amassed 300 yards passing and are laying too many points in this cross-town rivalry. Los Angeles Chargers (+7) can put opponents on their heels with a high-scoring, balanced attack. QB Rivers completing 73% of his passes (680 yards, 6 TDs, 1 int) and RB Gordon presents a major challenge on both ground and air (leads team with 15 catches). Chargers are 6-0 ATS as 2+ point non-conference dogs and 4-1-1 ATS in last six meetings vs the Rams. And the Lightning Bolts play better on the road, posting a 5-2-1 ATS record in last eight away games. They play stingy run defense and will look to force Rams’ QB Goff into mistakes. Rams could still prove best but this one figures to be close either way.

NFL Week 3 Betting Pick – Bet Los Angeles Chargers +7 over Los Angeles Rams!