Week 3 NFL odds favor the Falcons, Browns, and Patriots

OddsSharkSep 19, 2018, 9:15 AM EDT

Early kickoffs have been tough for the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan, while the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees tend to show the third time’s the charm against the spread. The Falcons are 3-point favorites against the Saints with a 53-point total on the Week 3 NFL odds for Sunday, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Falcons are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games in the early afternoon, although they are 10-2 straight-up in their last 12 games against divisional opponents, according to the OddsShark NFL Database. The Saints have yet to cover this season, but they are 6-0 ATS in their last six games after consecutive ATS losses.

The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Saints’ last nine games on the road against the Falcons. The total has gone UNDER in eight of the Falcons’ last nine games, with an average combined score of 35.78.

The Cleveland Browns are 3-point favorites against the New York Jets with a 39-point total in the Thursday night matchup. The Jets are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games at night. The Browns, who went down to the wire against the Saints in Week 2, are 4-15-2 ATS in their last 21 games after an ATS win. The total has gone UNDER in 11 of the Browns’ last 14 games at home, with an average combined score of 37.07.

The Green Bay Packers are 3-point road favorites against the Washington Redskins with a 46-point total. The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Packers’ last 12 games on the road, with an average combined score of 53.75. The Redskins, who will be idle in Week 4, are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games before a bye.

The Miami Dolphins are 3-point favorites against the Oakland Raiders with a 44-point total. The Raiders are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games on the road in September. The Dolphins are 11-1 SU in their last 12 games when hosting a West Coast team.

The Seattle Seahawks are 1-point betting favorites against the Dallas Cowboys with a 44.5-point total. The Cowboys are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Seahawks. The Seahawks are 4-13-1 ATS in their last 18 games in the late afternoon.

The Los Angeles Rams are 6.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Chargers with a 48-point total. The Chargers are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games in the late afternoon. The Rams are 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games as a favorite. The total has gone UNDER in six of the Rams’ last eight games at home, with an average combined score of 42.88.

The New England Patriots are 6.5-point road favorites against the Detroit Lions with a 51.5-point total on the Sunday Night Football odds. The Patriots are 14-2 SU and 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games on the road. The Lions are 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in their last five games as an underdog.

And the Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-point road favorites against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 53.5-point total for Monday night. The Steelers are 12-0 SU in their last 12 games at night. The total has gone UNDER in 18 of the Steelers’ last 23 games on the road, with an average combined score of 39.57.

For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsShark.libsyn.com.

Giants among odds favorites for final week of NFL preseason action

OddsSharkAug 30, 2018, 8:00 AM EDT

Just like in those Super Bowls a few years back, the New York Giants have got the better of the New England Patriots in their preseason matchups.

The Giants are 2.5-point favorites on the NFL preseason odds against the Patriots with a 38.5-point total for their meeting on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

It’s the 14th consecutive year they have concluded the preseason against each other and the Giants are 8-2 straight-up and 6-2-2 against the spread in their last 10 preseason meetings against the Patriots, according to the OddsShark NFL Database, with the total finishing UNDER in seven of those matchups.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning hasn’t played in the preseason finale since 2014, which could leave the duties to Davis Webb and Kyle Lauletta. For New England, it’s a near-certainty Tom Brady will be an onlooker, leaving the options to either career backup Brian Hoyer or third-stringer Danny Etling.

Elsewhere, the New York Jets are 1-point road favorites against the Philadelphia Eagles with a 34-point total. The Jets are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in their last seven preseason road games. The Eagles are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three preseason games against the Jets.

The Baltimore Ravens are 6.5-point favorites against the Washington Redskins with a 35-point total. The total has gone UNDER in seven of their last 10 preseason meetings, with the Ravens owning a record of 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS.

The Cleveland Browns are 2.5-point road favorites against the Detroit Lions with a 35.5-point total. The total has gone UNDER in six of the Browns’ last seven preseason road games. The Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as preseason home underdogs.

The New Orleans Saints are 5.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Rams with a 34.5-point total. The Saints are 1-6 SU and ATS in their last seven preseason games as a favorite of 3.0 or more points, with the total finishing UNDER all seven times.

The Tennessee Titans are 1-point favorites against the Minnesota Vikings with a 36-point total. The Vikings are 4-2 ATS in their last six preseason road games. The total has gone OVER in six of the Titans’ last seven preseason home games.

The Houston Texans are 4-point betting favorites against the Dallas Cowboys with a 34.5-point total. The Cowboys are 0-9 SU and 3-6 ATS in their last nine preseason games as a road underdog. The Texans are 8-0 SU and 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight preseason games as a home favorite of at least 3.0 points.

The San Francisco 49ers are 3.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Chargers with a 35.5-point total. The Chargers are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in their last seven preseason games as a road underdog of 3.0 or more points. The 49ers are 8-0 SU and 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight preseason games against the Chargers.

And the Seattle Seahawks are 3-point favorites against the Oakland Raiders with a 34.5-point total. The Raiders are 1-11 SU and 2-10 ATS in their last 12 preseason games as a road underdog. The Seahawks are 10-2 SU and 11-1 ATS in their last 12 preseason games against the Raiders.

Brady wins MVP, Rams get 3 awards, Allen comeback player

Associated PressFeb 4, 2018, 12:33 PM EST

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) For the third time, Tom Brady is the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.

Now he goes for his sixth Super Bowl title, and perhaps with it a fifth MVP trophy for the NFL championship.

Brady added The Associated Press 2017 NFL MVP award Saturday night at NFL Honors to his wins in 2007 and 2010. The New England Patriots quarterback was joined as an honoree by three Los Angeles Rams: Coach of the Year Sean McVay, Offensive Player of the Year running back Todd Gurley and Defensive Player of the Year tackle Aaron Donald.

Other winners in voting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league were Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen as Comeback Player; New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore as top offensive and defensive rookies, respectively; and former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, now head coach of the New York Giants, as Assistant Coach of the Year.

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Brady is the second the player in the four major professional sports to win MVP at age 40; Barry Bonds won baseball’s award in 2004.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, accepted for Brady.

“Thanks, thanks. Wait up. I literally just found out I was doing this like 20 minutes ago. So, I’ve got to read the text,” Edelman said.

“No, but I’m joking. But serious, Tom said he wanted to say he’s very honored and humbled that he gets this award for MVP. Also, he wanted to thank his teammates, his friends, his family and the Patriots organization for going out and doing what they do.”

Brady competed 385 of 581 passes (66.2 percent) for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions as New England went 13-3 for the AFC’s best record. At an age when many QBs are deep into retirement, Brady is throwing deep – and short – as well as ever.

Donald was the first pure defensive tackle to win the award since Warren Sapp in 1999. He said it means “everything. That’s one of the best to ever do it. So, even for my name to be next to that guy’s name is beyond a blessing. This is what you dream about as a kid, dreaming about playing in the NFL to have success like this, to be able to (play good enough) to win this trophy.”

Gurley’s sensational turnaround season in which he ran for 13 touchdowns and caught six TD passes sparked an equally impressive reversal of fortunes by his team, which won the NFC West at 11-5.

“The Saints got the rookies and we took home the offensive and defensive” player awards,” Gurley noted. “It just tells you the type of players we have on the team. We all help each other out, absolutely. We have some talent, but we’re nothing without the whole nine yards and everybody together. And we also have a coach who’s up for Coach of the Year.”

A little while later, McVay was handed the coaching award.

In his first season running a team and as the youngest head coach in NFL history, McVay led the Rams to a seven-game improvement. McVay, who turned 32 on Jan. 24, ran away with the voting with 35 votes to 11 for Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer.

The Rams’ hat trick of awards was not unprecedented. In 2003, Baltimore’s Ray Lewis was top defensive player, Jamal Lewis won best offensive player, and Terrell Suggs was Defensive Rookie of the Year. And in 1999, the St. Louis Rams had three award winners: Kurt Warner (MVP), Marshall Faulk (Offensive Player) and Dick Vermeil (Coach).

New Orleans’ sweep of the rookie awards was the first since 1967, when Detroit running back Mel Farr and cornerback Lem Barney were honored. That was the first season for the top defensive rookie award.

“You get caught up in the season, you don’t really get time to pat yourself on the back,” Kamara said. “But when the season is over you realize what you’ve done. I’ve kind of had to time to look back and say, I made some history this season.”

Kamara shared duties with veteran Mark Ingram as the Saints won the NFC South. He rushed for 728 yards with a 6.1-yard average, and scored eight times. He also caught 81 passes for 826 yards, with five touchdowns.

The 11th overall draft pick and first from his position selected, Lattimore was a shutdown defender as the Saints went 11-5. He had five interceptions and 18 passes defensed in 13 games, was a sure tackler and, by midseason, was someone opposing quarterbacks tended to avoid. He missed three games, one because of a concussion and two with an ankle injury.

Allen returned from two devastating injuries to win the comeback honor. Allen missed half of the 2015 season with a kidney issue, then was lost in the 2016 season opener with a torn right ACL. There were questions if Allen would ever player at a high level again.

He answered those emphatically this season with the best year of his career. Allen caught 102 passes for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. He was targeted 159 times, nearly 10 per game.

The award were announced Saturday night at NFL Honors.

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AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow and Arnie Stapleton contributed.

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