Winner winner chicken dinner: NFL parlay for Week 3

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The 2024 NFL season moves to Week 3, and we’re getting even more results, stats and data to make informed decisions on wagers going forward.

Unfortunately, while injuries are always a part of the game, it seems like the injury bug has been biting a lot harder this season, making the picture a little murkier than usual.

We’ve been picking on the poor Carolina Panthers through 2 games, too, and even that once tried-and-true fade play is a concern this weekend. The Panthers pulled the plug on QB Bryce Young, and will go with veteran experience with QB Andy Dalton, trying to look like an NFL-caliber offense again.

After looking at BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Week 3 odds, here is our “Winner winner chicken dinner” NFL parlay bet to cash in on among SportbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.

For this week’s parlay, we’ll go with a total in the early window on Sunday, an underdog to win straight up in the 4 p.m. ET slate and a total from Monday Night Football’s doubleheader.

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Winner winner chicken dinner NFL parlay

WEEK 3

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET. All games Sunday and ET unless noted.

Leg 1: Texans at Vikings — UNDER 46 (-110) – 1 p.m. (CBS)

The Houston Texans took care of business against another NFC North opponent on Sunday Night Football last weekend, topping the Chicago Bears 19-13 in an impressive defensive effort. Depending upon your shop, and when you placed your wager, it was either a cover, push or non-cover. As the line closed at a majority of shops at -6, we’ll officially call it a push.

Prior to that, Houston went on the road and won 29-27 in a shootout at the Indianapolis Colts, just missing as a 3-point favorite. However, it won’t be intimidated going indoors, on the road, with the Skol chant, loud crowd, etc.

The Minnesota Vikings worked over the New York Giants in Week 1, winning 28-6 on the road. While that’s all well and good, nobody is confusing the G-Men with an elite squad. However, even without RB Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers left the Twin Cities with a 23-17 loss, as the 4-point underdogs won outright with the Under (46.5) cashing.

Houston has split the Over/Under in 2 games to date, while Minnesota has cashed low in both outings, allowing just 23 total points, with just 1 passing TD and 1 rushing TD.

BET UNDER 46 (-110) as part of this multi-leg parlay, but also go rather aggressively as a standalone wager.

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Leg 2: CARDINALS ML (+125) vs. Lions – 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

It’s obviously still a small sample size, but the Arizona Cardinals look good so far this season. QB Kyler Murray has looked like his pre-injury self, and the Cards are coming off a 41-10 throttling of the beaten-up LA Rams last weekend.

Murray completed 17 of 21 passes for 266 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs against the Rams in a 41-10 whitewashing. Even in Week 1 at the Buffalo Bills, an Arizona loss, the Cardinals more than held their own against one of the NFL’s elite teams, falling just 34-28 while grabbing the cover.

Last week, Murray got on the same page with rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. for 2 highlight-reel passing scores, and that could be a potentially lethal combination for opposing defenses going forward.

The Detroit Lions were stunned at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, falling 20-16 as 7.5-point favorites. It wasn’t that the Lions couldn’t move the ball, as they did so all afternoon for 139 rushing yards and 324 passing yards. But, it bogged down in the red zone, posting just a 1-of-7 RZ efficiency, which equates to just 14%.

Field goals — instead of TDs — won’t get it done in the NFL, and certainly not on the road. The Lions better hope they are better in the red zone in Week 3, or they could get dusted.

If you’re a little more conservative and would like some insurance, Cardinals +3 (-115) is OK, and buying a half-point is super safe.

However, the best play is to BET CARDINALS ML (+125).

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Leg 3: Commanders vs. Bengals – UNDER 47 (-110) – Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)

The Washington Commanders hit the road to battle the Cincinnati Bengals in 1 of 2 Monday Night Football games in Week 3.

It’s a good opportunity to see 2019 Heisman Trophy winner QB Joe Burrow take on 2023 Heisman Trophy winner QB Jayden Daniels in primetime.

There are a few reasons to consider the Under in this game, however. The main reason is the weather. There is a 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms which could potentially delay the game. When the game does get underway, rain is forecasted through the overnight and into the next day, so it will be a slippery track, likely limiting the pass attack. We should see a more ground-based offense for both teams, which favors the Under.

The Commanders won last week, but they did not get into the end zone as PK Austin Seibert had 7 field goals. The Commanders were a dismal 0 for 6 on red-zone efficiency, and 0 for 3 in goal-to-go efficiency, which also obviously screams Under.

The Bengals were stunned 16-10 in Week 1 against the New England Patriots at home in an ugly offensive performance. After a contract impasse in training camp, WR Ja’Marr Chase played, but he looked rusty and had just a mediocre stat line. The new-look run game with RB Zack Moss replacing RB Joe Mixon has been average, and the offense has missed WR Tee Higgins.

Higgins has been practicing this week after missing the 1st 2 games due to a hamstring injury and expects to play Monday. Might the slippery track at Paycor Stadium in the rain Monday limit the Bengals’ vertical game?

Go with UNDER 47 (-110) for the final leg of this winning parlay!

Texans-Vikings UNDER 46 (-110)
CARDINALS ML (+125) vs. Lions
Commanders-Bengals UNDER 47 (-110)

Parlay payout: Bet $10 to profit $72 (payout = $82.00).

Try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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