This week is a dress rehearsal for the NFL teams as the starters get more playing time. Then in Week 4 it will be a crap shoot.
It all starts to hit the fan next week with a full slate of college football games. The parlay card racks will be plump full as we try and pluck one of those 10 team parlays.
We managed to eke out a small win with our picks last week and will try to continue to build some momentum for next week when we’ll really have a lot of plays. So let’s get right into some Week 3 preseason plays.
Thursday
Steelers at Eagles: The only game on the docket. Philly has gone 4-0 the last four years in Week 3 preseason games while the Steelers are 7-0 as a dog against a team coming off back-to-back losses. Pitt has exceeded the total the past four years in Week 3. Eagles defense is not playing well so look for both teams to score. OVER.
Friday
Panthers at Patriots: The main trend is the Patriots have lost their last six games in Week 3. Maybe they just don’t want to take any chances with the golden boy Brady, but the Pats have gone 5-1 OVER the total in those six losses. PANTHERS/OVER.
Giants at Jets: Two really good trends favor the Jets. The Giants, who somehow came back to beat the Colts last week with a 27-point fourth quarter, have dropped their last six Week 3 games and are 1-6 facing a team off a SU dog win. The Jets beat the Bengals last week, 25-17, as a 3½ point dog. JETS.
Raiders at Packers: Oakland has exceeded the total in their last five Week 3 preseason games. OVER.
Bears at Seahawks: All things favor the Seahawks even though we hate laying any big numbers, but under -7 on the Seahawks works. Seattle is 12-1 with HC Carroll when facing a team coming off a win. Bears won last week. Seattle is also 6-1 in their last seven Week 3 preseason games. SEAHAWKS.
Saturday
Cowboys at Dolphins: The Boys have gone UNDER the total in four of their last five Week 3 games, while Miami has gone UNDER in five of their last six. UNDER.
Redskins at Ravens: Two very good trends favor the Skins in Baltimore. They have won seven straight Week 3 games and the black birds have gone 0-5 when favored and coming off back-to-back SU/ATS wins. REDSKINS.
Saints at Colts: The Saints under Payton have gone 10-1 in their last 11 preseason games when playing a team coming off a loss. Colts are coming off a very ugly defeat. New Orleans has won six of their last seven Week 3 preseason games with their last five exceeding the total. SAINTS/OVER.
Rams at Browns: St. Louis benefits from an extra two days of rest as the Browns played Monday. Rams have won their last six Week 3 preseason games. RAMS.
Texans at Broncos: Denver has gone OVER in six straight Week 3 games. Look for scoring. OVER.
Sunday
Chargers at 49ers: The 49ers have just not looked right the past two weeks and the Chargers get an extra two days rest. CHARGERS.
Bengals at Cards: Must take a shot with this 5 p.m. TV game. Will side with the home team as the main trend leads us to them. Bengals 1-6 away when coming off a SU loss as the favorite. CARDS.
Horses
Contest results: At Jerry’s Nugget this past Saturday John Myers took home the first place prize of $800 in the Del Mar Saturday handicapping contest with 111.2 points. Finishing second was GamingToday’s own Robert Mann with 84.2 points. Congratulations to both.
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Follow Richard on Twitter @SabesBet. Contact Richard at [email protected].