The NFL preseason is about as wild it gets, with supposed offseason favorites seemingly underachieving as they simply want to test out the depth of their respective rosters. In turn, betting on the preseason can be tough, especially if you like to bank on the underdogs, which are pretty hard to distinguish at this point.
As such, we’ve gathered and analyzed three teams pegged as underdogs in Week 3 that you may want to consider placing bigger stakes on for a sweet profit right before the real action of the regular season kicks off.
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Top Three NFL Preseason Week 3 Sleepers Predictions
New England Patriots (+3.5) at Carolina Panthers (Fri, Aug. 26, 7:30 PM ET)
Brady will likely play already this Friday, but it’s not as if the 2-0 Patriots need him for a full half of play. Jimmy Garoppolo, Brady’s backup for the first four regular-season contests, looked quite exceptional last week. He went 16-of-21 for 181 passing yards and a touchdown in the win over the Bears.
Why the Patriots will lose: Reigning MVP Cam Newton has put in a ton of work and production in the preseason despite the risk of an untimely injury in otherwise meaningless contests. He’s gone a combined 13-for-18 in the air for 198 yards and a TD through the Carolina’s first two preseason games.
If Newton is off to a hot start again for an early Panthers lead, the defending NFC champs may never squander that head start, as what they did in Week 2’s 26-16 victory over the Titans.
Writer’s Prediction: Newton sits this game out while Brady does just enough in less than a quarter for the Patriots (+3.5) to hang on, 27-24.
New York Giants at New York Jets (+2.5) (Sat, Aug. 27, 7:30 PM ET)
Why the Jets will win: The Jets are seeing good returns from their unheralded players, particularly from young wide receiver Robby Anderson. The undrafted rookie out of Temple turned a lot of heads last Friday by hauling in six catches for 131 yards.
Oh, and it also helps that the Giants have yet to win a preseason bout, having been outscored a combined 48-10 with a humbling shutout at the hands of the Bills, 22-0, in Week 2.
Why the Jets will lose: There’s still a quite a significant QB controversy brewing this side of East Rutherford, with former Jets starter Geno Smith and Bryce Petty all having great showings in the preseason, and rookie Christian Hackenberg breathing down their necks. Not to mention the fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not getting as much production nor work in these past couple of weeks yet still remains as the team’s starter.
Smith, Petty and Hackenberg would love nothing more to seize the opportunity to take over Fitzpatrick’s role, which could force the three to make lots of errant decisions for trying too hard to win the job these next couple of weeks.
Writer’s Prediction: The Jets (+2.5) win by a hair against their interstate rivals, 24-23.
Cincinnati Bengals (+1.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sun, Aug. 28, 8:00 PM ET)
Why the Bengals will win: Cincy’s backups have shown great promise on both the offensive and defensive ends. Rookie wideout Tyler Boyd now has a pair of catches of 25 or more yards, while the Bengals D’s role players held Detroit’s supposedly potent offense to just one TD in Week 2’s 30-14 win (and that touchdown was given up in the dying minutes of the game at that).
Why the Bengals will lose: Whenever the Jaguars’ regular starters stepped on the field this preseason, they play really play to win. Blake Bortles has led Jacksonville to two scoring drives in each of the past two weeks, and his partner in crime, wide receiver Allen Robinson, has a combined 114 receiving yards himself.
Cincinnati needs to contain the Jags’ early barrage, and it remains to be seen if the team is willing to give its own starters more playing time just for a better shot at winning Sunday’s contest.
Writer’s Prediction: The Bengals (+1.5) cruise to victory, 28-17.
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