With two weeks of the NFL season down, now’s right about the time when people get a better idea of who all 32 teams are. Based on that slowly growing sample size, what do the so-called experts think about Week 3’s slate of games?
Let’s check out the picks of a select group of football experts (the ones who actually seem to be getting their picks right) from three of the most respected media outlets in the industry and see whether they pass muster.
For more expert assistance, this time in fantasy football, check out our Week 3 fantasy football experts guide right here.
[sc:Football ]
Experts’ Picks for 2015 NFL Week 3
CBS Sports
GAMES
Pete Prisco (20-12)
Jared Dubin (19-13)
Dave Richard (19-13)
Redskins @ Giants (-3.5)
Giants
Redskins
Redskins
Bucs @ Texans (-6.5)
Texans
Bucs
Bucs
Bengals @ Ravens (-2.5)
Bengals
Ravens
Bengals
Jaguars @ Patriots (-14.5)
Patriots
Jaguars
Jaguars
Steelers @ Rams (+2.5)
Steelers
Steelers
Steelers
Chargers @ Vikings (-2.5)
Vikings
Chargers
Vikings
Colts @ Titans (+3.5)
Colts
Colts
Colts
Eagles @ Jets (-2.5)
Jets
Eagles
Jets
Raiders @ Browns (+3.5)
Browns
Browns
Browns
Falcons @ Cowboys (+2.5)
Cowboys
Falcons
Falcons
49ers @ Cardinals (-6.5)
Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Bills @ Dolphins (-2.5)
Dolphins
Dolphins
Bills
Bears @ Seahawks (-14.5)
Seahawks
Bears
Seahawks
Chiefs @ Packers (-6.5)
Packers
Packers
Packers
Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin and Dave Richard of CBS Sports have had a lot of success picking against the spread through the first two weeks of the season. But apart from the Steelers, Colts, Browns, Cardinals and Packers, they aren’t unanimous in their picks for the other nine games. (Denver-Detroit and New Orleans-Carolina were not included because the spreads for those games had yet to be released.)
[sc:NFL240banner ]Prisco, the top handicapper thus far at 20-12, went against both Dubin and Richard by picking the Giants, Texans, Patriots, and even the Cowboys to cover the spread.
While it’s still easy to see why he’d pick the Giants and Texans (who will both be at home against the Redskins and Buccaneers, respectively) or even the Jaguars (who will face a Pats team that’s just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games as double-digit favorites), it’s interesting to know what Prisco sees in the depleted Cowboys.
Dallas will be without stars Tony Romo and Dez Bryant against a Falcons team featuring Julio Jones, who has been close to unstoppable through the first two weeks. With a Cowboys running game that has been far from convincing, it seems that Prisco has faith in Brandon Weeden to outduel Matt Ryan. Good luck with that, Pete.
Fox Sports
GAMES
Mike Garafolo (17-15)
Sid Saraf (18-14)
Redskins @ Giants
Giants
Giants
Bucs @ Texans
Texans
Texans
Bengals @ Ravens
Ravens
Bengals
Jaguars @ Patriots
Patriots
Patriots
Steelers @ Rams
Rams
Steelers
Chargers @ Vikings
Chargers
Chargers
Colts @ Titans
Colts
Colts
Eagles @ Jets
Eagles
Jets
Raiders @ Browns
Raiders
Browns
Falcons @ Cowboys
Cowboys
Falcons
49ers @ Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
Bills @ Dolphins
Bills
Bills
Bears @ Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Saints @ Panthers
Panthers
Panthers
Broncos @ Lions
Broncos
Lions
Chiefs @ Packers
Packers
Packers
In Fox Sports’ seven-man panel tasked with picking outright winners, only Mike Garafolo and Sid Saraf have winning records through two weeks. The two are in agreement on 10 of the 16 games, and most notably have both the Chargers and Bills winning on the road. The two games are essentially toss-ups (Minnesota is only a 2.5-point favorite at home, while the Dolphins are field-goal favorites) and could go either way.
The game that could have the biggest chance to end up opposite their predictions is Minnesota beating San Diego. The Vikings bounced back from their Week 1 humiliation at San Francisco in a big way against the Lions. Adrian Peterson totaled 193 yards from scrimmage, while the Vikings defense pressured Lions QB Matt Stafford all night long.
That performance bodes well for the Vikings against the Chargers, who were themselves dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage by the Bengals.
SB Nation
GAMES
Stephen White (16-16)
Joel Thorman (16-16)
David Fucillo (18-14)
Redskins @ Giants
Giants
Giants
Giants
Bucs @ Texans
Texans
Texans
Texans
Bengals @ Ravens
Ravens
Ravens
Bengals
Jaguars @ Patriots
Patriots
Patriots
Patriots
Steelers @ Rams
Steelers
Steelers
Steelers
Chargers @ Vikings
Vikings
Vikings
Vikings
Colts @ Titans
Colts
Colts
Colts
Eagles @ Jets
Jets
Eagles
Jets
Raiders @ Browns
Browns
Browns
Browns
Falcons @ Cowboys
Falcons
Falcons
Falcons
49ers @ Cardinals
Cardinals
Cardinals
49ers
Bills @ Dolphins
Bills
Dolphins
Dolphins
Bears @ Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Saints @ Panthers
Panthers
Panthers
Panthers
Broncos @ Lions
Lions
Broncos
Lions
Chiefs @ Packers
Chiefs
Packers
Packers
The “expert” panel from SB Nation isn’t having such a great time picking games, either, with only David Fucillo currently above .500. His fellow experts, Stephen White and Joel Thorman did agree with him for 10 of the 16 games this week, which could bode well for their chances of improving their record.
However, Fucillo was all alone in his pick of the 49ers winning on the road against a very impressive Cardinals team. The Niners were smashed 43-18 against the Steelers, and will face a Cardinals offense that has put up 79 points in two games, tops in the NFL.
White and Thorman had some pretty bold picks themselves. White chose the Chiefs to beat the Packers at Lambeau, while Thorman had the Eagles earning their first win of the year on the road against the Jets. But judging by the Packers’ 10-game home winning streak, and the Eagles’ awful O-line facing off against the Jets’ dominant front, there’s a good chance those two will end up regretting their boldness.
