-
Look, the Browns have the better defense here and the homefield advantage and they will be AMPED for Thursday Night Football and a chance at the first win since 2016 (not to mention some free Bud Light for Browns fans). But I have a rule, and that rule is if the Browns are favored in a game that Hue Jackson is coaching, I am going to take the points. It hasn't been extremely favorable, because the Browns haven't been favored much, but when they have, it's paid off handsomely. No stage is too big for Sam Darnold. Remember that.
Credit: USATSI
-
This line is lower than I thought it might be, but I could see it climbing thanks to the return of Carson Wentz. I'd prefer fading Nick Foles, obviously, but Wentz barely being cleared for contact against his old offensive coordinator is a fine bet for me. The secret sauce here is the Colts defense has quietly been pretty good under Matt Eberflus. Andrew Luck can keep this close enough for a backdoor cover.
Credit: USATSI
-
We'll see what this line is depending on who plays quarterback for the Titans -- Marcus Mariota or Blaine Gabbert -- but I'm going to take the Titans regardless. The Jaguars are coming off an emotional win over the Patriots and I think the Titans are well coached (yes, already!) and can do enough on defense to keep this within the number.
Credit: USATSI
-
This is a game where I could flip depending on the Panthers offensive line -- Geno Atkins is a problem for a team without interior help on the line. But I thought Cam Newton was pretty darn good against the Falcons in Week 2 and his defense let him down. Luke Kuechly is not going to let Carolina's defense get smoked in back to back weeks and without Joe Mixon, the Panthers should be able to stymy Andy Dalton and Co.
Credit: USATSI
-
New Orleans finally won in Week 1 or Week 2 for the first time since 2004, and the Saints should not have come away with a victory, except for the Browns struggling once again to put away a team. I don't know if there's value here but I'll take the team I currently like better (due to injuries) and the quarterback who is playing better plus the points in a divisional matchup that is always feisty.
Credit: USATSI
-
Weird line here with the Broncos being 2-0 and the Ravens being 1-1, but the Ravens are just the better team, have a good home-field advantage and might match up kind of well with the Broncos defense, in terms of Joe Flacco being able to push the ball downfield to guys like Michael Crabtree and John Brown. Denver is quietly much better against the run but perhaps not great against the pass two games into the season.
Credit: USATSI
-
Everyone saw the Giants struggle on national television, so maybe there's some contrarian play available here in terms of taking the 0-2 team ... except the Texans are 0-2 as well. They just played the Patriots and Titans, two teams I think could end up being in the playoffs in the AFC. Now they get the Giants, without any pass rush and with a very motivated J.J. Watt to bust up a very bad Giants defensive line.
Credit: USATSI
-
What if the Dolphins are ... good? They're the No. 1 ranked defensive team by DVOA at Football Outsiders after two weeks, which is generally a good sign for a team actually being sustainable. It helps to have Xavien Howard as a lockdown corner, and if he shuts off Amari Cooper, it's going to be a long, 1 p.m. ET day for the Derek Carr. I could easily see Kenyon Drake blowing up this week.
Credit: USATSI
-
It's not hard to get why the Packers would be favored here, what with having Aaron Rodgers and all. But the Redskins, after an ugly Week 2 game, present some value, and I like the chances of Adrian Peterson to put together a decent rushing day against a Packers defensive front giving up 4.4 yards per carry through two games against divisional opponents. Redskins win up front on both counts and surprise everyone with a win here, not to mention a cover.
Credit: USATSI
-
This line is SUCH A JOKE. And yet, I can't possibly take Buffalo. Not after riding them as touchdown underdogs last week against the Chargers. 16.5 points is so obnoxious and the Vikings could easily just win by 14 courtesy of some garbage touchdown, but they present a great home-field advantage and know this is a "snuff someone's life out" game and should prevent the Bills from finding the end zone. Score 21 points and it's a done deal.
Credit: USATSI
-
It is extremely scary to bet against the Chiefs right now, after they went on the road and took care of business against the Chargers and Steelers. The 49ers can hang in this game, though, and I expect some serious fireworks from both teams. Kyle Shanahan will scheme up some big stuff for Jimmy Garoppolo, who will hit Marquise Goodwin for a deep ball and this game comes down to the fourth quarter. Give me the points in a close, high scoring game.
Credit: USATSI
-
The Rams are smashing through everyone in their path right now, but they also haven't played anyone who is particularly good yet. I think this could be a bit of a shootout, because the Rams still aren't getting a ton of sacks, and the Chargers offensive line can give Philip Rivers time in the pocket. Do that and he can beat up the Rams corners -- I think the Chargers can match up against this team somehow. We'll see. It's dangerous fading the Rams, but the Chargers are too good to be getting a touchdown in their hometown.
Credit: USATSI
-
Come on. The Bears are 1-1 and could easily be 2-0, but they shouldn't be a six-point favorite on the road just yet, no matter how terrible the Cardinals have looked, especially when it comes to protection up front and Sam Bradford playing quarterback. This is the game where Mike McCoy needs to -- and I mean needs to -- yank out every trick in his bag in order to get David Johnson as many touches as are required for a victory.
Credit: USATSI
-
Dallas looked great in prime time against the Giants (or not terrible?) and the Seahawks looked just plain awful against the Bears. Russell Wilson has no weapons, yet he easily could be 2-0, having not played a single game at home yet. The Seahawks aren't good, but they aren't as bad as people think, and they have a good home-field advantage. A surprisingly convincing victory here for Seattle could send some shockwaves.
Credit: USATSI
-
Taking a team as a touchdown road favorite on prime time is just dumb, but you can't convince me to bet against the Patriots coming off a loss with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady going against one of his old assistant coaches during a nationally televised game. Brady could have a field day against the Lions defense they way they've looked, and they have way more info on Patricia than Patricia does on the Patriots.
Credit: USATSI
-
Concerned about two things here: there's an early reverse line movement on this game and most of the bets are on the Buccaneers. Additionally, as Kenny White pointed out on Tuesday's SportsLine EDGE (on CBS Sports HQ!), the Steelers have been decent against the run. But I'm not facing Ryan Fitzpatrick, AKA FITZMAGIC, on Monday night at home while he tries to hold onto his job and make $10 million next year. Doubt the power of the Bucs weapons all you want.
Credit: USATSI
