Week 3 NFL Preseason Picks: 3 Team Parlay for Friday, August 28th 2009

The third week of the NFL preseason schedule is the best indicator of how teams will perform in the regular season. And when it comes to NFL betting, football fans can relax a little more knowing the starters are playing at least the first half. Here’s a look at some of this weekend’s hottest games. Click here to bet on week 3 NFL preseason football at Betus online sportsbook.

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (-3, 41)
Arizona is winless in the preseason. But what could be called a Super Bowl hangover is more the product of some weapons missing on offense. Receivers Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston were both sidelined at practice this week with injuries and will miss Friday night’s game with Green Bay. Rookie WR Michael Ray Garvin is also out with a knee injury, leaving the Cardinals with just Larry Fitzgerald and a corps of unproven wideouts.

The Packers are keeping a close eye on their quarterback situation for Friday’s game. Starter Aaron Rodgers is expected to get most of the snaps in the first half but may have to come in if third-stringer Brian Brohm gets hurt. Backup Matt Flynn was injured in last week’s game, leaving Green Bay with just two healthy arms. Brohm has looked shaky under center this preseason and passed for 83 yards and an interception against Buffalo last Saturday.

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys (-7, 37.5)
The Niners finally put an end to an offseason of QB questions, announcing this week that Shaun Hill would be the team’s starter for Week 1 of the regular season. However, he could get limited time against the Cowboys on Saturday. Hill injured his back at practice this week but plans on playing. San Francisco’s starters are expected to log the entire first half, with some playing into the third quarter. Backup Alex Smith is out of action with a sprained thumb, so bettors could see a lot of third stringer Damon Huard if Hill’s back is sore. Huard took reps with the first team during Thursday’s practice.

The big stink in Big D is the height of Cowboys Stadium’s giant screens that hover over the 50-yard line. Last week the Titans punted a few balls off the screen, leading the NFL to plead with owner Jerry Jones to raise them. Jones is being a stick in the mud about the scoreboards and the NFL is meeting to see what can be done. Until then, arching punts will turn into line drives at Cowboys Stadium, giving Dallas more room on returns. On offense, wide receiver Sam Hurd has been impressive at camp – so much so the team isn’t risking his recent quad injury and will sit him this weekend, making an already thin receiving corps even thinner.

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5, 36)
The Bills got good news on another key offensive player when X-rays on running back Fred Jackson’s wrist came back negative. The backup RB will play an important role for Buffalo while the team weathers star running back Marshawn Lynch’s three-game suspension to start the regular season. Jackson is not expected to play against Pittsburgh on Saturday and will join wide receiver Terrell Owens on the sidelines. Owens was working out on his injured toe this week but will miss his third preseason tilt.

The Steelers will give starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the green light against the Bills after the burly pivot missed last week’s game against the Redskins. Roethlisberger, who is nursing an injured foot, will play the entire first half and maybe more with third-stringer Dennis Dixon out and backup Charlie Batch coming off a rough outing. Steelers kicker Jeff Reed will miss Saturday’s game, leaving the kicking duties to rookie Piotr Czech.

Parlay Pick: Green Bay (+3)/ Dallas (-7)/ Steelers (-5.5)