NFL nut Kyle Robins (@AhhYeahKyleYeah) shares his expert opinion on the best bets ahead of Sunday's Week 3 action.
Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots | Sunday 27th September 2020, 18:00
We start Week 3 off looking to capitalise on a trend set through the first two weeks of the season in New England.
Quarterback Cam Newton is once again looking every bit like the quarterback everyone fell in love with in Carolina, getting back to what makes him such a dynamic QB and utilising his running game. Through the first two games, he has managed to accumulate 122 rushing yards to go along with four rushing touchdowns.
Without much surprise, given those stats, I’m looking for him to get into the end zone once again this weekend as they host a rather lacklustre Raiders run defence. Now yet, there’s always doubts about quarterback’s durability, even more so with Cam and his injury history, but going off just how dominant he’s been at the goal line so far, it’s hard not to look this way again.
Another positive for this bet is the simple fact that nobody quite knows how the Patriots depth chart at running back currently looks. Usually in New England they’ve adopted the committee approach, and whilst that doesn’t look too far from the truth this season either, it at least looks as though Cam will be getting plenty of goal line opportunities.
With a Raiders team who’ve allowed three rushing touchdowns and 241 total rushing yards through the first two games of the season, Cam should have plenty of opportunities to get into the end zone one again. With most bookies currently pricing this one at 8/11 – after taking Cam in Week 1 and 2, I’m looking for him to complete a hat-trick, so take the 5/4 with SkyBet and run for the hills.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Philadelphia Eagles | Sunday 27th September 2020, 18:00
With both teams starting off the season 0-2 and looking, it’s safe to say, pretty much useless at stopping the opposition on defence, there are plenty of ways we could attack this game – Miles Sanders anytime touchdown certainly appeals at 19/20 as part of a multiple, but I’m looking for a bit more value from this match-up.
The Benglas head into this game off the back of two promising displays from the first overall pick Joe Burrow, especially last week on Thursday night against the Browns, going for 316 yards and three touchdown passes. Now his workload was probably higher than it usually would be, with the Bengals playing from behind most of the game, but it could be the same for him this week.
Last week he spread the love around both his receivers and tight ends, but after C.J Uzomahs unfortunate injury, it opened up more opportunities for the backup Drew Sample, who preceded to haul in seven receptions for 45 yards in just the second half.
Now yes, the game script certainly called for a lot of underneath passes for Burrow to the tight end position, but after watching the Eagles allow three touchdowns to Rams tight end Tyler Higbee last weekend, I have to look to take advantage this week.
Sample should be in for an increased role in the offense going forward, and the fact Uzomah caught a touchdown pass before his injury shows Burrows wiliness to throw to the tight end position, can only be positive news for Sample. Take the 17/4 with Unibet and hope for another no show from the Eagles defence.
Carolina Panthers @ LA Chargers | Sunday 27th September 2020, 21:05
The final bet of the weekend once again comes from the late game slate. We head over to LA this time, as my Carolina Panthers head to take on the Chargers, in what should be another defeat for us.
But rather than just taking the Chargers outright, I’m looking to attack one of the weakest areas of our team that have been exploited by both the Raiders and the Buccaneers through the first two weeks.
The Panthers run defence has been rather shambolic to date, allowing three rushing touchdowns to the Raiders, followed by two to the Buccs, totalling 255 yards. So, I’m looking at what has been an impressive Chargers run game to take advantage yet again this weekend.
Just like the last few years, they’ve seemingly adopted the two headed approach to the running back position with Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelly sharing the snaps.
Through two weeks, Ekeler has 34 carries for 177 yards, whilst Kelly has accumulated 35 carries for 124 yards. Now I think the most telling this is that Kelly out carried Ekeler 23 to 16 in carries last weekend, and Ekeler saw more targets through the air.
I expect the chargers to once again lean heavily on the run game, against such a poor, inexperienced defence, so look for Kelly to get plenty of opportunities once again. With his line set at 51.5, I fully anticipate him going over that yardage after back-to-back weeks of 60+ rushing yards. Take the 5/6 with SkyBet for the overs.
Best Bets
Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots – Cam Newton anytime touchdown (5/4 SkyBet)
Cincinnati Benglas @ Philadelphia Eagles – Drew Sample anytime touchdown (17/4 Unibet)
Carolina Panthers @ LA Chargers – Joshua Kelly Over 51.5 Rushing Yards (5/6 Betfair)
