Week 3 of the new NFL season will begin later tonight when the Atlanta Falcons play host to the still winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over at the majors, the Seattle Mariners look to boost their playoff hopes when they face the newly-crowned AL West champions Los Angeles Angels.
Read on for our preview of these two important games and while you’re at it, you can check out our MLB Free Picks for the five best baseball games to bet on today.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons (8:25 PM ET)
Line: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5) at Atlanta Falcons (-6.5); total: 45.0 – see all NFL lines
[sc:Other240banner ]Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had a Week 2 to forget as he struggled to get his game going against the Cincinnati Bengals. A week after his record-breaking performance against the New Orleans Saints in the season opener, Ryan was limited to only 24-of-44 passes for 231 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in a 23-16 loss.
He will like his chances better tonight, though, when he faces the reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are still winless under new head coach Lovie Smith and part of the reason behind that is their ineffective passing game. They are second-worst in the NFL in total passing yards this season with a 168.5 average and QB Josh McCown will need to step it up if they are to record their first win of the year.
The Falcons are 4-1 in their last five meetings with the Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome.
The Seattle Mariners will send Felix Hernandez (14-5, 2.14 ERA) to the mound later tonight in the final game of a crucial four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels as they look to bolster their hopes of landing a wild card slot.
Hernandez was solid in his last outing against the Oakland Athletics. He allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings of work as he carded a no-decision in the Mariners’3-2 defeat to the A’s last September 13th.
He will have his work cut out for him tonight, though, when he squares off with the Angels’ Jered Weaver (17-8, 3.50 ERA). Weaver is 9-4 at Angel Stadium this season with a 2.60 ERA in 17 starts there.
The Angels are 8-2 in their last 10 home games while the Mariners are 6-4 in their last 10 games on the road.
