NFL Picks and Rankings Week 3: Against-the-Spread Perfection Remains for 8 Teams

Week 2 of the 2011 NFL regular season still has a game remaining, but neither the New York Giants or St. Louis Rams will fall into this category at the completion of ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Eight teams remain undefeated against the spread, but only three possess a perfect straight-up record to go alongside.

Let's go inside the numbers and rank these teams from a betting perspective.

No. 1 New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have tallied winning spread records in each of the past four years, accumulating a 38-30-1 ATS mark over that span. It looks like more of the same in 2011.

One of three teams with a perfect ATS and SU record, quarterback Tom Brady has this team covering the number by an average of 7.25 points a contest.

The schedule has been somewhat difficult to start, playing in South Beach on Monday Night Football, followed by a 35-21 win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 2 as seven-point home favorites.

The team is running on all cylinders and will be aiming for its eighth consecutive spread victory over the Buffalo Bills next week.

No. 2 Detroit Lions

It's official.

The Detroit Lions are worthy contenders in the NFC after tallying their largest margin of victory in franchise history in a 48-3 win over Kansas City.

After finishing the preseason as the only team to register a perfect 4-0 ATS and SU record, the Lions have not slowed down in running their streak to six consecutive wins in each category, covering the spread by an average of 22 points a contest.

Oddsmakers have sent the upstart squad out as four-point road favorites next week in Minnesota, a place where they've failed to cover the number in four of the last five years.

No. 3 Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are placed ahead of the Houston Texans due their difficult schedule in the opening two weeks.  Few teams have yet to play a home game, but none have traveled like America's Team.

Quarterback Tony Romo showed some guts in leading his team to a 27-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers as three-point road favorites Sunday.

If not for a costly fumble inside the New York Jets five-yard line, the Cowboys would be even higher on this list.

The team is 1-0-1 ATS this season and head home for two games—starting with the Washington Redskins.

Might want to take a picture of the perfect spread mark, as Dallas is 0-4 ATS when playing host against its NFC East rival.

No. 4 Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are still not one of those teams you can ultimately trust at the betting window, but they are perfect heading into Week 3.

After picking up a decisive 34-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts as nine-point home favorites, the Texans escaped with a 23-13 victory as field-goal favorites over the Miami Dolphins.

It's possible that the talent is finally living up to the hype on this roster, but bettors have been scared to dive in due to lackluster spread performances the past two years.

The next two weeks will test the team's ability to continue cashing tickets inside the sports book, traveling on the road against New Orleans before welcoming Pittsburgh.

No. 5 Oakland Raiders

One of three teams amongst the list that has tallied a 2-0 ATS mark despite playing its opening two contests away from home.

Oakland nearly joined Detroit, Houston and New England with a perfect straight-up record as well, but was unable to hold three different leads in dropping a 38-35 contest to the Buffalo Bills.

The Raiders have been sent out as an underdog for the third consecutive week, hosting the New York Jets in Week 3.

No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are the third team on this list to start the season on the road the first two weeks.

I've placed them directly below the Raiders due to the difference in schedule strength, even thought its a very small margin between the two.

Not much was expected from this franchise with a rookie quarterback opening the season, but that's led to a perfect 2-0 ATS record heading into its first home games against San Francisco in Week 3.

No. 7 Arizona Cardinals

It hasn't been easy, but the Arizona Cardinals are 2-0 ATS, as bettors have sweated out each of their contests.

The team has managed to cover its first two contests by an average of just two points, including a 22-21 loss versus the Washington Redskins as 3.5-point road underdogs.

Bettors beware—Arizona is allowing 476 yards per game defensively, which is 29th in the league.

Ironically enough, the top team on this list (New England), ranks two notches below them in total defense.

No. 8 San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco was unable to hold onto a 14-point first half lead Sunday, dropping a 27-24 overtime contest to the Dallas Cowboys at home.

The 49ers were lucky enough to get two special team scores last in Week 1, coming out with a 33-17 win over Seattle as six-point favorites in the home opener.

Fortunate enough to tally a 1-0-1 ATS mark thus far, it could end up falling like a rock with road games in Cincinnati and Philadelphia upcoming.

Alex Smith is arguably the worst-performing quarterback of any team on this list—hence the No. 7 spot in the power rankings.