Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season served as one of the highest-scoring weekends in league history. It also served as a highly lucrative week for the Sporting News' best bets, as we went 7-2 with our moneyline, spread, over/under and player props wagers.
Every week, this column scours all the major UK sportsbooks to pinpoint the strongest wagers. Our mission is two-fold:
- To help you find the best books with the highest-value odds and top offers
- To help you become a winning bettor, week in and week out
With another full batch of exciting NFL matches on the docket for this weekend, there has never been a better time to jump into American football betting. So, let's get to it!
Here's our top moneyline, spread, over/under and player prop wagers for Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. Good luck, have fun, and may the odds be forever in your favour!
JUMP TO: Spreads | Moneylines | Over/unders | Player props
NFL Week 3 Best Bets: Against the spread (ATS)
All odds correct at time of publish.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5) vs. New York Jets (5/6 on Skybet)
The Bucs remain the class of the NFC South, and they should remain undefeated this weekend at home vs. the Jets. New York will have Tyrod Taylor filling in for the injured Justin Fields, and Breece Hall will have trouble finding holes with Vita Vea and company clogging up the running lanes.
Baker Mayfield has become one of the strongest quarterbacks in the NFL, and he's got plenty of help with Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. The Jets have surrendered 30-plus points in each of their first two games, and this weekend should continue that negative early-season trend. Lay the points with the home favourite.
SCORE PREDICTION: Buccaneers 33, Jets 17
Other Week 3 spreads worth considering: Seahawks -6.5 vs. Saints (7/10 on Virgin Bet); Chargers -2.5 vs. Broncos (4/5 on Paddy Power)
NFL Week 3 Best Bets: Moneyline
Cincinnati Bengals (13/10) at Minnesota Vikings (AK Bets)
Joe Burrow (turf toe) has been placed on IR for the Bengals, and J.J. McCarthy has a high-ankle sprain for the Vikings. Now it becomes Jake Browning against Carson Wentz. Browning seems like a much better QB at this stage of their respective careers, and he has a much stronger arsenal at his disposal.
Minnesota will forge on without McCarthy, starting running back Aaron Jones (IR, hamstring) and Jordan Addison (suspension). Tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receiver Adam Thielen look washed. The Vikings defence has also looked bad. Look for Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and the Bengals to care of business once again and improve to 3-0.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Bengals 27, Vikings 23
Other Week 3 moneylines to consider: Dallas Cowboys (10/11) at Chicago Bears (Skybet); Texans (23/20) at Jaguars (Betfair)
NFL Week 3 Best Bets: Over/under totals
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots: UNDER 44.5 points (10/11 on Bet365)
The Steelers and Patriots have both looked awful defensively through two weeks. Pittsburgh surrendered 31-plus points in both games so far, and New England just let the bumbling Dolphins score 27 last weekend. All that said, we expect positive regression from both units this weekend.
Week 2 scoring bonanzas often lure bettors into wagering on OVER bets in Week 3. Don't overdo it — NFL coaches are paid to learn from their mistakes and tighten things up as the season progresses. This seems like a textbook case of the market (and bettors) overreacting to two bad weeks by otherwise decent defences. Take the UNDER and brag to your friends when it hits.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Patriots 23, Steelers 20
Other Week 3 over/unders to target: Detroits Lions at Baltimore Ravens: UNDER 53.5 (4/5 on BetVictor); Panthers UNDER 19.5 points vs. Falcons (19/20 on Coral)
NFL Week 3 Best Bets: Top player props & game props
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks vs. Saints: Anytime Touchdown (7/5 on Betway)
Smith-Njigba has been extremely involved in the Seahawks offence with Sam Darnold under center. Through two weeks, JSN has hauled in 17 of 23 targets for 227 receiving yards. These are All-Pro level numbers!
New Orleans has surrendered five passing touchdowns on the season, third-most in the NFL. Mac Jones and the 49ers torched the Saints in New Orleans last weekend and Darnold and JSN will eviscerate them in Seattle this Sunday.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons at Panthers: OVER 111.5 rushing + receiving yards (22/25 on Virgin Bet)
Robinson might win Offensive Player of the Year this season. The shifty running back has been running all over defenders and gobbling up catches like a man possessed. He has a amassed a whopping 292 total yards on the young season.
Now Robinson and the Falcons face a Panthers defence that might be the worst in the NFL. Travis Etienne put up 156 scrimmage yards on 19 touches vs. Carolina in Week 1 — Bijan might have 112 by the end of the third quarter this Sunday.