NFL Preseason: Week 3 Predictions and Odds

They will forever be linked and compared after going first and second in the NFL draft this April, and the comparisons will begin quickly in Week 3 of the NFL preseason.

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will battle as the Colts visit the Redskins. Las Vegas almost always favors the home team, especially in August, so RG III is -3.5 at most Vegas sportsbooks this week.

History won't view this game as the real first showdown, but fans, fantasy gurus and betters alike are paying close attention.

Week 3 of this NFL exhibition schedule picks up with three games Thursday night and half a dozen more on Friday. Here's a quick look at this week's early action (with lines gathered from NFLOdds.ca).

Thursday night, former Bengals RB Cedric Benson visits his old stompin' grounds as his Green Bay Packers visit Cincinnati. As of Thursday morning, Green Bay is listed as a three-point favorite over Cincy.

Also Thursday, the Baltimore Ravens host the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Tennessee Titans, with new starting QB Jake Locker, host the Arizona Cardinals.

Baltimore opened at -7 over the Jags, but now sits at -6.5 after some early Vegas wagering, according to the NFL consensus data at OddsShark.com. The Titans started at -4 over the Cardinals, but are now listed at -3.

So far this NFL exhibition season, underdogs have won 14 of 32 games outright—a nearly 50 percent clip—while the totals have leaned toward the "overs" by a 19-13 margin.

Friday the Cleveland Browns, recently awarded the dishonor of being the team least likely to make the playoffs, according to one sports book, are four-point favorites over the Michael Vick-less Philadelphia Eagles. The Miami Dolphins, with rookie starting QB Ryan Tannehill, are three-point home dogs vs. the Atlanta Falcons.

The New England Patriots are 6.5-point road favorites at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings are 2.5-point home faves over the San Diego Chargers.

The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are field-goal favorites at home over the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs are 1.5-point home dogs against the Seattle Seahawks and their rookie QB Russell Wilson.