NFL Preseason Week 3 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (8/24)

by BettingPros Staff |
Aug 23, 2024

The 2024 NFL preseason is here! While the NFL preseason isn’t the same as the regular season, it’s still a great opportunity to start scratching your football betting itch. That’s right, you can bet on the 2024 NFL preseason! And we’ll be here to navigate your 2024 NFL preseason betting picks with predictions for each and every game. Here are our top picks and predictions for Week 3 of the 2024 NFL preseason.

Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>

NFL Preseason Week 3 Picks & Predictions

Panthers vs. Bills

The Panthers will finally green-light QB Bryce Young to play in the preseason finale after sitting out the second-year signal caller for the first two games. Head coach Dave Canales is electing to use offensive and defensive starters for the first time this preseason against the Bills, and injured veteran backup Andy Dalton might be able to make his preseason debut, too. At the same time, WR Diontae Johnson is likely to play after battling an illness. At least early on, Carolina should have a little extra jump in this game. The Bills are likely to play it rather safely, as head coach Sean McDermott indicated this week that the team has several injuries at key spots. Backup QB Mitchell Trubisky is out multiple weeks with a knee injury, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is nursing a neck injury, while WR Curtis Samuel and TE Quintin Morris are also out with more than a day-to-day variety of ailments. With Carolina expected to have a bevy of starters and Buffalo likely to have mostly reserves on the field, take the Panthers laying the points in what should be a low-scoring, uneventful game.

Pick: Panthers -4.5 (-115)

Daniel Dobish

Steelers vs. Lions

Mike Tomlin enters his 18th season as Steelers head coach amid much uncertainty. Will Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris be able to carry the load once again? Will the offensive line be better than it was a year ago? Will Justin Fields become an X-factor? The biggest question may be whether Russell Wilson can return to the form that made him a Super Bowl champion in Seattle. In limited action so far this season, Wilson is 8-for-10 for 47 yards, and the Steelers could not put any points on the board in the quarter and a half with him at the helm. The Lions have some tough decisions to make themselves, albeit good ones. After years of ineptitude, Detroit was a field goal away from the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in 2023. Now, head coach Dan Campbell has to cut some talented players to get down to the 53-man limit before the regular season. Sure, Detroit’s starters on both sides of the ball won’t see the field much, if at all, this week, but they have a much deeper and more talented roster than Pittsburgh.

Pick: Detroit +6.5 (-105)

Tom Stad

Ravens vs. Packers

The Baltimore Ravens will head to Green Bay for both teams’ final preseason game. The Ravens got quality play for veteran Josh Johnson in last week's game against Atlanta. He went 11-for-11 and tallied 120 yards with one touchdown in a 13-12 win over the Falcons. Emory Jones also contributed 100 yards passing on 7-for-9 from the field. Still, the Ravens haven't put up outstanding numbers, but it's better than Green Bay's 2 points against Denver last week. The Packers have heavily relied on Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt and haven't confirmed or denied the potential of playing starters. Toward the end of the game, Clifford and Pratt will be under center. So far, those two have been nothing special. Let's back the Under 33.5 in this one.

Pick: Under 33.5 (-110)

Jason Radowitz

Vikings vs. Eagles

The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles have started the preseason 2-0. Both teams have done some excellent things. The Vikings have been dominant against the run defensively, while the Eagles continue to protect their quarterback. Minnesota no longer has J.J. McCarthy under center due to injury. However, the offense scored 27 against Cleveland last week after Nick Mullins and Jaren Hall combined for three passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Eagles games haven't been as high-scoring. Instead, the defense has held its first two opponents to 13 points despite being on the road in both games. Tanner McKee and Kenny Pickett haven't thrown an interception yet and will likely find success against a subpar secondary for the Vikings. Let's back the Eagles to earn this one at -2.

Pick: Eagles -2 (-110)

Jason Radowitz

Rams vs. Texans

The Rams appear to be trying to see what they have in Stetson Bennett, who improved from Preseason Week 1 to 2. But whether it’s Bennett at QB or someone else, expectations for the Rams offense should be minimal. However, a defense that has not given up a touchdown during the preseason will keep them in the game. As for Houston, if we see C.J. Stroud or any of Houston’s other starters, it will not be for long. But the Texans’ backups are not bad. They’ll generate enough offense to beat the Rams, but the LA defense will make them earn it. We expect Houston to win, but 6.5 points is too large to recommend betting on during the preseason. The UNDER has hit in four of five games between the two teams. In the first two weeks of the preseason, it hit in almost 80% of games. It will hit again here.

Pick: Under 34 (-115)

Travis Pulver

Chargers vs. Cowboys

The one consolation Chargers fans can take from the preseason is this-the offense will not be nearly as bad in Week 1 with Justin Herbert behind center. To say it has been awful would be an understatement, and it doesn’t matter who plays QB(Bennett, Luis Perez, or Max Duggan. In two preseason games, the offense has scored just four field goals. As for the Cowboys, Trey Lance improved from the first to the second preseason game. After trading for him last season, we expect the Cowboys to play him a lot so that they can continue to evaluate him. Because of that, we could see the Dallas offense trying to push the ball downfield. Between the effort on offense and a defense that has been sufficient the last two weeks, the Cowboys will win this game.

Pick: Cowboys -3.5 (-112)

Travis Pulver

Giants vs. Jets

Daniel Jones did nothing to inspire fans for the season in last week’s outing vs. the Texans. So, we may see a good amount of Jones vs. the Jets to get him better prepared for the season. Then again, the team may not want to put him at risk against a solid Jets defense. His playing time may depend on how quickly the Jets pull their starters. What success we see from the Jets offense will likely be on the ground. Houston ran for 114 yards on the Giants defense last week, and the Lions tallied 118 the week before. The Jets offense has done next to nothing in the passing game during preseason play, but the run game has been not bad. The Jets have been the better of these two uninspiring teams, but it would not be shocking if this game gets decided by a field goal on the final possession. Take the UNDER.

Pick: Under 31.5 (-110)

Travis Pulver

Browns vs. Seahawks

The Browns are wrapping up the preseason, and some starters will play. However, QB Deshaun Watson was dealing with arm soreness this week at practice, and it’s unlikely he will go deep into the night, if at all. QB Jameis Winston is a more than capable backup, however. OL Joel Bitonio, WR Amari Cooper, DE Myles Garrett and TE David Njoku are each unlikely to play, while CB Denzel Ward Jr. is still in concussion protocol. For the Seahawks, RB Zach Charbonnet has been nursing an undisclosed injury, while LB Jerome Baker is progressing from a hamstring, but he should be ready for the opener. However, Seattle still has plenty of talent if starters are down, as QB Sam Howell could get an extensive look with the team likely to rest QB Geno Smith, as they already know what they have in him. Cleveland has managed just 11.0 PPG in two preseason games, while Seattle has posted 15.5 PPG while allowing just 9.5 PPG. The play here is to go low on the total, as we shouldn’t see many stars, and a potential battle of backups between Howell and Winston is too close to call.

Pick: Under 36.5 (-110)

Daniel Dobish

Navigate