Model backs Lions, 49ers for Week 3 NFL picks — SkimNews
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- SportsLine's computer model enters Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season on a 53-41 run on top-rated picks since 2024 and has returned well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception
- The Lions (-6.5, total 48) are picked to cover against the Jets in a Sunday 1 p.m. ET kickoff, with Detroit coming off a Thursday loss and holding a 12-3 ATS record following defeats since 2023 — an 80% cover rate the source notes is the best in the NFL
- The 49ers (-8.5, total 47.5) are picked to cover at home versus the Cardinals, with the model projecting Brock Purdy for 299 yards and 2.6 touchdowns in a double-digit San Francisco win; the 49ers are the only team ranking in the top 5 in both scoring offense and scoring defense
- Cowboys vs. Ravens will be played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the first-ever NFL Rio Game, with Dallas designated as the home team but listed as 3-point underdogs on the Week 3 NFL line
- Travel and body clock are flagged as factors for Week 3, with the Chargers visiting the Bills (Buffalo -7) and the Seahawks visiting the Commanders (Seattle -7) in 1 p.m. ET East Coast kickoffs; Washington is likely without quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow)
- The Cardinals enter Week 3 coming off a 24-point home loss to a backup QB in Seattle and rank in the bottom 10 in both rushing and passing offense, per the source
Why it matters: For bettors sizing up Week 3, the model's strongest leans — Detroit at 80% ATS after losses and San Francisco as the only top-5 team on both sides of the ball — give two anchored plays with track records behind them. Bettors also get a first-time venue angle in Rio, where Dallas's home-team designation masks a 3-point spread disadvantage against Baltimore.
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