With two weeks in the books, it feels like we are starting to understand where many of these teams stand. There are Super Bowl contenders, like the Packers and Bills, surprise competitors like the Colts and Cardinals, and then my Chicago Bears find themselves as bottom feeders yet again. Still plenty of season to go, and we have some great games today!

So without further ado, it is time to bring you our expert NFL Week 3 Picks Straight Up. Below, you will find my picks, some highlighted matchups, and the schedules and spreads for every game this week.

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 Picks Straight Up & Odds For All 16 Games

With Week 3 here, we have some great matchups on paper with 16 games on the slate! In the following section, you will find my predictions, with the teams I anticipate coming away with a victory highlighted in bold. Odds are courtesy of BetMGM:

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 Picks Straight Up: Arizona Cardinals ML (+114 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Quick question… Why are the undefeated Arizona Cardinals underdogs against the banged up San Francisco 49ers? While yes, Mac Jones put up an impressive performance last week, that was against the New Orleans Saints, who were widely regarded as the worst team entering the 2025 NFL season. The Niners also lost one of their guards, Ben Barch, to injury during the game and Jauan Jennings left the outing with an ankle injury as well. 

Meanwhile, they will be taking on a Cardinals team that is relatively close to full health. This Cardinals team has been impressive against the run as well, only allowing Chuba Hubbard to gain 38 yards on the ground under 4.0 yards per carry. Even if the Niners can slow down the Cardinals offense (which I am expecting to continue to improve with a more creative run game and better utilization of Marvin Harrison), I would still expect this tough Cardinals defense to force Mac Jones to struggle in the passing game with a banged up supporting cast even more. Give me the Cardinals to walk away with this divisional matchup at a great value.

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 Picks Straight Up: Dallas Cowboys ML (-104 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

It hurts so much to pick against my Chicago Bears, but the value is here unfortunately. Both teams are coming off of incredibly high scoring affairs, but the Cowboys were the ones in a real shootout. The Bears were just getting absolutely demolished in Ben Johnson's return to Detroit. The Bears are not fielding a competent team as of right now. When the offense is working, the defense falls apart and when the defense makes a tough stop, the offense isn't clicking. At the very least, the Cowboys are reliable on offense. They will put up points.

The bottom line for me is injuries. The Bears are incredibly banged up on the defensive side of the ball, most notably at corner. With Jaylon Johnson possibly out for the season and Kyler Gordon still banged up, the Bears don't have anyone consistent or reliable to cover on the inside or outside, meaning the Cowboys should be able to move the ball through the air with ease. I think the Bears will be able to put up points as well against this struggling Cowboys defense, but I can't expect them to keep up until I see the Bears offense play a full game. Give me the Cowboys to walk away with a win in a high scoring affair. 

 

 

 

How To Bet On NFL Week 3 With The BetMGM Bonus Code & Unlock $150 In Bonus Bets

If you want to make the most of our free picks, try signing up to BetMGM with our exclusive bonus code ALARM!

This welcome bonus is straightforward and inclusive, giving you the chance to place wagers on any matchup you like during NFL Week 3. After registering through this offer, simply deposit at least $10 and place a qualifying bet of $10 or more.

As long as you bet at least $10 with your first bet, you're ready to just kick back and root for it to win. If it does, you’ll get $150 in bonus bets, even if you're betting a big favorite like the Bills over the Dolphins! In other words, you’re getting 15/1 odds on anything when you become a new member with our BetMGM bonus code ALARM!

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 Spreads For All 16 Games Provided By BetMGM Sportsbook

We just unveiled our NFL Week 3 picks, and below are the spread odds for each matchup, provided by BetMGM Sportsbook:

  • Dolphins +12.5 vs. Bills -12.5 (TNF)
  • Colts -3.5 vs. Titans +3.5
  • Steelers -1.5 vs. Patriots +1.5
  • Jets +7 vs. Buccaneers -7
  • Raiders +3.5 vs. Commanders -3.5
  • Rams +3.5 vs. Eagles -3.5
  • Falcons -6 vs. Panthers +6
  • Bengals +3 vs. Vikings -3
  • Texans +1 vs. Jaguars -1
  • Packers -8 vs. Browns +8
  • Broncos +3 vs. Chargers -3
  • Saints +7.5 vs. Seahawks -7.5
  • Cardinals +1.5 vs. 49ers -1.5
  • Cowboys +1 vs. Bears -1
  • Chiefs -6.5 vs Giants +6.5 (SNF)
  • Lions +5.5 vs. Ravens -5.5 (MNF)

Be sure to come back and check out our NFL Week 3 Picks Against the Spread or take advantage of our BetMGM bonus code ALARM by signing up now!