Week 3 of the NFL preseason is here and it’s all starting to feel a bit more real, isn’t it?
Traditionally, this was the game when we’d see the starters, but since the preseason was shortened we expect a good deal less of them, but we can still try to read the smoke signals on Saturday evening…
NFL Preseason Saturday Week 3 Acca
6pm: Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills
#WhatOddsPaddy – Buffalo Bills 1+ Rushing Touchdown
6pm: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
Handicap: Lions +7
6pm: LA Rams @ Houston Texans
Total Points: Under 34.5
12:30am: New York Giants @ New York Jets
Handicap: Giants -2.5
These selections combined pay at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
6pm: Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills
#WhatOddsPaddy – Buffalo Bills 1+ Rushing Touchdown
The Panthers have been interesting to track for all the wrong reasons this preseason. Everyone wants to know if they can rescue Bryce Young having invested their future draft picks in the 2023 first overall pick only to see him struggle mightily in his debut season.
There were encouraging reports from joint practices with the Jets last week, and Young has sat for both games so far, so we can’t infer much regarding his personal prospects under new head coach Dave Canales, but, from the output we have seen on Carolina’s part, you would’ve hoped for more signs of life as they try to turn this operation around, but they are 0-2 with just one TD to show for their efforts, and that was scored by running-back Dillon Johnson, who has been waived since.
That is one more touchdown than the Bills have managed through two games though.
It’s a bit of a surprise, and may signal a change in attitude from coach Sean McDermott, that the Bills haven’t been especially good this preseason, though his comments after the Patriots blow-out in week 1 suggested he wanted to see more from his team before the real games start.
He did get six more points – all via his kicker, the accursed Tyler Bass – and a win, 9-3, over the stinking Steelers. He also saw his running back collect over 150 yards. If they can do similar this week, you have to think they’ll roll in for a core and break the Bills’ duck.
6pm: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
Handicap: Lions +7
A play simply based on the handicap number being too high for this game.
The bet Steelers backers are making is that the roiling QB competition between presumptive starter Russell Wilson and spicy back-up Justin Fields generates play of such quality and for such an extended period of this game that it carries Pittsburgh past the Lions by more than a touchdown.
That could happen, sure, but there’s very little evidence thus far this preseason that the offence is suddenly going to click. They’ve combined for eight punts, three turnovers on downs, one missed and one made field goal.
The Lions back-ups aren’t anything sensational either, but there’s every chance this is within the margin here.
6pm: LA Rams @ Houston Texans
Total Points: Under 34.5
The preseason has been brutal for overs backers so far, with last week’s games going 14-2 against. We can only surmise this is partly explained by the trend towards less and less playing time for starters.
Sean McVay notoriously discounts the importance of these games. That led to some massive points disparities in their exhibition games last year.
This year, their defence has put up a much sterner effort and LA are, somehow, 2-0 despite the offence scoring just 13 points in both their games.
We’d expect them to continue to underwhelm against the Texans.
Their offence could threaten the total as they have looked good so far, but given the lack of interest likely on the Rams side it’s worth taking under here.
12:30am: New York Giants @ New York Jets
Handicap: Giants -2.5
I’m not going to say this late leg is worth staying up for – it’s definitely not – but that’s one of the reasons it’s worth including here.
The Jets won last week against Carolina with Aaron Rodgers nowhere to be seen.
They’re expected to trot out the same rotation of Adrian Martinez and Andrew Peasley at quarterback this week, two names that will strike fear into very few Giants backers.
The G-Men are 1-1 in the preseason so far. Daniel Jones, working his way back from an ACL snap, played snaps in the 28-10 loss to Houston last week, throwing two picks and could’ve added a few more.
We can’t be 100% Jones plays, but it seems likely just to get last week out of his system. Coach Brian Daboll was not pleased after last week’s game either so we can given Big Blue the motivational edge here. I’d take them to cover a fi
NFL Preseason Week 3 Acca
6pm: Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills
#WhatOddsPaddy – Buffalo Bills 1+ Rushing Touchdown
6pm: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
Handicap: Lions +7
6pm: LA Rams @ Houston Texans
Total Points: Under 34.5
12:30am: New York Giants @ New York Jets
Handicap: Giants -2.5
These selections combined pay at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All odds and lines quoted are accurate at time of publication but are subject to change
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