Upcoming Match-ups

NFL ATS Picks: Week 3 Locks!

Matt McEwan

by Matt McEwan in NFL Football

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:38 AM PST

Can Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys regain their power on the ground in Week 3? (By Keith Allison (Flickr) CC License)

Fingers crossed the bank was closed last week when you tried to take our Week 2 locks in. It wasn’t the best start for Sascha and I, but Week 3 has us feeling like we are lining up against that shoddy New Orleans Saints defense.

Now let’s get to the picks.

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (+3)

In order to allocate enough resources to slowing down Ezekiel Elliott last week, the Broncos left their corners isolated on Dez Bryant and the rest of the Cowboys receivers. The result was eight rushing yards for Elliott on nine carries, and Dak Prescott posting a 68.6 passer rating on 50 attempts.


Tell us why Denver can’t do that same thing to LeSean McCoy and the Bills, whose top two receivers are Jordan Matthews and Zay Jones.

Pick: BRONCOS (-3)

Houston Texans at New England Patriots (-13)

Bill Belichick answering questions at the podium (By WEBN-TV (Flickr) CC License)

Bill Belichick is 8-0 against rookie QBs in Foxborough, with an average margin of victory of 17.1 points. Deshaun Watson is starting for the Texans. Deshaun Watson is a rookie. The game is in Foxborough.

Pick: PATRIOTS (-13)

Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals (+3)

The Cardinals have only allowed 2.8 yards per carry this season. But keep in mind they have played the Lions and Colts. There’s no way the Cowboys allow themselves to get away from their bread and butter this week: handing the ball to Ezekiel Elliott. And Carson Palmer’s offensive line won’t allow him to pick apart the Dallas secondary the way Trevor Siemian did last week — Palmer has been pressured a league-high 36 times on dropbacks.

Pick: COWBOYS (-3)

Author Image