NFL Week 3 Picks: 5 Biggest Moves in the NFL Betting Market

Sports handicappers are starting to incorporate NFL power rankings into their normal routine when making their against-the-spread picks each week, which may prove costly due to each team being just two games into its 2012 regular-season schedule.

The San Francisco 49ers are getting backed like a sure thing against the Minnesota Vikings, as they are currently seven-point road favorites in the Week 3 pro football betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while also sitting atop the Bleacher Report's latest rankings.

Let's take a closer look at the biggest line moves that have occurred in the NFL betting market now that the numbers have been available for a couple days.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New Orleans Saints

Both teams are in what many NFL fans consider a must-win situation on Sunday, which caused the oddsmakers to send out the New Orleans Saints as 10-point home favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The number has fallen two points in the last two days despite a considerable amount of the action landing on the host.

Sports bettors will find that the Chiefs are 6-1 ATS after two or more consecutive losses, while the Saints are 3-0 ATS after an upset loss as a road favorite.

I'll have more on this game Sunday morning. 

Opening Line: New Orleans Saints -10

Current Line: New Orleans Saints -8

Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos would have likely opened up as one-point home favorites if they didn't turn the ball over four times in the first quarter on ESPN's Monday Night Football, which led directly to a 27-21 setback to the Atlanta Falcons as three-point road underdogs.

Quarterback Peyton Manning has compiled a 57-57-1 against-the-spread record at home, but covered his only opportunity thus far with the Broncos.

The Houston Texans are one of the AFC's elite teams, but they've also failed to cover their last four games in Week 3.

It's hard to imagine that this line moves any higher. 

Opening Line: Denver Broncos Pick

Current Line: Houston Texans -2

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Green Bay Packers opened up as 4.5-point road favorites against the Seattle Seahawks, but that number has fallen due to a key number.

Casual sports bettors are definitely aware that the Seahawks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog over the last two-plus seasons, but the Packers are 7-4 ATS as road favorites of seven or fewer points in the same span.

Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers is 22-14 ATS on the road during his career, which likely gets the cash.   

Opening Line: Green Bay Packers -4.5
 

Current Line: Green Bay Packers -3

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III ranks 13th in the National Football League with 522 passing yards. That number could improve going against a defense that ranks 29th in the league in allowing 308.5 yards through the air per game.

The upward movement in this total occurred after the Redskins announced that defensive end Adam Carriker (knee) and linebacker Brian Orakpo (pectoral) were both lost for the season.

Be careful in following the move, especially with the Cincinnati Bengals going UNDER the total in 10 of their last 14 games in Week 3.  

Opening Total: 46.5
 
Current Total: 50

San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings

The San Francisco 49ers are the darlings of the NFL through two weeks, which has caused the betting public to jump all over them against the Minnesota Vikings.

I was very surprised that the oddsmakers opened up the 49ers as six-point road favorites, as the current number will attract less one-side action.  

The Vikings may have scored a 26-23 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars as 3.5-point home favorites in Week 1, but that win is overshadowed by this Sunday's opponent winning two games against playoff teams from a year ago.

This line will likely run to 7.5 or higher across the board before kickoff in the betting market.   

Opening Line: San Francisco 49ers -6

Current Line: San Francisco 49ers -7

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