Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Week 3 NFL best bets and picks for the Sun’s handicapping contest

Contest leaders back Saints’ Superdome advantage on Monday Night Football

NFL Games 9/11/16

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws a touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks, not pictured, in the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. It was the longest pass play in franchise history. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Week 3: Jets at Chiefs

Which side would you take in Jets at Chiefs? (Poll consensus year to date: 1-1)
Chiefs minus-3 — 50.5%
Jets plus-3 — 49.5%

This poll is closed, see Full Results »

Note: This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

For the first time since restructuring our NFL handicapping contest to include best bets, two of four competitors are on the same side with their top play.

Half of the sports writers are trusting the winless New Orleans Saints, which lay three points at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. There’s one dissenter who went with the Falcons.

Check below to see who lined on up on which side and find the full list of six weekly picks per person required in the Sun’s handicapping contest.

Ray Brewer (2013 co-champion)

2016 Record: 7-5 (3-3 last week)

Raiders pick’em at Titans

Bills plus-4 vs. Cardinals

Steelers vs. Eagles over 47 points

Jets plus-2.5 at Chiefs

Colts minus-1 vs. Chargers

Best Bet (1-1): Saints minus-3 vs. Falcons New Orleans always plays better at home. It will be extra motivated this week because the game is on Monday Night Football, and more important, because they don’t want to start the season with an 0-3 record. Two weeks ago, the Saints blew a big lead against the Raiders. Last week, they lost at the end against the Giants. They are a better than their record indicates.

Jesse Granger

2016 Record: 6-6 (2-4 last week)

Browns plus-9.5 at Dolphins

Giants minus-3.5 vs. Redskins

49ers plus-9.5 at Seahawks

Steelers vs. Eagles over 47 points

Jets vs. Chiefs over 42.5 points

Best Bet (1-1): Saints minus-3 vs. Falcons The Saints are desperate after an 0-2 start to the season. New Orleans plays extremely well at home in primetime, not to mention this game is almost exactly 10 years to the day since the home opener against Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. I’ll go with Brees and the Saints’ home cookin’.

Case Keeefer (2012, 2014 & 2015 champion, 2013 co-champion)

2016 Record: 5-7 (2-4 last week)

Jaguars plus-1 vs. Ravens

Redskins plus-3.5 at Giants

Rams plus-5.5 at Buccaneers

Chiefs minus-2.5 vs. Jets

Bears plus-7 at Cowboys

Best Bet (1-1): Bengals minus-3.5 vs. Broncos I’m going to be stubborn. Last week, I labeled the Bengals as a bet-on and the Broncos a bet-against. Neither Denver nor Cincinnati came through with covers, but there was a fair bit of bad luck in both cases. And ultimately all the disappoment was set up a better opportunity to act on the dual position this week.

Taylor Bern

2016 Record: 3-9 (1-5 last week)

Lions plus-7 at Packers

49ers plus-9.5 at Seahawks

Eagles plus-4 vs. Steelers

Colts minus-1 vs. Chargers

Falcons plus-3 at Saints

Best Bet (1-1): Buccaneers minus-5.5 vs. Rams The Rams have yet to score a touchdown this season, and after an ugly road loss at Arizona last week the Bucs are going to open their home slate with three to five touchdowns. I don't see Los Angeles being able to keep up.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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