NFL WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS: 80% SUCCESS RATE IN JEOPARDY

Week 3 shapes up as a tough one for predictions. After a pretty strong start to the season, I could take a real beating this after a difficult slate of games. Sunday night has the 2-0 Packers visiting the 1-1 Saints and the week ends with Monday’s clash between heavy weight Baltimore hosting defending champion Kansas City. This could be a real blood bath.

Last Week:

Straight up:  14-1  93.3%

Against the Spread (ATS): 9-6  60%

Overall:

Straight Up: 24-6  80%

ATS: 19-11  63.3%

 Chicago (2-0) 26 @ Atlanta (0-2) (-3.0) (47.5): I can understand why the winless Falcons are favorites over the undefeated Bears, but for some reason I like the Bears.

Los Angeles Rams (2-0) 27 @ Buffalo (2-0) (-2.0) 24 (47.0): The Rams have been impressive with wins over the Cowboys and Eagles. They play their second consecutive game on the east coast, but this team looks like the 2018 version to me and can squeak one out in Buffalo. 

Washington (1-1) 23 @ Cleveland (1-1) (-7.0) 20 (45.0): For some reason, I just can’t buy into the Browns winning consecutive games. Washington looked great in the final three quarters of Game 1 against the Eagles, but struggled in Arizona last week. That Cardinals loss won’t look that bad as the season progresses.

Tennessee (2-0) (-2.5) 26 @ Minnesota (0-2) 23 (49.0): It’s been a rough start for the Vikings and the Titans don’t intend to make it any easier for them. This is my fourth straight road team I’m picking to win. Am I crazy or what?

Las Vegas (2-0) 30 @ New England (1-1) (-6.0) 28 (47.5): Why stop now? I like what Jon Gruden has done with the Raiders and I think they’ll roll into Foxboro with a little bit of an edge. The Patriots are still lacking skill player depth, despite the addition of Cam N:ewton at quarterback.

San Francisco (1-1) (-4.0) 24 @ New York Giants (0-2) 27 (41.5): The Giants have competed well in their two losses and despite losing running back Saquon Barkley for the season, they have a good chance to get their first win over a banged up Niners team playing their second consecutive game in the Meadowlands.

Cincinnati (0-2) 24 @ Philadelphia (0-2) (-5.5) 31 (46.0): After taking a 17-0 lead over Washington in Week 1, the Eagles have pretty much disappeared. It’s time for them to show up.

Houston (0-2) 20 @ Pittsburgh (2-0) (-4.0) 27 (45.0): The Texans have been victims of a brutal beginning to 2020, with losses to conference leaders Kansas City and Baltimore. Even so, they haven’t looked good, and Pittsburgh has.

New York Jets (0-2) 24 @ Indianapolis (1-1) (-10.5) 30 (44.5): The Colts stubbed their toe against the Jaguars in their first game, but enter their third game as the biggest favorites of the week. I like the Jets to keep this closer than expected.

Carolina (0-2) 22 @ Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) (-6.5) 30 (43.5): The Chargers got a great game out of rookie backup quarterback Justin Herbert last week. He will start again against the Panthers, who will have a tough afternoon in Southern California.

Tampa Bay (1-1) (-6.0) 20 @ Denver (0-2) 24 (43.0): The Broncos might be the best 0-2 team in the league. Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has a lot of fond experience as a visitor in Denver, but this one might not be as pleasant. 

Detroit (0-2) 17 @ Arizona (2-0) (-5.5) 27 (55.5):  The Cardinals have been impressive this season and there is nothing to lead anyone to believe Detroit has enough to give them big trouble in this one. 

Dallas (1-1) 23 @ Seattle (2-0) (-4.5) 27 (56.0): The Cowboys could easily have won both of their games, or lost them both. Instead they split, but will have to play better as they head to Seattle. The Seahawks have played great in their first two games.

Green Bay (2-0) 31 @ New Orleans (1-1) (-3.0) 27 (52.5): For some reason, despite scoring more points than any other team, heads to the Big Easy as underdogs. That’s not my opinion, as I think the Packers are the most dangerous team in the league. 

Kansas City (2-0) 30 @ Baltimore (2-0) (-3.5) 28 (54.5): In what is easily the most anticipated game of the week, if not the season, we’ll get to see the two most exciting players in the game. Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens will feature their quarterbacking skills on Monday Night Football. I’m sticking with the defending champs.

 The latest novel in the PK Frazier series is now available. "Unplayable Lie", as well as the first three installments, can be found at PK Frazier novels

NFL WEEK 2 PICKS: THERE'S DESPERATION IN THE AIR

 

Week 1 was pretty good, but if Titans kicker Steven Gostkowski had made just one of the missed three field goals and an extra point, it would have been even better ATS. With no preseason and almost no fans in the stands, correctly picking 66.7%of the games is a good start to the 2020 season. To continue the success, perhaps it would be better to just use a dart board or flip a coin, but I’m just not that smart. Week 2 awaits with the 0-1 teams already in desperation mode, with only 11% of 0-2 teams going on to earn a playoff berth since 2002.

Straight up: 10-5 66.7%

Against the Spread (ATS): 10-5 66.7%

Atlanta (0-1) 21 @ Dallas (0-1) (-4.0) 27 (52.5): The Cowboys couldn’t find a way to win a game they probably should have last week at the Rams, continuing losses in close games that extends to last season. The Falcons got soundly beaten by the Seahawks at home and will be dealing with a small but hostile crowd, estimated to be around 20,000, in AT&T Stadium.

Buffalo (1-0) (-5.5) 24 @ Miami (0-1) (41.0) 16 : The Bills got off to a good start to the season with a 10-point win over the Jets while the Dolphins struggled offensively in a 21-11 loss to the Pats. If the Bills are going to challenge New England for the AFC East title, this is a game they need to win.

Carolina (0-1) 26 @ Tampa Bay (0-1) (-9.0) 33 (47.5): Tom Brady wasn’t sharp in his Buccaneer debut in New Orleans, despite playing in an empty Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He threw two interceptions, one for a Saints touchdown and will need to improve for the Bucs to contend for the playoffs. The Panthers gave the Raiders a good battle, giving up a go ahead touchdown in the last five minutes.

Denver (0-1) 20 @ Pittsburgh (1-0) (-7.5) 28 (41.0): After two years out of the playoffs, the Steelers got off to a good start against the Giants, but they’ll take a step up in class against a Broncos team that struggled offensively in a last second 16-14 loss to the Titans. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was in decent form after returning from an elbow injury that caused him to miss almost all of last season.

Detroit (0-1) 21 @ Green Bay (1-0) (-6.0) 30 (49.0): The Packers are coming off an upset of the Minnesota Vikings, scoring the most points of any team in Week 1. A dropped pass inside the five yard line could have given the Lions a win over the Bears, but instead faces an early season must win situation in Green Bay.

Jacksonville (1-0) 16 @ Tennessee (1-0) (-9.0) 23 (43.0): Tennessee barely escaped Denver with a win last week after kicker Stephen Gostkoswski missed three field goals and an extra point before nailing a 25 yarder with 17 seconds left to secure the victory. They’ll need Gostkowski to find his form against a surprising Jaguars team that upset Colts last week behind quarterback Gardner Minshew.

 

Los Angeles Rams (1-0) 26 @ Philadelphia (0-1) (-1.0) 24 (46.0): The Eagles are probably still reeling from watching an early 17-0 lead disappear in an ugly 27-17 loss to Washington. On the other coast, the Rams held off Dallas to win 20-17 in an attempt to return to their Super Bowl form of 2019. The Redskins were able to get to Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz, something the Eagles will need to fix if they hope to avoid starting 0-2.

Minnesota (0-1) 27 @ Indianapolis (0-1) (-3.0) 24 (48.5): Neither of these teams had a good start to the season as they suffered big defeats to division foes. The Vikings gave up 43 points to the Packers last week and will need to play better against Phillip Rivers and the Colts.

New York Giants (0-1) 20 @ Chicago (1-0) 27 (-5.5) (42.0): The Bears escaped Detroit with a big divisional win and is looking to continue the good play at home. They gave up a lot of yards, but limited the damage while the Giants never really got their offense going against the Steelers.

San Francisco (0-1) (-7.0) 30 @ New York Jets (0-1) (42.0): The 49ers are one of only three road favorites this week, coming off a tough 24-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. They’ll need to get past the Jets as it appears Arizona might turn the NFC West into a four team race. After a double digit loss to the Bills, the Jets still don’t look like anything close to a playoff team.

Washington (1-0) 20 @ Arizona (1-0) (-6.5) 24 (48.0): Both of these teams pulled off surprising upsets last week against divisional rivals. Washington’s defense stiffened in the last three quarters against the Eagles and Cards quarterback Kyler Murray will be a stern test, as he was able to erase a ten-point deficit. Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins lit up the Niners secondary for 150 yards on 14 catches.

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) (-7.0) 31 @ Houston (0-1) 20 (51.5): Someone in the NFL front office must have something against the Texans as they’ve had to open the season with consecutive games against the Super Bowl Champion Chiefs and last year’s best regular season performer. Houston lost last week’s game 34 – 20 and they should expect more of the same in Week 2.

Kansas City (1-0) (-9.0) 27 Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) 24 (47.5): The Chiefs successfully began defense of their title while the Chargers headed east and came away from Cincinnati with a close victory. I just have a gut feeling that Tyrod Taylor and the Chargers will give Kansas City a tougher battle than most people think.

New England (1-0) 24 @ Seattle (1-0) 28 (-3.5) (45.0): Week 2 comes to a close with the Patriots making one of the longest road trips in the NFL. Seattle made a similar journey last week and came out of Atlanta with an opening game win. The Pats Cam Newton will have to pull off some heroics for his team to add some joy to the long flight back to Boston.

New Orleans (1-0) (-6.0) 28 @ Las Vegas (1-0) 30 (49.0): The Saints struggled on offense last week and the Raiders are coming off a road win at Carolina. This should have been quite an event for Monday Night Football, with the first ever NFL game being played in Las Vegas, place prior commissioners of league deemed as off limits. Leave it to the Raiders to break that claim, but the game will be played in a brand new stadium without fans. Look for the home team, if they can limit their turnovers, to hand the road favorites a tough loss.

The latest novel in the PK Frazier series is now available. "Unplayable Lie", as well as the first three installments, can be found at PK Frazier novels