2025 NFL Midweek Betting Report: Books Hoping for Ravens Win, Lions Cowl

For the previous two-and-a-half seasons, the Detroit Lions have been the most effective groups within the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens are a perennial playoff participant, behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

So to some observers, it was in all probability just a little stunning to see the Ravens as 6-point favorites when NFL Week 3 odds opened on Sunday. 

That quantity has since reeled in to 4.5. However the bookmakers had sound reasoning for making the Lions a major underdog.

“The Ravens are by far our No. 1-rated crew,” Caesars Sports activities head of soccer buying and selling Joey Feazel stated. “You would possibly say, ‘Wow, that appears like a reasonably large unfold.’ However it simply reveals how revered the Ravens are.”

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on that marquee matchup and different intriguing video games, as we dive into NFL Week 3 betting nuggets.

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Monday Evening Showdown

A part of the calculus in setting a Lions-Ravens unfold — or any unfold involving Detroit this season — is that Lions coach Dan Campbell misplaced each of his coordinators from final season. Ben Johnson left his offensive coordinator submit to take over as Chicago Bears coach, and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is now teaching the New York Jets.

“The expectation was that the Lions have been going to take a step again this yr, shedding these extremely touted assistants,” Feazel stated.

That stated, the Lions-Ravens line is shifting towards Detroit. Baltimore dipped to -5.5/-5 on Tuesday, then went to -4.5 on Wednesday morning.

“The Lions obtained some respect from sharp bettors,” Feazel stated Wednesday afternoon. “Motion-wise, there’s barely extra Ravens cash. What we’re in all probability gonna want is the Ravens to win and the Lions to cowl.

“And we’re gonna want the Below.”

Which isn’t any shock, contemplating in Week 2, Detroit rolled Chicago 55-21, whereas Baltimore thumped Cleveland 41-17. The general public betting lots love scoring, so that they love betting on the Over, notably in prime-time standalone video games.

NFL Rocks On FOX

For the second straight week, the Philadelphia Eagles are concerned in a rematch from final season’s playoffs. In Week 2, the defending Tremendous Bowl champions went to Kansas Metropolis and gained 20-17.

In Week 3, Philadelphia hosts the Los Angeles Rams, who almost beat the Eagles within the divisional spherical final season. Philly held on for a 28-22 victory as a 7.5-point dwelling favourite.

Caesars Sports activities opened the Eagles as 4.5-point dwelling favorites, then obtained some stunning early motion.

“We’re seeing one-way visitors, and it’s not on the Eagles. To this point, it’s coming in on the Rams,” Feazel stated. “We went to Ravens -4 and -3.5, and we’d see -3. There’s plenty of hype across the Rams. They have been the one crew that gave the Eagles hassle within the playoffs.”

NFL Sharp Facet

Skilled bettor Randy McKay is on certainly one of Sunday’s lower-profile video games: Indianapolis vs. Tennessee.

“I took Tennessee +4, going in opposition to a 2-0 Colts crew that’s happening the highway for the primary time this season,” McKay stated. “I feel it’s a great spot. The Tennessee protection is robust. Hopefully, Cam Ward and the offense can take some stress off the protection right here.”

Thursday Theater

When the schedule makers plugged the Miami Dolphins vs. the Buffalo Payments into the Week 3 Thursday night time recreation, it was certainly with the hope that Miami would return to being a superb crew.

It seems that’s not the case — a minimum of not but. 

The Dolphins are 0-2 straight up (SU) and in opposition to the unfold (ATS), getting blown out 33-8 at Indianapolis in Week 1, then shedding 33-27 to visiting New England in Week 2.

On the flip facet, you’ve obtained the perennial energy Payments at 2-0 SU and ATS. Caesars opened Buffalo -12.5, and the road had a pair cups of espresso at -11.5 earlier than settling at -12 on Wednesday morning.

“The Payments are Tremendous Bowl favorites, and the Dolphins seem like they’re in hassle,” Feazel stated. “That’s being translated into the betting market. The Payments are getting plenty of motion, and I don’t see that altering.

“The guide is gonna want the Dolphins to indicate up and be aggressive.”

Quarterback Quandaries

For the NFL, most sportsbooks put out look-ahead traces every week early on each matchup. Final week, Caesars’ look-ahead line for Cincinnati vs. Minnesota was Vikes -2.5, and that was wager all the way down to -1.5.

Nevertheless, on Sunday, Bengals QB Joe Burrow suffered yet one more harm. He’s having toe surgical procedure and will miss three months.

With that in thoughts, Caesars reopened Sunday night time at Vikings -5.5, although that shortly dove to -4.5.

Then on Monday, Minnesota introduced that QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is out this week and maybe longer. The road tumbled to as little as Vikings -2.5, and it’s been regular at -3 since Tuesday morning.

Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz — backups for the Bengals and Vikes, respectively — isn’t that engaging up to now.

“Motion-wise, we’re not seeing loads on both facet. Individuals aren’t working to the window to wager both quarterback. However they’re betting the Below,” Feazel stated.

The entire opened at 44.5 and is all the way down to 41.5 as of Wednesday afternoon.

I Like Large Bets And I Can’t Lie

Neither NFL Week 3 odds nor faculty soccer Week 4 odds have seen a lot in the way in which of main wagers at midweek. So let’s go within the not-so-wayback machine to a few huge Monday night time wagers that didn’t end up so properly, each at DraftKings Sportsbook:

$259,200 Buccaneers-Texans Over 42.5$173,000 Texans -2.5 (-108)

Tampa and Houston mixed for 17 first-quarter factors, and there have been 24 factors on the board with 9:41 left within the second quarter. The Texans led 14-10, and each offenses have been on cruise management.

However that was it for the primary half. There was no third-quarter scoring and solely 15 second-half factors general in Tampa’s 20-19 victory. 

In order that Over wager was an enormous donation to the home.

Ditto for the Texans -2.5 wager. Houston obtained a landing with 2:10 left within the fourth, then missed the 2-point conversion, however nonetheless led 19-14. That’s a canopy.

Nevertheless, Baker Mayfield then led Tampa Bay to a final-second landing and a 20-19 victory. That’s one other $173,000 into DraftKings’ coffers.

It wasn’t all dangerous information for bettors Monday night time. One other DraftKings buyer utilized a $25 bonus wager — ostensibly a free journey — on a 16-leg NFL moneyline parlay and added in a participant prop of Josh Jacobs anytime landing for Inexperienced Bay.

All 17 legs got here in, with the Buccaneers and Chargers ending it off Monday night time. At big odds of +457725 — or in easier-to-digest kind, simply past 4577/1 — the bettor turned a revenue of $114,431.05.

Be mindful, these sorts of parlays are principally sports activities betting’s model of a lottery ticket. For that matter, bookmakers will gladly take even a four- or five-team parlay all day lengthy. That’s how sportsbooks keep in enterprise.

So mood your expectations accordingly. Take pleasure in this weekend’s video games!

Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He’s a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting house. He’s primarily based in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Observe him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas.

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