It was a disappointing .500 week for our NFL picks in Selection Corner last week, leaving at respectable 5-3 on the season. So we’re raring to go with a few gems in Week 3. We’ve already dispatched some pretenders (hello, Jacksonville) and we’re seeing some contenders emerge that weren’t necessarily on the football experts’ radars. Here are my four picks designed to finish in the money.
Selection Corner – 2017 Week 3 NFL Picks
Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)
Baltimore has continued to show a stoutness, both on offense and defense. They’re creating turnovers, not giving up the big play, they’re running the ball effectively and they’re protecting Joe Flacco. The Jaguars are a perennial work in progress. Blake Bortles scares the crap out of any football betting aficionado. You can’t rely on him. In what is essentially a neutral site we’ll lay the points and take the better team. Ravens in a cakewalk.
Cleveland Browns (-1.5) at Indianapolis Colts
I know, right? The Browns favored on the road versus anyone? The Colts are not led by Peyton Manning or even Andrew Luck at the moment. But they do still have some weapons and almost won a game last week. Unlike the Browns QB, Jacoby Brissett has won a game in the NFL. Cleveland is also battling a few injuries. Give me the points and the home underdog. Give me the Colts.
Denver Broncos (-3.5) at Buffalo Bills
This will mark the first road game of the NFL season for the Broncos, who are off to a 2-0 start. Meanwhile, the Bills are as advertised; they play good defense, run the ball well and can’t throw downfield. It’s the latter that makes them very limited, as Denver will bring its No-Fly defense into Orchard Park and simply stack the box to stop Tyrod Taylor and the Bills. With 7 touchdown passes thus far, we expect Trevor Siemien to do enough to cover the spread. Give the points and take Denver.
Oakland Raiders (-3.5) at Washington Redskins
Derek Carr and the Raiders are on a roll. I have them as the best team right now in the NFL. So what can Kirk Cousins and Washington do about it? I don’t think much. I expect a high-scoring tilt, especially since RB Robert Kelly is banged up for D.C. Lay the points and take the Raiders.
Matthew Ross is a sports commentator and a radio host on TSN 690 Radio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Follow him @MatthewWords.