NFL Lookahead Lines:

It’s important to study the lookahead lines in the NFL on a weekly basis for a variety of reasons. The numbers will give you an idea of where the market is for those who don’t make their own power ratings. You can compare the current numbers with the lines that were posted before the season started to try and find an overreaction. Finally, a bettor can try to get ahead of any potential moves before games are played and opening numbers are reposted on Sunday night. 

The following are current Week 3 NFL numbers posted at DraftKings:

 

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Week 3 Thursday Night Football

  • Patriots at Jets (-7, 40.5)

Week 3 Sunday NFL Games

  • Giants at Browns (-6.5, 39.5)
  • Packers at Titans OTB
  • Bears at Colts (-2.5, 46.5)
  • Texans (-4, 46.5) at Vikings
  • Eagles (-3.5, 47) at Saints
  • Chargers at Steelers (-2.5, 39)
  • Broncos at Buccaneers (-5.5, 43)
  • Panthers at Raiders (-4.5, 40.5)
  • Dolphins (-1, 48) at Seahawks
  • Ravens at Cowboys (-1, 48.5)
  • 49ers (-4.5, 48.5) at Rams
  • Lions (-4.5, 51.5) at Cardinals

Week 3 Sunday Night Football

  • Chiefs (-4, 47.5) at Falcons

Week 3 Monday Night Football doubleheader

  • Jaguars at Bills (-3.5, 47.5)
  • Commanders at Bengals (-6.5, 47.5)

Your biggest point spread moves since the preseason:

  • Buccaneers were -3.5 vs. Denver
  • 49ers were -2.5 at LA Rams
  • Chiefs were -3 at Atlanta
  • Bills were -4.5 vs. Jacksonville

Your biggest moves on totals:

  • Giants/Browns: 42.5
  • Eagles/Saints: 45
  • Chargers/Steelers: 42.5
  • Panthers/Raiders: 43
  • Lions/Cardinals: 50
  • Chiefs/Falcons: 49
  • Bills/Jaguars: 49

Thursday night will mark the Jets’ third game in 10 days. The league gave them the dreaded Monday-Sunday-Thursday swing to start the season. They go from getting mauled in the Bay Area on Monday night, to Tennessee on short rest in Week 2, only to turn around and host a division foe on Thursday night. Ouch. 

Per Warren Sharp – since 1990, teams in their final game of 3 games in 10 days won only 5 of 13 games (38.5%). Those teams went 4-9 ATS. The preseason number was -7.5. 

The Seahawks are in a tough spot having to travel all the way across the country to face the Pats. The Jets have a short turnaround as they travel to Nashville. I cannot see this number going up. I think the only direction this number can go is below 7 (in fact, the Westgate in Las Vegas is 6.5). Give me the Pats plus the points. 

I’d like to make a case that the Giants are catching too many points at Cleveland. Deshaun Watson could throw up another dud in Week 2 at Jacksonville, and the Giants beating the Commanders is conceivable. That number could come down, but staying away from a Daniel Jones/Watson clash is probably the correct move. 

I like the Colts moneyline vs. the Bears (currently -135). Indianapolis catches a break by playing Malik Willis and the Packers in Week 2. The Texans have ballooned up to -6.5 favorites vs. Chicago. A Colts win coupled with Houston handling the Bears could easily move this number to 3, maybe higher. If so, I could grab some Chicago at that point and hope for a middle. 

Another game that sets up for possible point spread movement is Kansas City at Atlanta on Sunday night. The Chiefs are -6 this week vs. Cincy (always slow starters; see Week 1), and the Falcons are catching 6.5 points at Philadelphia on Monday night. We might have a pretty good idea of who Atlanta and Philadelphia are early in the season. KC -4 will be long gone if the home teams win by margin in Week 2.

For all of our NFL Week 2 content, click here.

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