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NFL - Week 3 Previews: NFL Preseason Tripleheader
Week 3 Previews: NFL Preseason Tripleheader
Sunday, August 24, 2008 11:26 AM ET
The Indianapolis Colts open up brand new Lucas Oil Stadium when they host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The Colts got an early jump on preseason by playing in the Hall of Fame Game, and that extra preparation has helped, as they have covered two straight on the road. Meanwhile, J.P. Losman and his very surprising 117.9 passer rating will in all likelihood get the call for the Biils for the injured Trent Edwards.
The first two weeks of the NFL exhibition season have already delivered significant news for handicappers.
The Chicago Bears have decided on Kyle Orton to be their starting quarterback instead of Rex Grossman. Troy Smith may have won the Baltimore Ravens job over Kyle Boller. And St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson is in camp and practicing after signing a contract extension worth at least a guaranteed $21 million.
These developments should manifest themselves in the NFL betting odds. So will the results of the following Week 3 preseason matchups.
Friday: Green Bay at Denver (9:00 p.m. Eastern)
Mike Shanahan is the sine qua non for pointing out how some coaches actually do try to win their preseason games. Denver is 1-1 (1-0-1 against the spread) in 2008 to leave Shanahan at 40-18 lifetime in exhibition contests. His Green Bay counterpart, Mike McCarthy, is 3-7 after losing the first two games of August.
Getting wide receiver Greg Jennings back into the lineup should help Green Bay. Jennings was a Top 10 wide-out in the league last year for Brett Favre; he and Aaron Rodgers will get to work on their stuff Friday, although without RB Ryan Grant (hamstring) in the backfield. Rodgers is expected to play into the third quarter; Matt Flynn (87.0 QB rating) is outperforming Brian Brohm (41.0) in the battle of the backups.
The Broncos will be without center Tom Nalen, who will have his left knee scoped for the second time on Friday. Casey Wiegmann is a very competent No. 2, but Denver’s offensive line reserves will be tested in the later stages of Friday’s matchup. The Broncos are available at –2½ with a total of 38.
Saturday: Pittsburgh at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
Mike Tomlin is now 5-2 in preseason action after his Pittsburgh Steelers lost 24-21 at Buffalo (+1). Brad Childress has the Minnesota Vikings at 5-4. On Saturday, Childress will have to carefully monitor the health of QB Tarvaris Jackson. He has a sprained MCL in his right knee and might miss the rest of what had been a promising preseason. Childress had yet to make his decision at press time.
The Steelers have enjoyed very strong first-unit play from QB Ben Roethlisberger (126.3 passer rating), but the depth chart doesn’t look so good with Charlie Batch on the sidelines. Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich combined to go 11-for-26 with no touchdowns or interceptions in Week 2 against Buffalo. Pittsburgh is expected to play its starters for at least the first half; expect an extra effort from the defense, which has not played well up to this point. Jobs will be on the line.
Minnesota is a 2½-point underdog at some books (+3 at others) with a total of 37. The over cashed in during the Vikings’ first two preseason games.
Sunday: Buffalo at Indianapolis (8:00 p.m. ET, NFL)
Indianapolis played the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3, so this is the fourth exhibition contest for the Colts. They enjoyed the “stagger” advantage in their next two games against less prepared opponents (Carolina and Atlanta), covering both times on the road. Sunday will be their first official appearance inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Tony Dungy says his starters – including QB Jim Sorgi in this case – will play until at least the halfway point of the third quarter. Dungy is 10-18 in the preseason, but 5-1 in Week 3 when the starters traditionally play deeper into the contest. Dick Jauron is 11-19 in exhibition play and 1-6 in Week 3, which speaks to the poorer quality of teams he’s coached.
It’s not known yet whether QB Trent Edwards (knee/thigh bruise) will play Sunday. J.P. Losman had a good practice on Thursday and has a 117.9 passer rating this preseason. The Colts remain 5½-point favorites with a total of 37½.