NFL Preseason Week 3 Betting Odds, Lines & Picks

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning and Co. will likely hang around deep into the Broncos’ game against the Texans. (Getty)

After a sub-.500 Week 1, we rebounded nicely with a 10-6 showing in Week 2 that would have been 11-5 had it not been for Connor Shaw’s Hail Mary, which enabled the Browns to cover as 3-point underdogs against the Redskins.

The battle for Pennsylvania gets us started in Week 3 as the Steelers travel to Philadelphia and wraps up Sunday night when the Cardinals host the Bengals.

With most teams’ starters expected to play deep into the game, several games have lines more similar to what we’ll see in the regular season than what we saw the first two weeks, when second- and third-stringers had a bigger say on the outcome.

Here are Heavy’s Week 3 picks:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21

Pittsburgh Steelers (+3 1/2) at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m.

Nick Foles, Eagles vs. Steelers

(Getty)

Nick Foles and Co. lit up the scoreboard last week in New England, but a pair of Mark Sanchez interceptions helped hand the Pats the win in a 42-35 shootout. We like Foles and Co. to put up some points against Pittsburgh and escape with the cover.

Heavy’s Pick: Eagles 33, Steelers 27


FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) at Detroit Lions, 7:30 p.m.

Calvin Johnson

(Getty)

Calvin Johnson is set to make his preseason debut, and that means the Lions are set to put up some points against the Jags. We’ll take Detroit to cover.

Heavy’s Pick: Lions 27, Jaguars 17


Carolina Panthers (+ 5 1/2) at New England Patriots

(Getty)

(Getty)

Cam Newtown shook off a rough start last week in his season debut and had the Panthers offense clicking. Carolina will put up some points, but more snaps for Tom Brady means a better chance for the Pats to win this by close to a touchdown.

Heavy’s Pick: Patriots 30, Panthers 24


New York Giants vs. New York Jets (Pick ‘Em), 7:30 p.m.

Eli Manning, Rashad Jennings

(Getty)

Neither team has been overly impressive over the past two weeks, but in a matchup of flawed teams, we’ll take the “visitors” in a close one.

Heavy’s Pick: Giants 24, Jets 22


Oakland Raiders (+7) at Green Bay Packers, 8 p.m., CBS

Aaron Rodgers, Packers

(Getty)

This line is a little big for our liking, but with Green Bay’s first-string offense on the field for most of the game, it’s hard not to like the Pack in prime time at Lambeau.

Heavy’s Pick: Packers 34, Raiders 16


Chicago Bears (+7) at Seattle Seahawks, 10 p.m.

Russell Wilson

(Getty)

Another game with a relatively big line. But Seattle, which obliterated a decent San Diego team last week, should be able to cover at home.

Heavy’s Pick: Seahawks 31, Bears 20

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