BUFFALO (2-1) AT BALTIMORE (2-1)

This will be the first meeting between these teams since the 2021 AFC Divisional Playoffs, when Buffalo won a defensive struggle, 17-3. That game was effectively iced in the waning minutes of the third quarter when Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was intercepted as Baltimore was seeking to tie the game at 10-all. Jackson’s pass landed in the hands of the Bills’ Taron Johnson, who rambled 101 yards in the opposite direction.

Two plays later, Jackson suffered a concussion and didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

On paper, today’s game is a toss-up, with both teams having identical Bet Ratings of 1.22. However, Baltimore is a 3-point underdog—at home—and that makes the Ravens a value bet.

 BET: BALTIMORE +3 ***

SEATTLE (1-2) AT DETROIT (1-2)

The Seahawks have won four in a row straight-up and ATS versus the Lions, including last year when Seattle was just 7-10. Yet, today, the Lions are favored to win.

In some ways, this makes sense. Detroit running back D’ Andre Swift is off to a great start in his third NFL season, averaging 8.7 yards per carry and helping the Lions accumulate 170.3 yards rushing per game—third in the league behind Cleveland and Chicago.

Quarterback Jared Goff is also off to a decent start and will face a Seattle defense giving up a league-high 8.4 yards per pass play.

On the other hand, we’re talking about the Lions—a team that hasn’t had a winning season since Bobby Layne. OK, that’s not true, but the Lions do enter Sunday’s game with a 0.68 Bet Rating and a losing ATS record over several seasons when they’ve been favored by more than three points.

I like the Seahawks in this spot—really, I’m playing against Detroit—but am downgrading the bet, as the line has fallen drastically since I first ran my Database Betting report.

BET: SEATTLE +3 ½ **

LA RAMS (2-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO (1-2)

Watching Denver defeat San Francisco, 11-10, last Sunday night was almost as painful as watching five minutes of “The View.” Though the 49ers have recorded some impressive defensive stats, one has to wonder about their opponents.

In addition to Denver, averaging 14.3 points per game, San Francisco has faced Chicago (17.3 PPG) and Seattle (15.7 PPG). In other words, their opponents score less frequently than I did in high school—yet they are 1-2 (we won’t talk about my high school record).

True, the Rams hardly looked like a defending Super Bowl team in their loss to Buffalo, but they are, and I think the line here is simply wrong.

BET: LOS ANGELES +1 ½ *****