The NFL continues with the Monday Night Football double in week 3, with two matchups that are intriguing to say the least. First up, the past two NFC Champions face off, as the Buccaneers host the Eagles in Tampa, with both teams attempting to continue their perfect start to the year. Then, kicking off at 10:15am eastern time, the surprising LA Rams head to Ohio to take on the Cincinnati Bengals, in a must-win game for the 0-2 Bengals.
Below, we will dissect both matchups, previewing how we think things will play out, and give out our Best Bet for each game. Make sure you are following BeforeYouBet, as we will have dedicated Match Previews for all Prime-Time games this season, as well as a preview of the main slate on Monday’s. All for free!
NFL Week 3 Tuesday Betting Tips
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles
Raymond James Stadium, Tuesday 26th September, 9:15am (AEST)
Last Week
The Bucs hosted the Bears last week, and thoroughly dominated them. The Bucs managed 437 total yards on offense at 6.4 yards per play, whilst managing 36 minutes in time of possession and 2 turnovers to 0. Baker Mayfield was once again efficient passing the ball, throwing for 317 yards on 26-34 passes. Mike Evans turned back the clock, catching 6 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, whilst the defence managed to hold the Bears offense to just 236 total yards. The Bucs closed 2.5-point favourites and covered with ease, whilst the total (40.5) went over narrowly, with a Bucs pick-6 in the closing stages getting the number over.
As for the Eagles, they played on Thursday Night Football, and thus get a nice 11-day mini-bye here. They took on the Eagles and looked solid offensively, particularly running the football, however their defence continued to struggle. The Eagles gave up 28 points, with the Vikings managing 374 total yards at 6.8 yards per play. The Eagles won the turnover battle 4-1, and have to be slightly concerned that they only managed a 6-point win at home when generating +3 turnovers. The Eagles managed to cover the 5.5-point spread by the hook, whilst the total went flying over the close of 48.5.
Injury Report
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kalijah Cancey (DT) – OUT
Chase Edmonds (RB) – OUT
Ryan Jensen (IOL) – OUT
Russell Gage (WR) – OUT
Carlton Davis (CB) – Questionable
Vita Vea (DT) – Questionable
Devon White / SirVocea Dennis (LB) – Questionable
Cody Mauch (IOL) – Questionable
Philadelphia Eagles
Boston Scott (RB) – OUT
Quez Watkins (WR) – OUT
Avonte Maddox (CB) – OUT
Nakobe Dean / Shaun Bradley (LB) – OUT
Roderick Johnson (OT) – OUT
Match Preview
The Bucs have a tremendous recent record over the Eagles; however, I’m not taking too much from this. The Bucs are a vastly different team this season to years gone by, with Baker Mayfield now under center being a large downgrade on Tom Brady. Despite this, the Bucs defence is still relatively intact from their glory years, and in both his matchups with the Bucs, Hurts has struggled offensively. So, if this Bucs offense can get anything going against a banged-up Eagles defence, there is a real chance at a massive upset here on Monday Night.
The Eagles were 7-point road favourites on the look ahead, however after another impressive display from the Bucs in week 2, and further evidence that the Eagles aren’t quite where they were last season, the number re-opened at Eagles -6.5 after the week 2 games. The love for the Bucs hasn’t slowed down, with the Eagles now a consensus 5-point favourite for this matchup. My number for the matchup is Eagles -5, so I scooped up the Bucs +6.5 at open quickly. With the number now in no man’s land between 4 and 6, I don’t see any real value on the Bucs at this number.
The total was 45.5 on the look ahead, before re-opening at 44.5. The number is now in between the look ahead and open at 45. The Eagles have played in two straight overs, whilst the Bucs have gone 1-1 on their totals. I would lean over, based on the Eagles’ defence looking poor this season, however Mayfield and this offense may struggle under the lights against a premier pass rush. The Bucs defence won’t have these issues with their experience, so I’ll avoid the total.
The number has almost moved far enough back towards the Eagles to make a play here, and you are able to get a decent price on the Eagles -4 at Betfair. If 3.5 pops, this play can be upgraded to 2 units, however I just don’t have a good enough read here on the Eagles to trust them to win by more than 4. So, a small stake here, let’s keep the powder dry for the next matchup.
Philadelphia Eagles -4
$1.92 (1 Unit)
Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Rams
Paycor Stadium, Tuesday 26th September, 10:15am (AEST)
Last Week
The Bengals were in an AFC North showdown last week against the Ravens at home, in a game where they closed 3-point favourites. The Ravens were dominant, and should have won by more than 3, going for 133 more total yards than the Bengals, averaging 1 yard per play more than the Bengals, and winning the turnover battle 1-0. The Ravens got what they wanted on the ground, rushing for 178 yards at 4.4 yards per carry. The big story though for the Bengals was the re-aggravation of the calf injury to franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow was seen giving himself treatment during the game, and stated he ‘tweaked’ the injury after the game. Moving forward, the health of Burrow is a huge question mark, and the Bengals season could well be over before it got a chance to get started.
As for the Rams, they once again looked far better than many predicted they would before the season started. The Rams took on NFC West rivals the 49ers, a team that is thought about as a top 3 team in the NFL, and played them close. The game was 17-17 at halftime, and it took some huge defensive adjustments in the second half from the 49ers to get them home. The Rams lost the turnover battle 2-0, in a statistic that more than likely decided the ball game. Shoutout to rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, who caught 15 passes for 147 yards. Nacua has the most receptions through 2 games for a rookie in the history of the NFL, quite an effort.
Injury Report
Cincinnati Bengals
Devin Cochran (OT) – OUT
Devonnsha Maxwell (DT) – OUT
Joe Burrow (QB) – Questionable
Irv Smith (TE) – Doubtful
Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp (WR) – OUT
Ochaun Mathis (LB) – OUT
Hunter Long (TE) – OUT
Stetson Bennett (QB) – OUT
Jason Taylor (II) – OUT
Puka Nacua (WR) – Questionable
Match Preview
The last time these teams met was Super Bowl LVI, when the Rams won their 1st Super Bowl as the LA Rams, and the 2nd Super Bowl in the franchise’s history, after the St. Louis Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999. Given the massive turnover in the Rams squad since this game, I won’t be taking any stock out of this result whatsoever.
The huge question mark coming into this matchup is the availability of Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow has been limited at practice all week, but is yet to be ruled out. The Bengals are in a catch-22 in week 3, as a loss here would drop them to 0-3 and into a position where they are unlikely to make the playoffs, however can they place the future of their franchise at risk by playing a clearly injured Burrow? In a piece of news that I believe tends to confirm Burrow will miss this week’s game, the Bengals signed quarterback A.J. McCarron to their practice squad on Saturday, so it looks likely in my opinion that the Bengals will start Jake Browning. Browning, for the record, has never completed a pass in the NFL, and a Monday Night Football game as his first career start will be tough.
As for the spread, the Bengals were 7.5-point favourites on the look ahead line, with that number re-opening on the other side of 7 after week 2 games. Since the Burrow news, that number has been bet down heavily, to where the Bengals are currently 2.5-point favourites. This seems like a bit of a halfway number for mine, and I believe the number will close around a pick em’ or even have the Rams as small favourites if Burrow is ruled out. My number with Burrow fit is Bengals -5, so I see real value in the Rams if Burrow is ruled out, and I’m banking on that happening. I see more value in the Rams to win outright, and that’s where the play will be.
The total was 46.5 on the look ahead, and that number re-opened 46. This has dropped heavily to 43.5, in another indication that Burrow will miss this game. I obviously agree with this move, and having no data on Jake Browning, it’s impossible to make a bet here now the number has moved so far.
So, a big play here on the Rams at plus money, to close out week 3. Happy to play this all the way to a pick em’, but we will take the plus money on offer here now.
Rams to Win
$2.25 (3 Units)
