Week 3 hard to forecast, but hope springs anew as calendar turns

Maybe all the displays of unity at NFL games last weekend also overshadowed an awful week for our picks.

And that came with a rare win in a Thursday night game, Rams over 49ers. Hopefully, we can get it right with this week’s opener, Bears at Packers, then follow it up with some more winners on Oct 1 and 2.

Green Bay struggled to beat lowly Cincinnati in overtime last Sunday, hours after Chicago stunned Pittsburgh, also in OT. Working extra time heading into a short week isn’t exactly an ideal way to prep for a Thursday nighter.

The Packers were undermanned, particularly on the offensive line, against the Bengals and had to stage a big rally to win. The Bears used their impressive running game to overcome the Steelers.

With so little rest between outings, the disparity in talent can tend to get skewed a bit. Green Bay appears to be a Super Bowl contender when healthy. Chicago has the look of an also-ran in a tough division.

Still, this is Bears-Packers, one of the more emotion-packed series in pro sports.

The Packers are 7-point favourites over their longtime rival. Packers, 21-16

Los Angeles Rams (plus 7.5) at Dallas

The Rams seem to be putting together a nice offence. We already know Dallas has one of those. Best Bet: Cowboys, 30-19

Tennessee (minus 2) at Houston

It’s early, but a Texans loss would be very damaging in the division. Upset Special: Texans, 2017

Pittsburgh (minus 2.5) at Baltimore

Best rivalry in football, nasty but clean. Steelers, 20-13

Oakland (plus 2.5) at Denver

Both teams come off offensive stinkers. Raiders, 26-21

New Orleans (minus 3) vs. Miami at London

Rebound time for the Dolphins after last week’s fiasco. Dolphins, 23-21

Carolina (plus 8) at New England

Both teams come off defensive stinkers. Patriots, 36-23

Washington (plus 7) at Kansas City, Monday night

Washington might be better than we thought, they can prove a lot here. Chiefs, 24-23

Jacksonville (minus 3.5) at New York Jets

Road favourites destroyed us last week. We barely learned a lesson. Jaguars, 19-17

Buffalo (plus 7.5) at Atlanta

The Falcons have escaped twice on the road, but they routed Green Bay at home. Falcons, 22-16

New York Giants (plus 5) at Tampa Bay

Just a feeling the Giants aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. Giants, 17-13

Philadelphia (pick-em) at Los Angeles Chargers

Just a feeling the Chargers aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. Chargers, 27-23

Cincinnati (minus 3) at Cleveland

Just a feeling the Bengals aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. Bengals, 21-20

San Francisco (plus 7) at Arizona

Just a feeling ... oh, never mind. Cardinals, 20-16

Indianapolis (plus 13) at Seattle

Until Andrew Luck is behind centre, staying away from the Colts doing anything special. Seahawks, 22-6

Detroit (no line) at Minnesota

Really like what we have seen from the Lions thus far. Lions, 24-20

2017 Record:

Last week: Against the spread (5-9-1). Straight up (8-8)

Season Totals: Against the spread (18-27-1). Straight up: (29-18) Best Bet: 2-1 against the spread, 2-1 straight up. Upset special: 3-0 against the spread, 3-0 straight up