NFL Predictions Week 3: Top Odds Picks, Projections for Every Game on Schedule

Does the NFL's Week 3 slate seem like a collection of toss-ups or what?

There are some large point spreads for the Week 3 matchups, but you shouldn't take them with much confidence.

For instance, after they fell to the Los Angeles Rams 9-3, are we sure the Seattle Seahawks are going to defeat the San Francisco 49ers by nearly two scores?

And sure, the Minnesota Vikings have no Teddy Bridgewater and will be without Adrian Peterson (knee) for at least four weeks, as Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported:

But after what quarterback Sam Bradford did against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, who knows? Perhaps the Vikings can remain within six points of the Carolina Panthers.

There are no sure things in the NFL, which is partly why we tune in week after week. Let's take a look at the Week 3 lineup's point spreads and make some picks:

Date	Time	Away	Home	Point Spread	Pick
Sept. 22	8:25 p.m. ET	HOU	NE	HOU -2	Texans
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	ARI	BUF	ARI -5.5	Cardinals
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	OAK	TEN	Even	Raiders
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	WSH	NYG	NYG -4	Giants
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	CLE	MIA	MIA -7	Dolphins
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	BAL	JAX	Even	Ravens
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	DET	GB	GB -8	Lions
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	DEN	CIN	CIN -3.5	Bengals
Sept. 25	1:00 p.m. ET	MIN	CAR	CAR -6.5	Panthers
Sept. 25	4:05 p.m. ET	LA	TB	TB -3.5	Buccaneers
Sept. 25	4:05 p.m. ET	SF	SEA	SEA -11	Seahawks
Sept. 25	4:25 p.m. ET	NYJ	KC	KC -4	Chiefs
Sept. 25	4:25 p.m. ET	SD	IND	IND -3	Colts
Sept. 25	4:25 p.m. ET	PIT	PHI	PIT -5.5	Steelers
Sept. 25	8:30 p.m. ET	CHI	DAL	DAL -4	Cowboys
Sept. 26	8:30 p.m. ET	ATL	NO	NO -3.5	Saints

What to Make of These Odds?

The Safe Bet: Arizona (-5.5) 

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

There don't appear to be many safe bets on the schedule this week, but chances are strong the Arizona Cardinals will at least beat the Buffalo Bills straight up Sunday.

The Cardinals destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, 40-7.

And unlike many teams in the NFL after two weeks, Arizona hasn't lost a lot of major players to injuries.

Quarterback Carson Palmer, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and running back David Johnson are all working together to make the Cardinals offense balanced and deadly.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals got a boost from the newly acquired Marcus Cooper, who intercepted Jameis Winston twice Sunday.

The Bills, meanwhile, had a respectable game against the New York Jets and almost came away with the win. Ultimately, though, Buffalo's defense couldn't contain the Jets, and it won't be able to do so against the Cardinals.

The Wild Card: Green Bay (-8)

Andy Clayton-King/Associated Press

The Las Vegas oddsmakers are being kind to the Packers. 

But does this squad have what it takes to beat the Detroit Lions by more than a touchdown after falling to fellow division rival Minnesota on Sunday night?

The Packers looked lost against the Vikings at the new U.S. Bank Stadium. Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson connected for the first touchdown in the new arena, but it was all downhill from there. 

Green Bay's wide receivers couldn't get open, and Rodgers looked like the game was going too fast for him. Meanwhile, the Packers secondary was powerless and couldn't stop Bradford and Stefon Diggs from connecting for nearly 200 yards.

That won't be a winning formula against Detroit. Sure, the Lions managed to put up only 15 points against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. But their loss hinged mostly on an ill-timed Matthew Stafford interception. 

Stafford did connect with Marvin Jones for 118 yards and find Anquan Boldin for a touchdown.

Tight end Eric Ebron added another 53 yards through the air, while Detroit got 30-something rushing yards from four different players.

The Packers are on shaky ground, but the odds don't reflect that. 

Betting information via Odds Shark and current as of Sept. 19.